On 10/2/12, Taylor, Richard <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Is anyone sending these comments/advice/criticism to ACE (and others) as
> well as posting them on blogs where they are only preaching to the
> converted? Genuine question.
>
> Regards
> > Richard
> Richard Taylor BA MArAd | Archives & Local History Development Manager
> City of York Council | Libraries & Heritage
> 18 Back Swinegate | York YO1 8ZD
**********************************************************************
> Genuine answer:
from Laura Swaffield, chair, The Library Campaign.
The Library Campaign has been in correspondence with Nicky Morgan of
ACE for some months. We are the national umbrella group for local
Friends/users of libraries.
We pointed out the obvious flaws, and also offered to help in
organising a more representative consultation.
Alas, her courteous & thoughtful replies have shown that ACE does not
grasp the issues we are trying to raise at all.
We had hoped we did not need to expand the dialogue to 'others'. But
the widespread concern we warned of has now taken off, with no push
from us.
We are now requesting a meeting asap.
This is one of our recent letters:
Dear Nicky
>>I am sure your intentions are wholly good, but your reply has not gone
>>down terribly well.
>>
>>You propose four face-to-face meetings aimed at the general
>>population, with no focus on library users or indeed on frontline
>>library staff. This risks duplicating endless research already done.
>>
Worse, it fails to balance your four previous meetings, which
>>according to our observations were packed with arts and library
>>professionals (ie, not the general population of all professionals,
>>regardless of library contact). To this you added a librarian-only
>>round table.
>>You also offer a further online debate, which hardly answers our
>>concerns about reaching a key actual and potential library user group
>>- people who don't have online access.
>>
>>We feel this adds up to a lack of focus on actual service users -
>>which is astonishing given that public libraries exist to serve their
>>'customers'. No commercial retail business would survive long on this
>>basis. More library-focused face-to-face meetings, plus a round table
>>for users, would seem to be a minimum requirement.
>>We also feel that to consult only library managers is likewise to lose
>>out on library frontline staff, a rich source of real-life experience
>>and ideas.
>>
>>We finally feel that it is impractical to ask only about 'visions for
>>10 years ahead'. This makes little sense in the fast-developing field
>>of culture, information and media.
>>Far more important - it is the perception of both service users and
>>staff that the library service is in crisis NOW. We would want ACE to
>>look at that.
>>The danger is that the damage now being done will weaken libraries so
>>badly that it will be too late to repair it in 10 or even two years'
>>time. At stake is both the network of access at local level, and the
>>national network that enables efficient co-operation and makes every
>>library a well-known first step to the complete national and
>>international resource of books and knowledge.
>>
>>As I said before, we are keen to help you.
>>Meanwhile, we would like to know where the meetings are, and how some
>>of us could get to attend.
>>We would also like to know what you are doing to balance your
>>consultation less in favour of (a) library managers and (b) the online
>>chat community.
>>We would also like to know what ACE will do to research the current
>>situation, as opposed to imaginary problems in the future.
>>
>>After that, it will be a great pleasure to meet you in October, as the
>>beginning of a regular schedule of meetings. I appreciate that, as
>>this is just re-starting, it will unfortunately consist of you telling
>>us what you have done. I'm sure we both agree that this is not the way
>>to work together, and that we will move into a co-operative pattern
>>thereafter.
>>
>>Best wishes
>>
>>Laura Swaffield
>>Chair
>>The Library Campaign
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