Well, I knew library budgets were being cut, but only one buck to spend on
books?! :-)
Malcolm Dobson
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hanstock, Terry [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 18 January 2005 10:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Probing Minister
>
>
> DCMS Press Release 002/05
>
> 10 January 2005
>
>
> Libraries Minister Andrew McIntosh Launches Probe Into How Public
> Libraries Can Get 'More Books For Their Buck'
>
>
> Is the price that your public library pays for the books on its shelves
> too high? Could they save money, perhaps by buying in different ways to
> get bigger discounts? Or could new technology be used to streamline the
> whole supply chain?
>
>
>
> Libraries Minister Andrew McIntosh and the Museums, Libraries and Archives
> Council have commissioned a study to answer these and other questions
> about value for money in library services.
>
>
>
> Consultants from PKF Accountants and business advisors are to report and
> make recommendations on how public library services in England can give a
> better and more cost-effective service to users.
>
>
>
> Andrew McIntosh said:
>
>
>
> "Books and reading are as popular today as they have ever been. But we
> live in an era where it is easy to buy a newly published hardback book
> on-line at below half-price, while high street bookshops have never been
> more customer-friendly. This means libraries cannot rest on their
> laurels, and that's why I have commissioned PKF to carry out this study to
> discover practical ways libraries can get more books for their buck.
>
>
>
> "Many libraries provide a superb service, of course. But with 149
> different public library authorities operating numerous different supply
> systems, it is no surprise that some get better results than others. I
> want to raise standards in everything libraries do, with the weak learning
> from the strong, and all having access to current best practice."
>
>
>
> PKF will conduct an in-depth review to find out what is the best way to
> get a book from publisher to library user. The Government hopes that the
> consultants will make recommendations on improvements to existing systems,
> e.g. introducing changes such as regional or national consortia, borrowing
> different practices from other sectors, or using new technology and ways
> of working to rework the entire supply chain.
>
>
>
> The study will also examine how effectively library services are spending
> their money and aims to identify what makes a library service efficient,
> what resources might be required for different models of delivery and what
> funding structures and flexibilities can best meet these needs.
>
>
>
> Andrew McIntosh continued:
>
>
>
> "I expect this study to show how costs can be kept to a minimum, with the
> fastest possible supply to customers, and the most responsive system to
> customer needs."
>
>
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