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Hi Andrew, I'm a little confused with regards the issue you raise regarding staff expenditure. Public libraries will always have to spend a significant portion of their budget on staffing, simply because of the network of venues they need to resource. When I worked for Glasgow Council we had over 30 service points to staff, many of them large libraries. Unlike the BBC, who can hide staffing costs by farming out contracts for programme making to private companies, public libraries manage and operate their own service points. Rather than cutting staff numbers, there needs to be an increase in order to open libraries longer. Indeed isn't that one of the points made by Mr Coates - libraries need to be open longer. Just my opinion. Cheers David --------------------------------------- David McMenemy Lecturer, Graduate School of Informatics, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Livingstone Tower, 26 Richmond Street, Glasgow. G1 1XH U.K. Tel: 0141-548-3045 email: [log in to unmask] www.cis.strath.ac.uk -----Original Message----- From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andrew Sandeman Sent: 29 April 2004 10:26 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Press Release from the Laser Foundation - 'Who's in Charge?' John: you are right about Hampshire but this sort of response (in general, I really don't want to personalise this) - makes me despair, because it discourages debate on the real issue. Even at 55% (LISU), staffing costs are damagingly high and the effects (yes, there are other factors as well) include LISU 2003 p.4 "Only 9.6% of total libraries expenditure was on books in 2001-02." We SHOULD be concerned that a) most of our (Paying) customers still want a good range of books etc.as their top priority b) we are NOT spending 90% of our budget on what they want. There are some good things happening out there, but they need to deepen and spread very rapidly if libraries are to recover their relevance to most of the general public. Regards, Andrew ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Briggs" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: 28 April 2004 16:52 Subject: Re: Press Release from the Laser Foundation - 'Who's in Charge?' > Andrew Sandeman wrote: > > A pity that a report which makes some important points - > > controversial maybe, but the basic thrust is well supported by > > evidence - should be met > > with this sort of 'debate'. > > > > Hopefully, perhaps elsewhere, we can have a more considered > > discussion about how to achieve the STEP CHANGE in effectiveness > > which is so clearly needed. > > > > For example, it looks as if many authorities spend (roughly) two > > thirds of > > their budget on staffing, > > whereas I understand that the BBC spend approx.20%. > > > > The figures quoted by the report are that Hampshire spends > approximately half of its 'funds' on "staff", which is in line with > the UK as a whole (see > Appendix 2). > > John Briggs > Check planning applications from your office or home www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning Pay for on-street parking in central Edinburgh from your mobile phone www.edinburgh.gov.uk/mpark More at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/onlineservices ********************************************************************** This Email and files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended for the sole use of the individual or organisation to whom they are addressed. If you have received this Email in error please notify the sender immediately and delete it without using, copying, storing, forwarding or disclosing its contents to any other person. The Council has endeavoured to scan this Email message and attachments for computer viruses and will not be liable for any losses incurred by the recipient. **********************************************************************