Press Release: Miscellaneous Announcements
Public Libraries: Public Despair!
Posted at 7:36AM Wednesday 02 Dec 2009
DCMS REVIEW IGNORES PEOPLE WHO USE LIBRARIES...Today libraries minister Margaret Hodge published her 'public libraries modernisation review' – or the latest version of it. It's a consultation paper. That's just as well – because it says nothing at all about what library users want. Why? They weren't asked! This just isn't good enough, says The Library Campaign – the national umbrella body for Friends and users of libraries. The review was first announced over a year ago (October 2008). Library ministers/secretaries of state have come and gone. Work has been commissioned, round tables staged. But not with the people who use libraries. What they want doesn't seem to matter. Quizzed about this this morning, Margaret Hodge said the review was aimed at 'the professionals' alone. Told that trade union Unison is to hold a 'people's inquiry' on 11 February to find out what real people want, she said that would be too late – her final report won't take account of it. The Library Campaign will be doing all it can to make Mrs Hodge listen to the voice that really matters – the children, adults, old people, schoolchildren and many others who use public libraries – and want to be consulted. But why should it be made so difficult? LIBRARY CAMPAIGN CONTACTS Brian Hall, 0777 800 7791; brianhall@msn.com Andrew Coburn, 01245 244957, acoburn@blueyonder.co.uk
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