The Good Library Blog: May 2009 Archives

« April 2009 | Main | June 2009 »

May 29, 2009

Unison

Thanks to Unison for their contribution to Lyn Brown's review.

I am very grateful for the highlight they gave to the project in Hillingdon, which continues to go well. I am surpised that other councils haven't asked for more information about how the work was done and how they can do the same things. In anticipation of budget difficulties in the years to come, there is even more reason why the lessons learned there would be useful to others. But I have had almost no approaches to talk about it and I am told that council themselves have had very few. Even Rachel Cooke in the Observer was unable to obtain an answer as to why this programme does not feature among the list of MLA so- called Best Practice. When I asked the MLA to include this work, they didn't even answer the email.

As has been well reported there has been a reorganisation of staff roles, which, of course, causes some problems. One might have expected the union to object to such activity, but both in this report and in their report earlier this year, Unison have taken a balanced and sensible approach. These things have to be done-- but they must be done properly, seems to be their point of view. This is what Unison said

" Re-vamping old libraries is also cost-effective in the long-term. In the London Borough of Hillingdon, seventeen of the borough’s existing libraries are being refurbished, to include computers and improved book stock. Negotiations with suppliers have resulted in better deals and reduced costs through delivering to the libraries individually, rather than bulk delivery to the central library. £260,000 has been saved by the local authority in the process."

Posted by Perkins at 8:51 AM | Comments (0)

May 21, 2009

Libraries are a special customer !

I laughed when I read this. Public Libraries are a very lucky customer of publishers and not very good ones. Indeed when the day comes that publishers decide that they don't want to allow public libraries to lend books, then the whole thing will come crashing down

Posted by Perkins at 4:50 PM | Comments (9)

May 19, 2009

'Who will bell the cat?'

‘The object of a civilized community is to take responsibility. Fear of responsibility oppresses the mind and paralyzes the energy of half our public men and so we place the power of bearing responsibility among the highest of civic virtues. When we boast of our institutions we speak especially of the responsibility of their Government and we cherish an honest belief that every man who enters the public service has the terrors of responsibility before his eyes to stimulate him to extra exertion and to warn him of the smallest deflection from the path of duty.’

John Delane, editor of The Times, 1855, on the morning after the resignation of the entire Cabinet of the British Government

Posted by Perkins at 9:15 AM | Comments (1)

May 16, 2009

What do CILIP think that public libraries are for and what are public librarians employed to do, and what do librarians and 'non professional' library staff working in library authorities think they are there to do?

I think that at the same time that people ask about what politicians and the various stakeholder departments of government think libraries are for- we should ask the people doing the job what they perceive their role to be. Then we can see if there is a difference. If we ever got round to asking the public what they thought libraries are for, then we really would begin to understand the issues and the problems.

People say there is a problem-- but from whose perspective?

I am spurred to this by the commenter below who asks 'Why are librarians concerning themselves with their ability to communicate with each other, within a library?"

Posted by Perkins at 10:34 AM | Comments (5)

May 15, 2009

Bad behaviour

Citizens of this country really must stop interfering in the finely tuned machinery of Government. It cannot be acceptable that mere ordinary people persist in expressing views in public which directly contradict and run counter to activities of local councils, national quangoes and departments. These departments are the major operations of our state and they have a right to be left to run freely and without hindrance in pursuit of the agendas they have developed to make ours into a better, freer, more democratic and equal country. The ways in which departments work, operate, are funded, develop strategies and so on, are far too complex for anyone who is not directly involved and committed, to understand, Frankly the country will not improve in the way that officers in Gvernment intend, if such public destruction and non cooperation goes on.

No Government department could or should provide a platform for the views of self-appointed critics who are ignorant of what needs to be done and the public utterances of whom do not conform to the policies that have been defined.

Incidentally I was very pleased to observe yesterday on the train that at least some people have heard the message of the other day and have stopped reading altogether. That is a fine example.

