The following is a record of the meeting between the SCL and campaigners on Monday 10th December at Westminster City Hall, 4pm to 6pm..  It is largely written by myself but the SCL has given approval to it and made some amendments. The other campaigners have not themselves given approval for it and so it is not “fully agreed” in terms of formal minutes.  I have put in large quotation marks what I think are interesting points made but I need to point out these emphases are mine alone, as are the links.

The official SCL description of the meeting is here.

Attending:

  • Janene Cox (Chair): President of SCL since May 2012. Previously chief of Staffordshire Libraries and now in charge of Staffs libraries/leisure. Been in libraries since 1984.
  • Tony Durcan: Chief of libraries/leisure etc for Newcastle. Has been on SCL for last ten years and is a past president. Been in libraries for 33 years, starting in Derbyshire. .
  • Laura Swaffield: Chair of Library Campaign, worked at CILIP.
  • David Ruse : on SCL National Executive. Triborough boss of libraries (Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham) since 7 months. Previously chief librarian at Westminster, also worked in several other library authorities.
  • Desmond Clarke: retired publisher, was boss of part of Thomson Reuters. Does email information briefing service for media and politicians.
  • Trevor Craig: interested in Oxfordshire campaign and increasingly nationally. Known for his Question Everything blog and for tweets as Ruby Malvolio.
  • Elizabeth Ash: Secretary of Library Campaign and involved in Speak Up For Libraries and Save Croydon Libraries Campaign, Twitter.
  • Alan Templeton: Library Campaign and Camden Public Library Users Group (CPLUG) and chair of Libraries for Life for Londoners (LLL).
  • Nicky Morgan: Was in MLA, now chief libraries officer for Arts Council England.
  • Alison Bramley: SCL executive officer.
  • Rachel Barber: WI officer in charge of library campaign.
  • Ian Anstice (taker of these minutes): owner of Public Libraries News, branch librarian and unison steward. also representing Voices for the Library.

Apologies:

Campaigners were asked for chief questions at the start of the meeting. The tone was set by Trevor Craig who asked “Why are you cheer-leading for the decimation of the public library service?”.

Janene explained that this was an “important meeting to try and establish some sort of dialogue with yourselves that is in some ways meaningful.”. She appreciated that neither the campaigners or the SCL were going to like everything that the other group was going to say.

The SCL is a body where the library chiefs of all the 151 library services in England can come together to stand up for and develop library services. “We are not and cannot be a campaigning body”.

The SCL is a body where the library chiefs of all the 151 library services in England can come together to stand up for and develop library services. “We are not and cannot be a campaigning body”.  The SCL are underpinned by the core values of public library movement which are [or the SCL believe are] literacy, knowledge, learning and self-improvement.  The SCL enable sharing of best practice between heads of libraries and provide a link between heads of service. This enables the SCL to push out innovation e.g. Summer Reading Challenge which is a good example of how they put forward a key programme with key partner. The heads of libraries may include professionally qualified librarians but some chief librarians do not hold librarianship qualifications. The body is not just for the professionally qualified but rather for the lead library person. Chief librarians are members but all are accountable to their local library authority and to the appropriate councillors within that authority. The SCL as a body is recognised as accountable to the LGA but not in terms of line management .

“some chief librarians do not hold librarianship qualifications”

The campaigners asked the question “Why is the LGA a campaigning body and you’re not?”. The answer was that the LGA has a core of elected members who are able to provide political statements so it can make statements on SCL’s behalf but the SCL is not an incorporated organisation and so cannot make its own statements. It is, literally, a collective of individuals who provide their time voluntarily. The SCL as such therefore does not have a public role and cannot criticise local authorities or oppose the government or council policy. It’s members are council employees like any other public librarian and cannot criticise openly the policies of their employers. SCL has “policies” on its website but they represent what the SCL considers best practice. Campaigners point out that the LGA itself sometimes seemed confused about role of SCL and, certainly, many people (including the Secretary of State) appeared to be too.

“The SCL as such therefore does not have a public role and cannot criticise local authorities or oppose the government or council policy. It’s members are council employees like any other public librarian and cannot criticise openly the policies of their employers.”

