tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957140491776029712.post4185518835080692027..comments2024-03-25T03:33:59.112-07:00Comments on Stop the privatisation of Public Libraries: The Heart of Darkness?; a trip in to Hounslow Libraries!Alan Wyliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15663076592553652836noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957140491776029712.post-59459314519485829102013-09-25T02:42:11.505-07:002013-09-25T02:42:11.505-07:00Thank you so much for sharing this awesome post wi...Thank you so much for sharing this awesome post with your readers.business signs sheffieldhttp://imagesignstudio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957140491776029712.post-65500102321090361722013-07-23T16:13:30.086-07:002013-07-23T16:13:30.086-07:00It would seem John Laing are into world domination...It would seem John Laing are into world domination. They have a joint contract to run libraries for Harrow, Brent and Ealing. I see from the Hounslow website that they run everything there, parks, arts centre, allotments, etc, not just libraries. If you check their website they are a global company. It's very worrying, and I thought the trendy thing these days was localism!?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957140491776029712.post-80783146706884481812012-07-23T09:02:21.773-07:002012-07-23T09:02:21.773-07:00Thanks for your comment anonymous. First of all pu...Thanks for your comment anonymous. First of all public libraries are not businesses they are statutory, publicly funded services, so market rules shouldn't apply!<br />Yes i agree the ratio of librarians to library assistants has diminished and it's mostly due to cuts but also over the years there has been a push to de-professionalise and undermine the service! This process has had a detrimental effect on the quality of the service and has to a large extent diluted the core ethos!<br />Your choice between cutting staff or cutting libraries is no choice to me, the problem to me, apart from the austerity cuts, is one of poor leadership, bad policy making and a senior management pushing a neo-liberal agenda!Alan Wyliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15663076592553652836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957140491776029712.post-24108527956996191912012-07-22T12:55:40.075-07:002012-07-22T12:55:40.075-07:00They are not, but then that would be like employin...They are not, but then that would be like employing consultants to do the job of a nurse or GP. A qualified librarian would be on a salary very similar to that of a Manager. You only need look at the job adverts to realise that most staff in libraries are Library Assistants. This isn't something new, though the ratio of Librarians to Library Assistants will have diminished, but what business doesn't try to reduce costs, especially in view of current cuts. The choice is cut staff costs or cut libraries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957140491776029712.post-69724814761662404072012-07-18T07:08:27.295-07:002012-07-18T07:08:27.295-07:00My comment, giving a user perspective on Hounslow ...My comment, giving a user perspective on Hounslow Library, wouldn't fit here so I've added it here: http://elizcro.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/heart-of-darkness-user-perspective.html with a link to this post.<br /><br />I wonder if anyone knows whether Hounslow Libraries are staffed by qualified librarians. I've read articles about job cuts in recent years.ElizCrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355906023884926866noreply@blogger.com