Clare calls for 'mixed economy' of libraries
24.06.09 | Benedicte Page
With library closures a red-hot issue in Wirral and Swindon, MLA chief executive Roy Clare has called for library services to think of a "mixed economy" combining a big central library, smaller branch libraries and much smaller "library link" facilities. Clare told The Bookseller he was also "working" towards organising a conference of local authority chief executives in order to get a better undersanding of how libraries affect people's lives.
A library link is located in venues such as post offices or doctor’s surgeries and offers a range of around 1,500 titles, limited opening hours, and connection with an online service so that residents can order a book to pick up. Clare told The Bookseller: "When Swindon chose to remove a library, they didn’t put anything in its place. Instead of a full-time library, a library link becomes a forward post of your library. It’s recently been adopted by Dudley in the Midlands and Wirral have been in touch with Dudley to talk about it." He added: "I am totally committed to local people having local libraries, but that does not have to be in the pre-existing buildings."
Clare also said he was targeting the chief executives, directors of culture and senior officers of local authorities in an advocacy role. "I am working with them to see how do we get a better understanding of how libraries contribute to peoples' experience - culture, art, a broadening of spirit," he said, adding: "I am working my way towards organising a conference of chief executives."
Following the latest round of council elections, the MLA's regional directors of engagement are writing to new library service portfolio holders to introduce themselves and offer themselves as a source of information, Clare said.
Comments on this article
By Shirley Burnham
I fail to understand how a conference of council chief executives can enlighten Mr Clare's understanding of "how libraries contribute to peple's experience - culture, art, a broadening of spirit." Will these chief executives be asked if they read, use libraries, or if they know the first thing about the people who do? Even so, it is a sweet, if vacuous, idea and a group of such suited and booted, like-minded people will not be discomfited by the intrusion of ordinary people : library users. In his defence, when Mr Clare visited Old Town Library in Swindon, he seemed genuinely to enjoy talking to young and old alike; and they enjoyed meeting him to discuss their library. What has happened in the interim to make him eschew such contact in favour of talking to 'executives' ?24 Jun 09 17:59
By Dudley resident
The people of Dudley don't like this development at all. In fact they really dislike it. Perhaps they should be asked, too... by somebody neutral, not by somebody who wants to hear a particular answer. For Wirral council to talk to Dudley council about this approach is a bit of a joke. I hope Mr Clare has founded his plans on better evidence than appears to be the case. As a book trade person I am aware that 1500 titles is roughly the stock of a small railway station kiosk. It is not the same as a community library in any way at all.25 Jun 09 08:39
By Corr
Library links seem like a daft idea from a purely practical point of view. Surely doctors surgeries would rather use the space for something else? I struggle to think of anywhere to fit even 150 books in any of my local practices, yet alone 1500!! As for post offices - haven't they all been closed yet? Our local post office has been swallowed by Smiths and going down into it is like being in Purgatory.25 Jun 09 10:10
By umar n
this really is a great idea . could be replicated around the world. why not in india?25 Jun 09 10:47
By councillor bill duffey
So we already know the outcome of the conference-close libraries.Chief executives are interested in one thing ,balance the books very few argue with central government about the creation of posts and departments that the general population want or will benifit from and would rather have those monies used for existing services such as libraries.Wirral is the obvious example. Roy Clare is good on inovation but should re-visit the word 'communites' for the kernel of the electorates anger,its not books alone.25 Jun 09 10:47
By alan Gibbons
We need a lot more information on this development. Roy Clare will be speaking at the Campaign for the Book conference this Saturday and I will be certainly raising this issue. Certain things we need to do. We need strong strategic leadership for the sector guaranteeing a 'coherent and efficient' service. We need to maintain a coherent branch network serving local communities. We need a healthy book stock. These proposals need to be judged against such yardsticks. The worry is that, in this economic climate, councils could seize on the library links idea to rationalise libraries leaving a central library, a few of the larger branch libraries and several check-out points in various multi-purpose centres. I think Roy and the MLA need to reassure librarians and the reading public that this development is not the beginning of a decline in the service.25 Jun 09 14:41
By Donald McCubbin
One can only commend Roy Clare's efforts to get people to talk about the future provision of library services in particular fine tuning them to the needs of the local area. In some cases a library link could provide a library facility where none previously existed in others it may replace an existing facility. In other cases, and I believe Irby, Wirral is a good example the pre-existing building may be the best option for taking the service forward perhaps by including further services within that building or encouraging a private partner to add to services provided. The sometimes mocked coffee shop approach which some authorities have successfully adopted. The social benefits of a local village library is I believe very undervalued. Elderly people, and there are increasingly more of us, often find the additional travel and cost barrier of alternatives difficult to overcome and the larger library is often understandably more impersonal. American research has shown the consequences of loss of local facilities on the elderly, greater isolation, loss of social skills and even reduction in cognitive powers. Closing a library is an easy option determining a future pathway of provision which keeps people in contact with their own communities and each other is a more imaginative and sensible way forward. Local authorities have budgets to determine and the library service is seen as the easy option for cutting costs. Is there any point in saving money on libraries if the consequences are increasing immobility and social exclusion of a proportion of our population merely add to the social services bill.Mr Clare is so right to try and widen the understanding of the benefits of a secure library provision across the range of local authority decision makers. What is needed is a wider overall view of the service25 Jun 09 18:30
