London libraries news; Barnet, Bexley, Greenwich & Wandsworth.

There's been lots happening to London libraries recently;

Barnet

Earlier this week firm proposals emerged that could lead to the further decimation of the library service in the Borough.
The 3 options put forward by the council are;

"Option one proposes keeping the same number of libraries open. The service would focus on four key libraries – Chipping Barnet, Hendon, and the new libraries in Church End and Colindale.
Other library buildings would be reduced in size, to around 540sq ft on average, and space would be let out for commercial use. The report states it is “likely” that a number of libraries would move.
Staff hours would be reduced to half of the current opening hours. However, more would be made of technology to keep libraries open outside staffed hours, including online ordering.
Option two suggests closing Burnt Oak, Childs Hill, Mill Hill, East Finchley, Osidge and South Friern libraries.
The remaining libraries would be staffed for 60 per cent of their current opening hours. Opening hours would also be increased, using technology to allow access from 7am to 10pm, outside staffed times.
Option three suggests closing East Barnet and Childs Hill libraries, and offering East Finchley, Edgware, Mill Hill and South Friern libraries to be run by volunteers as ‘community libraries’. The space in each would be reduced, and the libraries could move.
Hendon, Burnt Oak, Chipping Barnet, Church End, Golders Green, Colindale, North Finchley and Oside libraries would be staffed for 50 per cent of the current opening hours. Opening hours would be increased through new technology from 7am to 10pm, outside staffed times."
http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11548261.Options_laid_out_for_future_of_Barnet_s_libraries/

So a smorgasbord of cuts, relocation, collocation, volunteers and staffless self-service 'libraries', if you can call such a thing a library?!
(see http://dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/unstaffed-libraries-contradiction-in.html and  http://dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-library-solution-without-staff.html)

As you would imagine Barnet Unison is up in arms about this latest 're-organisation' (cynical management speak that means cuts)

"Proposals for the library service also suggest extending opening hours by leaving libraries unstaffed, which Unison said would put the safety of the public at risk.
Unison said: “Staff opening and closing the library at the beginning and end of unstaffed hours will also be put at extra risk.
“Until we have evidence from the council, Unison believe unstaffed libraries pose a great danger to our members, our other colleagues and to the general public.”

The union also questioned whether the reorganisation of libraries would save money, or whether unstaffed hours would make thefts more likely.
Making greater use of volunteers to help run the service was also questioned, a move Unison claimed would put the libraries at risk of “eventual closure”.
The letter added: “Nationally it is far from being proved that volunteer-managed libraries have the staying power to operate in the long term once initial enthusiasm and funding dwindles or ceases.”
http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11552077.___Great_concern____expressed_over_future_of_Barnet___s_libraries/

Oh and library staff were only given 30 minutes consultation time on these proposals and Union stewards were hampered in their attempts to represent members, shameful conduct by an administration that's shown nothing but contempt for its workforce and residents.


Greenwich

On the 14/10/14 Greenwich library workers took strike action against Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), the so-called 'Social Enterprise' that runs the library service there and in Wandsworth.

"The dispute is about staffing - there are at least 12 unfilled posts and GLL are proposing to cut more. In addition, GLL are refusing to commit to pay any eventual NJC award to TUPE staff transferred over from the Council."
http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/londonandeastern/londoneasternnews/100-strike-tunrout-of-unite-members-in-greenwich-library-service/

The strike was called by Unite and all 86 of their members walked out, a 100% success, well done to Onay Kasab, regional officer, and everyone involved. They are planning 2 more days of action on the 30th and 31st of October 2014.

Wandsworth

Wandsworth Library which only re-opened in 2009 after a £1.5m re-development could be moved to a new building next door if the council gets its way. The library is currently located in a grade 2 listed building which the council wants to flog to the highest bidder. The council are spinning the move saying that the new building is part of the regeneration of the area and will have a cafe which will attract more people, but it looks as if this is just another case of selling the family silver.
All this after a document written by the local tories was leaked outlining massive cuts including proposals to close non-town centre libraries, well well!


