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October 24, 2009
How to get to the top of Google rankings
I was just reading a long complicated article about how to get to the top of the Google rankings on a particular topic.
'Be interesting' was the message-- so I googled 'Public Library Blogs' to find that the Good Library guide was number two on the Google list. That is number two in the world.
If you want to advertise here, please do, you are most welcome. That would be publishers, library suppliers, systems operators, designers, etc -- or even library operators needing staff.
Posted by Perkins at 8:07 PM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2009
The end of the MLA
Earlier this year I was mugged by the MLA in Swindon. At the time I was trying to explain that in order for a council to make rational and sensible decisions about the library budget, the figures have to be presented clearly so that councillors can see how money is spent on which parts of the service. I was saying that the presentation should show how much each library costs, how much the management structure costs, how much bibliographic and other 'behind the scenes' services, outreach, home delivery, etc cost, each figure separated, as best one can, and shown alongside how much those services are used and what the potential use might be. There also has to be a clear and understandable analysis of all the overhead costs of the service. This was the same explanation I had given in my report 'Who's in Charge?' five years ago and have always used when working in any council. I said that the role a councillor plays in applying common sense to setting priorities can only work if they are fully in the picture about what goes on.
The MLA told Swindon council that my case was not properly argued - when I had only got as far as asking the questions- and secretly, behind my back, advised Swindon not to listen to what I was saying. I complained to the DCMS about this and eventually, the MLA and DCMS agreed that the behaviour of the senior MLA officers, including the chief executive and chair, had been below standard and inappropriate and they apologised. The apology was to me, not to the people of Swindon, as it obviously should have been. And by subsequently refusing many many invitations to talk the matter over, I have no certainty at all that the MLA really realised what they had done, and cannot be certain that they will not do it again. The real shame was that this was a golden opportunity to help other councils if they are faced by budget pressure as so many of them now are. Open and wide discussion of how to prepare and assess the library budget is a really important matter. It still is
For the MLA it matters not. Both the Labour party (in the form of Lyn Brown's all party group report) and the Conservative Party (in a clear speech last week by Ed Vaizey, restating that which he has already said) have decided that the MLA is not the appropriate body to handle those aspects of the library service. After the election whoever wins, there will be some new body.
What does matter though is that there should be an understanding of why the MLA failed after 3 incarnations in only 7 years. There was Re:source created by Matthew Evans, there was the empire of Chris Batt and then we had the admiralty of Roy Clare.
The case for a non departmental body was argued to the Select Committee in 2001 and they agreed with it, but in 2005, much the same group of people heavily criticised both MLA and DCMS for the way they had treated libraries. Both bodies clearly and obviously decided to ignore that criticism and drove onwards down whichever path they thought they were on. In 2007, somebody decided that things were not right, because abruptly and without explanation or any reporting, Chris Batt left and Roy was appointed. There was no public analysis of the reason for this change and therefore no certainty that lessons were being learned, whatever they might be. The MLA has a board of commissioners, but the minutes of board meetings rarely talk about libraries or any of the issues that have seemed to matter, even though the public library service is by far the largest item in the MLA portfolio. It has always been an opaque organisation without clear purpose, objective or lines of accountability. Chairmen have come and gone but this has not changed. The scorn with which it appeared to feel able to treat the people of Swindon (who complained bitterly about the conduct of the MLA) implies that it does not seem to feel it has a responsibility to the public. The board members do not appear to scrutinise or challenge seriously the activities of the management but only ever to offer it support-- as if they could not be bothered to act in a public role. I think these people are open to huge criticism for their conduct. It is beyond belief that in all these years those board members have never asked and obtained a satisfactory explanation of why library lending has declined or book stocks have fallen.
All these things mean that before a new body is set up there is a lot of thinking to be done. This time the purpose and function must be clearly defined and someone has to say how such a body will perform a role to benefit the public directly and account for their work. It needs to obtain the information that can be used to monitor properly the performance and use of the public library service, in a way that the MLA has never attempted to do and, obviously it needs a small number of the right people to achieve the task it is set.
