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Library chiefs reject intervention calls

15.08.07 Katherine Rushton

The government organisations in charge of libraries have backed away from calls by the professional body for librarians to intervene with failing library services. A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "The DCMS has powers to ensure that public libraries provide a comprehensive and efficient service to local people. But we do not set budgets nor would we want to micro-manage the work of individual local library authorities. The
best way to achieve a good service is through consensus and cooperation—that is what we, and the MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) seek to do."

Under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act, the DCMS is licensed to seize control of any public library service that is not "comprehensive and efficient". Bob McKee, chief executive of the Chartered Institute for Librarians and Information Professionals, is writing to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport James Purnell to ask him to step in and intervene with any council that "falls below standard". He has also hit out at local and national politicians for "spin doctoring" over plans to cut staff.

John Dolan, head of library policy at the MLA, also moved to defend its work. "It's crucial to recognise the [national Government] drive towards local engagement and ownership of public and community services in general," he said. "MLA promotes the value of national collaboration with local engagement. It is our job to work with library authorities and help this succeed. MLA has always resisted arbitrary change simply to save money or increase income. We encourage better practice, greater efficiency and increasing use through service innovation, good marketing and the engagement of the widest communities of need and interest in making services relevant and exciting."

Dolan listed the "Better Stock, Better Libraries" review of the library supply chain and the Love Libraries awards for "innovative practice" as examples of its involvement. Last month Kent and Dorset County Councils revealed plans to cut around 45 full time roles each, and recruit volunteer staff in their stead. Hampshire said in April it will axe 27 library jobs and downgrade a further 17 in a bid to manage budget cuts.

Meanwhile an increasing number of councils are following the example set by Buckinghamshire and turning rural branches over to local residents entirely, in a bid to sidestep closures. The model has been hailed by many communities as an innovative way to stretch resources and open up new funding avenues, but Martin Molloy, former CILIP President and head of cultural services for Derbyshire, warned: "There is a real danger that handing over delivery of the service to local community groups will lead to the break up of the national network which is one of the major assets of the service."

You can comment on this at Katherine Rushton's blog.

Library Katherine Rushton MLA CILIP DCMS

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