« A poor speech by the Minister | Main | Warwickshire »
October 19, 2008
Discouraging
The jungle drums are beating over the weekend. It seems that following the widespread bad publicity for the Minister Andrew Burnham a decision has been taken to review the public libraries review.
According to one quite good source, senior people in No 10 Downing Street have told the DCMS to change its plan. The review needs to be more about books and reading in libraries. The objects and workstreams, which have already been issued are to be withdrawn.
The civil servant in charge is to be replaced by 'The lady from the department that deals with terrorist attacks' .
Nobody appears to know what the reasons for the review were in the first place.
This is all very discouraging. There is a need for certainty and clarity- and this time the lead that is given needs to be in the right direction-- as number 10 seems to be saying, too.
We have to start from the public view, not the view of those who have been earning their money from the industry of public libraries for too long already.
Posted by Perkins at October 19, 2008 12:01 AM
Comments
Perhaps the recent Sustainable Communities Act provides an opportunity for readers to put forward libraries as a local provision in which they can have a direct say.
Posted by: Christopher Hawtree at October 19, 2008 9:47 PM
Quote from the Yorkshire Post this morning.
"ANOTHER bright idea from a trendy minister anxious to make his mark – to turn libraries into social places where visitors can chat, drink coffee and watch videos. Culture Secretary Andy Burnham wants to "make libraries come alive" and to "move away from the stereotype of dusty books and silence".
The expansion of public libraries was one of the most precious legacies of the Victorian age. For the first time, poor children could experience the joy of handling books and exploring new worlds. They were a haven from the noise and bustle of the world outside.
Burnham says they should now be "places of joy and chatter". No they shouldn't, you idiot. They should be places of books and reading."
Posted by: perkins at October 20, 2008 9:41 AM