Last blog entry until Monday. See some of you there!

To be sung to the tune of ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’ by The Flaming Lips. Thanks to the meebo LSW room for inspiration.
I feel Michael Gorman shoots other people in the foot with his positions. If you have any sympathy for what he says, you first have to deal with the other stuff.
 ’I know a [...]

http://www.goodlibraryguide.com/blog/archives/2007/06/crisis_in_conwy.html
Christopher Draper is the contact for the Conwy Library Action Group; see The Library Campaign.
 As I noted in my earlier post, this process seems to rest on public consultation. It is what ‘the public’ want, apparently. I have asked a local to comment on the process, and have also been in touch with Christopher for [...]

Should public librarians plan at all, or just provide what the publishers provide? Is there any room for horizon scanning?
I’d say yes. There is obviously a need to meet current demands, and to be aware of those. Yet by focusing exclusively on now we will sell then short. If people did not take chances, follow [...]

Two stereotypes enter. One stereotype leaves. Welcome to The Public Library Dome….
In one corner, Libraries Are About Books. The key is the brand, books are the brand, diluting the brand will destroy libraries through lack of focus.
In the other corner, Books Are The Past The Brand is Information and Exchange. The key is change, change [...]

Just listening to this. Interesting. Not much different from his blog, but a good starting point for those not familiar with him
Right now, he’s essentially saying that libraries should adopt Blockbuster’s circulation systems. He may have a point. Maybe we could go one better, reform tendering processes and switch to Open Source; even cheaper than [...]

My ticket and name badge has just arrived Ticket is for the ‘De Havilland dinner’ on the Friday; the ‘not Elizabethan banquet’ option.

Following Michael’s lead, here’s my outline plan for Umbrella:-
Thursday
12-1.30 pm LIRG cttee meeting
2 pm Lynne Brindley plenary session
3 pm Coffee and swag exhibition visit
3.30 pm IT governance, Sheila Corrall
4.45-6.15 pm Exhibition opening party
7.30 pm Pub!
Friday
8.30 am Breakfast briefing (possibly)
9.30 am Teachers and trainers, Helen Conroy
Break for exhibition viewing and a breather
12 pm LIRG AGM
2.30 pm  [...]

When is a librarian a member of ‘the public?’ If you are a public librarian in Authority A, but live in Authority B, are you a member of ‘the public’ for Authority B? And if you’re a college librarian in A, are you a member of ‘the public’ for A?
More broadly, if you are a [...]

Private Eye reports that Conwy is to close six libraries, whilst improving several others. See here and here for the story.
What is interesting is that this is a result of a full public consultation. Now I don’t know how many people were asked, but the results were clear:-
People wanted more emphasis given to IT, more zoning [...]