Of course Kirsty is right, no one actively wants to be without the pubic
library, but we need to take action now. Will the next generation of
potential users value the service as much as the current generation?
Will the library have what tomorrows main stream traditional users want,
and will it be able to attract the current and future non users? This
wont happen by happen chance, we need to fund, train, plan and
strategically manage, as well as do the necessary market research
urgently, so we do keep ahead of the game, and have a relevant public
library service that will survive and prosper beyond the 21st Century,
and have what the pubic want and need.

Just look at the traditional organisations that have disappeared in this
country over the last couple of decades, mad those that are currently
struggling. Nothing lasts forever unless you work at it and change it.
f 

-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kirsty Beveridge
Sent: 04 May 2004 12:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 'Who's in Charge?'

Moving off topic...It's a common phenomenon in public libraries for all
books on librarianship etc  to be in 'staff libraries' or unavailable
because they're on a staff members desk - though staff can be quite
helpful in getting them. I sometimes wonder if it might raise the
profile of librarianship if a decent collection were always publicly
available to be borrowed ....
I'd be tempted to raise questions about collection
development/management/loan periods - this sounds like an issue which
academic  libraries face all the time - when books are in heavy demand
loan periods are shortened & recall facilities  used.   ECDL books
probably have a limited shelf life, so you don't want to over commit
It's also a question of whether separate funds (though if it all comes
from the same source & is a finite amount it's immaterial)  should be
used to buy materials for internal staff development, rather than the
public  bookfund....



Life without a public library - not to be contemplated: it's an
expression of community, & cooperation, a concept which should be
applied to all communities, rich or poor,  urban or rural.

Kirsty



Kirsty Beveridge
[log in to unmask]
Liaison Librarian - Community Education
Gardyne Road Library
Gardyne Road
Dundee DD5 1NY

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/05/2004 11:24:00 >>>
I've been reading this discussion with interest in particular since I
went to my local public library to borrow some books specifically on
ECDL.
However, I
was told by a cheerful librarian that I wouldn't be able to borrow any
of the books for the recent syllabus because some of the library staff
were doing the course and had taken out all the books, and not only that
but they have a 4 month loan period (compared to the usual 1 month for
everybody else).
Needless
to say I was highly annoyed, and the library lost a large amount of loan
statistics.
If this is the same throughout the UK then I can understand why people
aren't going to public libraries.

Just my two-pence-worth...

Sarah

Sarah Bruch
Multidisciplinary Library
Prince Philip Hospital
Dafen
Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
SA14 8QF

Tel/Fax: 01554 749301

"I may look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm really
quite busy"
See the books I've set free at:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/referral/Shelbycat

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