Dear Stella and Lis-Link,
Like yourself, I've only had a quick read of the report. My first impression is that the report fails to define its terms: what is a library? I wouldn't dare to propose a complete answer to this, but one thing I'm sure of is that it's not the same as a bookshop, with which it is compared at several points in the report. A bookshop exists to sell books. A library is a place where knowledge is organized and disseminated, where facilities are made available for study and research, where disadvantaged groups can be empowered through access to knowledge. All of these activities require a high level of professionalism, which carries costs.
I wonder whether the comparison with museums and archives is relevant. This surely is a facet of a great recent increase in interest in heritage which has a variety of social causes.
At some point in the report the library is referred to as 'The university of the street corner' and I wonder to what extent the perceived decline in library use has beeen due to easier access to universities in recent years. So far as I can see, the report nowhwere mentions collaboration with higher education providers as a way forward for public libraries.
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: Stella Thebridge <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 12:57:01 +0100
Subject: Re: Libri report on public libraries
Dear Lis-linkers
A quick read of this report leads me to the following observations:
1. Only one public library authority has been surveyed - Hampshire.
2. There are no references, so it is not clear from which source(s) or how conclusions about statistics relating to public libraries in general have been made.
3. The report opens by citing increased use of museums and archives and a decrease in public library use in recent years. However, increased museum use must in part be explained by the dropping of entrance charges to national museums - this is not mentioned.
4. Borrowing is not an indication of library use, as we all know. The first graph on page 8 mentions visitor numbers, but does not say how these were collected, nor how the comparison with other authorities is justified.
Do other members of this list have further thoughts? The BBC took an opportunity to point to the demise of public libraries, but I am not sure this study of one authority is the definitive justification for that.
Stella Thebridge
Research Fellow
Centre for Information Research (CIRT)
University of Central England in Birmingham (UCE)
Nick Roe
Information & Student Services
Postal Point 22
NEWI
Plas Coch
Wrexham LL11 2AW
Phone: 01978 293247
Fax: 01978 293435
Nick Roe
Information & Student Services
Postal Point 22
NEWI
Plas Coch
Wrexham LL11 2AW
Phone: 01978 293247
Fax: 01978 293435
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