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Library campaign conference announced
Sep 19th
“On 22 October 2011 the Library Campaign in association with Voices for the Library will be hosting a conference for library user groups. It will be a chance for users to compare notes, find out more about the issues confronting them and produce some proposals for future action both locally and nationally. Philip Pullman has agreed to speak and there will also be contributions from some of the campaigns that are making news.
Some of the proposed discussion topics include
- working with volunteers
- outsourcing, privatisation, trusts etc
- legal challenges
- using the press
- using social media (Facebook. Twitter etc.)
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
News
“Indeed. Here’s the problem: when it’s an actual private company doing work for profit, there’s an incentive to keep costs down. When it’s an actual government worker with democratic oversight, there’s an incentive to keep costs down. But when you contract out to a private contractor and take both competition and government oversight mostly out of the picture, you’ve created a government-sanctioned monopoly – a private company basically does the work of the state but with an eye toward making profit, not through competition but through a parasitic relationship with the state. This is bad for taxpayers, obviously, but it gives politicians an opening to say they “shrunk government” and often line their own pockets. This is called cronyism in many circles, and with good reason.” Do private contractors save the government money? – Forbes (USA). “But a lot of faux privatization schemes are not short term – public libraries turning their operations over to private for-profit companies just to name an example.”
- Library meetings protested by Tea Party – Cincinnati.com (USA). “About eight people showed up at the Campbell County Public Library’s meeting at Plum Creek Christian Church to discuss the new planned South Branch – most [5?] wore yellow stickers stating “No new library.”
- Moorpark City Library holds card sign-up event, Star Wars style – Ventura County Star (USA). ““Just like the library, Star Wars Day has something for everyone,” said Moorpark City Librarian Heather Cousin about the event. The day featured a costume contest, crafts including Wookie cookie decorating, even a Chewbacca pet look-alike contest.”
- Privatisation of public library services – Voices for the Library (Alan Wylie). “In the UK there is evidence that the majority of opinion is “anti”. Reasonable people of all economic backgrounds and political colour do not welcome the piecemeal destruction of their valued public library service.”. Reasons against privatisation include: first loyalty is to shareholders, not the public; private companies can go bankrupt; commercialisation of a neutral space; deprofessionalisation of the workforce.
“A pioneering project which has switched thousands of struggling pupils on to reading is being axed in primary schools. Research shows that the Reading Recovery Project, which involves daily one-to-one half-hour reading sessions with pupils, has had a major impact in boosting reading standards. After 12 to 20 weeks in the scheme, five- to six-year-olds saw their reading ability increase by up to 20 months – an improvement which was sustained when they were tested a year later. But schools are being forced to axe the project – or at least reduce the number of pupils to whom they offer it – because of a squeeze on school budgets, according to the National Association of Head Teachers” Reading scheme axed in cuts to school spending – Peter Scott’s library blog.
- What are the toughest questions tossed at reference librarians? – Christian Science Monitor (USA). “And then I got to wondering. Never mind Dewey and his decimals. What are the most difficult questions that reference librarians have ever had to answer? I decided to ask them. Here’s what librarians from across North America had to say via email: …”
- When did books become decorations? – Calgary Herald (Canada). “”Mine’s on the other one,” she said, pointing to the kid zonked out on the other computer. I shook my head and explained how I’ve been trying to impart that libraries are for discovering good books. She just looked at me and shrugged. “Different generation,” she said.”
Local News
- Angus – Arbroath Guildry dean says library proposal would represent ‘immoral quarrying of common good funds’ – Courier. “”Just because Angus is now governed by a single unitary council doesn’t mean to say the district’s individual towns are no longer entitled to their own heritage.”
- Bolton Number’s not up for plate on mayor’s limo – Bolton News. “COUNCIL chiefs have ruled out selling the Mayor of Bolton’s private WH1 number plate to help save the town’s libraries.” … “current laws prevented the council from spending the money on public services and it would only be able to invest profits in another asset.”… ““Half-a-million pounds was mentioned at the meeting, but there is no number plate selling for anything close to that.” [GS1 sold for £258,775]
- Brent – Wilson to hold Brent libraries benefit – BookSeller. Former children’s laureate Jacqueline Wilson is the latest high-profile author to take part in a fundraising benefit in aid of Brent’s six threatened libraries…. The Brent campaign has now raised close to £25,000, including a £1,000 donation from The Library Campaign and £3,000 raised by Kensal Rise campaigners selling memorabilia on eBay. Pub quizzes, dances and “tin-rattling outside Sainsbury’s” have also contributed to the total, which campaigners say brings them close to their fundraising target.”
- Buckinghamshire – Volunteers praised for library action – Chalfonts. Chalfont St Peter saved from closure by Friends of Chalfont St Peter Library. “Residents in the village came together to keep the library opened and its future has now been all but secured to the delight of residents.”
- Gloucestershire – County council cuts: 838 jobs and counting – This is Glos. “The cuts, which bosses want to realise by 2014 under its ‘Meeting the Challenge’ project in order to balance the books, have resulted in the vast majority of jobs not being filled as staff leave. It has also led to scores of libraries and community centres being handed over to the public to run to save cash, as well as vastly reduced spending across all departments.”
- Newcastle – Let’s talk libraries – Newcastle Council. “Join in the conversation to have your say about Newcastle Libraries’ priorities, how we spend our money and the future of our library service. Help us take your views and those of the wider community into account by participating in our public consultation event on Saturday 29 October from 10:30am – 12:30pm.”
- Northern Ireland – Further library provision slashes revealed – 4NI. Cregagh library to be reduced from 40 to 30 hours. “Cllr Michael Long stated: “We intend to challenge this proposal, which is a further significant blow to library services in the Borough. Our experience in Braniel, Gilnahirk and Belvoir is that in all three cases significant reductions in hours, far from stabilising the situation, in the end led to the closure of those libraries.”
“Without professional staff like Mrs Dunstan, I can’t see how the library could ever be as good as it is now. I want our library to stay as it is…. It’s great just as it is now, so please can we keep it that way.”
- Oxfordshire – Children’s public plea to save “vital” library staff – Henley Standard. Sonning Common – “Isabel Mulligan, 11, and Oliver Matthews, 10, addressed Oxfordshire County Council officials at a public meeting in the village hall on Monday. More than 100 residents, library staff and teachers at the village primary school attended the meeting”.
