Totally agree with Desmond
What are the task Force doing while libraries ‘burn’, well close any way! This is such a serious problem, it is time the Task Force
tasked itself with doing something about it
f
Frances Hendrix
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of DESMOND CLARKE
Sent: 30 April 2016 11:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Library usage falls 29.7% since 2005
No serious service organisation, public or private, would ignore a decline in usage but would have ensured that they know why and what they need to do to win back users. To continue to ignore the very significant decline in library usage
and borrowing is frankly irresponsible, not least because it suggests a serious failure to meet the needs of all those who would benefit from an effective public library service.
The Public Library Service in England has long had an increasingly serious problem in terms of usage and borrowing, though the picture is far from being consistent across all authorities. We can not pretend that all is well when across
the Country three in every ten users have stopped using their local library over the past decade.
To properly address an issue, it is necessary first to recognise the problem and research what needs to be done to resolve it. That should be an urgent priority for the Taskforce, the SCL and ACE.
Desmond Clarke
The actual decline reported by the DCMS Taking Part Survey equates to 29.7% in just a decade. This should be top of the agenda for the Taskforce, the ACE,
the SCL and anyone concerned with re-invigorating the public library service.
