Comments on: An open and shut case? https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2022/02/an-open-and-shut-case.html What's happening to your library? Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:20:28 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: Tim Coates https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2022/02/an-open-and-shut-case.html#comment-49840 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:20:28 +0000 https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/?p=18377#comment-49840 The big problem of the public library service in the UK is that nobody can say clearly what it is trying to do.

Until that changes it is hard for anyone to invest in or try to improve it.

You can keep asking for money, but if you can’t explain what it would be spent on, no one should allocate public funds.

There is always the impression that it is a service run to provide jobs for those who want to work in it, (and who are outraged if that does not happen) but without any focus on what the public might need it or use it for – or why they do not use it any longer.

And no-one does.

]]> By: Ian Anstice https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2022/02/an-open-and-shut-case.html#comment-49837 Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:29:54 +0000 https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/?p=18377#comment-49837 In reply to Tim Coates.

Which is true to a point, but councils do not own, run or supervise all libraries. And don’t get me started on what defines a “community library”.

]]> By: Tim Coates https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2022/02/an-open-and-shut-case.html#comment-49835 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:02:07 +0000 https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/?p=18377#comment-49835 It’s not that hard to work out how many libraries are open. You just look at the council websites

In England last week (which was half term in most places), there were 2,283 staffed libraries open more than 10 hours per week. That compares with 3,374 in 2010 (or a fall of 32%)

There were also 415 ‘Community libraries’

In Scotland the fall was 30% – but there were 46 ‘community libraries

In Wales the fall was 44% – but there were 18 ‘Community libraries’

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