If our country is to be Great once more, people really have go to start cooperating and complain less. Think not what you can do for your country, but think what your country can do for you,

Posted by Perkins at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)

May 14, 2009

Head in the clouds

Last week I was invited to one of Lyn Brown's seminars for her review of public libraries. The talk was about the effectiveness of different government departments involved with public libraries. I was honoured to be invited and enjoyed the discussion, which was interesting and could have gone on for a long time. On Saturday she made a good speech about advocating libraries in the corridors of power. As we all know, the DCMS is similarly engaged in a review which, apparently, has been going on since last July. Unison published a review in January. In the Wirral the lady appointed to have a look at the council's decision to close a lot of libraries will doubtless publish a report quite soon. This will make 30 substantial national reviews in 10 years.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in a very friendly and progressive council discussing the issues that face them: how to get books on time when a film comes out, how to communicate properly with with each other when they are working shifts, how to get the council IT support department to look after the library computers that break down, how to make sure that the entrance of the libraries are clean and smart at all times, who should look after which displays... and so on. We were talking about the basic operational details that anyone who serves the public needs to get right. It was a really good, purposeful, positive and useful discussion. Who gives a fig about national reviews? No one has, so far.

Posted by Perkins at 8:14 AM | Comments (2)

May 13, 2009

Against Reading

This blog is against people reading books. They waste your life and lead you to unproductive ways. Here you learn of duplicity and mendacious behaviour. They have never done any good for anyone (aside from the rapacious distributors who salivate at the idea of a book which becomes widely popular). They are worse than the most destructive drugs. Away with them; keep them out of the hands of our innocent children and out of the sight of our cherished veterans who will only sadden their lonely last days among the covers. Be political, be of the public officer class, be business like-- destroy the libraries now. They are bringing this great nation to its knees- the newspapers are full of the end of our civilisation. So don't read them either.

The three stages of intoxication are 'the dignified', ''the quarrelsome', and 'the amorous'. Such information could only be obtained either from a book, or a bottle, which makes plain the need to prevent indulgence of these kinds. Fiction- pah!

Posted by Perkins at 9:33 AM | Comments (1)

May 11, 2009

Aldeburgh, a portrait, by Tim Coates

Aldeburgh is a small fishing town in Suffolk, home to the wonderful musical festival started by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears 60 years ago.

"There is no sea like the Aldeburgh sea" wrote the Victorian poet, Edward Fitzgerald, most famous for his several translations of the ancient 'Rubayat' of Omar Khayam.

Two years ago I was privileged to be asked to write a book about Aldeburgh for Antique Collector's Club, who are one of the finest international publishers of Art books. The book is called 'Aldeburgh, a portrait' and I came to that name because I realised that in my decriptions of the town, its history and the stories of some people who have lived there, I am intruding on the deeply held affections and the relationship that everyone who knows the town has with it. It is like an artist who comes to your home and makes a painting of your mother. Everyone will have a view about whether the likeness is recognisable

The book tells the history from Roman times, describing how the coast line was overrun for hundreds of years by invaders from distant lands. It describes how Aldeburgh missed out on the riches of the wool trade, by the incompetence of the local monks, but found fortune as a Tudor boat yard, becoming the home to several of the most famous ships of English naval warfare.

There have been many famous people apart from Britten and Pears and their friends who lived in the town. It has been a centre for writers and painters and particularly the amazing Garret family who not only built the beautiful buildings at Snape that now house the concert halls, but also included Elizabeth Garret Anderson, the first woman doctor and her sister Millicent, one of the best known campaigners for woman's rights.

The book will be published in the Autumn and I am writing about it here today because today on May 11 the local history society in Aldeburgh is recording what is happening in the town and on its websites, in order to capture the day for future historians.

Posted by Perkins at 7:13 PM | Comments (1)

May 7, 2009

Councillor Martin is removed

Nick Martin has been the councillor for public libraries in Swindon

The Swindon Advertiser writes:

The man at the centre of rumours about a challenge to Coun Bluh's leadership has been swiftly axed from the cabinet.

Coun Nick Martin was removed from his position as lead member for property, leisure and recreation a day after the re-election of Coun Bluh as leader of the group.

Coun Martin had been rumoured to be gearing up for a leadership since January, although he has publicly denied this.

Coun Martin said : "I have never considered putting forward for the leadership. This has all been an elaborate fabrication designed to give the leader an excuse to sack me from cabinet."

Responding to Coun Martin's criticisms, Coun Bluh said. "I think Nick is living in a different world to me. Nothing could be further from the truth. He allowed speculation to run on and I think he needs to look at his own actions in all of this.

"I have asked him to step down from his cabinet position as unity and teamwork within the administration are paramount. This does not take anything away from his contribution in recent years to the incredible improvements Swindon Council has made, but all organisations need to constantly change and adapt in order to continue improving.

"I do not want anything to distract me and my colleagues from securing a better future for Swindon while doing all we can to support the local community. I would like to thank Nick for his work as a cabinet member and am sure he will remain a very active member of this council."

