Following on from Laura's thoughts on the library revamps I mentioned yesterday I figure I should provide more background to my objection. I understand, and agree, with the concept in some situations. I just don't see it as a fix for every library, and I worry that it means we're heading down the path of libraries commercial success becoming much more significant. My local library is a little out of the norm and a prime example why these reforms won't help everyone.
It was built as a combined project with the local secondary school so that both the public library and the school library would have better resources. Whilst this has helped in some areas it's also it's biggest failing. I'm thinking that this status will help avoid the staff loosing their jobs, but I also feel that should libraries become judged on finances the pulic will find themselves even more unwelcome there.
The proposed revamps include such luxuries as weekend and late-night opening, whereas my local library can't even manage a normal week. The doors are unlocked, the lights are on and the staff go about their duties, but for 2 days a week the public isn't allowed in. I've never fully understood why either. These days are reserved for the school only, but it seems to make no difference to their activities. Whenever you walk past you'll see roughly the same number of pupils inside, and roughly the same number each time will be obviously trying to avoid work. The students who study elsewhere are barred from their public library. The library makes no obvious saving because there is still a full complement of staff and for all intents and purposes it's just another day inside, except of course they don't have to put up with the public.
I doubt any coffee shop will actually appear 'round here for a number of reasons but if it did it I suspect it would signal the end of the library. It's situated in the town centre alongside various food and drink places; places where you'll find a few less school kids giggling over biology books and such. Such an establishment would require staffing which is a financial strain I doubt my library could take. I also doubt anyone wants to lift the rules banning food and drink from the area since they already have a huge battle against the students who want to spend the whole lunch hour inside.
Whilst I can see a certain logic in both raising extra funds and the fact that providing it all under one roof will keep people inside longer I simply feel that the people in charge are looking at the wrong areas. Sometimes cutting costs will increase revenue. Whilst the library is the cheapest place in town to rent video tapes if they made it cheaper to request a book I know I'd do it more often.
As for the actual range of books we're often regarded as the poor cousins out here. Because it's part of Essex Country Libraries we're supposed to have access to any book in the system. Head office is supposed to rotate books so that each library gets the benefits, but all we seem to get are the books that no-one else wants. If we buy a good book which is missing from other libraries we'll never see it again because they'll request it. The fact that it'll never be on the shelves to take it out from here means the records then show it's very popular elsewhere but it's never been checked out once from here. This means another library will probbaly trade it with us for something silly that no-one there ever wanted. If the system allowed our voices to be heard then maybe our library would be more popular.
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