"people pay taxes to receive a public service, they don't pay taxes to receive a service that then fires private ads at them."
Of course people pay taxes for public services, which includes libraries, but the point in terms of short-sighted local authorities is that our minimum statutory service provision is usually a lot less than we actually offer - 'easy' pickings for under-pressure councillors.
In theory, people pay their taxes and may only receive the minimum service provision, so Councils are fully able (and in some areas, willing!) to close libraries which are additional to the statutory requirements. The figure I suggested of a proposed closure of 70% of public libraries in one authority is a real one being considered at present.
Look at the projected income figures this scheme is proposing to the authorities who have signed up - £1.25m/5yr in Essex, £1m/5yr in Leeds, £200-500k/5yr in Leicestershire, Dorset & Southend. If an authority faced with 70% cuts could generate these sorts of figures, they'd have a pretty strong case for keeping their libraries open. I'm sure the tax payers and library members would much rather have their full and current service provision, with book inserts, rather than a 30% service provision without.
For a moment, let's stop being sentimental about our pride, past and heritage - because without public libraries that are open, well used and offering an excellent service, these things mean nothing and will be consigned to the history books (which of course we'll no longer be able to borrow).
Consider the implications of closures on this scale - think about the difference this would make on an every day basis to the elderly people unable to travel to their 'nearest' library after the closures; think about the detriment to local literacy initiatives for adults and children alike; think about the unemployed who use learning centres to develop themselves or apply for jobs, no longer able to do so; think about the 70% of staff - fellow colleagues in YOUR profession - who face losing their jobs. These are just a tiny few of the implications.
As I said earlier - let's not dive straight in and judge those who are going down this route without knowing their circumstances. For all you know, they may well be ensuring the future of their library services for a huge number of people.
Richard.
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