- Plea from former headteacher – Henley Standard. Sonning Common – ““I make this appeal that you consider this as a specific and special case,” he said. “When the library was taken into the school, the school went into partnership with the authority, The school still pays for heating, lighting, caretaking and the upkeep and that is a real partnership. You as the authority would have lost quite a lot of money.”
- Staffordshire – Libraries thrive as e-book use increases – Express & Star. “County Councillor Pat Corfield, cabinet member for culture, said that presently more than 40 per cent of e-titles are downloaded outside library opening hours.”
- Surrey – Ebook borrowing booming for Surrey libraries – Surrey Comet. “More than 4,700 people have checked out 18,450 e-books and 11,500 e-audio books since they became available from the county council’s online library last summer.”…”“We’re determined to embrace new technology to make it easier and quicker for people to access county council services while providing better value for money.”
- Warwickshire – Communities set to run their own libraries – This is Tamworth. Dordon, Kingsbury, Baddesley and Water Orton have put in bids to run libraries withdrawn from by the council. “The business cases will now come under the scrutiny of everyone from library and property, to finance and legal experts, to ensure they are realistic and allow the community every chance possible to make their library a successful operation.”
Poor people don’t deserve to read
Sep 18th
News
“Libraries are losing funding by the day. Schools are having their budgets slashed. Poor kids are getting poorer, and if we don’t make those books available to them now, they won’t know to want them tomorrow. We cannot forget the digital divide. And we can’t—we just can’t—be so excited over something new and shiny that we walk away and knowingly leave people on the other side. We can’t.” Across the digital divide – Seanan Mcguire. ““Print is dead, traditional publishing is dead, all smart authors should be bailing to the brave new electronic frontier,” what I hear, however unintentionally, is “Poor people don’t deserve to read.”
- Anger at town halls after they write off debt of £135 million – London Evening Standard. The article does not mention libraries but many of the names are familiar, notably Brent “which had £17.3 million uncollected, including £9.7 million of council tax.” and Croydon “which wrote off nearly £8.5 million that year”. However “Brent said its £17.3 million write-off was so high because it was a 17-year accumulation and the council had never before written off debt.”.
“My first instinct on closing them was that this was terrible. It’s stopping people learning who can’t afford to buy books. Then I thought, ‘Aren’t libraries alienating, quite smelly places, filled with strange people who I don’t want to hang around with?’ Just to check, I went to a local library and found it’s all clean, smart and lovely, but it’s still not what I want it to be. There weren’t many books. And in a romantic way, I don’t want libraries to be computer clubs. I want to see people sitting and reading Aeschylus. My point is, when the people march to defend libraries, most of them won’t know what they’re defending.” “I’m offended … it seems I’m not hack-worthy” – Belfast Telegraph. Frank Skinner, comedian, on libraries. Alan Gibbons’ comments on this are also worth reading.
Local news
- Brent – Introducing Brent Reading Circle – Preston Library Campaign. “Otherwise known as a Book Club – it’s a chance for reading enthusiasts to get together and discuss that thing Brent Council says is “obsolete” – books!”
- Wed 28th September: Jacqueline Wilson event to save Brent’s libraries – Save Kensal Rise Library. “We are delighted to announce that Jacqueline Wilson, the hugely popular and much-loved author and former Children’s Laureate, will be coming to Kensal Green to support the campaign to save Brent’s six libraries which are under threat of closure.”
- August library campaign update – Save Kensal Rise Library. “The Brent SOS Libraries campaign (which is backing the legal aid claimants in the judicial review) has gone a long way to raising the money we need to cover potential legal costs. The latest total we have is just short of £22,000 – well on the way to the £30,000 we need, but still needing one final push. So if you’re feeling bad about not having donated a fiver towards saving libraries in the borough, now’s your chance…”
- Croydon – Confusion Central – That Woman’s Blog. Those without computers denied access to consultation details, “Labour Councillors were told an in-house bid would not be acceptable, yet Mr Gavin Barwell MP has given assurances it would be welcomed.”, “Croydon Council seem intent to forge ahead with their plans to outsource their whole library network in collaboration with Wandsworth Council. The decision whether or not to proceed will be taken at Monday’s Croydon Cabinet meeting.”
- Cabinet decision on Croydon libraries imminent – Sanderstead Library Campaign. “Come along and observe the meeting from the public gallery, hear the debate and show your support for libraries.”
- Scottish Borders – Meeting rejects High Street library move plan – Selkirk Weekend Advertiser. ““There is much concern that the work of qualified librarians is being devalued, while a major fly in the ointment is that SBC does not accept that the library in Ettrick Terrace is part of Selkirk’s common good.”. Council wishes to use customer contact staff to staff libraries and vice versa in order to save money.
A million pounds per year: the cost of outsourcing libraries in Croydon
Sep 17th
“If the Council can not manage to bring forward a scheme that builds positively on the public anger at the plans and the clear public commitment to our libraries, then it is not worthy of running any public service in Croydon. It has in effect already declared that it has failed and is on the path of privatising all Council services.”
The councillor then states a shocking fact that I have not come across before and, if true, sheds a different light on the debate to that normally seen:
The for profit sector creams off a minimum of 5% of contract value and a usual 10-15% of contract value to cover operational profit as well as bid costs and ongoing contractual negotiations. That is profit that should be used to improve public services and maximise front line delivery.
Private companies hold no magic powers when it comes to efficiency. Anything they can do, the local council can do, first-hand and with the support of their residents and without losing up to a fifth of the amount to shareholders in the process. A fifth? Look at those figures quoted again. It says the price of outsourcing is 15 to 20% – that, in the case of Croydon (basing the figure on the £7,430,406 mentioned in the posting), is between £1.1 million to £1.7 million that could have gone on libraires going rather to an outside contractor. That money, especially today, means the difference between keeping a library open or closed, adequately staffed or not. To give that money away, if the figures are correct, could be argued as being the grossest waste. Add to this that “Corporately the Council has lost control of its own expenditure from outsourcing too much of its everyday operation into long term contracts” and the picture gets even worse. To present it, as Croydon does (and if, as said before, these figures are correct) as an efficient way to save money is … well, I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
431 libraries (345 buildings and 86 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.
