We have to keep moving forward.

 

David Potts is absolutely right. In spite of his own strenuous efforts in this area, all the national leadership to date has failed to knock up the obvious parallel innovation to the People’s Network, namely a single catalogue and request system for UK/England public libraries.

 

This would have been a critical gain for access and proving that public libraries in the UK mean modern business.

 

With the demise of national leads as MLA goes and DCMS still takes no actively creative role in library development [that could of course change, Minister!] it’s left to others to make it happen.

 

The 10 Future Libraries Programme studies involve more than 10 authorities; it will propose shared services as an economy, while claiming it’s also better. OK it’s some months before the predictable results emerge, but hey.  If the studies are meant to give direction then why not coordinate a “shared” recommendation that is more than back office change, but combines efficiency and effectiveness.

 

§         Perhaps SCL colleagues would foster an interest albeit in the midst of library managers handling awful cuts and closures

§         CILIP could offer advocacy support and garner expertise as it has supported RFID

§         Surely the Arts Council will see the benefit of a coup in its first year of responsibility for libraries

§         Authors would surely be supportive

§         Would the LGA be interested in a positive distraction from the cuts?

§         Would UNISON see an opportunity to raise the profile and status of libraries?

§         Would school, college and university libraries see the massive advantage of local access to resources for everyone in learning and study?

§         SOCITM, looking for a chance for innovation, could support and enable

§         Private sector providers must surely see an opportunity – what price philanthropy, sponsorship, partnership and sustainability?

 

Even Government [DCMS and others] might see an opportunity for a positive strategy for reading and information access – very big society, very do it yourself…..

 

While we’re at it, why restrict this to public libraries. It can all be done.  See Wales http://library.wales.org/catcymru/ or Scotland and World Cat  http://www.slainte.org.uk/slaintedl.htm

 

Thanks David. Great ideas – even the largely cost-free interims you suggest. Now, everyone else, let’s see some action!

 

John