... but if there is a real desire for a totally free library service it would have to be much, much better funded!
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Clayton, Carl
Sent: 11 November 2009 12:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Requests process
Hi Judith
Thanks for your reply. I think that this sort of debate is very useful.
I do think you have misunderstood part of my argument. I am not saying that librarians won't request certain types of books via ILL. Most libraries will obtain anything that a reader requests. However it is a two tier system because if I go into Leeds Library and ask to borrow almost anything by Jeremy Clarkson I can get it free or, if it is not on the shelves, paying a 90p reservation fee. If however I want to borrow The Savage Mind by Claude Lévi-Strauss I will have to pay the £4 British Library fee. At the very least it is two-tier for generalist as opposed to specialist material. Some would argue that the library is showing a preference for populist rubbish at the expense of serious quality works. (That's probably unfair as you have a good collection of works by Levi-Strauss. I have chosen a title you don't appear to have).
If this country (and I think it is an issue for the nation rather than for libraries as such) was really serious about a free library service it would ensure that everyone could get all material free of charge. Even a system where everyone paid a small charge for every item would be fairer. A system in which some people have to pay for some items just because their library system does not hold them is not fair. The same argument applied in my recent letter to CILIP Update about articles for SMEs.
Regards
Carl
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