News
- 9 ways libraries can help you live frugally – Suddenly Frugal (USA). “Everyone knows that you can borrow regular books from the library, but here are 9 ways that free library services can help families save hundreds of dollars per year…”
- Beyond the book: Libraries in the 21st Century – Westport Now (USA). “I would challenge all of you to put the book aside and think of the library as a place of continuous learning, a safe place where the only price of admission is curiosity,” … “in an age of information technology, libraries have to transform into educational and social centers where individuals can be put in touch with experts in fields they are researching, attend lectures, retrain for jobs, learn interviewing techniques, think and dream.”
- “Cycle for literacy” Bike ride to save Detroit Libraries – CBS Detroit. “Event organizer Brandi Anderson said the ride is an act of solidarity of communities preventing the demise of it’s utilized DPL branches for the purpose of learning and as public resource centers.”
- Future of UK Tourism – Inside Government (Conference). One session is from the British Library covering – The role of the British Library in promoting cultural tourism in London, maximising opportunities for cultural tourism in 2012, developing the visitor experience, providing a modern service that reflects people’s changing expectations, modernisation and embracing new technology – digitisation of all collections, improving the contribution of libraries to digital access, employment and skills, business and economic development.
- Lifetime Libraries – LGA. The libraries section of the Local Government Association, “It is no surprise, therefore, that local people are fighting to save their libraries from closure in areas where the council is having to take difficult decisions. But the reality is that councils are facing a funding shortfall of around £6.5bn for the next financial year, and are having to balance this with their statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service.”
- Pages from history: the best of the Bodleian – Telegraph. “‘We don’t want the Bodleian to be a book museum,’ says Dr Thomas, whose transatlantic enthusiasm cuts through the arcane layers of her duties. ‘It’s not just about white gloves and hushed voices. It’s about access and interpretation and the excitement of discovery and a sense of community.’ This is not a sentence I ever expected to write, but by heaven it must be fun to be a librarian.”
- Total victory, now it’s time for public floggings – Good Library Blog (Tim Coates). “A year ago we were faced with the prospect of 600-1000 public libraries being closed across the UK. There has been a mighty campaign to stop this — and the campaign has been totally victorious. In comparison to what might have been, almost no libraries have closed.” … grass-roots local protests (along with figures such as Alan Gibbons) have led to a far smaller number of branches closing, yet, than expected. National organisations such as the MLA, DCMS and DCLG, even Parliament, have been surprised by the public opposition and “…deserve to be locked in a dungeon and have unkind words printed about them every day until their mothers notice.”.
Changes
- East Lothian – Opening hours cuts inc. Ormiston (from 30 to 21).
- North Lincolnshire – Brigg library to move to shared “The Angel” building (£300k investment).
Local News
- Angus – Arbroath library campaigners get off to good start – Courier. “Arbroath member Bob Spink has led the library campaign and at a full meeting of the council in Forfar on Thursday evening he won overwhelming support for a motion that places emphasis on gathering evidence as to why it should not remain on the common good.”. Describes plan by Angus council to move it to general council ownership as “corporate theft”.
- Calderdale – Library users urged to “fill in survey”– Todmorden News. Friends group highlights importance of completing questionnaire and to answer questions in a way that does not encourage removal of opening hours or closures of mobile libraries. “Friends of Todmorden Library, whose patron is nationally known author Cate Haste and which hosts its first festival at the end of this month, was set up to encourage as many people as possible to explore and use the services on offer and fight any prospects of cuts.”
- Croydon – Cllr Mansell speaks out: no support for local bid – Sanderstead Library Campaign Group. Reports on letter to No support for in-house bid – Croydon Today from Cllr Mansell, Labour spokeswoman for libraries. Croydon council refuses to provide support for their own staff to put in a bid to run the soon to be outsourced service. Council has also failed to listen to the public or to consider putting in reasonable resources themselves to keep libraries open. Very very interesting things said about privatisation (see above) and about trusts.
- Protecting and developing Croydon libraries – Timothy Godfrey. Long and detailed article on how to keep Croydon libraries open, with sufficient staff on the front-line while abolishing massive (45%) behind-the-scenes corporate costs such as ICT.
- East Lothian – Villagers condemn cut in library hours in Ormiston – East Lothian News. “Chairman James Blane said the proposal was pushed through in the middle of the holiday period, without any consultation with the community council.”
- North Lincolnshire – Town library on the move to the Angel – Market Rasen Mail. “Brigg Library will be re-housed in the Angel Suite by next March and North Lincolnshire Councillor Rob Waltham is convinced the new arrangement will offer far better facilities for the town … “North Lincolnshire has allocated £300,000 to the project. The library will go on the ground floor and the heritage centre on the first floor. We also hope the project will liven up the courtyard area in the building.””
- Scottish Borders – Council brought to book – Peeblesshire News. Anger as Innerleithen Library will have reduction in hours. “”Locals are very angry about these proposed changes. This is purely to save money and has nothing to do with serving the community. The plan is for contact centre staff to be trained as librarians and vice versa, rather than two decent services we’ll end up with just one average service.”
Back to 1919
Sep 16th
“In 1919, WI member Mary Close wrote: “The first and greatest dfficulty in running a successful library is to get the right person as librarian. Too often, alas, one has to put up with someone whose only qualification is that they have the time to give to the work.” WI
“An article from Surrey dated today, bearing the headline “Progress On The First Wave of ‘Community’ Libraries” goes on to contradict that positive spin, quoting representatives of two local libraries, the first of whom says “We would rather not be in this position, but we are and we are going to make the best of it”; and the second who states “We are wholly against the policy. We don’t want to go down the volunteer route; that is a recipe for disaster as far as we are concerned”. http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/Progress-wave-community-libraries/sto…
Dozens and dozens of similar reports abound : Dorset campaigners are “heartbroken”, cries of despair emanate from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Isle of Wight, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Yorkshire, London boroughs : the list is too long to itemise. Many fine public librarians and library assistants have lost their jobs or are obliged to train volunteers whilst awaiting their brown envelopes; demoralised likewise, but enjoying little useful support from their professional bodies.