I have the bruises from the last attempt, but I do not think that just closing down the library (and archive) functions of the MLA and creating a new body, on its own will do the job that is needed. There has to be a more detailed plan- and it should be drawn up before an election
Posted by Perkins at 8:37 AM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2009
Delane's War
I am very grateful to all those public library authorities who have responded to my publisher about Delane's War
We seem to have a whole promotional programme based on talks in public libraries- and that is marvellous.. happy to do more if asked. It is a fascinating subject. I will come to a public library anywhere at all
Tim
Posted by Perkins at 4:59 PM | Comments (0)
Libraries in Essex
Thank you to Claire Lickman for this comment:
"I have used various branches of the libraries in Harlow, nearby, and I can only say that I have always had a very good and friendly service from the libraries there. I love their inter-library loan service online; I've been able to get MANY of my books that way and it has always been quick.
I would like to point out, though - when I have asked at Harlow's Staple Tye/Great Parndon library why they were selling off so many books, I was told that many are not old stock, they are donations that they cannot stock. Either they already have copies, the books are not in good enough condition, or they simply do not want them. I was also told that it costs them £5 a book to add it onto the library database, laminate the cover etc. It is better for them if they just sell them, even if they are only at 10p/book, or a bag for £1 - at least that makes them some money.
I agree that there could be improvements, including Sunday opening times for some of the smaller branches, but overall I am really pleased with the service offered."
Posted by Perkins at 9:11 AM | Comments (2)
October 11, 2009
World Premiere
Here is a special treat for readers of the Good Library Guide blog. The World Premiere of Lullaby by Elspeth Brooke
Posted by Perkins at 12:23 PM | Comments (0)
October 4, 2009
London Libraries Change Programme
There have been a number of comments on a post first put up in August, so I have copied it again here. Paul Wycliffe has just asked 'where does Capital Amibition' fit in the democratic process?' It is a very good question. Perhaps someone will come on and tell us.
August 20, 2009
The London Libraries Change Programme
There are quiet but persistent alarm bells ringing about the ‘London Library Change Programme’, which is a substantial initiative that has already been in progress for about 2 years. The bill for consultants must already be approaching £150k and there has been no 'change' yet.
The first thing to say is that London Public Libraries need Changing. They are, in the generality, in a pretty awful state and incredibly expensive to operate. London public libraries- of which there are more than 350- cost us over £200m per annum to run. Less than 6% of that money is spent on books and there is nearly always a very poor relationship with library users.
There are plenty of ways to analyse the failings and the remedies, and many actions that could be taken, but what worries me about the programme that is in progress is that it does not reflect what the public would say and is unlikely therefore to achieve what the public would want.
I am not saying this lightly, I have been watching this plan in detail, as far as one can from the outside, since it started, and now I am raising serious concern. I see that Mrs Follett and the civil servants are criticising Wirral council for not consulting residents properly-- but there is no sign that this programme in London, which is being managed by her officers in the MLA, has taken any public soundings or reported on what they believe the public want. My view is that thpublic would and should ask these direct questions:
- What improvement can we expect to see in the book stock and when?
- What improvement can we expect to see in the opening hours and when?
- Is there a promise of dignified private study space for readers?
- Will there be a commitment to improve the state of the buildings, to care for some of the famous older ones and indeed to open some new ones?
- Will the most expert and knowledgeable staff be at the front line?
- Will there be a commitment to small community libraries?
- What is the understanding of the public need?
- Why do public library services in London cost so much more than elsewhere in the country?
- Who is actually in charge of public libraries in London, and whom do we call to account? - Is it councillors? government officials? librarians? which of these?
In fact the management board of the project have not identified a response to these questions and needs is the purpose of the project but have set instead three priorities
1. Inter library lending
2. 'Work force development'
3. Supply chain improvement.
Unless these three activities are directly linked to visible public improvements, laid at the door of those directly responsible to the public, there is a high risk will become simply subjects of report and debate as they always have done in the past. They are very reminiscent of previous MLA and similar projects and someone ought to look at what those did and why they achieved so little, before we get too far.
