- Latest
- By authority
- Changes by local authority
- List of UK volunteer libraries
- List of Library Trusts and prospective Library Trusts
- Fine free libraries
- List of Staffless Libraries in the United Kingdom and beyond
- Literature Festivals with library involvement
- Governance
- Volunteer-run libraries
- 2010-2014: From Community Library to Community-run library: a look at the impact of volunteers
- Pros: reasons for volunteer “community libraries”
- Cons: reasons against volunteer “community libraries”
- Practicalities
- “The reality is very different”: A volunteer library manager speaks
- Are volunteer libraries statutory or non-statutory?
- Four views on volunteer libraries: Sue Charteris, AnneMarie Naylor, Marylyn Haines-Evans of the WI and Ian Anstice
- The Risk Exposures of Volunteer Libraries
- A crude strategy but here to stay: Biddy Casselden on volunteer public libraries in the United Kingdom
- Council assistance for volunteers
- International
- Further reading
- Trusts
- Efficiencies
- Increasing income
- Volunteer-run libraries
- Why libraries?
- Fighting for libraries
- Archives
- Old lists arranged by UK library service
- What do public library staff do?
- Transcripts of library related programmes
- Guest posts
- Indigenous Knowledge Centres: Queensland Public Libraries finding a niche
- 3D Printers & Maker Spaces
- A Library is not just for Christmas
- The CCC/Tsutaya library miracle in Japan: combined bookshop libraries
- Maker Spaces in Libraries – The state of the art December 2013
- A glimpse of Tokyo library life, by Sue Charteris
- Relative Poverty: A display designed especially for libraries
- Nick Poole on what can we learn from the past to inform the future of public libraries
- A home for the homeless: Rachael Rivera and the Auckland Library Streeties
- Dancing Darth Vaders And Talking To Astronauts: Liam Cookson talks MozFest 2017
- A little less conversation: Nick Poole from CILIP writes about the problems with public libraries and action needed
- The Amazing Grace of Public Libraries (or aromatherapy for local living)
- Angry about cuts to Newport Libraries
- Libraries Taskforce Kathy Settle sets the records straight
- Thema: Graham Bell describes Thema, the new subject classification for the global book industry
- Glossary of common library terms
- LS&S (formally known as LSSI).
- Political
- Carillion and libraries
- Useful
- Advertising
Increasing income: Charging
Pro
Libraries are highly unusual on the High Street for not charging for their principle stock in trade. Many could be willing to pay small amounts to take out items or even an annual subscription, with discounts for those on lower incomes. It need not be “all or nothing”: Bexley Village Communty Library will be keeping a free basic service from Spring 2012 but introduce a £24 charge for free computer use, more loans and removal of late fees.
Con
Charging is currently illegal under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act (although this excludes many effectively non-council libraries such as many of those run by volunteers), as it is in many other countries such as Canada and Australia. In New Zealand, which does not currently have legislation, there is a campaign for making charging books in public libraries illegal with major political parties giving backing.
The UNESCO public library manifestosays “The Public Library shall in principle be free of charge. The public library is the responsibility of local and national authorities. It must be supported by specific legislation and financed by national and local governments. It has to be an essential component of any long-term strategy for culture, information provision, literacy and education.”. Warwickshire – Charging for computers resulted in plummeting usage and a failure to reach even a quarter of the target income.
The Atlantic magazine has published an article against charging for libraries. Reasons for not charging (largely taken from the Atlantic article and here) are:
- Destroys the principle of equal access to public libraries. Those who need it most (young, poor, students, elderly, as well as less obvious groups) would be the ones most barred from it.
- Increases the cost of researching for information
- It would slant stock towards popular short-term titles
- It would reduce usage in libraries (e.g. New Zealand – 22 to 65% drop – detailed library report here)
- Allows free access to the increasingly essential resource that is the internet
- Libraries would remain in the most prosperous areas and be greatly reduced in poorer areas meaning (a) a postcode lottery and (b) reduction in access to precisely those people who need libraries most.
- The main cost in a library are fixed – building, stock, staff – so reducing usage reduces optimisation of those (council-funded) assets.
- Libraries give an excellent long-term return on investment in terms of increased skills / life opportunities and therefore short-term charging can reduce this.
Leave a ReplyCancel reply
Subscribe
Contact
Please send any news, comment or thoughts to ianlibrarian@live.co.uk.Recent Comments
- Dave - Libraries Hacked on Aberdeen getting worse but otherwise we’re getting Beta
- Erwin Lagustan on Ideas and innovations in public libraries
- Jeanette Jones on The joy of work
- Barbara Carol Band on No words
- Sue Wickstead on A warm Christmas
Thank you
Warren O'Donoghue of Rabbitdigital Design has been wonderful in designing and creating this website, maintaining it and basically being there for the one hundred and one web problems that seem to surface all the time.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Oh great, it's austerity again
- Public Library Standards in England
- List of withdrawn libraries (no longer updated)
- How long will libraries Labour under austerity?
- Dudley to East Riding of Yorkshire
- List of UK volunteer libraries
- Ideas and innovations in public libraries
- Flintshire to Oldham
- Increasing income: Retail
- Privatisation of public libraries: reasons in favour
about 10 years ago
At Bexley Community Library we have over 800 members signed up, the great majority on a free basis. Our paid membership scheme gives members the opportunity to become Friends for £12 – which covers the household – and gives greater borrowing rights and no late fees. From conversations with Friends, it is not so much the additional benefits that attracts them to pay towards the Library, but the opportunity to support us in our activities. It is tough covering the costs of maintaining a Library and membership/friend schemes can be a useful way of fundraising.