In the background, plumply, sit Ed Vaizey, Culture Minister and Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State — “watching carefully,” the kiss of death being applied to the public library service for which they have statutory responsibility. Busy with other matters perhaps or, I suspect, standing over the photocopier, printing up “Do Not Resuscitate” orders — to be affixed libraries throughout the land.
One can only hope that the WI will give them a good shaking and bring them to their senses, before it is too late.”
Incidentally, the WI has produced an excellent campaign pack which is worth a look.
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
News
- Copyright confusion dogs European digitisation push – BBC. “About 43% of the sample were orphan works suggesting a large part of Europe’s media may never go online.” suggesting that there will always be a need for physical libraries holding them.
“Hope all supporting WI libraries action day by taking a book out of local library today. Sadly mine now shut on fridays -case in point!” (GloriaDePieroMP, Twitter).
“There will never be enough words to write about libraries and my very personal encounters with their books. Beyond the family influence, the happy accidental encounters, and various events from my life; libraries are and will always be the main constant in my professional and human achievements (because I don’t see how one could develop in the absence of the other)….” Hymn to the Libraries – Inside HigherEd.
- WI slams government over volunteer-run libraries – BookSeller. “Speaking as the WI began its latest library action, asking each of its members to borrow a book from their library today (16th September), chair Ruth Bond said it was “simply not good enough” to assume that volunteers will step in to continue providing services previously supplied by professionals.”
Changes
- Bristol – 1 more mobile under threat – Mobile library could be withdrawn. Public consultation until November.
- Northern Ireland – Randalstown could be halved, reduced from 34.5 hours to 18 hours. Public consultation on cuts to Northern Ireland libraries until November 14th – over 24 branches will have hours cut by ten hours or more.
Local News
- Angus – Family want library to stay as a town asset – Arbroath Herald. “The family of the man who gifted the public library to the people of Arbroath have spoken out against any transfer of ownership of the building.”
- Bolton – Politicians are grilled over cuts to libraries – Bolton News. Videos of all the speakers. “More than 100 people packed into the lecture theatre in Le Mans Crescent directly underneath the 139,763 books in Bolton Central Library. The meeting, chaired by The Bolton News’ deputy editor Lynn Ashwell, was organised by the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign.”. Council does not want to makes cuts but sees no choice as to massive budget cuts. High profile of library campaign noted – it’s apparently impossible not be aware of it in Bolton, with it being “in the Bolton News every day”.
- Bolton – Speech at Debate – Save Bolton Libraries. “Libraries are not some relic of the steam age, but serve a whole range of functions in modern society, as a venue for friendship, learning, childcare, healthy living, business support, job search, IT access and much more.” …”We feel there is still some scope for savings through shared services with other Greater Manchester authorities, postponing Sunday opening of Central Library, and looking at cutting councillors’ allowances and expenses as the Labour Council in Bury is now doing.” … “We reject the three options on offer – there is a fourth option – recognise the strength of public opinion and leave the libraries budget alone!”
- Bristol – Mobile library is under threat – This is Bristol. “In the year to the end of March there were 113,525 books issued, compared to 117,145 the year before – down three per cent. The number of people using the service has dropped more dramatically, from 9,206 to 7,596 – a fall of 17 per cent – in the same period. At 12 years old the mobile library van is also near the end of its life. A replacement would cost around £100,000 but the council has not allocated funding for this.”
- Buckinghamshire – Meeting on future of Ivinghoe Library – Leighton Buzzard Observer. “But the Friends say that help and support are now essential to make the library a success. For more information there is a meeting from 7.30 pm on Wednesday, September 21 at Ivinghoe town hall.”
- North Somerset – Town library to be saved by listed building status? – Mercury. “The historic building housing Weston Library could soon be protected indefinitely, after heritage watchdogs assessed it as a candidate for listing…. Fears were expressed that the eye-catching building could be demolished after North Somerset Council withdraws the library service and moves it to a new base at Weston Town Hall.”
- North Yorkshire – Residents in Gargrave and Embsay await decision on libraries – Craven Herald and Pioneer. “…in Embsay, supporters are looking at asking villagers how much they would be willing to contribute to keep the library open.”…”Gargrave supporters, who are pressing on after appealing to the community for business help earlier this year, are hopeful their plan will be accepted.”
- Northern Ireland – Angry over proposal to reduce library opening hours – Antrim Times.
- Oxfordshire – Volunteering at library – Oxford Mail. “I am very unhappy about the volunteer proposals with regard to the Wychwoods library. I believe it to be unworkable and would lead to the closure of the library. At my age (90), I would be unable to get to any other library in the vicinity.”
- Surrey – Progress on the first wave of “community libraries” – This is Surrey Today. Tattenhams forming a volunteer group against their will, Lingfield “”We are wholly against the policy. We don’t want to go down the volunteer route; that is a recipe for disaster as far as we are concerned.”, Warlingham “A friends’ group has been established and they are leafleting the area to gather more volunteers. Ideas being mooted include charging people to use the library.”
- Wandsworth – Becoming the “Big Society” library – Save York Gardens. “When it reopens the ibrary will begin to officially operate as the ‘Big Society’ library. The Friends of York Gardens Library, a community group formed after the library was saved from closure, will take over a lot of the decision making and become accountable for the library making sufficient income to allow it to remain open with reduced funding.”
Join the library profession: get more than half your student debt written off.
Sep 15th
The BBC Student finance calculator above at last provided some good news for those fancying a career in librarianship. Choose “librarian and related professions” from the options and, assuming one goes for a £9000 loan each year, you will get more than half your debt written off after a mere thirty years. This is not (and I know this will come as a surprise to few of you) due to some enlightened government policy to encourage literacy and free access to information. Nope, it’s simply because you’re never going to earn enough in the profession to pay it off. The machinery of the calculator is not clear but one likes to think that it has factored in mass cuts in public services and a move towards paying anyone in public libraries not just low wages but nothing at all, let alone not enough to pay back a loan. Much of the media is very keen on pointing out the high pay of those in the public sector but always seem to concentrate on Chief Executives and not on the pay of the front-line staff that are being cut… but the BBC student finance calculator doesn’t lie.
(With thanks to @melissaterras)
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.
