« People and parasites | Main | A former Chief Librarian writes »
February 21, 2010
Get it Loud in Libraries
Here we are going round the country saying that libraries are a good place to work and do your private study and homework, if you can't do it at home, and we are told that 'The MLA have commissioned the "Get It Loud In Libraries programme", designed to ‘give people especially young people who love music a damn good time in a library’ to roll out UK wide'.
Are they Mad? Why don't we also have a campaign to "Poke someone in the eye in a library and make it hurt". How much are we paying for this one?
It's not that one objects to events in libraries, especially those intended to widen the audience, but firstly, there is so much to be done that is basic and fundamental, that it is hard to understand why anyone would make this a priority for money and effort and secondly the tone of voice of the slogan is so patronising and irritating that one wonders who has given it the time of day.
In plain English it says "We despise people who have a serious use for libraries. Get out of our way." Why do you have to say that? It is aggressive and embarrassing
Posted by Perkins at February 21, 2010 6:48 PM
Comments
The Friends of the West Norwood Library are fighting back against this deplorable trend, Perkins. They’ve offered to sponsor one of Lambeth’s famous phantom libraries (mini-libraries, originally intended to fool the Audit Commission and CIPFA) if it is installed in the nearby Old Library which has been taken over by the Council Youth Service … partly for music practice!
Posted by: No Brain at February 21, 2010 10:57 PM
Yes, and while we are at it lets cut out these poetry and author talks. Why should we expend time and resources promoting the very people whose product we rely on for our existance. After all, the profit libraries have made from lending sound recordings for a fee should not be shared with anyone.
In truth, Public Libraries have been involved in putting on live music recitals for over 100 years,mainly classical, but more recently jazz, folk and yes, rock/pop.
Bringing non-users through our doors where they can experience at first hand our products and services, interacting with staff etc is more vital now than ever. Having 100 young adults/teenagers in a library, when the library is 'closed', enjoying a live music gig of whatever genre can have enormous impact. And remember the audience of 100 (non-users?) have friends who they blog etc which can take this process several stages further.
And yes, I feel a shiver of total distaste at patronising attempts to 'get down with yoof'
Get It Loud in Libraries does not come into this category!
Posted by: Lagavulin at February 23, 2010 6:56 AM
If the staff are there why is the library closed?
Have you so little confidence in the value and virtue of what you do that you have to sell it by telling people you do something completely different?
Posted by: perkins at February 23, 2010 8:38 AM
You know, Perkins, I think we are all barking (or miaowing) up the wrong tree and that's why we're not getting anywhere. We can't understand why the powers-that-be cannot grasp that libraries need to have well-maintained buildings, open long hours, with knowledgeable staff, quiet places for study, and a wonderful book collection. It's simple logic, surely? But I think the truth is that everyone who works for, or influences, the library service is fed up with their 'boring' job of running a library. They want to work in a more 'exciting' field, such as music, theatre, technology, management consultancy or youth-work. That's why they are continually coming up with daft ideas such as the Get It Loud one outlined above, or going to conferences called The Edge (they like to feeling 'edgy'), or getting excited about IT systems for automated book checkout (when there's hardly any books left to check out). Why don't they just change careers and let the people who DO love books, reading and silence, take over. Then we might actually get a decent library service.
Posted by: Amanda Field at February 23, 2010 10:52 AM
A library or a library service point, should not be closed for an event which features 'noise'. But it should be possible to use the facility out of hours. And libraries are not and have rarely been places of quiet and silence ..phones ring, staff interact with users, books get stamped etc etc.
A poetry event, author talk or lute recital is best performed in the 'silence' we all appreciate.
If an event features loud accoustic music or amplified music it is also best arranged out of normal hours out of respect for those who choose not to have it foisted on them. The best of all worlds with no one inconvenienced .. performer .. audience or library user!
Get it Loud in Libraries is also an initiative organised and promoted by music librarians ..spot the link?
And should not libraries have exciting books on a wide range of subjects including music, theatre, technology etc. Running any type of library is most definately not boring.
Though, on technology, I remember reading an article many years ago (30?) by the then City Librarian of Glasgow who lamented the schism developing in our profession between the 'technologists' and the 'product focused among us'. He correctly predicted the current sad situation where informed and intelligent stock selection is now on the (unlit)back burner. The 'demand' for exciting and interesting product is clearly there ..it is the 'usage' that is not..our fault?
Posted by: lagavulin at February 23, 2010 9:20 PM