FROM CHRIS BATT:

 

WITH NO APOLOGIES FOR A QUITE CROSS POSTING

 

Avid readers of the discussion list will have seen the message from Mike Maguire about the

latest ‘news’ from DfES – the idea that UK online centres may be ‘taken over’ by

UfI/LearnDirect.

 

 

The report made on a DfES discussion list last week appeared on our radar last Friday

morning, closely followed by a disclaimer from DfES that no decisions had been taken on the

arrangements for any handover of control and that a group was being set up to look at

details over the next few months. The report was quite specific in identifying the fact that

the proposed change would enable government offices to end their involvement with the

funding of centres. This indicates that in the discussions that had taken place no

consideration had been given to very different funding and management regimes that apply to

centres in libraries. Not, of course, that such a reading should be any cause for

complacency!

 

 

We checked with the person who issued the disclaimer to see whether he understood the

general decision to embrace libraries. He thought that it had been considered, but it was

too early for any idea of what would be the final outcome to be established.

 

Our next step was to check with DCMS to see what their knowledge of the announcement

was.DCMS did not know about it at all and, was surprise that there should be any idea that

libraries might be included. They went to DEFCON 3 and are now digging to find out more from

their sources.

 

 

Our final action on Friday was to call Margaret Bennett, i/c ICT and lifelong learning at

DfES, (previously Chief Executive of the National Library for the Blind and a friend of

public libraries). Margaret was very concerned and stressed that action was being taken to

establish lines of communication, that the announcement had been unfortunate and that there

was no intention to take action without close involvement and discussion. However, as we

spoke on Friday afternoon she was packing her case to go on leave for two weeks. Margaret

promised that someone would be in touch soonest to brief us and give re-assurance.

 

Today David Potts got a call from DfES to attend a meeting on Wednesday. I am also in daily

contact with Janet Evans and DCMS.

 

 

While I felt irritated to hear that any suggestion of any change should be made without wide

consultation, and you may have felt the same, this has more to do with irresponsibility and

bad timing than with some plan to land grab the most successful part of the UK online

universe.

 

 

Resource will be involved in any future discussions and will ensure that you are all kept

informed. DCMS have indicated that they are just as keen for that to be the case.

 

Of course if you want to carry on discussing the chance of getting your hands on some of

that lovely LSC money, please do. But in the words of Corporal Jones – “Don’t panic”!

 

 

Chris Batt

 

Acting Chief Executive

Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries

16 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA

Ph: +44 (0) 20 7273 1476; Fx: +44 (0) 20 7273 1404