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I would see the ‘Boris’ argument (not mine btw!) going like this: · Local authorities are closing libraries which non council organisations (e.g. independent private trusts etc) say they can keep open. · Ego the evidence is that councils can no longer provide a ‘comprehensive’ public library service. · So the 1964 public library legislation needs to be amended to amend the statutory responsibility of local authorities · This would enable the creation of more diversity and competition in the market to improve standards. For example one of the best public libraries in the world is (according to Wikipedia) ‘ a privately managed, nonprofit corporation with a public mission, operating with both private and public financing’ (the argument from Boris’s birth city). Boris is positioning himself to ‘to save London libraries with private trust’ (according to the Bookseller piece) Ken Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] <http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/> www.kenchadconsulting.com Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad Open Library Systems Specifications: <http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com/> http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com See my recent presentations on slideshare: <http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad> http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MARTYN EVERETT Sent: 15 January 2011 08:03 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Council's Statutory responsibility -new biz model The Council would still be legally responsible for providing a service. They could pay towards the running of the "re-organised" libraries and argue that they were providing the service through the re-organised libraries, but it would have to be a continuing commitment, and probably at a level which matched that the funding which they provide to the libraries which they still control directly. To avoid challenge would probably have to monitor the standard of the service provided and ensure that minimum standards were met. --- On Fri, 14/1/11, Edward Durkin <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Edward Durkin <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: London Mayor proposing new biz model for some London public Libraries To: [log in to unmask] Date: Friday, 14 January, 2011, 13:56 What impact might Trust status for Public Libraries have on a Council’s statutory responsibility? Eddy Durkin Reference Librarian AK Bell Library Perth. _____ From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ken Chad Sent: 14 January 2011 13:48 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: London Mayor proposing new biz model for some London public Libraries Taking up the Boris plan would be a step along the road to disassociate public libraries from being *council*/local authority services. Not all UK public libraries are run by councils/LAs of course but most are. So perhaps this is a move to a more diverse (and older) biz model for public libraries? Perhaps more along the lines of the US ? The Minns blog makes a case for libraries very much as integral with local authority services—‘one-stop-shop’ etc. Ken CEO, Ken Chad Consulting Ltd Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: [log in to unmask] <http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/> www.kenchadconsulting.com Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad Open Library Systems Specifications: <http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com/> http://libtechrfp.wikispaces.com From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mick Fortune Sent: 14 January 2011 07:02 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: London Mayor proposing new biz model for some London public Libraries Hi Ken From (usually reliable) gossip it's not the New York connection, it's because Tim Coates told him to do it. Whatever the reason it is an idea that begs further analysis. Having read the story in two different places I am unclear whether the £2million is for running the libraries - with volunteer staff(?) - as Buckinghamshire are struggling to do in Chalfont St Giles and elsewhere - or just part of the general fund for Team London. I'm not sure how much asset value even £2 million represents in terms of removing expensive buildings from council asset registers. Perhaps the Library Alliance are poised to buy up the threatened libraries and take over? How will the rest of the country respond one wonders? Perhaps some will follow Councillor Minns (leader of Hull city council) example as reported earlier in the week <http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress/?p=826> . Mick Mick Fortune m. +44 (0)7786 625544 <http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress> Make your voice heard in the public library debate! From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ken Chad Sent: 14 January 2011 00:16 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: London Mayor proposing new biz model for some London public Libraries http://www.thebookseller.com/news/144122-boris-set-to-save-london-libraries-with-private-trust.html.rss I wonder if this was influenced by the model of New York Public Library –after all Boris was born in New York From the bookseller ‘ ‘Boris Johnson is set to announce plans tonight (Thursday 13th January) to set up a trust to run libraries in London that are at risk of closure, the London Evening Standard website reports. The trust would be run by Team London, which Johnson is establishing this summer to bring together all his mentoring and volunteering projects. Private donors have already contributed £2m for the trust, with banks and individuals set to be asked to top up funds’. Ken CEO, Ken Chad Consulting Ltd Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. 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