Bexley

Bexley Council is proposing to hand 4 of its smaller libraries over to volunteers or "community focussed organisations" and focus its resources on 6 of it's larger town-centre libraries, sadly this a pattern taking place up and down the country. The nonsense spouted by councils in these situations is sickening and cynical, Bexley are calling their volunteer model 'co-operative libraries' whilst Sheffield are calling theirs 'Associate Libraries'.
Who do they think they are kidding? They conduct sham consultations then try to hoodwink the public with doublespeak, it's a disgrace.

The Gospel according to Mark Sesnan (GLL)

In a Guardian article the MD of Greenwich LeisureLtd (GLL), Mark Sesnan, waxed lyrical not only about his own company but about what he sees as the ""win–win" not-for-profit relationship" for the Public Sector.

He's was very keen to distance his 'social enterprise' from other commercial outfits stating;

"The way I see it, councils can privatise by selecting a commercial contractor, they can stick their heads in the sand and continue to try to run a facility themselves, or they can work with a social enterprise partner in a "win–win" not-for-profit relationship."

He also talks about GLL's recent move into managing public libraries;

"Libraries are part of local authorities' cultural block. You'd want your library to be open seven days a week, to be accessible, to have a crèche, a café, a car park and be friendly and bright – the same specification as a leisure centre."

The obvious omission to me in the above statement is any mention of 'education and learning', he emphasises their cultural and leisure role which isn't surprising considering his companies raison d’être and the general positioning of public library services within the leisure directorates of local councils but is still very worrying.

When GLL won the 15 year contract for Greenwich Libraries in 2012 serious concerns were raised by the Unite union, campaigners and users about what they saw as the privatisation of the service through the means of a 'Trojan horse', GLL, a 'social enterprise' that claimed to be 'worker led'. These concerns led to Unite calling a five day strike of library staff which was called off due to GLL agreeing to come back to the negotiating table.

See http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/14456

"On 30 April, library workers were transferred to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which employs staff on poorer pay and conditions than the council. But a magnificent two-day strike by Unite members closed eleven out of 13 libraries. GLL threatened legal action against the strike. Strike action on 30 April and 1 May had to be postponed."

Mark Sesnan sneeringly responded to criticisms and concerns on the 853blog;

http://853blog.com/2012/05/01/greenwich-libraries-dispute-gll-chief-mark-sesnan-responds/

"it is disappointing that virtually none of the blogs discuss what is the real key issue here, the Library service itself. It would be good to think that people were interested
in the future of Libraries as well as the staff. It would also be good if there was a realistic discussion
about what the actual options for public services are in the climate of massive funding cuts.

Anyway, let the nasty oppressive GLL respond to the questions:"

Recently, Greenwich Branch of the UNITE union, has accused GLL of employing workers, including in libraries, on zero-hrs contracts and this recent job advert for a 'Casual Library Assistant' to work in their Wandsworth operation appears to prove them right

"GLL

Casual Library Assistant

Hours of Work

Zero hours contracts"

Seems to me a very strange way for a 'not-for-profit, worker-led, social enterprise' to operate, but they've also been in the news recently for apparently asking 'sports instructors' to clean libraries, but then that's the complicated 'smoke and mirrors' world of privatisation for you!

In 2012 GLL also won an 8yr contract to run Wandsworth Libraries, the contract started in Spring 2013 and since then everything on the news front has gone quite, but I have heard on the grapevine mention of a 'cult like' management style and uniforms!

Disney and Bookshops in Public Libraries; an exciting opportunity or a conflict?

Two quotes recently by Diana Edmonds, Head of Library operations for GLL, that really sum up for me the retail/market led agenda prevalent in public libraries;

"We need to make libraries more exciting for the next generation – they should rival Disney in terms of excitement."
http://www.capita-softwareandmanagedservices.co.uk/news/Documents/protecting_library_services.pdf

"Diana was offering to explore the idea of the bookshop being housed inside Northcote Library. Boundaries would have to be recognised and respected, and a fair rent agreed, but she did not see a conflict between library and shop, they both attract booklovers."
http://www.northcotebooks.com/2013/03/23/first-meeting/

The first one about Disney, something i wrote about recently see; http://dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-disneyfication-of-public-libraries.html, sends shivers down my spine, a public service being talked about in the same terms as the Disney corporation, it beggars belief.