By Shirley Ross
I don't understand what Mr Clare is talking about.. On Wirral we already have a large Central library and smaller branch libraries so why do we need links in the already crowded Post Offices and Dr's Surgeries?25 Jun 09 19:27
By Andrew Coburn
It is interesting that Roy Clare has chosen to say this now. I am curious as to why he seems to have preempted some or all of the Wirral & DCMS & APPG reviews as he develops his personal idea of what a service should be. Most people might find a way of seeing that 'links' have a place as extra 'forward posts' as he puts it, but they are in no way a substitute for a library building (however small.) Local people do not seem to need the MLA to explain to local authorities 'how libraries contribute to people's experience'. They are already well able to do so themselves, if only the local authorities would (a) ask them (b) listen to what they are told. Witness Wirral and Swindon to name only the high profile current examples.25 Jun 09 20:53
By No Brain
The Executives of Lambeth improved on Eastbourne's original idea that "foyer" libraries are good enough for their public. They found that they are still counted by CIPFA and the Audit Commission AS PROPER LIBRARIES even if they are only open for 2 weeks per year, when the inspectors are passing through!25 Jun 09 22:17
By Tim Coates
This is an extremely serious and worrying statement by Roy Clare. By using Swindon and the Wirral as examples he is indicating to library authorities that if they propose to replace community libraries with 'library links' the MLA will not object to their plans. To say this is not only to overreach his position, but it also to preempt any consultation there may be about the forthcoming DCMS review. The Minister should immediately refute Mr Clare's statement. Library links, which are like ATM's with a small number of book shelves, are not a substitute for proper commmunity libraries with adequate stock, facilities, opening hours and knowledgeable staff and the chief executive of the MLA should not be making statements that could be taken to mean that they are.26 Jun 09 13:09
By COMMENTATOR
CLARE, is like our M.Ps, he realy does think himself important and he just doesn't get it does he ?. The Minister needs to take action .26 Jun 09 14:15
By Mary Day
In Old Town Swindon, we have an excellen t local library with friendly, efficient librarians. Why is so much time and money being wasted on considering alternatives when we have such an excellent facility which proportionately costs very little to run and is greatly appreciated by the residents of Old Town?26 Jun 09 15:11
By Angela Bromwell
The comment by Roy Clare appears ill-thought through..Here in Irby we struggle even to find viable shops" fit for purpose". We have a plethora of hairdressers and restaurants. Our post-office has been decimated by McColls,and there is not enough room to sell newspapers,never mind operate a functioning library.Our doctors surgery is presently trying to re-locate to a site about 2 miles away.Our present library,which we are fighting to save,IS "fit-for-purpose",if only it could be used for this,and not suffer from the whim of politicians and those who should know better. Comments such as those made by Roy Clare are hardly helpful.27 Jun 09 14:20
By Wendy Clements
I see that a number of those making comments have referred to Irby library. I am sure that if there was no library in a community at all then the provision of a "library link" would possibly be welcomed. However for those communities, like Irby which have a delightful, welcoming, library containing FAR more than 1500 books this cannot be an attractive alternative. When I visit my library I may be looking for particular information, and that could presumably be "ordered in" for me. However it is much more likely that I will browse around and see what catches my eye, or receive professional and informed opinion from a librarian who knows their library and its contents. I do not see how a library link would help me with that.27 Jun 09 21:45
By Shirley Burnham
Please will anyone who feels disquiet about the initiatives proposed contact me on : saveoldtownlibrary@live.co.uk. I'd be particularly grateful to hear from those who posted comments, including: Councillor Bill Duffey, 'No Brain', 'Dudley Resident', Angela Bromwell, Wendy Clements, Andrew Coburn, 'The COMMENTATOR', 'Corr' and Shirley Ross. Many thanks.28 Jun 09 07:36
By Tim Coates
I have noticed a sinister element creeping into MLA language recently and that is the idea of providing 'access to a library service'. In Roy Clare's statement above he refers to ' a forward post' to one's library. No, the role of local government is to provide a library service which, if you like, provides, access to literature and information. We do not pay for devices that provide 'access to the library service' - we pay for a library service.28 Jun 09 14:34
By Jill Ryan Browne
I'd much rather see a proper small community library kept open and fulfilling all its current functions (about which much has been written already) - but if not, I'm quite taken with the idea of a small 'library outpost' sharing space with a local post office - thus keeping two essential lifelines open and thriving.29 Jun 09 15:36
By John Hughes
Nothing new in the Central Library with branch library concept: tradition being a symptom of the national public library service. But the "library link" idea is worrying as mobile libraries already do the job well. If Clare is talking about a service where a mobile library stop isn't feasible, the spectre of ill-informed amateurs (or volunteers as they're better known) slips into view. This is no way to develop a professional service. Far better to use the technology associated with video conferencing to bridge the distance. If you can learn this way, it ought to be possible to deliver a library service to remote areas without downgrading the outcome for the user.30 Jun 09 17:22
