A [Conservative] council that had its library restructuring plans quashed in the high court spent more than £70,000 fighting the judicial review.
The review at the high court in November decided it was unlawful for Somerset county council to withdraw funding for 11 libraries because the cuts did not comply with "public sector equality duties" owed to vulnerable social groups.
Full Story at The Guardian
Showing posts with label Funding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Funding. Show all posts
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Some better news
Paige Turner (over at Swansea Libraries) had a link to this BBC page, which shows Welsh Libraries doing better than average across the UK.
Swansea Central Library came top. For a glimpse of the new look to the design of libraries, go look at this page on Opening The Book.
Swansea Central Library came top. For a glimpse of the new look to the design of libraries, go look at this page on Opening The Book.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Half an ear on an online talk
I had this invite a few days ago, so have used my netbook to log in to listen/watch the discussion, but I have to carry on with the day job, of course.
Fortunately, my day job does include, in its description, checking out the use of online resources, collaborative and training issues, webinars, etc.
Coalition - What does that mean for Frontline Public Services?
And does technology have a part to play in meeting the challenges ahead?
Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday 19th May, at 11.30 am for our live interview with Martin Ferguson, head of policy at Socitm, and Alan Edwards, council member and chair of CIPFA's IT panel, to discuss 'The Coalition - what does that mean for Frontline Public Services?' And whether technology has a part to play in meeting the challenges ahead.
Locally, Twitter is still blocked by our ICT Dept, but the link suggested is #LGITU-live
Fortunately, my day job does include, in its description, checking out the use of online resources, collaborative and training issues, webinars, etc.
Coalition - What does that mean for Frontline Public Services?
And does technology have a part to play in meeting the challenges ahead?
Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday 19th May, at 11.30 am for our live interview with Martin Ferguson, head of policy at Socitm, and Alan Edwards, council member and chair of CIPFA's IT panel, to discuss 'The Coalition - what does that mean for Frontline Public Services?' And whether technology has a part to play in meeting the challenges ahead.
Locally, Twitter is still blocked by our ICT Dept, but the link suggested is #LGITU-live
Friday, May 14, 2010
Re:sources
On a more positive note (as we all cringe and wonder what a UK coalition government, that has to make savage cuts in public services, has planned for libraries) - I really enjoy rummaging among the resources at Box of Tricks, an exceptionally good educational web place...
Coalition - what does that mean for Frontline Public Services?
Online interview, May 19th - register to listen here
Coalition - what does that mean for Frontline Public Services?
Online interview, May 19th - register to listen here
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Cardiff Libraries appear in the Guardian
In an article about how much stock libraries hold (in particular, Welsh language material) which never gets borrowed, Cardiff Central Library got targeted with a Freedom of Information request.
See article here
Of course, it's slightly misleading to only go by what gets borrowed, as many items may be quickly 'referred to' or skimmed, without the need to take them home.
And if you scroll down the comments you may note that only a small percentage of Cardiff residents actually speak Welsh, so the lending pattern may not be as extreme as it appears, etc.
See article here
Of course, it's slightly misleading to only go by what gets borrowed, as many items may be quickly 'referred to' or skimmed, without the need to take them home.
And if you scroll down the comments you may note that only a small percentage of Cardiff residents actually speak Welsh, so the lending pattern may not be as extreme as it appears, etc.
Monday, March 15, 2010
BBC Newsnight on libraries - tonight
To quote the blurb on the Newsnight page at the BBC:
David Grossman will be exploring some of the challenges facing public libraries - will they be circumvented by digital technology and what is the future of local authority funding?
Watch item here
[Later]
Well that proved frustrating. The metaphorical argument presented went something like: The Victorians built public baths when people didn't have running water in their homes. We don't need or use public baths now.
The libraries were built when people didn't have access to education and books, but 70% of households are online so why do we need libraries?
No, I'm not making this up. I find it hard to try to construct logical rebuttals to such fatuous parallels. 70% of households have cars, so we don't need buses? (Even though, when the breadwinner is out with the car, everyone else is stranded). If your mum can afford her Mills&Boon, and your dad his sports biographies, you don't need exposure to the other range of books possible. Even your teachers keep you to the curriculum recommended texts.
Libraries contain dangerous ideas, don't they? Thoughts outside the box, or your narrow little world view.
And personally, if they insist on their metaphor, I miss the public baths. Forget that I can fill a kettle or take a shower when I want at home. When I first came to Cardiff the Empire Pool offered safe, hygenic Sauna, Turkish baths, cold plunge, jacuzzi, swimming pool, etc. I miss it since they pulled it down (promising to replace it, but never did).