News
- ACE publishes first library strategy document – BookSeller. “Culture, Knowledge and Understanding: Great Museums and Libraries for Everyone is said by ACE to be designed to provide certainty about which programmes ACE will run in 2011-15, including the Future Libraries Programme, and to solicit further debate about the directions the body should take in the long term.”
- Afictionado – “a fresh new website where you can borrow ebooks for your computer, tablet, smartphone or ebook reader; the freedom to read anything, anytime, anywhere”. Unrelated to the recent Amazon lending ebooks suggestion.
- Axiell’s 2011 Symposium: “Rethinking libraries?” tackles current and future challenges – BookTrade. “‘Rethinking Libraries?’ is the theme of Axiell’s third symposium; speakers from the UK, Scandinavia and USA will address key challenges such as improvements in efficiency, opportunities for savings and scope for reorganisation.”
- Ban on sex offenders entering public libraries may be unconstitutional – Metro Pulse (USA). “No guns, no pervs: Knox County has instituted a new ban on library access for registered sex offenders.”
- Eight year old boy sent threatening letter on debt collectors about overdue library book – Telegraph. “The letter stated that Jamie should return the book – which should have been returned on August 11 – immediately, but added: “If you believe that you no longer have these items, please contact the library immediately, as you may be referred to a Debt Collection service.”
- End of books: Ikea is changing shelves to reflect changing demand – Centered Librarian. “If you needed any more proof that the age of dead-tree books is over take a look at these alarming style changes at Ikea: the furniture manufacturer’s iconic Billy bookcase – the bookcase that everyone put together when they got their first apartment and, inevitably, pounded the nails wrong into – is becoming deeper and more of a curio cabinet. Why? Because Ikea is noticing that customers no longer buy them for books”
- Guardian and Observer Bookswap: how to take part – Guardian.
- New library hours could shut out public – Leinster Leader (Eire). “that while some additional community services are to be provided, it could mean that the libraries will be closed for up to half a day, every day of the week.”
- New safeguards for library privatization protect the public – California Progress Report (USA). “An example of a deal gone bad is the city of Santa Clarita, which recently handed over control of its libraries to a private entity and the decision has already cost the city $12 million more than anticipated. “. Useful checklist for those facing privatisation.
- Society Daily 15/9/11 – Guardian. “Libraries. Chris Addison has reposted a piece from Public Libraries News on his blog, which perfectly puts the case against library closures:”… there are a lot of uninformed opinions about public librraies…” [included here both due to need to provide completeness and to satisfy ego].
- Sweetest thing ever: selling cookies and lemonade for libraries – NYPL (USA). ““I personally can’t quite get over the magic of the library. You can just take books- for free!” How great is that?”
“We’re nearly 96! Help protect local library services and celebrate the WI’s birthday by signing our petition” WI Institute Tweet.
Changes
- East Sussex – Seaford Library to be temporarily closed while new library (merged with day care centre and supported living flats for adults with learning difficulties).
- Newham – Stratford children’s library to be reduced
- Northern Ireland – Downpatrick Library to cut by 13.5 hours per week to 40 hours per week.
Local News
- Angus – Council plan library grab – Scotsman. “Bob Spink, an independent councillor for Arbroath, will challenge Angus Council’s plans to take over the ownership of the library, gifted to the town by a former Provost, as part a major review of the Common Good Funds in the area.”
“Barnet’s gung-ho approach to shoving its libraries into other people’s buildings, whether they want them or not, must also call into question plans approved in July to close North Finchley and Friern Barnet libraries. They justified the move with plans to open a new library in Artsdepot, an arts centre and theatre atop the local bus station. While Barnet claims Artsdepot (which gets only a small amount of funding from the council) is “positive about the extra footfall it will create”, when the centre was being built in 2002, a £100,000 consultancy report discussing whether to add a library concluded it would be too expensive.” Barnet: Library News – Private Eye (via Alan Gibbons).
- Bolton – Question Time-style debate on libraries – Bolton News. “At 7pm, a Question Time-style debate will be held at Bolton Central Library lecture theatre as politicians and campaigners come head to head to discuss the town’s underthreat libraries.”
- Croydon – Outsourcing: a real threat to Croydon’s libraries – That Woman’s Blog. 6 libraries were in consultation process yet all 13 will be privatised, consultation flawed and parts of it ignored by council, staff drastically reduced this year in order to make deal more appetising for tendering companies, council has failed to listen to users despite promises.
“The decision to ‘market-test’ all 13 libraries was taken on the basis of the ideas of just 412 replies, recorded as “Explore links with commercial businesses i.e. outsourcing, sponsorship, advertising, cafe, retail”. No breakdown was recorded as evidenced by the refusal of the FOI request so those who offered ideas of efficiencies such as seeking sponsorship or adding a cafe have effectively had their suggestion counted as a vote for outsourcing.” Croydon – That Woman’s Blog
East Sussex – Seaford: new library plan unveiled – Eastbourne Herald. “The planning application, submitted by East Sussex County Council, includes a new library, day care centre and supported living flats for adults with learning difficulties. The plans include demolishing the existing library for the new build at Warwick House in Sutton Park Road and a temporary library at the Elm Court site in Blatchington Road. If the £6 million scheme goes ahead it will see facilities relocated from Homefield Place, a county adult social care facility.”
Edinburgh – New library scheme goes by the book – Edinburgh Evening News. “A NEW library and community centre being built in Drumbrae is on schedule to be completed in November.”
Newham – Save Stratford children’s library – GoPetition. “The children’s library at Stratford Library is a vital community resource and an important and necessary investment in the children and young people of our community, where children from babies to teens gather to read, explore, and learn. Current plans will drastically reduce the size of this space after a six-month closure from 1st October 2011. The community was not consulted in the plans for our library.”
- Norfolk – Youngsters celebrate completing reading challenge at Norwich Library – Norwich Evening News. “More than 10,000 youngsters across the county took part in this year’s challenge, which included circus workshops and events held in Norfolk libraries to encourage children to sign up and enthuse them about reading.”
