tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post7535929533002388146..comments2023-03-29T07:11:42.647-07:00Comments on Question Everything: Epistemological? What are you talking about? Rubymalvoliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12392627770427362667noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post-37809593776049679492013-03-25T07:01:57.193-07:002013-03-25T07:01:57.193-07:00I would rather the laws were followed rather than ...I would rather the laws were followed rather than ignored for political expediency. And the third sector organisations who are providing library services are "volunteers" who are told to run their library or lose it. Taxpayers should not be forced to provide statutory services to themselves on the altar of the small state, big society ideology that is being pushed onto us under the guise of localism. As always when councils and other public sector organisations break the law, no-one is held to account, I don't expect it will be any different in this case. I don't have legal insight I can read, I have a library to thank for that, other people growing up today may not be so fortunate as there may only be a PFI funded glass monstrosity that is too far away for them to visit.Rubymalvoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392627770427362667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post-54590496804415512402013-03-25T06:21:41.789-07:002013-03-25T06:21:41.789-07:00I'm sure the chief legal officers of the numer...I'm sure the chief legal officers of the numerous councils who have partnered with third sector organisations to deliver public library services will appreciate your legal insight. <br /><br /> libraryuser1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08542180462557138050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post-14062130412920167182013-03-25T03:14:34.527-07:002013-03-25T03:14:34.527-07:00Yes that is my view. The act is clear, the ministe...Yes that is my view. The act is clear, the minister has to:<br /><br />"it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to superintend, and promote the improvement of, the public library service provided by local authorities in England and Wales, and to secure the proper discharge by local authorities of the functions in relation to libraries conferred on them as library authorities by or under this Act."<br /><br />And it is the duty of the authority:<br /><br />"It shall be the duty of every library authority to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof"<br /><br />It says nothing in the act about communities being library authorities or that authorities can look at the current financial climate to decide what complies with the act. <br /><br />I'm not a deficit denier and do believe there has to be cuts. The sensible way forward would be to have a smaller number of library authorities, there doesn't have to be one in every council duplicating the back office support costs which is happening 151 times. There could easily be 10 library authorities working across council boundaries all working using agreed software standards and practices. This would save the front line libraries, rather than cutting the low paid library managers and assistants which saves very little money and causes huge damage to the service. This would strong require leadership which is lacking sadly.Rubymalvoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392627770427362667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post-69424431975197795672013-03-25T03:04:08.895-07:002013-03-25T03:04:08.895-07:00Are you saying - where part or all of the local pu...Are you saying - where part or all of the local public library serice is delivered by another organisation on behalf of a Council, the Council is not complying with the PLMA 1964? If this is the case then an awful lot of Councils are acting illegally. libraryuser1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08542180462557138050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post-39320905495538349672013-03-25T01:02:28.736-07:002013-03-25T01:02:28.736-07:00Hi Libraryuser1,
The act is clear, its the respon...Hi Libraryuser1,<br /><br />The act is clear, its the responsibility of the library authorities to provide a library service, not communnity groups. I don't have the detail on all the community libraries and whether the local authority considers them part of their statutory provision or not. In Oxfordshire after a flawed and biased consultation, the council decided 21 of their 43 libraries are no statutory and have to rely on community support. The problem is the decision to use volunteers was taken by the local MP and the leader of the council, the local democratic process was subverted and the local tories didn't kick up a fuss because the local MP is the prime minister. Its odd that the council one year needed 43 libraries to be comprehensive and efficient for all that desire to make use of and they next year they only need 22. The act isn't being enforced and guidance is being given to councils that is outside of the act. A act of parliament is required to change a act and a council has to consult properly with the elected ruling group actually having a say rather than the PM stick his oar in to push his failed big society agenda.Rubymalvoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392627770427362667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294267790838788919.post-42634188199683248372013-03-24T21:05:46.517-07:002013-03-24T21:05:46.517-07:00In the spirit of question everything.....
Re. you...In the spirit of question everything.....<br /><br />Re. your comment about community supported libraries. Aren't many of them (the <br />majority?) part of the statutory public library service. Library authorities (=Councils) decide whether a particular community library is part of their statutory library service or not. <br /><br /><br />libraryuser1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08542180462557138050noreply@blogger.com