I was thinking about this issue while I was listening to Late Junction on Radio 3 last night and I was suddenly appalled at the complacency with which this is being discussed on the list. If books were treated in the same manner there would be no libraries left in the country. Music is a fundamental aspect of our cultural, emotional and intellectual freedom. It enhances our experience of life - I can't imagine life without music. Enabling the freedom to listen to the widest range of music possible should be promoted as one of the key roles of public libraries in the UK. It is sheer arrogance, ignorance and greed that drives public library authorities to withdraw their music CD collections and deprives the public of this wonderful resource.
I am tempted to quote David Lammy when he said "I don't want libraries to be populist, I want them to be popular" and I suspect that those authorities which have withdrawn their music CD service have geared their stock to a populist audience rather than a popular one. If you only buy CDs which are geared to generate income then by definition you will buying stock which is immediately popular and which has a relatively short shelf life. Again by definition many people will buy popular titles so you are not reaching that part of the community and you are not reaching the part of the community which is not interested in "popular" music. A no win situation.
Getting back to Radio 3' Late Junction, you don't know what you are missing if you haven't listened to it - an eclectic playlist from most genres of music except "popular"! I would like to listen to more of particular musicians featured on the programme but I don't necessarily want to go out and buy CDs which I might not like. I therefore ask my local library to get the titles for me for a small fee (in the library I use from home - not Midlothian - a relatively large fee!) and I can broaden my musical horizons. I will then go out and buy the CDs which I want to keep. Funny enough this is how I use libraries for books.
I hope the managers responsible for withdrawing music CDs from their authorities are ashamed of themselves and take time to reconsider. Libraries are not about generating income they are about adding value to people's lives and in most cases we do it very well.
Philip Wark
Principal Librarian
Midlothian Libraries
2 Clerk Street
Loanhead
Midlothian EH20 9DR
Tel: 0131 271 3971
Fax: 0131 440 4635
-----Original Message-----
From: Gail Holmes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 February 2006 10:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Music CDs
Our issues are up too, around 11% on this time last year. CDs also generate
a decent return on expenditure.
Regards
Gail
------------------------------------
Gail Holmes
Multimedia Librarian
Libraries Arts and Information Services
Cultural Services
Gateshead Council
www.gateshead.gov.uk/soundgallery
Tel: 0191 433 8441
Fax: 0191 477 7454
-----Original Message-----
From: David Tanner [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 February 2006 09:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Music CDs
Our cd issues are up on last year - 8.67% on the 3/4 year figures. I
also don't know any bands that are putting all their new stuff out on
the web first, only isolated incidents eg Artic Monkeys releasing some
tracks on the web first to build up a fan base. Its more true that bands
are using their own websites and sites such as myspace.com as very
effective marketing tools,providing selected tracks/excerpts to download
or stream online.This is also supplemented with the plethora of
specialist music blogs that inform and promote music to fans.
David Tanner
Project Officer (Lifelong Learning)
Adult and Community Services (Information)
North Yorkshire County Council
Library HQ
21 Grammar School Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL6 1DF
Tel: 01609 533814
Fax: 01609 780793
email: [log in to unmask]
>>> FraserV <[log in to unmask]> 23/02/2006 16:54:12 >>>
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We stopped buying CDs at the end of January due to poor issues,
copyright holdback and the fact that bands are releasing their songs
on
the web first then onto CDs. We are running down the service until
April
2007 when they'll be completely withdrawn. At my branch, there have
been a few "upset" users but once we've explained why we've done it,
they have agreed with us. We've also gone through the collection and
weeded out the unused and tired CDs and our issues have actually risen.
Vicky Fraser
Librarian
Montrose Library
214 High Street
Montrose
Angus
DD10 8PH
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01674 673256
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paton, Hugh
Sent: 23 February 2006 14:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Music CDs
Dear List,
it being that time of year, we are looking at budgets and the question
of viability of CD lending/hire has arisen. Loans are declining and CD
prices are not, so we are wondering whether to cut our losses and stop
the service.
Has anyone out here done this and if so, what level of flak resulted?
Thanks,
Hugh Paton
Library Development Manager - Bexley Council
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