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June 30, 2009
Nearly thirty reviews and given up counting
Earlier this year this blog counted, without even looking up the history, the number of reviews of public libraries in recent years and, having insufficient paws with which to do the job, gave up.
As July comes upon us the current DCMS review will move silently and seamlessly (not needlessly, we hope) into its second year.
So if we add to our earlier list another set
1.That DCMS review- still going
2.The All Party Parliamentary Review- still going
3.The Wirral Inquiry
4.The Unison Report- reported
5.The ERS review of best practice for the MLA and Swindon council
6. For certain, a CILIP Council review of the Universe
7. Whatever is going on in London
and any others-- that will make nearly 30 separate 'major' reviews in the past ten years, quite apart from the ones that individual local councils make and the rather numerous reviews of complaints which have recently been made to Ombudsmen, Panels, Commissioners and the rest.
It is enough to make a poor pussy go into the room where there is neither Wimbledon on the telly, nor Bach suites on the cello, put her paws over her eyes and go back to sleep. It is very hot for a cat with a fur coat, you know with everyone crying 'evidence!, evidence!'
Posted by Perkins at 3:25 PM | Comments (2)
June 28, 2009
Access
I have noticed a sinister element creeping into MLA language recently and that is the idea of providing 'access to a library service'. In Roy Clare's statement in last week's Bookseller he refers to ' a forward post' to one's library. No, the role of local government is to provide a library service which, if you like, provides, access to literature and information. We do not pay for devices that provide 'access to the library service' - we pay for a library service.
Posted by Perkins at 3:57 PM | Comments (1)
June 27, 2009
Beggar man, poor man, rich man, thief
Congratulations to Alan Gibbons today for his organisation of a conference in support of his 'campaign for the book' . In the past year he has drawn attention to the issues and the problems of the decline of the use of books in libraries and schools. It has been a tremendous success. He needs us all and we need him very much.
I am sorry that circumstances prevented me from being there, but his conference of those of us who fight for these things made me reflect on the people whom I have met who get called 'campaigners' for libraries. They are not rich people and generally they are not famous or celebrities. Quite often, to be honest, they are rather quiet, private people, many of whom are at a stage where they are caring for relatives and being careful with money. They take an intelligent interest in affairs and are particular about spelling and grammar. They are well informed, polite, articulate, well read and well referenced. In a world which is too often brutal and in which there is no certainty of simple plain respect from officials, they recognise their local community library as a place which holds some dignity and maintains some of the standards upon which they place value. For those reasons they fight to keep the libraries open.
They should have heard the chief civil servant responsible for the current dcms review of public libraries when he told me, in a confiding sort of way, that he couldn't understand why people these days would use a library-- 'I just go to Waterstone's and buy what I want' he said.
It is not only in Parliament that the old nursery rhyme has reversed its order: beggar man, poor man, rich man, thief-- is the order in the whole fortress of our government
Posted by Perkins at 10:01 PM | Comments (1)
Is another library in Swindon about to close?
This is from a resident
"I think our library in Liden is earmarked for closure too, (I know something is going on), which would also be a great shame as this is a very busylittle library in its own community. Maybe having books in a Drs. surgery would be a good idea for people who have appointments but not as the only resource, I know I wouldn't want to visit a doctors surgery just to get a book out, why can't they just leave libraries as libraries!"
Posted by Perkins at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2009
Swindon and the MLA
Following the release of the MLA response to a Freedom of Information question about their working relationship with Swindon Council, it is not hard to predict that officers and senior people in both corners may lose their jobs.
The Borough Solicitor in Swindon might be embarrassed to see in public some of the things that he has written in emails, and others, too.
The impression created by the documents is that the MLA did plenty of 'blacking out' (redaction!) on behalf of themselves, but didn't do the same on behalf of the poor folk in Swindon council..
This saga has plenty more chapters to run.