- Northern Ireland – Library hours cut to limit history resource access – Belfast Telegraph. “Libraries NI are now proposing to reduce the opening hours of a number of libraries across Down District but particularly Downpatrick Library, which presently houses the core Co Down historical collection in the Heritage Gallery…”
- Oxfordshire – Volunteers’ concern over Sonning Common library – Get Reading. “Campaigners have urged town hall bosses to change proposals to keep Sonning Common Library open amid fears they will not be able to find enough volunteers to run the service…. More than 100 protesters packed into Sonning Common Village Hall in Wood Lane on Monday evening to discuss the plans, which they described as “deeply flawed”…”“If a volunteer model is confirmed to be the only way forward then this too should be one which deploys volunteers in all libraries on a proportional basis and irrespective of location.””
- Staffordshire – County Council claims it’s set to save millions of pounds in taxpayer’s money – Birmingham Mail. ““We’re taking out hierarchies and ensuring that those who lead the new teams take on more responsibility and accountability. And it’s working.” … ““While other councils are cutting libraries and bus services, Staffordshire is working with local communities and is responding to local priorities, innovating to meet real needs and reshaping services to respond to financial pressures.”
Arguments against libraries, arguments for libraries
Sep 14th
“The only surprise is that public libraries have survived for so long. Books are cheap, information is widely available on the internet. Libraries offer poor service- bad opening hours, poor quality buildings – their only selling point is that they are free! Yes – they offer community space, IT and are valued by users; but most of the population are not users. If we have to chose between healthcare and libraries I know which I would choose!” (Anonymous comment on yesterday’s post)
“The government and the council forget that people live in places like Walney. When they close the post offices, the clubs and the libraries, then the local people lose meeting places.” (Sally Whittaker, 97 years old, Cumbria).
“Anti-poverty campaigner Sam Roddick, who founded Coco de Mer, said: “Cutting the libraries is cutting the poor from the little they have. It will damn our country into the kind of poverty you see in third world countries.” (London Evening Standard, 12th April 2011)
- Libraries are not for everyone at every point of their lives. Neither are state schools. Neither is the M1 motorway. Neither is a general hospital. If one can afford all the books and IT access one needs then don’t come in. You’re a busy person with enough money, good for you. But, like schools, like the M1 and like the general hospital, libraries are there if any of that changes. This idea is called a safety net and it’s what a Western society is based on. Still.
- Don’t compare Libraries with healthcare as if they are on the same scale.. Libraries cost £1 billion per year, the NHS receives more than £100 billion. In fact, the sad truth is that cutting expenditure on libraries achieves very little for councils – they’re only 1% of their budget – at maximum impact to the public.
- Savings can be found across the board – notably with the banks, PFI and in the military (which has lost equipment worth six times the national budget for libraries).
- Who said libraries weren’t also healthcare anyway? I have had one gentleman tell me, over the counter, that he would quietly commit suicide if the library closed. Libraries provide an support for many of the most vulnerable in society (the housebound, the lonely) and, remember, we are lucky if we are not vulnerable at some point in our lives. The shelves are often scoured for books on health conditions, or dieting, or on keeping fit. Libraries even work closely with the NHS on such things as “Books on Prescription” and with such groups as MIND with mental health reading groups.
The point here is that there are a lot of uninformed opinions about public libraries. This is not surprising given the lack of national leadership over the decades and the lack of any national marketing or significant debate (up until this year at least) in the media. Those who care about libraries thus need to inform opinion and provide the information. Or those people who see there being no point in libraries are going to win, because they’re the ones who are holding the purse strings and, often, are in government or in a council near you.
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.
News
- Advocacy – CILIP. Case studies of how to raise the profile of libraries.
- Beware the new normal – Will Unwound. “They want their service cuts to be invisible. That’s why full time professional librarians are being laid off. No reason why you can’t run the reference desk with one person rather than 3. Or you can just replace 3 full time professionals with 3 part time clerks. A warm body is a warm body? Why do you need a Masters degree to work in a library in the hard wired 21st century? Who knows you might even get lucky. The laid off professional librarians may be so desperate that they will hire back on in one of the part time clerical positions.”
- Disappearing ink – The Economist. “More quickly than almost anyone predicted, e-books are emerging as a serious alternative to the paper kind. Amazon, comfortably the biggest e-book retailer, has lowered the price of its Kindle e-readers to the point where people do not fear to take them to the beach. In America, the most advanced market, about one-fifth of the largest publishers’ sales are of e-books. Newly released blockbusters may sell as many digital copies as paper ones. The proportion is growing quickly, not least because many bookshops are closing.”
- Future of the Library – Seth Godin’s Blog. Argues that the need for library buildings as depositories for books has gone but suggests there should still be libraries and librarians … “The next library is a place, still. A place where people come together to do co-working and coordinate and invent projects worth working on together. Aided by a librarian who understands the Mesh, a librarian who can bring domain knowledge and people knowledge and access to information to bear.” … “We need librarians more than we ever did. What we don’t need are mere clerks who guard dead paper. Librarians are too important to be a dwindling voice in our culture. For the right librarian, this is the chance of a lifetime.”
- Lending books, Amazon style – Agnostic, Maybe. “I wonder if libraries are looking better and better to publishers with each passing eBook market development. They might not get the best deal compared to companies like Apple, Sony, or Amazon, but we’ll still respect you in the morning.”
- Public libraries are doomed – Annoyed Librarian (USA). “Amazon may drive libraries out of business the way it did a lot of bookstores, and the only ones likely to be disappointed are the librarians. Everyone else will be too busy reading whatever book they want, watching whatever movie or TV show they want, and listening to any music they want, all for about $30/month.”
- Stephen Abram at Manuscripta – This Week in Libraries. “…the opening of the bookseason in NL organized by CPNB. A conversation about the Library as an Economic Lever, emotional needs and The invisible hand.”
- Throwing the book at school libraries – Los Angeles Times (USA). “The school district is dumping 227 of its 430 elementary school library aides and cutting the hours of another 193 aides in half. Welcome back to school, kids.”
- “Why do libraries matter?” – BBC Radio Leeds. Lauren Smith defends libraries. Half a millions pounds for Wakefield libraries is too much, says interviewer – to the audible shock of Lauren who explains precisely why it is not. Reporter then worries that no-one in long call-in is phoning up against libraries, wondering if it is a “silent majority”.
