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Libraries are essential, trade tells MPs
12.01.12 | Lisa Campbell
The Booksellers Association has dismissed volunteer-run libraries as "unsustainable", as part of its submission to the Culture, Media & Sport select committee inquiry into library closures. The BA was joined by the Publishers Association and the Society of Authors in sending written statements to the DCMS ahead of the committee's deadline this week (12th).
The three trade bodies each stressed the wider importance of libraries, as well as how closures would affect their members. Campaign groups including The Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries, individual library users and the trade union Unison have also submitted evidence to the committee.
Richard Mollet, chief executive of the PA, said the impact of library closures would be felt across the bookselling industry, as well as affect the cultural and economic well-being of local communities. He said: "Libraries are valued by publishers as a means of developing new audiences and encouraging general enjoyment of reading, thereby complementing the role of the high street. At a time when bookshops are under pressure, this kind of support is crucial." The PA also raised the issue of e-lending models in its submission, it said.
Nicola Solomon, general-secretary of the SoA said libraries were important to reach a wider audience for their books, but also because many authors were heavy users of libraries. The organisation argued school libraries should be statutory in the same way prison libraries were and added: "Many authors are also financially dependent on Public Lending Right, for example a lot of romantic authors with low sales are highly borrowed in libraries. We shouldn't take away the cradles of readers."
The BA argued that the £90m spent on books was "pitiful" and needed to be increased. It said the closures that had already taken place had harmed communities, adding that volunteer-run libraries would not work. "There are no comprehensive guidelines for voluntary-run libraries and we cannot believe they will be sustainable in the long term."
Prominent library campaigner Desmond Clarke warned that around 600 libraries could face closure or transferral into the hands of community groups as local councils around England announce their budget reforms in the run-up to April. Clarke said: "The committee's decision to enquire into library closures indicate they are very much aware of the level of public concern and anger. While people understand that cuts are necessary, there is a strong feeling that these have been disproportionate and too little has been done to improve operational efficiency and reduce the 151 separately managed authorities. There is particular concern that perhaps 600 libraries will be transferred to volunteer groups without any attempt to ensure that the model is sustainable and meets people's needs." Clarke also added one in five library jobs could be made redundant.
The select committee will now review the written evidence and decide on who it will call to give oral evidence to the enquiry, which could begin in as little as two weeks.
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It is absolutely appropriate that the Booksellers Association should weigh in with their views which are very welcome. Look at, for example, an article published today where a Head of Libraries no less seems to be threatening residents :
Tracey Long, head of Dorset Library Service, said if communities were not "ready or willing" to take on the responsibility of running the libraries the council may look to close them http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-16528365
We must conclude that the matter has now gone beyond the pale. One can only hope and trust that the Select Committee will be startled into doing something about it.
Yes the £90m spent on books is pitiful but there is a potential saving of £200m to £300m in other costs including acquisition costs .
The £90m spend is less than the 2 wholesalers trade with Amazon . Why not just pass all the supply over for them[their library supply businesses] to do, save a fortune and kick out the vastly over complex administration .[I recall inspection copies required of Harry Potter!]
In a public library service that is terminally ill, can we not kick out Dewey to 2 places, and stock and display like Waterstones . The punters will like it better anyway ?
Its all over unless we react and become more efficient .
Academic libraries are a completely different matter , I'm talking about public libraries here.
The CMS Select Committee inquiry may be our last chance to save the public library service for many, many communities. But the real issue is how to get Ministers and council bosses to understand the importance of libraries in the lives of millions of people and in supporting literacy and education.
I am deeply heartened by the comments from BA, PA and SOA. Such institutions know how important public libraries are. It is a shame that the incumbent ministers either do not know this (Mr Hunt) or know this but are either unwilling or unable to take any action (Mr Vaizey).
The deal on volunteer libraries started off in places like rural Buckinghamshire with communities protesting then volunteering as councils just plained closed branches. This has now been mutated by intense financial pressure and, unfortunately on the part of some, by what appears to be some warped idea of "empowering communities". Now, as Dorset shows, it is often a plain blackmail approach of "Volunteer in this library or we will close it".
The idea here is that the blame for closure then shifts onto the local community rather than on the Council. It muddies the waters beautifully as well: after all, volunteering is good, right? Thus we see examples like York Gardens (Wandsworth) where people who love libraries are volunteering to keep it open, not because they want to, but because they fear the place closing if they do not, even having to raise tens of thousands of pounds each year into the bargain. None of this is sustainable. Branches cost more, in the long term, than volunteers are going to be able to raise. But it looks good, to the electorate and the politicians, for the next year or two.
Whether the Select Committee has the will or the power to pressure ministers remains to be seen. At least, it should concentrate some minds and gain some publicity.
With regard to Julian Rivers' comments: they're good ones. I suspect it's a bit out of date in many authorities though and, where it isn't, simplifying book purchasing will be happening soon. For one thing, some councils are radically cutting (and in some cases) entirely getting rid of all the professional librarians so there'll be no-one left to choose them anyway. Reducing Dewey is also a good idea. Some stock I have seen has five digits after the decimal point. However, whether either move would save significant amounts of money is questionable: on average public library services need to cut 27% over three years, with no allowance made for inflation (add another another 15% cut for that?). A full list of all cost-cutting options so far seen are on my website, Public Libraries News, if you are interested.
You state that the library service is "terminally ill". If that is so, might it be because those who are charged with its oversight have adulterated its medication and placed a Do Not Resuscitate order upon it ? One hopes that the Select Committee's inquiry will preempt the need for an autopsy on the remains and that malpractice will be identified. In the meantime the patient is generally well and fighting off all attempts to kill her off. Let us not be premature in organising a wake.
In many respects the public library service exists because the publishing industry collectively allows it to do so.
There could hardly be a clearer manifestation of the reality of that than that most of the major publishers are refusing to supply ebooks to public libraries at present - they are simply not happy with the model that operates.
So it is possible that the three bodies quoted in this article- the BA, the PA and the SOA could create a joint initiative and if that were done properly, thoroughly, wisely and expeditiously, it could save the public libraries in our country and make the service into what it ought to and could be.
I call for the three bodies not to wait for central Government, but on their own to bring leading local councils together and make a major statement about their intention to rejuvenate public libraries and to take action now.
Tim ,it's not going to happen mate .
Why on earth not ?
Mr Rivers is right. It won't happen, because the truth is that the Publishers' Association and the Booksellers' Association would be very happy if the public library service either closed down completely or continued to operate in the inept inefficent way it does. Both those possibilities are of great advantage to booksellers
All the big trade associations have ever done on this matter is 'The Grand Moan' about how other people and civil servants ought to do the things they could very well do themselves.
If there were no libraries, they reason, in a short sighted dumb kind of way, people would buy books in book stores. That's the level of vision they have.
The statement to Parliament mentioned is vacuous posturing of the worst kind.
Mr Coates is right to challenge them - but their silence in response sings symphonies.
The Society of Authors is much more genuine- they mean what they say and generally they do understand the value of libraries, but they are beholden. ... sadly.
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