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I don't believe that anyone has suggested that it is a question of "either/or" but campaigners are warning that the service could be moving towards a network of "super" central libraries and hundreds of volunteer managed "book exchanges". While the new Library of Birmingham is to be celebrated, there must be questions about its total cost including the often ignored huge financing costs. The willingness of the Council to take on these costs does seem to conflict with its admission this week, after a FOI request, that there is a £4 million backlog of repairs for Birmingham's network of community libraries. Campaigners have said that the building of a few "super" libraries must not be allowed to distract from the devastation being caused in the hinterland. Public Libraries News reports that more that 624 branch libraries have been closed, threatened with closure or transfered to volunteer groups in the past three years. The Library Campaign have warned that the number of libraries under threat may well exceed 1,000 by 2016. As Tim Vansom, the consultant to ACE's " Envisioning the library of the future"project recently warned, current policies are leading to a growing inequality in the provision of libraries across the country. Desmond Clarke On 18/10/2013 09:39, John Dolan wrote: > > *"Big shiny super libraries" and "Community Libraries"? It's not an > either/or* > > An important plea. We need to acknowledge that the city centre library > developments are as important as community libraries /_and vice > versa_/; it's not an either/or. City libraries cannot replace > community-based libraries. We shouldn't want the achievement of the > new city libraries and the librarians who brought them about to be > damaged by any misunderstanding. > > There's been a movement over the last fifteen years or so to build new > town and city libraries. It was indeed about replacing earlier ones > with libraries for the digital age, the multicultural society, the > information era, for a time of lifelong learning alongside, outside > and following formal education. However, people outside our regional > centres, especially non-librarians, may not be aware of why they are > big, or why they are "shiny". > > For example, Birmingham: Of course there are large book lending > libraries for children, young people and adults, that goes without > saying but it's not a rival or a threat, in principle, to community > libraries and should be working with them to deliver its services and > resources both locally and online. However, the Library of Birmingham, > like other provincial town and city libraries, performs different roles. > > ** > > *Why big:* > > *Legal knowledge.*It is the city's own archive record office where the > public can consult local authority documentation and now get help with > such cumbersome resources online; it is the official Diocesan Archive. > It is also an authoritative access point to documentation of > international and national public record together with non-fiction, > journals, and discourse. > > *Heritage*: historic archives, the city's story, majoring on the > industrial revolution, but telling of private, commercial, political, > and social life up to the present day with earlier material going back > to the late middle ages. > > *Legacy*. Unique collections belonging to, or deposited in trust with, > the people of Birmingham. Nurtured and grown by the city. Birmingham > has a brilliant rare book collection (yes, an Audubon, but 100's > more), one of the World's most significant Shakespeare collections, > huge collections of printed and recorded music, some unique, over 2 > million photographs and so on. > > *Culture*: literature, stories, poetry, music, film, drama, history > ... life. All brought to life, as in community libraries, by > activities and events. > > *Why *shiny* *(for which, read designed to a high standard): > > *Accessible*: it has to be flexible and easy to use for all > generations, abilities, cultures, communities > > *Diverse*: it has to open up those historic collections to new > interpretation by new generations. Nearly 40% of Birmingham citizens > are under 24 years old. It's one of the most diverse cities in Europe. > Communications, creativity and invention are central to city life. > > *Sustainable*: the invaluable collections (six in Birmingham are > /Designated/) have to be housed in modern conditions to ensure their > future use and further re-interpretation. > > *Exciting*: that dynamic population is looking to make the most of > their culture, creatively establishing their economic and social > future -- through learning, skill, knowledge and understanding -- in > the digital age > > *Regeneration*: as far back as the /Comedia/ report of the 1990s town > and city central libraries were seen as a beacon of activity in the > city centre; shops shut at 6, the streets were bleak; Ken Worpole > found one place with the lights on and was buzzing with activity > (/Borrowed time? The future of public libraries in the UK/. Comedia > (1993) Stroud: Comedia). Central libraries kept the streets alive. Now > city libraries are a magnet for social, cultural and economic activity > underpinning other regeneration developments. In a Manchester hotel > room recently was a hardback book, /"This is Manchester"./ On the > front a prominent image of the Central Library (and some other > cultural centres) while inside it was all adverts, ubiquitous commerce > dependent on the city's culture for a persona. > > *Skill:*City libraries by the nature of this work have staff who are > expert in their respective areas, history, music, arts, health, > science. No edition of BBC's /"Who do you think you are?"/ does not > feature a librarian or archivist? These skills are a resource for the > whole city and should back up the work of community-based library > services. Skilled staff are the /sine qua non/ of quality provision. > > *My point?*1] most of this has to be done by statute or previous > commitment 2] it has to be housed properly and be publicly accessible > 3] there'd be outrage if the city's unique heritage were removed or > discarded. > > Alongside that of course is the necessity to deliver the Library of > Birmingham through local libraries. Birmingham has a policy and > structure that devolves community libraries to District (Constituency) > management; it is up to each District to spend and deliver as it sees > fit. This is not entirely unlike the Government's "devolve and > retreat" approach though, hopefully, with more creative coordination. > > The name 'Library of Birmingham' was very deliberately chosen. It > carries three meanings: > > 1. the Library of Birmingham is of and for the whole of Birmingham > and everyone who lives there > 2. the Library of Birmingham houses the story of Birmingham > 3. the Library of Birmingham promotes Birmingham to the world beyond > > The Library of Birmingham *is* the local library (for the city) -- > */_and vice versa_/* > > The city is consulting on the future of local services including > libraries <http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/servicereviews>. it is a > failing, as is often the case, that the literacy level required to > read these pages is way beyond that of those they are saying they want > to prioritise (the City Council used to have a Plain Language Policy). > Go and see it. If you know anyone there, especially if they are not > frequent/ regular internet users, then tell them. Cynics and citizens > protest at how cuts consultation turns up just a month after opening > the Library of Birmingham > <http://birminghamagainstthecuts.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/council-service-review-proposes-decimation-of-birminghams-public-libraries/>. > See if you can help.** > > Don't pitch city and community libraries against each other. All are > crucial institutions and services. I referenced Birmingham because of > my personal knowledge but much the same can be said of Liverpool, > Manchester, Newcastle and, if you really want to know, Seattle, and > other north American cities. However, new city libraries to be > announced include Berlin and Dublin and that's good news. > > **/John Dolan OBE, BA, Dip Lib, MCLIP/** > > //E. [log in to unmask] > > //Tw. @johnrdolan// > > //T. 0121 476 4258// > > //M. 07508 204200// >