The Welsh one is much better:

-          SCL(W) is totally opposed to the introduction/use of voluntary labour, in order to compensate for the reduction or withdrawal of services caused by redundancies, non filling of vacant posts or inadequate staffing of libraries

&

-          Volunteers should only be used where they ‘add value’ to the library service. SCL(W) support their use in supplementation but not substitution (i.e. not to replace library staff or the core functions they perform)

 

 

 

Thoroughly depressing but not surprising. "nail", "coffin" and "we are ok jack" comes to mind.

Has a profession ever so spectacularly undermined it's own existence? been so complicit in its own demise?

"It doesn't matter if people take your job + do it for free, just make sure you train them to do it before you close the door behind you on your way to the dole queue eh? "

People at the top of their career pulling up the draw bridge for those coming behind them and in so doing undermining the profession and the public library service.

Evidence based practice is shockingly non-existent in this wholesale handover to volunteers. I would like to see citations for the claims made in this policy about volunteers.

"directly increases community engagement, adds value to the services available to customers and contributes to libraries being positioned at the heart of their local communities. Volunteers do become positive advocates for the service and many young volunteers do progress into full time paid employment within either the Library service itself or the wider local authority"

The final sentence in the paragraph made me snort in particular. Progress into paid employment? when there is none? Rather a slap in the face for the staff that some of these senior library people have made unemployed and replaced with said volunteers. Shockingly insensitive to even include this sentence.

. I would also like to see  evidence of how a library run by reluctant volunteers who have been trained for a few hours (as is Gloucestershire's

There is talk of volunteers being "under utilized". I suggest SCL concern themselves more with the OVER reliance on volunteers in some authorities and the impact this will have on our libraries. The "heart of the community" is being set up for chronic heart disease.

SCL Publishes Policy on Volunteering in Libraries

 

The Society of Chief Librarians has revised and republished its policy on volunteering

 

http://www.goscl.com/scl-publishes-policy-on-volunteering-in-libraries/

 

 

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Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries.  

 

 

Frances Hendrix

Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs, PR6 7QR

Tel:  01257 274 833.   Mobile: 0777 55 888 03