That’s very good – but what we don’t want from Sheila Bennett or Isobel Hunter (or Nick Poole) are more of their interminable statements about how wonderful the sector is and how much they have achieved and what they are about to do next

We really need some reality and to face the fact that public libraries in the UK are not only in deep trouble, but a great national embarrassment

I shall be speaking at a public libraries convention in Washington next week where the UK library service will be held up as an example of how terrible a service can become. It won’t be me saying it – I’ve listened to the rehearsals. It will be senior library directors from across the US.

I wish I had shouted louder, earlier, about the disaster we are watching.

The CIPFA press release (10 Feb 22) on the 20/21 libraries data was a new low in communication.

Nowhere does the short press release state that public libraries were effectively shut by Government order for about half of 20/21.

CIPFA’s CEO Rob Whiteman’s comment of ”Given how stretched public services were during the pandemic, it’s not surprising to see such a sharp decline in libraries’ income, visitors and volunteer staff.” seems a bizarre comment given the libraries were shut for half the year.

The headline of the press release is that ‘Library income drops by almost £20m’. Is that really the most important library event on 20/21? I wouldn’t have thought so.

Why does the public library sector allow CIPFA to put out such sub-standard information. It damages the sector’s image.

Reform of public libraries data collection and reporting is long overdue.

We [the public] need to see action by the DCMS and/or Libraries Connected to improve published performance information on public libraries.

Perhaps Sheila Bennett (DCMS) or Isobel Hunter (Libraries Connected) could comment.

I, and the others they mentioned, had been asked to respond to the press release they had been sent by CIPFA

It is still to be seen whether CIPFA will release the full set of figures to those who have subscribed to them. That, if it happens, will provide more information.

Tim Coates

– any responsible politician being asked for money for public libraries ought to look for the CIPFA figures. There are no others

– for ten years at least, Libraries Connected, CIPFA, ACE, CILIP and the DCMS have been saying that the figures need to be more reliable, and in fact they have only got worse

So when you complain that there is insufficient funding, it really is no wonder. If the sector cannot provide the figures to make their case, there really is no one else who could.

It is neither a matter for laughing or crying, but incompetent and irresponsible management which is destroying the service for the public who pay for it