Ian Anstice

I hasten to say that this has nothing to do with the title today but, due to the very large amount of positive feedback I have received from my previous post outlining a vision for public libraries, I have made it into a web page here.  It now also contains further thoughts on the importance of the book and training.
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The following is in response to an article by Tim Coates which asks what reason libraries have for existing.

“Hi Tim. It’s true that one cannot go along doing something simply because it has gone on before. My reasons for a public library service will be different to everyone else but I offer them up here for criticism:

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The new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, has made clear that there will be no change with regard to the Government’s approach to library closures by deciding against an inquiry in the London Borough of Brent.  This council has led perhaps the most notorious and controversial of all library cuts by closing half of its libraries and by refusing to allow volunteers to run any of them.  Here are the facts as described in the letter informing Brent Council of the decision:

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The Greens have become the latest political part to plan closing a library.  The mobile library in Brighton is soon to finish, to be replaced by a home delivery system supported by volunteers.  Elsewhere, cuts affect libraries in Sandwell and a library is likely to transfer to a community centre in Cheshire West and Chester.  The occupation of Friern Barnet Library by squatters has been the inspiration of several articles of different viewpoints.

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The cuts to Gloucestershire Libraries were debated in the House of Commons this evening.  The complete text is here.  I do not propose to provide a full summary here as the exchange was short and it is far better to get it from the horses’ mouth and read the actual text.  The following are just the bits that jumped out to me.

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