The Vandals are here! Options

[Turin Machine]

Well, it now appears that we are to lose all the librarys in West Berks apart from Newbury. We are always being told that people don't read enough and it seems the solution is to remove the books. Ray Bradbury would be so proud.

It seems we can afford coffee shops, cafés, water features, Newbury 'Gateways', robes and pageantry and all the rest of the flummery that this council deems necessary yet we can't afford books. What a truly sad indictment of a failing council.

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." Stewart Brand.

[gel]

Cuts Protested:

Meanwhile a Peasemore resident, signs a petition against cuts in Oxfordshire County Council's provision.


http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14262067....dren_s_centres/

Her son had previously written to Tory Leader of OCC protesting the severe cuts;
perhaps DC doesn't read the papers?

[Simon Kirby]

Well, it now appears that we are to lose all the librarys in West Berks apart from Newbury. We are always being told that people don't read enough and it seems the solution is to remove the books. Ray Bradbury would be so proud.

It seems we can afford coffee shops, cafés, water features, Newbury 'Gateways', robes and pageantry and all the rest of the flummery that this council deems necessary yet we can't afford books. What a truly sad indictment of a failing council.

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries." Stewart Brand.

Absolutely. Ceremonial niff-naff and £500,000 of Town Council busy-work goes without challenge, but there is not enough money for books.

[Andy Capp]

The public gets what the public wants.

[newres]

Before I start I should point out that I'm a reader, broadly left wing, an English Literature graduate and I've always got a book on the go...... but cuts are being imposed and libraries are an underused facility. I take the point about other wasted money, but arguments about cafes and gateways and so on are daft since the council don't pay for them.

Reluctantly I think that it's a least worst option.

[Biker1]

Could it be that now many (most?) people spend a large amount of their time staring a a portable computer?

I.E.Tablet or phone. (Although the misnomer of a "phone" really describes a portable computer. The phone part is much of an add-on these days.)

[On the edge]

Before I start I should point out that I'm a reader, broadly left wing, an English Literature graduate and I've always got a book on the go...... but cuts are being imposed and libraries are an underused facility. I take the point about other wasted money, but arguments about cafes and gateways and so on are daft since the council don't pay for them.

Reluctantly I think that it's a least worst option.

Really? Who is paying for the cafe, 'slash pad', ceremonial robes, etc. etc., the tooth fairy? Yes, Greenham Common Trust contribute a bit and then not to the maintenance. NTCs claim about not paying is a bit like me saying I don't pay for my groceries because Sainsburys give me vouchers now and again.

Our reluctant need to give up libraries is perhaps indicative of the state of our economy. Apparently George O is said to be worried because although we have jobs growth we don't have wage growth. Oh what a surprise!

A low skill, low wage economy doesn't need education and therefore doesn't need libraries.
It fits the master plan; George O. worry is just because he's being rumbled.

Welcome to England twinned with Moldova.

[Berkshirelad]

Closing libraries also removes the casual remarks about "You can always go to the library" when forcing people to use pnline access only to services (eg HMRC, etc.)

So the question then raises its head again "What are people without computers/broadband supposed to do?"

Apparently George O is said to be worried because although we have jobs growth we don't have wage growth. Oh what a surprise!

I guess that his worry is that not enough people are earning in the higher rate tax band thus reducing his income

[je suis Charlie]

"The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries". ~Carl Sagan.

[On the edge]

Closing libraries also removes the casual remarks about "You can always go to the library" when forcing people to use pnline access only to services (eg HMRC, etc.)

So the question then raises its head again "What are people without computers/broadband supposed to do?"



I guess that his worry is that not enough people are earning in the higher rate tax band thus reducing his income

Oooh you are a one! More, that not enough are earning even to be in the lowest rate.
Still, the people's choice, so we shouldn't grumble; specially with our added bonus, we in West Berkshire are by official reckoning rich enough to pay a bit extra for these services. Why else would Newbury Town be spending as if it's going out of fashion?

If I lived in a village, I'd be arguing that they should pay for the Library. After all, the village has lost its bus service and I'm getting a bit beyond two wheels, so it's no use to them anyway.

