Guy Daines, Director of Policy & Advocacy at CILIP blogs:
What's the Point of Libraries?
And so from today's broadcast of "What's the Point of the Public Library" we get some final thoughts from Bob McKee. He sees public libraries as a political football currently being used by others not so much to look at the future good of the service but to see how broader political themes might play out - public expenditure cuts, new models of provision, market forces, and the Big Society. Public libraries are being used as an exemplar for the public sector generally.
On the programme Bob was not given the chance to develop these thoughts but there were others who were able to combat the idea of a public library as just a book based sanctuary from a noisy and troublesome world that Quentin Letts, the presenter, clearly favoured and seemed to be Tim Coates' preference as well. Sir Andrew Motion, Chair of MLA, spoke well about how the accessibility of poetry had been transformed by the internet and that libraries needed to be much more than just books - he also underlined his own debt to an inspired English teacher and the school library in helping to shape his love of literature. Tony Durcan, representing the Society of Chief Librarians (somewhat maligned in the programme) , challenged the idea that public libraries were in some way "above" politics or apolitical - as they were run by political bodies, local authorities, they must engage politically and demonstrate how they could contribute to national and local priorities.
But despite all this media flurry the real story will emerge after October 20th when the outcomes of the public expenditure review are announced. Then local authorities will know the grant they will receive over the next three years and the figures of perhaps 30% (some have even suggested 40%) less grant in future will become a stark reality for all who use or provide services. The Public Library Authorities' Conference, managed by CILIP's Public Libraries Group, will be taking place then and provide a good forum for quick evaluation and comment.
It seems unlikely that the service remodelling now being looked at will be enough to bridge this funding gap (in any service). On a personal basis I join with a number of other commentators who suggest that a couple of years down the track the extent of damage being done to public services will prove unacceptable politically and a greater proportion of the deficit will be met from increased taxation.
Meanwhile CILIP's sector panels, set up to review proposals being put forward for service reduction in every sector, are in place and considering cases. You may bring a case to our attention by submitting details online.
And this is not just about public libraries. Tomorrow I am meeting with representatives from the Health Libraries Group to draft a CILIP response to the recent NHS White Paper - over the next four years the Government proposes a 45% cut in management costs and £20 billion worth of efficiency savings. The Information & Advice Team at Ridgmount Street, advised by the Special Library and Information Services Panel, is also drawing up a list of advocacy resources for those working in this sector (items showing the value and impact of special library and information services) and also information on how practitioners in the sector have managed in these times of austerity.
With the arrival of Annie Mauger, CILIP's new Chief Executive, at the start of October we will have the chance to take stock of the situation and consider the outcomes from the "Defining our Professional Futures" on advocacy activity within CILIP. It will be something of a baptism of fire as "what is the point ..." of library and information provision in all sectors comes under increasing scrutiny and the political football is no longer part of a game but working life itself.