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October 11, 2008
Bob McKee versus the Press!
Here is Bob McKee's report on all the national press today. Bob believes that the national press doesn't understand the public library service.
No wonder those inside the public library camp cannot give the public the service they want. No wonder book lending to adults from public libraries has fallen by 45% in 10 years. No wonder that nearly all the library authorities spend less than 2% of their funds on books for children. Bob and his cronies just cannot understand that the public sees it in a different way to the way they do.
Bob, the newspapers are telling you what people in the country think. Not only are the articles of the past few weeks written by senior journalists and leader writers, but there is no doubt that the supporting comments indicate that they are carrying the view of large numbers of the public, probably a substantial majority.
That view is beginning to be reflected in the way councillors think and the frustrations they express; they are dismayed that CILIP has failed to keep up with the times and provide any leadership to library management; they are fed up with the SCL interfering in politics. These councillors and senior council officers have a difficult job of running the public library service and they look for practical relevant help-- not conferences at which everyone indulges in a pub crawl and fawning to Ministers
You and the rest would help yourselves and the public you serve if you would begin to admit that this view you are hearing from the newspapers is not only important, but it prevails. The belief is that you don't hear or seek to listen to what the public says. If you don't start something will break -- and it is unlikely to be public opinion
Posted by Perkins at October 11, 2008 9:13 PM
Comments
Well, Bob, DID the Secretary of State mention books?
Posted by: No Brain at October 11, 2008 9:49 PM