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OFFICIAL COUNCIL STATEMENT ON LIBRARIES

The mention of 'modernisation' to me suggests more digital, online facilities. I notice with my local library, more and more books are only available as digitised online. So less hard copies are available for (physical) loan. Personally, for leisurely reading, I prefer to read hard copies of books. Not so keen on digital books.

The use of the word 'hub' suggests to me a central place where many services are available, loans of books being only one of a range of services.
 
Would agree with all you say Viv, and do not think any is particularly desirable, both due to loss of access to real books, loss of expertise in the staff and the likely reduction of variety and quantity of all services offered.
 
Birmingham Community Libraries have been neglected for decades. Staff cuts, resources cuts, buildings not maintained, restructurings [including the Constituency based disaster!]. I could go on. Libraries have long been a soft target for cuts although the politicians would never allow the use of the word “cuts” – efficiency savings was one of the euphemisms used.

“Libraries Set for Refurbishment Under New Connected Communities Service Model”

So, what to make of this? BCC is bankrupt and this is just another euphemism for cuts. Ten community hubs are to be refurbished. Looking at what is proposed I would suggest that this reflects poor building maintenance over decades in most cases and the community libraries concerned should not have been allowed to get in this state. I note also that some funding “has come from the service”. I wonder what has been cut to pay for it?

Concerns:

1. Nothing about actual community library service provision.
2. Nothing about the rest of the community library service.
3. Resources fund [especially for new books] at an all time low. With inflation……… Just look at the selection on the shelves. Will it get worse?

The council brief is full of political speak about how wonderful libraries will be on the new service model. Will they? I doubt it.
 
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