Because we're all nice people and don't push ourselves or our services
forward enough.

There, controversial enough to get discussion going?!

Shelagh Levett
Bournemouth

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Heywood [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 5:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Date stamps


No one's really responded to this so I'll bite:

Perhaps the question we're avoiding is: "How come public library services
appear to be such poor resource competitors with other statutory services
when the voting public thinks that libraries are A Good Thing?"

Steven

Steven Heywood
Systems Manager
Rochdale Library Service
Wheatsheaf Library
Baillie Street
Rochdale, England OL16 1JZ
Tel: 01706 864967
Fax: 01706 864992

The Library Service Page of Love
http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/living/libraries.asp?url=romance



> ----------
> From:         Lewis,Aran M[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Lewis,Aran M
> Sent:         18 January 2002 15:35
> 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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