As someone who has spent much of the last 15 years identifying and promoting
methods of managing stock, based on target setting and rigorous analysis of
current and previous stock use, I welcome the PwC report. In particular I
welcome, its acknowledgement of the need for identification of local demand
at individual library as well as library authority level, as a significant
basis for management action, be it future stock acquisition or movement of
existing stock to maximise its use.
Some criticism has already been levelled at the report, with sceptics
speculating whether or not the economic case has been exaggerated, and
indeed, whether or not the new approach will work at all. These concerns
are among the matters which, I imagine, MLA will pursue in the next stage
when they look at finance and piloting.
Certainly the identification of the need for local profiling, local target
setting and local outcome setting should set minds at rest in terms of
continuing local authority control over what arrives on shelves and what
happens with that stock subsequently. Personally I am delighted that PwC
specified ‘Evidence based stock management’ (and its associated software,
SmartSM) as being a good vehicle to ensure all the local elements are
delivered.
The changes recommended are bold and require major shifts in practice
locally. Whether or not the suggested e-marketplace and regional hubs ‘take
wing’, will be down to MLA being able to fund effective pilots to pursue the
concepts.
However I believe that the report does a great service to stock management
even if the macro level structure does not emerge, since it urges local
evidence gathering as the principal basis for stock acquisition. In
whatever scenario, whether it be the new approach, continuing use of
Supplier Selection or continuing library selection, surely we can all now
accept the case for evidence based methods of stock management?
In relation to this a new software service, Bridgeall SmartSM, that
automates and facilitates adoption of Evidence Based Stock Management, is
now available.
To help its promotion I am currently offering FREE stock management seminars
to groups of libraries. These do not focus on the new software (although I
give a brief outline) but instead describe what EBSM is all about, what it
can do for you and how you might be able to adopt it yourself.
Why not join in with the 70 local authorities who have already participated
in a free EBSM seminar and find out more! Simply contact me at
[log in to unmask] (or my personal e-mail above) or telephone 0141
585 6427 for more details.
www.bridgeall.com
George Kerr
Library Consultant
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