Local News
- Bromley – Council threatens eight-year old boy with debt collector over late book – News Shopper. “Addressed to Jamie, the letter asked him to return or renew the book, before adding: “If you believe that you no longer have these items, please contact the library immediately, as you may be referred to a Debt Collection service.” Bromley does not charge late fees.
- Buckinghamshire – Take time to show you love your library – Buckingham Today. “The WI wants to encourage people to visit their local library, sometime between 1pm and 7pm to borrow a book or two.”
- Cambridgeshire – Budget consultation – Cambridgeshire Council. “We are running an online survey to find out your views about our priorities and spending over the next five years. Please submit your views by the 7th October 2011 when the consultation will close.”
- North Yorkshire – Families to join in fun at library Baby Days – Scarborough Evening News. “Our libraries provide a wonderful resource for families with a wealth of information and expert advice on hand. In addition our libraries are best placed at the heart of their communities to introduce babies and toddlers to books and reading and language activities from the earliest age, providing them with the best start in life on their learning journey.”
- Suffolk – We are listening: budget challenge – Suffolk Council. “Like many councils, Suffolk County Council is facing a difficult financial challenge. A reduction in the amount of money we receive from Government, along with increased inflation and demand for our services, means that we have to find considerable savings. Last year, we made savings of £43 million, but over the next two years we need to save a further £50 million.” One of the ways of consulting is by visiting one of the council’s 44 libraries.
- Surrey – Councillors discuss changes to Surrey library services – BBC. “Under the plans, the council would continue to provide buildings, stock, IT equipment and other services but communities would take over the day-to-day running of 19 libraries.”
- County drops plans for Molesey Library to be volunteer-run – Surrey Herald. Council recommended to keep branch as part of the “‘Surrey County Council managed network’. Friends group says ““While the future now seems more assured Molesey Library Steering Group will remain in place and continue working until we see the outcome of the cabinet vote on the September 27. “The strong support that we have received from volunteers, now more than 100, shows the importance of the library to Molesey.”
- Save Surrey Libraries! – Socialist Party. “All the threatened libraries have the lowest number of borrowers as they service mainly small, rural communities. But these are not just buildings with rows of books – they are social hubs, community and youth centres, parents and children’s centres. If they were to close there would be nothing similar in most of these villages.”
Wandsworth and Croydon confirm tendering out of libraries
Sep 13th
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.
News
- Future of Libraries – Telegraph. Article looks especially at national libraries and other special libraries that have unique content, seeking to put such resources online, often at a charge.
- Love Your Libraries – UNISON (Facebook). New Facebook page to publicise what the main trade union for public library workers is doing for libraries and to link up with local campaigners.
- Public Libraries: Closures – House of Lords (Hansard). Baroness Rawlings agrees libraries are important. Suggestions for keeping libraries open include volunteers and using Church buildings (“We have in Hereford diocese an excellent example, of a library in a church tower. A lift, loos and other facilities are provided”). “Big Society” seen as very important role for libraries and a very important role to keep same libraries open.
- Rethinking libraries? 3rd Axiell Symposium 2011 – Axiell. “The Axiell Symposium is a two-day international conference…We are all familiar with improvements in efficiency and savings. Reorganisation is also a well-known term that has characterised our libraries for the past decade. But what is the next step?”
- Social networking and British libraries – Wikipedia. Survey of use of social networking websites by libraries, including by campaigners.
- What will Amazon’s “Netflix for Books” do for libraries? – Publishers Weekly (USA). “Libraries have shared much of publishing’s uncertainty as physical books continue their slide.” …”In addition to embracing digital books, libraries are trying everything under the sun in order to save themselves.” … “But can local branches, many already running dry, survive if Amazon gives Prime, which is becoming more and more of a deal at $79 as it decorates its price tag with feature after feature, and its users the capability to access any book a library could provide, without having to leave one’s home?”. Will the word library in 2021 bring up an “image of a person, never leaving his or her house, pressing a series of buttons on a high-res Amazon tablet screen to check out a lent book, scanning the lines using the device’s backlight instead of the low ceiling lights of a library?”
- Amazon “to launch book rental service” – Telegraph.
- Amazon in talks to launch digital books library – RTT News. “Amazon.com was among the group that blocked Google, Inc’s attempt to digitize millions of books and publications to make it available online.”
- Libraries in threat of becoming extinct – My Bank Tracker. “One thing that they still have on their side: physical books. Although the amount of individuals who choose to read books via digital methods is ever-increasing, there is still a large percentage of the population that is steadfast on reading from actual books.”
- Now Amazon wants to rekindle our love of libraries with e-store that allows you to borrow books – Mail. “Customers would pay an annual fee to Amazon – the maker of the popular Kindle e-reader – to access the virtual library, though an exact cost has not been decided.”
“To lose bookstores hurts. But the idea of the library itself being supplanted by e-commerce is downright dystopian. Blockbuster was just a video store, Tower Records just a music store. But a public library is something ineffable and sacrosanct, a cornerstone of democracy. Libraries were the first pillars of the DIY movement, long before the age of Make and Etsy–they offered a do-it-yourself education, free of charge. No one is actually accusing Amazon of killing the library, the way Netflix pretty much killed Blockbuster. But as the e-book revolution continues to erode the physicality of books, we should ensure that it doesn’t erode, too, the physical milieus books traditionally lived in, and the crucial and uplifting services those spaces provided–lending, outreach, and the occasional talk by the likes of Amitav Ghosh, all free of charge.” Will Amazon’s “Digital Library” kill the physical one? Let’s hope not – Technology Review.
- Self-service libraries can leave you long overdue – Telegraph. New self-service machines in Gravesend cause queues and confusion, including giving back more in change than was paid in to pay a charge. “In all, returning those books and paying the fine took 10 minutes. When I was a boy, in the days of cardboard library tickets, the same transaction would have involved the following steps: 1. Enter library. 2. Hand books and coins to human librarian. 3. Exit library.”
Changes
- City of London – Camomile Street Library closed – to be replaced by new library in White Kennet Street late Summer 2012. Mobile library replaces branch in meantime.
- Croydon – Privatising/outsourcing service with initial tendering in collaboration with Wandsworth, although winning tender may not be the same for both councils. Interested parties (Sep 2011) are (a) Civica (b) LSSI (c) JLIS (John Laing) (d) GLL (e) Vision Redbridge (f) Essex County Council (g) Merton Council (h) Bexley and Bromley Council Consortium (i) Croydon Libraries Strategic Management Team (j) Wandsworth “in-house”.
