More books, poorer service?
A letter about the Hillingdon plans highlights the proposed closure of an enquiry desk. The issue of the loss of professional staff- euphemistically called ‘redeployment’ by the council- is also discussed in local papers.
A simplistic more books and nice coffee model is being offered to people. Of course more books is good; but not at the expense of the ‘comprehensive’ service a good library should provide. The people of Hillingdon neither need nor deserve a Waterstones/Borders-or even an Ideas Store, which is close to what they are getting.
An insidious rhetoric is also being used by Councillor Higgins- the new project representing a ‘vast improvement,’ suggesting that the service is currently terrible. Which it is not. The idea that access to computers is something new. Which it is not. One wonders if he’ s seen any of the libraries he is responsible for, or spoken to any of the staff…
Interests are being served by this project, but it does not seem to be those of the users. Edit I simply mean the legitimate interests of business and party. /Edit
Filed under: Customers, Librarianship, Libraries, Patrons, Public libraries, Services, Visitors |
Apparently only self-serving, short-sighted public librarians speak out against events at Hillingdon. More proof apparently that we have no clue about how to run a library service.
Well, people will realise in time. And even Tim Coates seems more sympathetic now…
Really? His post on Saturday morning reads as “shut up about Hillingdon” to me. It’s just another pose as the St Tim fighting against self-serving librarians.
This morning’s outright lie about CILIP fees returns to his anti-professional stance. He wants people to believe that public librarians are expensive and unnecessary.
Seems more sympathetic. Not is, or particularly sympathetic
I have replied to his post on the Audit Comission, and the local paper coverage.
I didn’t see my letter in the Observer; I can’t be bothered with the shallow ‘reporting’ of most papers these days.