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September 4, 2008
We could save £100m each year of taxpayers money.
The public library service operates in a ridiculously inefficient manner in each local council. We could save taxpayers at least £100m each year and still run a far better service. (The Hillingdon project has demonstrated precisely that)
The news tonight is that Andy Burnham, so-called 'Culture Secretary' of the Government, has called for a review of Public Libraries by his civil servants in the DCMS. For ten years these guys have failed to notice that the Public Library Service is one of the largest expenditures for which they have responsibility. In the dying days of this dreadful government, one watches with fascination how they will shuffle the dreary dried up salad once more
Will we shortly receive a better service at less cost? If you are hoping so, don't hold your breath while you wait.
But those of us who enjoy a bit of gossip will watch while the officials and paid up soaks of the MLA, SCL, ACL, LLDA, Reading Agency, SYRUP, LGA, Conservative central office etc etc.. squirm and posture to preserve their own jobs and avoid the issues,too
Posted by Perkins at September 4, 2008 8:06 PM
Comments
Perhaps this latest proposed report might consider the new volume on Brighton and Hove in the Pevsner Architectural Guide series published by Yale University Press.
Its authors, architectural historian Nicholas Antram and English Heritage inspector Richard Morrice, describe Brighton's new Library, and state:“the shelving in particular falls well below the quality of design established for the building and, such is the scale of the main spaces, there seem remarkably few books”.
Hove almost lost its Grade ll* Library, and they praise its “highly inventive design” and “spatially interesting interior”.
Posted by: Christopher Hawtree at September 6, 2008 5:38 PM