The Society of Chief Librarians has funded certain initiatives with the Reading Agency and Janene chairs the strategy group for the Summer Reading Challenge.

There is a partnership agreement between SCL and ACE which explains what each organisation will do. ACE says there is a huge value in the SCL in bringing together authorities to provide best practice. Collective action leads to efficiencies. ACE hope that “Envisioning the library of the future” research will lead to a way to speaking collectively and collaboratively about what needs to be done.

Campaigners raised concerns that there is an endless churn of initiatives from the SCL but at the end of the day nothing happens. For example, the “national library card” scheme failed. Desmond said that Ed Vaizey has admitted that the MLA modernisation review was an “excuse for doing nothing”.

“The SCL pointed out that the 151 sovereign library authorities decide what they want to do, nobody else.”

The SCL pointed out that the 151 sovereign library authorities decide what they want to do, nobody else. Councillors decide on advice, which is normally from senior officers which may not be the chief library officer. This has been a problem for 20 to 30 years. There is a big tension between what is determined locally and what national bodies can do. SCL cannot tell local authorities what to do, their members can provide advice and information to decision makers and SCL ensure chief librarians are aware of best practice and can collaborate together to make things different and, hopefully, improved.

The SCL is not a trade union or a professional association: it does represent the interest of public library services rather than individual librarians. This means that they are limited in what influence they have and what they can say: “We’re as frustrated about this as you are … we don’t have the power and responsibility”. LGA can ask SCL advice on policy but are not bound by it.  It is, in the final analysis, the LGA who can do things.

“We’re as frustrated about this as you are … we don’t have the power and responsibility”

Some members of the Advisory Council on Libraries were present at the meeting and confirmed that they have not yet been officially told it has been closed down. Ed Vaizey thought the ACL was not statutory and was surprised when his officials confirmed that it was. In law, the ACL exist to provide advice and to produce an annual report on libraries to Parliament. Due to its abolition, there is now a void. It is not the role of the SCL to advise the Secretary of State but are available if they are asked.

“Ed Vaizey thought the ACL was not statutory and was surprised when his officials confirmed that it was.”

SCL is a voice not for librarians but for local government. CILIP is for librarians. Campaigners felt that LGA supports the cuts and that, being the SCL advises the LGA, this implies SCL does this as well. SCL said they will never criticise individual services and exist to provide advice and information to LGA only. They can / do give controversial advice but only privately.

Campaigners pointed out the experience of a few years ago when the SCL were so late in providing a statement in support of the importance of libraries that eventually a press release was produced without them. The one organisation asked that failed to give a statement in support of libraries was SCL. This was extremely frustrating. SCL say “that was then” and that they now offer a different leadership in a different landscape. SCL now producing advocacy e.g. “The new super-users of Britain’s public libraries”.

The one organisation asked that failed to give a statement in support of libraries was SCL. This was extremely frustrating. SCL say “that was then” and that they now offer a different leadership in a different landscape.

In the past, it was the experience of campaigners that the SCL could sometimes cut off the issue e.g. a semi-public debate on lis-pub-libs about the massaging of data for Cipfa. Campaigners felt that the statistics are sometimes therefore untrustworthy. Janene said she would go public and state her disappointment if there was evidence that the data was incorrect. Alan Templeton say CIPFA statistics are inaccurate due to misreporting from local councils. ACE and DCMS don’t necessarily analyse data and don’t make it public. SCL believe in the integrity of the data but would welcome greater analysis of the results but “we can’t do it”. It is up to someone to pay for the analysis – SCL can’t fund it. SCL says the integrity of the data is vitally important as everyone needs to rely on it as a benchmark. In most authorities the returning Officer has to sign to say that the data is a true and accurate record so that it can externally audited.  It would be useful for SCL to ensure statistics are all accurate. SCL have a representative on the CIPFA working group and SCL confirmed that they will talk to the Chair of this group to gain a greater understanding of the process so that it can be more transparent putly. ACE also have representation on this group. CIPFA are clearly happy with the figures.

The SCL has stopped putting minutes on the internet but they will look into restarting making them, and action points arising,  public.

