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February 12, 2010
Let them eat Haggis
The SCL President, Fiona Williams is "very excited" about attending Edge 2010 (25-26 Feb). She says that "In the current climate, the conference could not be more apt"!
Perhaps, she could explain why this jamboree is necessary and how she possibly justifies the cost. Is it the Gala dinner or the opportunity to meet old and new friends that has got her so excited. Just think of those hotel bills, train and air tickets, the Gala black tie dinner in Edinburgh Castle and other expenses when councils face tough budget decisions and community libraries are under threat of closure or reduced hours, to save a few paltry thousand pounds! Is this really an essential meeting that will actually benefit library users or just another conference/jamboree or last hurrah. Or is it the meaningless conference agenda from which absolutely no improvement or action will ever come. Remember, Ms Williams, and your cronies, that we are paying the bill (and for all the other conferences, seminars etc), not least for the Gala dinner. At least Fiona Williams is "excited" even if I am not.
The Society of Chief Librarians needs to be kicked into the real world of struggling library assistants and an increasingly angry public who are sick to death of hearing about the expensive lives of state officials who moan about their inability to extract more tax from ordinary people.
Marie Antoinette to you. This conference should be cancelled now, this morning and the people who have organised it named and fined.
Posted by Perkins at February 12, 2010 12:04 PM
Comments
Perkins' comment in her penultimate paragraph is one with which I adamantly agree. While the Society of Chief Librarians sits down to dine off quail's claws in a raspberry coulis -- library staff who meet and serve the public are thoroughly overlooked.
At UNISON's excellent event in London yesterday I had a brief moment to stand up and say the following:-
(Start) An official in an Asian country was asked for a statistic on population numbers. He responded with a figure. Surprised, the questioner said that he had thought it would be higher. The official replied, "Yes sir, but we don't count the women". My question to the Panel after that preamble was this : Can they ensure that Library Assistants are included in the debate about library staff? Many or most of these are not described as Librarians, yet they are absolutely essential to the Service and very highly valued by library users. Do not allow them to be the equivalent to those "uncounted" in that faraway country (End)
In the meantime, all I can say to the Society of Chief Librarians is a wry "Enjoy your meal.." given that all those who are truly valued by the public are not enjoying theirs.
Posted by: Shirley Burnham at February 12, 2010 1:20 PM
I am sure that the blood pressure of many went up on reading this blog. In the current climate Chief Librarians should be focused on trying to protect front line services to the benefit of those who need and use libraries. Gala dinners in castles and expensive conferences should be banned.
Posted by: DWR Clarke at February 12, 2010 1:41 PM
This is Fiona Williams writing about library closures on the SCL blog: "I recently spoke about library closures on the Simon Mayo show , along with writer Alan Gibbons and Yinnon Ezra from Hampshire. This is an important question, and one that local councils should always approach armed with plenty of research. It is a sad but true fact that in some cases it is more beneficial for the community to close a library in order to make room for a better service. Libraries today are changing and evolving in so many exciting ways that our goal is and should be to bring the best possible service to everyone."
I wondered if she had some examples of a community that was better served by having its local library closed?
Posted by: Jeremy at February 12, 2010 4:21 PM
Perhaps someone should warn the Edinburgh Constabulary (Rebus etc) that there is a nuclear device under the Castle that will go off on sight of green taffeta.
Posted by: MacDoom at February 12, 2010 6:34 PM
There are just a couple of useful annual library conferences, organised by the profession for the profession. Then there are events like this, which a cynic might think are designed to publicise the venue and make a few bob. The programme for Edge 2010 certainly wouldn't make me reach for my cheque book or anyone else's - but maybe the organisers are meeting Fiona's costs?
Posted by: The Masked Librarian at February 13, 2010 7:42 PM