Quite the opposite - the date stamp controversy is the touchstone for all of
these other problems - just as a family argument about (say) who wants to
watch what on the telly is never 'about' the television but is always
'about' the family. In no time at all it's driven to the heart of so many of
the issues (no pun intended) facing public libraries today.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lewis,Aran M [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 3:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Date stamps
We are indeed here to serve the public, and here are a few indicators of how
we (public libraries as a whole) have been doing this in recent years (stats
from LISU, http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dils/lisu/lisuhp.html)-
Changes over the period 92/93-99/00
Professional librarians per 10,000 population - cut by 14.3%
Total staff per 10,000 population - cut by 10%
Service points open for 45 hours or more - cut by 8.8%
Mobile service points - cut by 4.9%
Service points to population ratio - cut by 5.6%
Total service point hours per week - cut by 5.5%
Average permitted loan (weeks) - cut by 11.8%
95/96-99/00 [data not available online for earlier years]
Books acquired in year - cut by 18.1%
Bookstock - cut by 7.5 %
In this context I think the date label controversy falls some distance short
of astonishing.
Cheers,
Aran Lewis
Senior Librarian Bibliographic Services
Libraries
Education
London Borough of Lambeth
phone: 020 7926 6069
fax: 020 7926 6072
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
Bibliographic Services Department
Carnegie Library
188 Herne Hill Road
London SE24 0AG
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Graham Dash [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 2:14 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Date stamps
>
> I think my comment was completely misunderstood.
>
> My personal opinion, and it is ONLY MY OPINION, is that date labels are
> outdated and should be dispensed with.
>
> However, if you read the rest of my mail I quite clearly state that the
> public (well the majority) still wanted date labels and we continue to
> offer both the date label or loan receipt print, or both if that's what
> the user wants.
>
> My whole point was that you have to listen to your customers - or do you?
> I've come across several instances over the years in all walks of life
> where things are changed where the majority don't want it but there views
> are disregarded.
>
> We actually did ask our users and the result was that the date labels
> remain, at least for the foreseeable future.
>
> So why the astonishment?
>
> Graham Dash
>
> ----------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 18 January 2002 14:04
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Date stamps
>
> <<File: ENVELOPE.TXT>>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> I was astonished to read the following comment:
>
> "We still offer a print out but the main problem is whether you
> listen to what your users want or whether you make the decision
> that date labels will no longer be provided and disregard
> public opinion.
>
> Personally, I think that date labels should be discontinued"
>
> Well, I hate to sound like one of those forever complaining
> readers, but they actually do pay our wages. And who are we to
> tell them whether or not they should be allowed to have a date
> stamped in their books. What is the point in saving,what is
> after all their money, if we are doing it by going against
> their wishes?
>
> I hope that there are still a sufficient number of people
> within the service who don't just "disregared public opinion".
> Like it or not, we are here to serve the public, and we should
> do that by making decisions which suit them, not ourselves.
>
> Incidentally, I personally would gladly see the back of
> date-stamping, I find it a messy, unreliable nuisance.
> However, until the majority of readers share my views, I shall
> be happy to continue to use them
>
> Michael
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