Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Libraries and "One-Stop Shops"
The Library as we know it is under attack from bureaucrats of both local and central government, who would like to replace libraries with "one-stop shops" that provide all sorts of different council services. Now plans to transform the Libraries in Coventry into "one-stop shops' are facing criticism.
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=16399476&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=safety-fears-over--one-stop-shop--plan-for-libraries--name_page.html

In July Libri, "the charity for Libraries" published a succinct report that highlighted the problems currently faced by Libraries in the UK. Its criticism was perceptive, although I disagree with their support for the recent proposal that the books for all Britain's public libraries should be purchased through a single centrally-organised purchasing agency, as I think it would accentuate the decline in the quality of the bookstock.
You can read the Libri report; "From University to Village Hall" on their website:
www.libri.org.uk/