I've had saunas in Sweden and Finland, and they are integral to the culture, and terrific for public health, but I don't want to have to go to sleazy dives full of fat, sweaty politicians hoping for a hand job - not meaning to slag off the 'massage parlours' still available, perhaps they are not all like that, but they scare me. I used to like going to the council baths.
The idea that I don't still need that safe environment provided presumably comes from people with swimming pools in their back garden (or in their second home in Tuscany), and who have bathrooms with Jacuzzis and saunas.
I hate to tell you folks, but most people still don't have those in their homes as standard.
Yeah, I said it was a stupid parallel, but I didn't bring it up. :-)
Libraries remain one of the few places for self-educators and lifelong learners, and evidence from around the world implies that an educated population is beneficial to the country's wealth creation.
Perhaps the people become a bit more dissident, getting exposure to a wider range of ideas and possibilities, but in the long run it seems a better idea. However, your voters become a little less easily manipulated, perhaps.
Ah...mmm.
Just personal opinion, rant over. G'night.
PS: they reiterated the idea that making libraries self-service doesn't need to mean that staff lose their jobs, just that they get redefined. Yeah, right (you will hear on the shop floor). And they also mentioned bad management of the services, and that some of the jobs that could afford to go might lie in those higher realms. Hmmm. Isn't that how we lost being represented by a Chief Librarian, and an Assistant Chief Librarian, all those years ago...
Anyway - don't believe me, you can go check it out online at the BBC...
David Grossman will be exploring some of the challenges facing public libraries - will they be circumvented by digital technology and what is the future of local authority funding?
Watch item here
[Later]
Well that proved frustrating. The metaphorical argument presented went something like: The Victorians built public baths when people didn't have running water in their homes. We don't need or use public baths now.
The libraries were built when people didn't have access to education and books, but 70% of households are online so why do we need libraries?
No, I'm not making this up. I find it hard to try to construct logical rebuttals to such fatuous parallels. 70% of households have cars, so we don't need buses? (Even though, when the breadwinner is out with the car, everyone else is stranded). If your mum can afford her Mills&Boon, and your dad his sports biographies, you don't need exposure to the other range of books possible. Even your teachers keep you to the curriculum recommended texts.
Libraries contain dangerous ideas, don't they? Thoughts outside the box, or your narrow little world view.
And personally, if they insist on their metaphor, I miss the public baths. Forget that I can fill a kettle or take a shower when I want at home. When I first came to Cardiff the Empire Pool offered safe, hygenic Sauna, Turkish baths, cold plunge, jacuzzi, swimming pool, etc. I miss it since they pulled it down (promising to replace it, but never did).
I've had saunas in Sweden and Finland, and they are integral to the culture, and terrific for public health, but I don't want to have to go to sleazy dives full of fat, sweaty politicians hoping for a hand job - not meaning to slag off the 'massage parlours' still available, perhaps they are not all like that, but they scare me. I used to like going to the council baths.
The idea that I don't still need that safe environment provided presumably comes from people with swimming pools in their back garden (or in their second home in Tuscany), and who have bathrooms with Jacuzzis and saunas.
I hate to tell you folks, but most people still don't have those in their homes as standard.
Yeah, I said it was a stupid parallel, but I didn't bring it up. :-)
Libraries remain one of the few places for self-educators and lifelong learners, and evidence from around the world implies that an educated population is beneficial to the country's wealth creation.
Perhaps the people become a bit more dissident, getting exposure to a wider range of ideas and possibilities, but in the long run it seems a better idea. However, your voters become a little less easily manipulated, perhaps.
Ah...mmm.
Just personal opinion, rant over. G'night.
PS: they reiterated the idea that making libraries self-service doesn't need to mean that staff lose their jobs, just that they get redefined. Yeah, right (you will hear on the shop floor). And they also mentioned bad management of the services, and that some of the jobs that could afford to go might lie in those higher realms. Hmmm. Isn't that how we lost being represented by a Chief Librarian, and an Assistant Chief Librarian, all those years ago...
Anyway - don't believe me, you can go check it out online at the BBC...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Libraries may come under threat, again.
And speaking of news, you might want to keep an eye on the progress of this review.
The government, of course, say they have no intention of closing libraries, just by taking away the statutory obligation for local councils to provide this (relatively expensive) public service...
The Conservatives would never (of course) consider reducing tax bills by cutting services aimed at the less well off (who can't buy every book or DVD they fancy). Ahem.
Anyway - the Telegraph went with this headline (full story here)
Libraries could shut in wave of spending cuts, under Government plans
Public libraries across the country could be closed to save money, under plans being considered by ministers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