The escalation of central service charges was seen as worrying by campaigners who suggested it would be useful to look at this. CIPFA figures include a vague “service charges” column that is not explained and not broken down. Oxfordshire had a big increase this year.

“The target for 2012 was for libraries to connect and empower half a million people. Actually, they exceeded that target, with 2.5 million having Go Online training through public libraries. This changed perspectives of national digital people of what the role of libraries is.”

– Race Online.  SCL are interested in what the role of libraries will be in the future. It’s a fantasy that printed book and internet will take over the world but they are important channels. A lot of material is only published in electronic format and some people are disenfranchised because of that. The People’s Network  was all about this. Libraries provide online access and trained staff/volunteers can assist and have a role in creating content and signposting to it. The target for 2012 was for libraries to connect and empower half a million people. Actually, they exceeded that target, with 2.5 million having Go Online training through public libraries. This changed perspectives of national digital people of what the role of libraries is. There will be a “Public Libraries information Offer” in 2013 which will give the basic information strategies for all authorities to create a national proposition – working with ACE and Government to formulate it. This will help to reposition the role and importance of libraries as part of the digital future. Local authorities are keen to reduce face to face contact so the role of the library becomes more central to the authority. The councils will find libraries very handy in negating the need for One Stop Shops and paper. It’s a win-win for councils and for libraries as the “channel shift” towards digital makes the access/advice libraries can provide more important. This adds to the sustainability of the existing network e.g. buildings and resources within. The SCL hope that the Government will sponsor/ promote public libraries as THE place to go for supported access. By 2015, all national government services will be “digital by default”. However, campaigners pointed out the 13% drop in internet usage in libraries. Was this due to increase in charging? Or the fact that library machines were often now aged and slow? The SCL does not know but stressed the need for continual investment.

“It’s a win-win for councils and for libraries as the “channel shift” towards digital makes the access/advice libraries can provide more important. This adds to the sustainability of the existing network e.g. buildings and resources within.”

– Volunteering. SCL Wales don’t support substitution but SCL England do. SCL England only supports it in the context of “professionally managed network” where the council have oversight and could send in paid workers to support volunteers when needed. This could be to provide advice, maintain standards or if volunteers were not available. Volunteers could remove the need to double staff some service points which would reduce costs and this meant libraries were kept open. If there was absolutely no job substitution then libraries will close. ACE survey in association with SCL found that there were currently 170 community supported libraries which is 5% of all. Campaigners were shocked to hear that it is anticipated that this figure will rise to 425 by April 2013 which is 12% of all branches. The majority of these branches would still be considered part of the statutory provision. It is however up to the council to decide what is statutory and what is not – if there is any financial / resource contribution by the council this makes it statutory.

“Volunteers could remove the need to double staff some service points which would reduce costs and this meant libraries were kept open. If there was absolutely no job substitution then libraries will close. ACE survey in association with SCL found that there were currently 170 community supported libraries which is 5% of all. Campaigners were shocked to hear that it is anticipated that this figure will rise to 425 by April 2013 which is 12% of all branches.”

– E-books. Janene is on this panel. Last week the panel met for the first time and saw all key stakeholders. Everyone has a different position – authors, booksellers, publishers, libraries – but the meeting was very useful. meeting again on Wednesday to look at potential way forward.

– Need for strategic leadership. Campaigners said that there’s been a serious leadership void. The SCL do not see it as their role. SCL handled e-lending issue ” well” – SCL is on the panel and has a major voice as part of this debate and in deciding a way forward. The large number of authorities which are already providing a limited e-books service meant they could provide advice on how do it and also current patterns of use. The SCL lobbied Ed to be part of the e-lending review and are proud that libraries have a voice around that table. The SCL think that libraries, in terms of actual service delivery could have been completely sidelined in the debate

“The SCL lobbied Ed to be part of the e-lending review and are proud that libraries have a voice around that table. The SCL think that libraries, in terms of actual service delivery could have been completely sidelined in the debate”

– Campaigners said there was not enough vision or attempt at strategy or long-term thinking. SCL said they held a seminar on scenario planning in 2012 which brought all chief librarians together to consider what different futures may look like and how the library service would fit into this. ACE pointed out that the “Envisioning the library of the future” survey was there to develop this vision so “there is still a public library service in ten year’s time”. It looked at technology, innovation and what is happening internationally and got views from all relevant groups. Although campaigners were unhappy with their voice in this, ACE said they have talked to Library Campaign at their AGM. This research will provide a framework in the same way as the much admired New Zealand one. ACE are working with all stakeholders to develop this shared vision.