Posted by Perkins at 8:13 AM | Comments (1)

Councillor Martin removed from his post in Swindon

From the Swindon Advertiser.. Nick Martin has been up until now the portfolio holder for public libraries

The man at the centre of rumours about a challenge to Coun Bluh's leadership has been swiftly axed from the cabinet.

Posted by Perkins at 8:10 AM | Comments (1)

May 6, 2009

The 'MLA'

From a reader

"I'm surprised nobody else has commented on Shirley's letter and can restrain myself no longer. Of course Roy Clare is entitled to his own opinions, although if his thoughts or actions are in conflict with those of the MLA (which he heads) that in itself is a situation worthy of comment. It will be very difficult indeed in future to separate out his personal opinions from those of the MLA unless they are labelled appropriately. On re-reading Shirley's letter I find it difficult to construe anything in it as a personal attack. However in the interests of clarity I feel the MLA should issue a statement regarding the situation in Swindon, and the role of its CEO, and explain which actions were undertaken in his official capacity and which were taken as a private individual. "

Posted by Perkins at 8:00 PM | Comments (0)

New Mill Library in Kirklees

from 'Jon'

Like many libraries, I suspect, Kirklees would like to improve its stock still further, but budgets do not always allow for this. (Kirklees have actually had considerable extra bookfund with which it has improved its stock over the last three years.) Quality of stock, I fear, is not the only issue in determining how many books are issued each year - not by a long chalk!

When faced with budget cuts in the service, Library Managers have to consider how to save the most money for the least impact on users. The sad fact is that in Kirklees New Mill's visitor and issue statistics are quite poor. There are other libraries quite nearby - Holmfirth is just 1.4 miles away, and on a regular bus-route. With a replacement mobile library service two days per week as well the, (relatively few,) library users in New Mill will be inconvenienced, but far less so than other borrowers in Kirklees. And the final nail in the coffin for New Mill is that the cost savings are significantly higher than might be the case at other libraries in Kirklees, because New Mill is one of the few library buildings in Kirklees that the Council does not own - they pay rent. Closing New Mill may save as much money as closing two libraries elsewhere.

Nobody likes closing libraries - least of all the library services that run them. But the sad truth is that in these straightened times of capped budgets and cost comparisons, when half of the services one might once have obtained from your library can be found on the internet and when a new book can be purchased from Asda or Tesco for £3 or less, it is increasingly difficult for library staff to justify their own existence to those who hold the purse strings.

(As an aside, I was amused by the petition put up by local people in support of New Mill Library. New Mill is a relatively affluent area - exactly the kind of upper-middle class folk whom you would expect to be staunch advocates of library services and continuing education. Unfortunately, they are also the same people who can afford to buy the books they need and the majority of them also have broadband internet access at home. Which might explain why the number of names on the petition was more than four times the number of regular library users at New Mill! If all these people actually used their Library, it wouldn't be closing!)

Jon- if you would like to say who you are-- or write to me with an email address-- there is so much which you are assuming in what you say, that may not be true at all, I would love to offer my help and go over all these figures and questions with you. You mustn't, I suggest, blame people who don't use the library for saying it should stay open. People don't have to use libraries, but they are entitled to a comprehensive library service for the occasions, or times in their lives when they do need one.

Most of the books that a library has cannot be bought in Tesco for £3-- that is such a silly thing to say, one wonders what is behind it

Posted by Perkins at 7:18 AM | Comments (7)

May 4, 2009

Saturday May 9

Message from a group called 'The Library Campaign'

"Next Saturday, May 9, TLC, the Library Campaign (national umbrella group for Friends) has two TERRIFIC speakers for its AGM, in Bloomsbury.

We have decided to invite non-members of TLC to make sure these two get a good audience - more to the point, they are two quite powerful people who we really need to get our message across to.

Lyn Brown is the MP who is very influential in library circles. She is currently heading a Commons inquiry about how public libraries are run - who is responsible for them, how the public is consulted etc etc.

NOW is the time to tell her your views!

Rachel Cooke has written some very effective pieces on public libraries in the Observer & Guardian, & I think will be a key element in coverage of what is likely to be a momentous year in public libs. Again, it will do us good to tell her what;s what in public libraries.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS INVITATION TO ANYONE WHO MUGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
Ideally, if possible, people should notify attendance in advance. "

Posted by Perkins at 9:56 AM | Comments (0)