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July 7, 2012
The DCMS is to close
Over many years Perkins has exerted a powerful influence particularly in bringing to an end the careers of many who have been responsible for damaging the public library service.
Included in her list of trophies are several Ministers under the Labour Government (Lammy, McIntosh etc), two chief executives and chairmen and indeed the whole body of the MLA; She was the cause of the end of the appalling regional MLA offices; Perkins brought about the end of the dreadful London Libraries Change Programme. She played a powerful part in the closure of the ridiculous Audit Commission (where the executives spent a lot of time at the races). She has seen the departure of several chief librarians.
It is a proud record - some of the achievements have taken much longer than they should have done - the SCL still survives, for the time being and so, indeed, does the LGA, despite Perkins' unwelcome attentions. Even the House of Lords is on Perkins' hit list
But now Perkins can proudly announce what may be her best achievement so far: the DCMS is to close- announcements will be made after the Olympic Games (unless they make such a hash of their contribution that the closure needs to come earlier
Bye Bye Dempster,Criag and Jonathan and and all the Sarah's and Ian's and Catherine's. You have comprehensively ruined the library service, so it is time to go
Oh - and bye bye Ed.
Posted by Perkins at July 7, 2012 8:57 PM
Comments
I'm irresistably reminded of Nero's ship being crunched up by a black hole in the Star Trek reboot, and genuinely suspect nobody will even notice the DCMS is no longer there, or even that it ever was.
With the greatest of respect to Ruthie, I do however realise there are fine and decent people in the library service, but there are also a lot of old farts and complacent twerps. Some senior librarians and also Ed Vaizey would not be missed. The problem being that we have created a culture which feeds off self-perpetuating mumbo-jumbo and the only means of escape is via plain speaking. I would stress I never expected to be saying all these things at the age of 47. I'd hoped to become an assistant librarian, but while I'm careful to avoid any sense of entitlement, it is virtually impossible not to feel more than a little embittered when continually presented with a profession talking mumbo-jumbo while providing neither careers, future or hope.
Except for the favoured few.
Posted by: James Christie at July 8, 2012 10:11 PM
This rumour has been doing the rounds for some time but if your tip off is true then where do you see libraries ending up, the DCLG? Do you also think that they're will be any serious attempts to repeal the 1964 act, the LGA seem keen on non-statutory library services?
Posted by: Alan Wylie at July 9, 2012 7:00 AM
Are you asking my advice? !!
Posted by: perkins at July 9, 2012 8:32 AM
No Tim i couldn't afford it!
Posted by: Alan Wylie at July 9, 2012 7:07 PM
If your information is correct what do you think CILIP's position statement on this should be, assuming that they think one might be necessary?
Posted by: Frank Daniels at July 10, 2012 10:45 AM
My view about CILIP is that the public library section should define what a good public library means and explain that their job is to raise standards. They should adopt all people who work in libraries as part of their membership and help people develop and provide the most excellent service to the public. Their board should include people who are library users, who can help them.
Then they have a role to lobby local and national government to make sure that councils provide the resources that these excellent public library services need - and in return they would promise to take responsbility for helping councils to achieve all this
If they did this effectively, we would not need a government department. When people talk about a 'public libraries task force' this is a role that CILIP could fulfil. In the USA, it is part of what the ALA does
Posted by: perkins at July 10, 2012 5:06 PM
Hey Perkins! You forgot to add Tim Coates to your trophy list. He used to write this blog before you.
Posted by: Rover Barking at July 11, 2012 8:09 AM
Ah- I think we have awakened our correspondent in New Zealand.....
Posted by: perkins at July 11, 2012 11:50 AM
Grow up, Perkins.
Posted by: What do you add? at July 13, 2012 6:04 PM