“ACE pointed out that the “Envisioning the library of the future” survey was there to develop this vision so “there is still a public library service in ten year’s time”

The SCL is frustrated as well. SCL members pushed the Government to respond to the last library review and do feel there is some reinvention of the wheel going on. SCL have also made the case for the leadership that campaigners want. Supporting Envisioning is a fresh start and the trick will be to influence local councils.

– Campaigners asked why the SCL did not agitate for a return to national library standards. The response was that the SCL “pick the fights we can win”. In the current environment, there is no chance of national library standards. Mr Ruse was on the group that set up library standards and said they helped by dragging standards up. However, the landscape in terms of performance has changed considerably: the Audit Commission has gone and many of the other regimes that provided performance monitoring have gone so the return of standards “is simply not going to happen”. Both ACE and the SCL recognise the need to be pragmatic and to push through the real opportunities.

“the SCL “pick the fights we can win”. In the current environment, there is no chance of national library standards.”

Every local authority service is being reduced. SCL members try individually to argue against cuts and are absolutely against disproportionate cuts. SCL try to ensure they’re not seen as a soft touch. However, the scale of the cuts mean that libraries will either close or hours will reduce or stock will reduce. “Something has to give”. No local authority will just protect the library service. Campaigners think that the SCL position is complicit in it and don’t think SCL are bound by neutrality.  The SCL believe that they cannot criticise any local authority. Both want to ensure cuts don’t just become an excuse.

The SCL hope to demonstrate that libraries are more benefit to the council by being open than closed e.g. through the health offer. SCL therefore help individuals by giving them a template for success. Sometimes this may not be to the campaigners liking. It is quite likely that an increase in e-lending will mean less libraries. There needs to be both big libraries and a need electronic services. SCL members need to provide both in a shrinking environment. SCL provide arguments to improve individual libraries chiefs/budget position but cannot improve libraries directly.

“It is quite likely that an increase in e-lending will mean less libraries. There needs to be both big libraries and a need electronic services. SCL members need to provide both in a shrinking environment.”

The SCL is effectively run by chief librarians in their own time, bound by the rules of all local authorities. They need to work within the system.

Campaigners said that they would like to work together and agree with what needs doing e.g. CIPFA stats, ACE leading on strategy, desperate need to promote libraries [there being currently, in the view of campaigners, no marketing]. They said that there was a disconnect between local authorities and national and all could benefit from more “cracking of the whip”. Campaigners also pointed out that simple good practice was not accessible and searchable for average branch librarian who wants to do something e.g. for Valentine’s Day. They would like SCL to publish what they think volunteers should and shouldn’t do. SCL said that they are putting forward some examples of job roles on their website soon. SCL are working with ACE and TRA to provide some national programmes , marketing and to achieve a robust evidence base.

SCL will make sure that they send out key messages to campaigners. They shared the advocacy packs around “new super-users” of library service which are useful profiles, based on real people’s stories. This gives a strong message to local authorities and ties in with national offer and envisiioning work. SCL are “starting to get their act together” with how they approach advocacy.

“SCL are “starting to get their act together” with how they approach advocacy”

SCL will move to listening more to campaigners but will also “challenge back” to campaigners. All need to be better at saying things to each other and to focus on what is best for the user. The WI will continue to champion libraries. ACE will decide on leader of libraries before Christmas.

The hope is for a cycle of SCL/campaigner meetings, with a proper timeframe to be decided. The SCL is committed to having transparency and will make sure media packs etc go out to campaigners at point of publication. Both groups may sometimes find that they actually agree on things, not least that is a frustrating time for all of us.

SCL will produce an action note for this meeting.  The meeting ended with a conclusion, shared by all that “we are all on the same side and want libraries to continue.  This is an important step forward”.

“We are all on the same side and want libraries to continue. This is an important step forward.”