- Wandsworth – Confirmation that library service will invite outsourcing tenders in collaboration with Croydon. Interested parties (Sep 2011) are (a) Civica (b) LSSI (c) JLIS (John Laing) (d) GLL (e) Vision Redbridge (f) Essex County Council (g) Merton Council (h) Bexley and Bromley Council Consortium (i) Croydon Libraries Strategic Management Team (j) Wandsworth “in-house”. Privatising/outsourcing service with initial tendering in collaboration with Croydon, although winning tender may not be the same for both councils.
Local News
““I can’t believe how incredibly short-sighted this is, especially when now, more than ever before, it is imperative that we encourage creativity in as many ways as we possibly can, especially for children and young people.” Bolton – Funny man Dave [Spikey] backs the “save libraries” campaign – Bolton News. “Spikey, who now lives in Chorley, spent his formative years devouring books in libraries in Heaton and Halliwell. Now, as both libraries face the axe, the funnyman is calling on Bolton Council to have a rethink and has branded the proposals “short-sighted”.”
- Bracknell Forest – Actor Miriam Margoyles launches audiobook service – Get Bracknell. “The service allows library members to download their favourite audiobook for free, straight to their MP3 players or PCs.”
- City of London – We’re on the road – City of London Council. “Camomile Street Library will be replaced in late summer 2012 by a brand new library and community centre in White Kennet Street. Plans for a temporary mobile library service to be provided at the following sites…”
- Croydon – Croydon and Wandsworth considering new way of managing libraries – Wandsworth Guardian. “Croydon Council is looking to work in partnership with Wandsworth Council to carry out a tendering process to find an external organisation to run libraries in both boroughs. At the end of the process, each borough would be able to individually decide who they would award the contract to.”
- Review and procurement of library services – Croydon Council. Similar document to that from Wandsworth below, including equalities impact assessment.
- Hampshire – Council confirms children’s library fines – Get Hampshire. “There are currently over 33,000 children’s books, which are long overdue, sitting in people’s homes, this is a huge loss for the county’s library service as well as other borrowers.”
- Kent – Why won’t Kent release library meeting minutes? – Voices for the Library. Council had originally planned to close many libraries but backed down due to public opposition. The precise details of the plan, though, has never been made public, with the Council refusing a freedom of information request on the basis that it would prejudice current plans, much to the bemusement of campaigners.
- Suffolk – Library users “dismayed” by latest plans – Suffolk Free Press. “Under plans being considered by Suffolk County Council, mobile library visits will be reduced from fortnightly to monthly, while stops in towns or villages that already have a library will be axed.”
- Wandsworth – Report by the Director of Leisure and Amenity Services on the competitive tendering of Library and Heritage Services – Recommended to allow outsourcing of Wandsworth public libraries in competition with an “in-house” Trust proposal. Those registering interest are (a) Civica (b) LSSI (c) JLIS (d) GLL (e) Vision Redbridge (f) Essex County Council (g) Merton Council (h) Bexley and Bromley Council Consortium (i) Croydon Libraries Strategic Management Team (j) Wandsworth “in-house”. Outsourcing would take place some point after return of tenders in July 2012.
“The information obtained from the market sounding exercise has provided a very clear indication that a competitive ‘market’ exists for the provision of library services in both Wandsworth and Croydon. It is therefore recommended that the Council market tests the management of its library and heritage service and that, subject to approval by this Council and Croydon Council, library services for both Councils are procured jointly.”
- Wandsworth – see also Croydon, above.
Special report – Arts Council England speaks on libraries
Sep 13th
“Although public libraries have seen a decrease in the numbers of people borrowing books, evidence shows that where there has been strategic investment – such as in promoting children’s reading – visits rise. And patterns of use are changing, with a significant increase in users accessing services digitally. Libraries have innovated in response, offering enhanced digital provision and actively promoting libraries as local social spaces which can draw in and support new users. Unlike museums or the arts, differences in people’s socio-economic status do not affect their likelihood of using a library; neither does illness or having a disability.” (p.9/10)
“The Arts Council is keen to see museums and libraries continuing to innovate in their approaches to engaging with communities and making more effective use of volunteers; we are keen to see them working together to achieve this” (p.11)
“Museums and libraries similarly need to strengthen their business models, diversify their income streams and look at new ways of encouraging private giving and supporting enterprise. Likewise, they need to continue to explore new ways of collaborating and improving efficiency in order to thrive
not just survive.” (p.12)
- Funding new initiatives that show original thinking, especially if they will save money
- To get more people to use libraries
- To find ways of surviving with less council money
- A lessening in the dominance of white middle class staff
- Encourage more children in
The Council is keen on advocacy work for libraries and with work with the Local Government Group, Society of Chief Librarians and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals “to develop clear messages about the public value libraries can provide and a shared vision for the library service in 10 years’ time.”. It is perhaps at least good to see that the Council thinks libraries will still be here in 2021. For this year, though, the main activity, appears to be simply to continue with the Future Libraries Programme, which may cause some worries amongst those who do not highly regard it.
“In the long-term, we expect that Arts Council England will not have separate strategies for museums, libraries and the arts. We will use the same framework to drive all of our programmes and inform all of our funding decisions.”
“One lesson on the components for excellent library services that can be drawn from the literature is that it is important for libraries to continue to provide a neutral, shared public space for users. The public have high levels of trust in libraries, which is partly rooted in the assumption that libraries provide a more impartial source of information than alternatives such as the media.”
“Public libraries have very low levels of funding diversification and relatively high levels of alternative business models such as procurement partnerships across library authorities, which over 80 per cent of library authorities have, and co-location with other services, which over 60 per cent do (DCMS, 2009). They are unlikely to have tried more extreme changes to their business model, such as having commercial subsidiaries or independent trusts.”
“Since the libraries sector already has representative numbers of visitors from the DCMS target groups of people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people who have a disability, and those from lower socioeconomic groups, the literature focuses on the more general question of how to encourage more people to use libraries.”
ways that libraries are managed”. Which is one way of putting it.
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