[Andy Capp]

Of course, a local library is more than a little book lending club, it is a portal to other local resources and information. I once used it to research Building Control issues I had.

Hopefully most of the libraries are closing in the vicinity of the Tories that voted for all this.


The public get what the public wants.

[spartacus]

I have some sympathy but to be honest many libraries are relatively underused resources by the majority of people. “Keep Quiet” it says, otherwise you’ll wake the staff up...

I haven’t taken a book out of the library for years, although I have used them for renting DVDs as they were much cheaper than Blockbusters and they usually had the latest films to choose from (it probably helped put Blockbusters out of business...which is ironic)

I also used to take out CDs so I could rip a copy for myself on the cheap

I never really understood why so much was being spent on improving people’s personal music collection, but hey it was only a quid or so for a new album so who was I to complain....

[Exhausted]

Of course, a local library is more than a little book lending club, it is a portal to other local resources and information. I once used it to research Building Control issues I had.

Does that resources and information portal apply to the mobile and the smaller village libraries such as the one at Wash Common. Perhaps there is a way of using electronic readers for their novels rather than a printed book. The Kindle type thing for instance. The device could be loaned and access provided to E-books perhaps for a nominal fee both provided by the library service. Not the most complex thing in today's world and of course it does rely on an internet connection but I'm sure there are ways round that.

I see that the Newbury library will not be cut so that's good news. I'm surprised that they are under-funded though as every planning application for new build has been caned by WBC for an S106 payment. Always wondered where that went.

[blackdog]

Does that resources and information portal apply to the mobile and the smaller village libraries such as the one at Wash Common. Perhaps there is a way of using electronic readers for their novels rather than a printed book. The Kindle type thing for instance. The device could be loaned and access provided to E-books perhaps for a nominal fee both provided by the library service. Not the most complex thing in today's world and of course it does rely on an internet connection but I'm sure there are ways round that.

e-books are already available (free) via the library, as are audiobooks - they use special apps to control the loan period etc. Can read in any browser or via the app. I read on my Android phone, but I'm sure they cope with Kindle etc.

[On the edge]

I have some sympathy but to be honest many libraries are relatively underused resources by the majority of people. “Keep Quiet” it says, otherwise you’ll wake the staff up...

I haven’t taken a book out of the library for years, although I have used them for renting DVDs as they were much cheaper than Blockbusters and they usually had the latest films to choose from (it probably helped put Blockbusters out of business...which is ironic)

I also used to take out CDs so I could rip a copy for myself on the cheap

I never really understood why so much was being spent on improving people’s personal music collection, but hey it was only a quid or so for a new album so who was I to complain....

'Relatively underused' seems to be the latest vogue phrase used to describe public services or facilities being cut. Of course, it's an easy emotional descriptor. Certainly doesn't fit Newbury. Oh well, just off to my relatively underused Tesco.

[Turin Machine]

Well, I currently under use the nurseries, perhaps that's why they're closing as well! Here's a thought, currently under using the health service and the Police. Now there's a saving to be had!

[user23]

There are apparently 385 volunteer run libraries across the country, there's a list here.

I trust everyone bemoaning the proposed loss of local libraries will be putting forward this idea and a commitment of their time to keep them going?

[Simon Kirby]

There are apparently 385 volunteer run libraries across the country, there's a list here.

I trust everyone bemoaning the proposed loss of local libraries will be putting forward this idea and a commitment of their time to keep them going?

For the record, I'll be more than happy to volunteer as much of my time as it takes to run Newbury's allotments, saving at least £40k annually, that could go some way to keeping the Wash Common library open. I have no particular interest in libraries so I'm not inclined to volunteer my time and effort directly to running a volunteer library, but I am absolutely passionate about allotmenteering so everyone wins.

[Andy Capp]

Reading? When am I gonna need that!

[On the edge]

There are apparently 385 volunteer run libraries across the country, there's a list here.

I trust everyone bemoaning the proposed loss of local libraries will be putting forward this idea and a commitment of their time to keep them going?

Yes, we got a pretty sniffy response, but that doesn't mean we'll stop trying.

A self managed trust would have a lot going for it and that will open several operational avenues; not simply replacing paid staff like for like.

You are quite right, self help ought to provide a solution