Posted by Perkins at 1:05 PM | Comments (2)
June 15, 2009
In the future we will be judged by what we have written
Posted by Perkins at 8:30 AM | Comments (0)
June 8, 2009
One myth, one grossly misleading use of language and one mad practice
Let us pray that the volcanic upheaval of our systems of Government that we so desperately need, does not die down as it eats up MP's and Ministers.
There is a myth, much paraded, that Local Government in our country is close to the people. It isn't. With some notable exceptions, local government is a bunch of extremely highly paid second rate officials, who operate by cronyism and by rote. Their activities are not properly scrutinised either by their local councillors who rely on them for capability, or by their local newspapers, who often depend upon them for advertising revenue.
And there is a cruel misunderstanding of the word 'Stakeholder' which I believe was brought into public currency by Will Hutton in his book 'The State We Are In' in the 1990's. I believed he intended it to mean the public service equivalent of a shareholder in the capitalist sector- viz, the owner and chief dependent on the activities and investments of those who manage. He meant the public. Instead the word 'Stakeholders' of public sector activity has cynically become to mean quangoes, charities, dependent-on-taxation bodies, who have at their heart their own survival and their income from Government, and not the interest of innocent and humble members of the public at all.
And then the idea that a Prime Minister as a practice of last resort should reshuffle his cabinet is about as mad an idea as it is possible to have. That is not hard to understand in the field of libraries as we now encounter our 4th Secretary of State in 5 years just as the third one had initiated an important hearing and was about to publish a study that has taken a year to complete. No one could believe that the priority of Government is to look after the public interest when such terrible management procedure prevails in the operation of public services.
Posted by Perkins at 2:12 PM | Comments (1)
June 4, 2009
Swindon and other library services
Just setting aside the more pressing issue of the decision that Swindon council have to make, I think there is another very important point arising from the events there.
The whole story of the Swindon budget round has highlighted a list of problems which, in my experience, beset public library services across the country and for which, at present, we offer no solutions
- planning is poor
- budgeting is poor
- the roles and responsibilities of officers and councillors are not clear
- library management is of low standard and is not forcefully led by cabinets, portfolio holders or directors
- the public are excluded from the debate and their needs are not understood or treated with priority
- senior financial management by local councils, in the matter of public libraries, is ineffective
- library services are often at the mercy of poor council central services over which they have little influence in either service or cost
- none of the senior professional associations or bodies appear to have any useful contribution to make- but they do distract from the important issues
- none of the potential national government agencies from the Audit Commission to the DCMS, DCLG, MLA etc are in a position to engage effectively nor appear to have the genuine experience or expertise to help with these problems
- the political mantras and agendas that are applied to public libraries are often contrary to the common sense requirements of a local public
- we never place sufficient emphasis on and resource behind the basic elements of the service we give which are book stocks, opening hours, knowledgeable staff and building refurbishment
- we don't tell a good story either to local people or the national media, and as a consequence public opinion generally doesn't trust the public library provision
And in the context of problems there is the endless political and interdepartmental desire to proclaim that everything is wonderful and what a good job is being done. This on its own, for years, has meant that real problems are denied and defended against and never dealt with.
Back in 'February when I had a chance I was suggesting repeatedly that argument in Swindon is a case of which humble analysis by all parties could to be used to the advantage of all. I offered, for my part, to present the story to a seminar convened for the purpose. We should include all views-- councillors, directors, finance officers, public, press, profession, staff and everyone-- but in the end it is to the public we owe the return for their stake. It is a big subject and one of national importance
I repeat that offer now-- I think we should do it. It is the material of a useful initiative and if we are to prepare ourselves for difficult budget rounds in many councils in the next few years it is a project to which time and effort would usefully be devoted. If any of the recipients of this list is in a position to host and chair such a seminar, then I think it should be done. We owe it to the public. Somebody will have to lead. God knows who.
Posted by Perkins at 10:04 AM | Comments (5)