Comments on: Swindon proposes just 1 out of 15 libraries to survive: SCL plans 2 day conference https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2016/02/swindon-proposes-just-1-out-of-15-libraries-to-survive-scl-plans-2-day-conference.html What's happening to your library? Sun, 07 Feb 2016 21:28:40 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: darren smart https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2016/02/swindon-proposes-just-1-out-of-15-libraries-to-survive-scl-plans-2-day-conference.html#comment-7648 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 11:36:04 +0000 http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/?p=10528#comment-7648 The report claiming there has been a 28% increase in visits to Scottish Libraries is very interesting, especially as the official CIPFA data shows a small fall (physical visits only) or a small rise (2.3%) if you include virtual visits as well. Some of the discrepancy may reflect slight variations in definition of what constitutes a visit and also the fact that the Scottish report is based on retrospectively “corrected” data from local councils. it may also in part reflect the fact that the body recording visits in Scotland in 2010/11 did not include virtual visits but the current company do. There needs to be much better clarity in the data used to make claims good or bad otherwise the credibility of such reports will be tarnished

]]> By: Frank Daniels https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2016/02/swindon-proposes-just-1-out-of-15-libraries-to-survive-scl-plans-2-day-conference.html#comment-7647 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 09:27:47 +0000 http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/?p=10528#comment-7647 Re: “removal of effective statutory protection” in your latest editorial I would just like to point out, that regardless of anything the upcoming SCL conference may decide to do, it remains the case that this government starves local authorities of funding to maintain/improve services (all public services) . By doing so, it effectively breaks the law (for public libraries, the 1964 Act). It is so much easier for them to do this rather than to do the more “honourable” thing, which would be to repeal the Act and, in doing so, come clean about what they think the public have a right to have access to. Meanwhile, Google gets away with corporate tax murder, money that, if properly collected by HMRC, would go a long way to making all these cuts unnecessary.

My question is: is it ok for the government to just break its own laws? Is a lack of money, howsoever caused, a sufficient reason for destroying so much that is basic to life in this country. Yes, our public libraries are vital, but so many other public services are also under attack. Logic tells me that it does not have to be this way…When I say “logic” I mean the logic of properly structured financial/tax affairs across this state and as transparent as they can possibly be made to be.

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