In response to Tim's earlier message, now duplicated on the List, I had hoped that our very different understanding of the figures could be resolved in private, but this message has added discrepancy to discrepancy in a way which requires a response.
Somerset has stated that the net cost of operating 34 libraries and 6 mobile libraries is £3.52m. The bookfund is excluded from that figure. We have said that the net cost of Library support services is £1.92m and not £2.98m - both Somerset and Tim agree, at least in this respect, to omit the "below the line" central support costs. These two sums, which we provided as part of our public consultation in Autumn 2010, total £5.44m. The support services sum includes all the costs of service development activities described by John Dolan, plus the materials fund (including bookfund), the not inconsiderable IT network and maintenance costs, costs of bibliographic services and management and administration costs.
It is hardly helpful to confuse this very public discussion by adding further contested data. It achieves exactly the opposite of the clarity for which Tim is calling.
Phil Nichols
Libraries & Information Manager
Somerset County Council : Heritage & Libraries
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