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Not really sure why so much concern is being shown about prising out of Mr Johnson his private thoughts about libraries. He was in a better position than almost anyone actually in the library profession to make them know via the report. And if, as reported, he really thinks it is a serious problem of inefficiency that 70% of budgets are spent on staff, do you suppose he has compared this with child safeguarding, care for the elderly, trading standards, special educational needs, customer service centres etc etc etc with which public library services are bracketed in local government? The vast majority of publicly funded service budgets are focused mostly or entirely on employee costs and libraries are relatively modest in the proportion spent on staff. To compare library service cost models with retail booksellers is as absurdly irrelevant as it has always been. I hope and trust that Mr Johnson’s private analysis of the subject is, in practice, rather more sophisticated and better-informed than that. Oh, and – shared services and consortia; what a good idea! Wish I had thought of that… Nick London Team Manager: Library Network Services Nottinghamshire Libraries (Part of Children, Families and Culture Services, Nottinghamshire County Council) Tel: 0115 9829029 Mob: 07775 020273 From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Ash Sent: 02 February 2015 18:52 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: More comments on Luke Johnsons piece If his individual views are sought, wouldn't this be the case for the views of all the panel members, not just his? What then was the point of the report produced? Feel I'm missing something here. And decidedly uncomfortable with the notion of retail model applied to libraries. Elizabeth Ash [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 07792 810 959 On 2 February 2015 at 18:04, DESMOND CLARKE <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: As has been pointed out, his comments about public libraries were contained in a much longer article but these do not seem to be fully reflected in the final draft of the Sieghart Report. It would therefore be interesting to have his analysis and for him to share his insights gained as a member of the Panel to which he refers in his SUNDAY TIMES article. ----Original message---- From : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Date : 02/02/2015 - 16:59 (GMTST) To : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject : Re: More comments on Luke Johnsons piece Given that Luke Johnson has such widespread knowledge and experience, and that the Sieghart panel took such wide-ranging evidence, and has just published its findings about the future of Public libraries, and he has just published his own comments on libraries in a leading national newspaper, isn't it a bit odd to be asking him to share his insights at this point. Surely those insights will be set out in the report, or in the newspaper article - or am I being too optimistic? Sent from my iPad On 2 Feb 2015, at 15:44, DESMOND CLARKE <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: Alan Actually, we might learn something from how Luke Johnson tried to save Borders in the UK, as well as from his considerable successes as an entrepreneur. More importantly, he and other members of the Sieghart Panel have considered 200 submissions, heard evidence from campaigners, the professional bodies and local government, visited several libraries, and spent time considering the issues and solutions . Perhaps, a constructive approach would be to invite Luke Johnson to expand upon his analysis and share his insights into how the sector might practically address the complex issues, including the enormous financial pressures, and reverse the marked decline in library usage over several years. Desmond Clarke ----Original message---- From : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Date : 02/02/2015 - 14:24 (GMTST) To : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject : Re: More comments on Luke Johnsons piece As one of those left-wingers and union members that Luke claims is holding public libraries back with their ideological vested interests and inefficient management, I’d just like to say that how impressed I was at the way Luke efficiently managed Borders, maybe we could learn something from his approach. And I really do wish that members of the Sieghart panel would back their assertion that mutuals are a successful way of running public services up with evidence, one thing sadly missing from the whole inquiry (unlike the Welsh one) Alan Wylie All my own views (unless someone else wants them?) From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of DESMOND CLARKE Sent: 02 February 2015 13:34 To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: More comments on Luke Johnsons piece Luke Johnson is a remarkably successful entrepreneur and former chairman of Channel 4 and the RSA, who was very much involved in the Sieghart Inquiry. It would be wrong for anyone concerned both with the very significant decline in library usage in recent years and the complex structural, resource and service issues faced by the service to simply dismiss his comments. Desmond Clarke ----Original message---- From : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Date : 02/02/2015 - 12:22 (GMTST) To : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Subject : More comments on Luke Johnsons piece In his Sunday Times piece Mr J also discusses Education - stating that he "helped to create the family of academies .." and Health - where he dismisses our NHS as "a bureaucratic leviathan". Oh, how jolly, jolly good. Luke Johnson is chairman of 'Risk Capital Partners' and the 'Centre for Entrepreneurs' - by the way. No doubt his views appeal to many who want to cut and cut. Those to whom his views might appeal less, he describes as having "vested interests" such as "unions and left-wing politicians". Since when are public libraries a BUSINESS and why should they be subject to "market forces"? They should NOT be. Their intrinsic value goes far beyond that. And his remarkable success in bookselling with Borders Frances Hendrix Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Chorley, Lancs, PR6 7QR Tel: 01257 274 833. Mobile: 0777 55 888 03 This e-mail is intended for the addressee only. If you have received it in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from your computer. Please be aware that information in this email may be confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright protected. ________________________________ The following message has been applied automatically, to promote news and information from Nottinghamshire County Council about events and services: Your tree needs you! Vote Sherwood Forest’s Major Oak for European Tree of the Year 2015 www.treeoftheyear.org <http://www.treeoftheyear.org/Uvod.aspx> ________________________________ ________________________________ Emails and any attachments from Nottinghamshire County Council are confidential. 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