Hello Frances,
My but you're busy today!
It seemed a reasonable idea when I woke up horribly early yesterday morning but then the day took a rather different turn and I found myself being operated by Tim Coates for a while there. Sometimes I think I'm too accommodating for my own good :)
Yes "develop" of course. I was indeed aiming far too low. But what are the chances of a co-ordinated campaign for libraries do you think? It feels like the Labour Party in Kinnock's time at the moment.
There appear to be several arenas in which the library debate is currently taking place. The profession speaks here, on Twitter, on the blogs, through the professional associations and occasionally in the press. The booksellers and publishers have an almost entirely separate debate going on amongst themselves - in the Bookseller and on its blogs (well done Biddy for making the librarians' voice heard there by the way)through the Bookseller's and Publisher's Associations and critically in the media - especially the Beeb. For some reason BBC journos seem more tuned into that debate than this one, perhaps because they feel more at home with those that craft the content than the librarians who merely curate.
The good news over the last few days has been that libraries are in the public eye - and seem to be getting some very favourable reviews in the vox pops, almost as good as nurses! The bad news is that somehow, librarians themselves don't always seem to enjoy the same public affection as NHS workers.
Why might that be? I think we need to look carefully at what is being said, and who is saying it. Library campaigners, like the man who had his hand up my back yesterday (albeit blessedly briefly), are focused on the public LIBRARIES - not the librarians. Indeed Tim has never made any secret of the fact that he has very little regard for librarians. Indeed he seems to see them as being the principal architects of the decline (real or conjured) in library usage judging by comments he (or his cat) have written on any number of blogs lately. Odd that. I bet most heads of service feel that council officers might have something to do with it too…
I was asked yesterday why Tim didn't make his own interventions on the list. I had the same thought, I'm sure we'd give him a warm welcome.
So how do we capitalise on all the good news stories and raise the profile of the librarians? Will Roy's alliance deliver positive messages about the value of library staff? Will the unions and the professional associations work together? Or will this man get his wish and be able to borrow books at his boozer? http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/1386206.profits_pour_in_for_taverns/
From: Frances Hendrix [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Frances Hendrix
Sent: 26 August 2010 11:12
To: Mick Fortune; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Libraries making the news again!
not preserve but develop?!
Frances Hendrix
Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs PR6 7QR, UK
tel: 01257 274 833. fax: 01257 266 488
email: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: Libraries making the news again!
Roy
It's difficult to see how the parties, you correctly identify as holding the fate of libraries in their hands, can effectively be lobbied by a profession that benefits (suffers?) from so many interested agencies and associations.
Perhaps it takes a coalition to fight a coalition. Why not join forces with SCL, CILIP and all the other bodies with an interest in preserving the library service to co-ordinate and maximise our resources. I know a lady in Doncaster who could manage the campaign for you.
Mick
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roy Clare
Sent: 25 August 2010 07:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Libraries making the news again!
SCL? Decisions on public library services are not taken by members of SCL.
Surely the greater concern is the almost complete absence of comment from those who actually decide allocations of local resources, namely Council Leaders, Portfolio Holders, Councillors and Chief Executives?
Those are the people who hold the fate of public libraries in their hands, especially now in era of coalition govt 'localism'.
Roy
Roy Clare CBE
CEO, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
www.mla.gov.uk
+44 (0) 207 273 1476/9
Via Blackberry
Apparently the SCL were approached and didn't field any one. Same old...
and you are right about the quality of the debate.
dying pubs put a shelf of books in, yippee, great step forward
Frances Hendrix
Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs PR6 7QR, UK
tel: 01257 274 833. fax: 01257 266 488
email: [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: Libraries making the news again!
I found the Today programme items pointless. No librarians speaking, no discussion about innovations in services, discussion at level that could have been 20 years ago.
Talking about the disappointing coverage to my friends who are (or have been) editors of national papers, etc, they say you have to remember that journalists are very lazy. This must apply to the Radio 4 producers and editors who yet again have failed to get any proper insight into what libraries are doing about such 'crises' in library service use.
CILIP Library + Information Gazette
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