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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?

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On 2 Feb 2015, at 15:44, DESMOND CLARKE <[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
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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]
Date : 02/02/2015 - 14:24 (GMTST)
To : [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]
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]
Date : 02/02/2015 - 12:22 (GMTST)
To : [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

 

 

 

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