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<Loz Pyccock> You're trying to defend a style of service that hasn't existed for several decades. <Me> It was the style of service that was there when I first worked in public libraries in the 80s, and continued in the 90s, and 00s. Granted the "progress" ideas like this one were beginning to arrive in middle and the later part of the period. Difference was we had a profession then that seemed to remember why it existed. <Loz Pyccock> Most of the people who live in a particular administrative area also don't pay their taxes for a library service, if you ask them. Which is why, when politicians look for areas to cut spending, libraries are one of the obvious targets. As I said before, if the money from this goes into the purchasing fund, is that so bad? More books and a slip of paper. It's not the end of the world. <Me> Please let us have this groundbreaking research where you've asked the majority of users in library areas what they pay their taxes for. If you seriously think the money will be used to buy more books, rather than plug black holes and make the authorities look more "corporate friendly", then I have some magic beans you can buy. I thought you felt the slips of paper might lead to global warming or something? Don't really need a public service ethos if the world's going to end do we? <Loz Pyccock> There is nothing in this proposal that suggests that the advertisers are buying influence over the library. <Me> No, it's far worse, they're buying influence over the people who borrow books, much more lucrative for them and ethically questionable for the libraries concerned. <Loz Pycock> I don't think I've ever seen a brand description of libraries that mention that they are free of adverts but the inflexibility of local government and unwillingness to adapt to current trends is something that does get mentioned in reports. <Me> Try reading Bob Usherwood's new book, "Equity and Excellence in the Public Library" as you seem to be very unclear of what a public library's real role is. Rather worrying since you claim to work in one. -------------------------------------------------------------- David McMenemy Department of Computer and Information Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland -------------------------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Loz Pycock Sent: 09 November 2007 18:25 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Library books get insert adverts > It's hardly inevitable. Of course it is a source of cash, but people pay > taxes to receive a public service, they don't pay taxes to receive a service > that then fires private ads at them. Most of the people who live in a particular administrative area also don't pay their taxes for a library service, if you ask them. Which is why, when politicians look for areas to cut spending, libraries are one of the obvious targets. As I said before, if the money from this goes into the purchasing fund, is that so bad? More books and a slip of paper. It's not the end of the world. > As other contributors have pointed > out, public libraries should strive to be better than that. It should be > free from any outside influence, certainly any influence that is paid for, > and once that aspiration is gone, it becomes a shadow of itself in terms of > status. > There is nothing in this proposal that suggests that the advertisers are buying influence over the library. > My approach is hardly anti-advertising, I have no problem with advertising > at all, I am as susceptible to a well sold product as the next person. But > it doesn't belong in a public library. Society needs spaces free of the > mindless junk we are deluged with day in day out, spaces that attempt to be > better in terms of their aspirations and goals for the people they serve. > Historically public libraries were one of those places. It seems no more, > sadly. > > As for my point on managerialism, it is the blind obsession that the public > should ape the private, even when it is clearly nonsensical in terms of its > utilisation in many public services, that is at the route of so much that is > wrong with the sector. This is just another horrible example of where that > mindset takes you. > > As an aside I was discussing this issue with a colleague today, someone who > has worked at high levels in the private sector, not a wannabe like so many > public sector managerialists. He was incredulous that the library "brand" > was so expendable as to toss it aside so lightly. The reality is that a > well run private sector organisation wouldn't dream of compromising its > image for a few bucks. It knows how important that "brand" is for its > future. Would it were so in this case! > I don't think I've ever seen a brand description of libraries that mention that they are free of adverts but the inflexibility of local government and unwillingness to adapt to current trends is something that does get mentioned in reports. -- - -- Loz "I was in a sushi bar and it dawned on me - how could I discriminate between a cow and a fish?" - Carre Otis. "Singing is a gift from God, and when people say I can't sing, it's kind of like insulting God." - Fergie, Black Eyed Peas -This email address can be temperamental, so you can also try [log in to unmask]