Posted by Perkins at August 20, 2009 8:53 AM
Comments
An early priority should be to get a working unified catalogue. The catalogue on the London Libraries gateway still stoutly maintains that Hackney does not stock Ian Sinclair's 'Hackney: that rose-red empire' when a telephone call to Hackney Libraries reveals that they have several copies.
Posted by: Martyn at August 20, 2009 11:11 PM
Not only is there apparently no, or very little public consultation but there has been no fontline staff or union involvement. The proposals are calling for a cut in the pan-london workforce of between 1-10% and obviously a change to working patterns and terms and conditions but to my knowledge we have not been consulted or formally briefed on the project. I found out about it through another colleague who found reference to it in the minutes of a meeting and then found info about it on the web.
Posted by: Alan Wylie at August 21, 2009 2:43 PM
I'd still like to put the MLA to fire and sword, and I feel utterly exasperated to see, once again, so little being done by so many in order to benefit so few. And can they not cut out the cutting mentality and realise that we actually need people in jobs doing stuff (I exempt the MLA from this statement as they are a useless bunch of...) for things to function. It's not rocket science, for god's sake. Computers cannot, in case we've all forgotten, think for themselves!
Posted by: James Christie at August 25, 2009 3:52 PM
A stony silence I notice from the powers that be. I note the local government association is promoting Councils as a bastion of local democracy
where do organisations like Capital Ambition fit into the democratic decision making progress?
Frankly its a disgrace
Posted by: Paul wycliffe at October 1, 2009 11:59 AM
I doubt the report will address one of the the fundemental issues facing library workers today
Low pay, diminished job status and security. The introduction of new technologies such as RfID, may well be inevitable, they will not however mask the underlying problems of a marginialised, underfunded and failing public service. The public may still have a certain fondness for libraries, but I am afraid they no longer are seen as an essential service, by both national and local politicians
Its ironic that the death Knoll of public libraries, should be filling the pockets of highly paid consultants, one final smash and grab rade of public funds chaps, and then on to the next opportunity to make a quick buck!
Posted by: Paul Wycliffe at October 3, 2009 1:28 PM
Posted by Perkins at 9:48 AM | Comments (1)
October 1, 2009
New titles for your library
May I recommend the following new titles for your library. They are all available from Amazon (.com or .co.uk) and from book wholesalers.
Argonaut papers
978-184381-050-6 Dealing with Josef Stalin-- previously unpublished accounts of the 1939 Diplomacy between the Soviet, British and French Governments. This is an important new work. With an introduction by Professor Sidney Aster of Toronto University explaining why Chamberlain's Government prevented publication of these documents.
978-184381-046-9 Dealing with Adolf Hitler-- A twin new edition of this work which contains the British accounts of the final months of diplomatic discussion prior to war breaking out. Particularly fascinating for the extracts of Hitler's speeches that year.
978-184381-049-0 Peace in Tibet, with a Foreword by the Dalai Lama. This new collection of British Government papers describes the military mission to Tibet in 1904 and the farcical negotiation of a peace treaty at Llasa. British pomposity at its most extreme.
978-184381-040-7 The Theft of the Irish Crown Jewels. The official account of the inquiry into scandalous goings on in Dublin castle and the theft of the Irish Regalia, a mystery which has never been solved
978-184381-038-4 The story and genesis of the remarkable Londonderry Verbal Arts Centre, by Sam Burnside, its creator
978-184381-048-3 'Who's in Charge' - a copy of the report on the UK public library service compiled in 2004, now available again in hard copy edition.
Other publishers
978-184954-012-4 'Delane's War' by Tim Coates, published by Biteback, Oct 15
978-074756-081-4 'Patsy, the story of Mary Cornwallis West', (2004) by Tim Coates, published by Bloomsbury.
154381-006-9 The British War in Afghanistan 1842, Moments of History
Posted by Perkins at 8:37 AM | Comments (5)