The second one is more interesting because it talks of "boundaries" and "conflict", the very same issues that arise when you introduce retail models and private finance into a public service but it doesn't seem to bother Diana, who appears to see the crisis in public libraries in the same way as a young child would as it peered longingly into a sweet shop window.

GLL currently manage Greenwich and Wandsworth Libraries and it will be interesting to see what models are introduced, what boundaries are crossed and what conflicts arise?
 

Formal statement by GLL on Wandsworth contract

Thanks to Ian Anstice for bringing this formal statement by GLL to my attention;

 

"GLL, a charitable social enterprise, is committed to providing excellent library services for local communities. We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder by Wandsworth Council, however as we have yet to be awarded the contract it would be premature to make further comment at this stage."

Croydon and Wandsworth - The joint bid that wasn't! (or is it?)

An article recently published on the excellent website 'Inside Croydon' once again makes Croydon's Labour Party's position clear on library privatisation in the borough;

“Labour is committed to our library service not being run in the private sector. New, fully qualified librarians earn £23,500 a year. Making savings off the backs of cutting staff terms and conditions is not acceptable at this level,” Godfrey, a Selhurst ward councillor, said."

Croydon have apparently split from Wandsworth who recently chose Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) as the preferred bidder for their library service, both Councils have been involved in a long and costly procurement process and until last week many believed that it would be a joint bid. The fact that it appears that the process hasn't followed this path took myself and other campaigners by surprise but shouldn't have according to Diana Edmonds from GLL whom i spoke to at the Speak up for Libraries Conference on Saturday who seemed to suggest that this was always a realistic option even though the whole crux of the deal seemed to hinge on the economies of scale offered by the joint bid! (or didn't it?)

Croydon are expected to make an announcement after a council meeting on 21/11/12 and could still choose GLL? But with Croydon Labour threatening to pull the plug even if contracts are signed it looks as if it could be a costly and messy affair?
Woe betide the long suffering library users of Croydon and who knows what awaits their counterparts in Wandsworth?

Important Croydon/Wandsworth Update

Wandsworth BC have just released this;

Councillors to discuss plan to safeguard libraries

Release date: Thursday 8th November 12
Comment on this article

An innovative plan to enhance and safeguard the borough’s library service by appointing a new management organisation to run it will be considered by councillors next week.

Councillors in Wandsworth have been advised by council officers to award the management contract for the borough's library and heritage service to charitable social enterprise Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL).
The recommendation follows a competitive tender process involving three organisations - from which GLL was deemed to offer the best value for money for local tax payers.
If councillors agree to follow the recommendation, GLL would run the service from April next year for a period of eight years. It is expected to produce yearly savings in excess of £500,000 compared to current running costs - and, crucially, strengthen the service at a time when the council is facing challenging financial pressures.
The move is designed to ensure that the borough's library and heritage service continues to evolve and keep pace with fast changing needs and demands from the public.
Under the contract, GLL would be expected to continue providing core library services free of charge to users, while library buildings will remain in the ownership of the local authority.
All 146 staff currently working for Wandsworth's library and heritage service would, from April 2013, be managed by GLL, with an additional full time and part time post being created as part of the change.
Wandsworth's executive member for environment, culture and community safety, Councillor Jonathan Cook, said: "Our libraries are among the best in London and we are proud to be looking at ways to safeguard and enhance the service at a time when other councils are considering closures.
"We realise, just like all councils, we have to reduce our spending. Bringing competition to the market place will ensure that our taxpayers continue to receive the best value and best service possible."
Last year, Wandsworth and Croydon councils began working together to explore new ways of running libraries and the potential benefits of harnessing the knowledge and experience of different service providers.
A market-testing process led to three organisations being identified as having the vision, the expertise and the financial backing to deliver top quality library services.
This evaluation process in turn led to three organisations being shortlisted - from which Wandsworth's council officers judged GLL to be the best value for money. Croydon Council will make its own decision which of the three to award its library contract to.
Borough councillors will discuss the recommendation to award GLL the management contract at a meeting of Wandsworth's environment, culture and community safety overview and scrutiny committee on November 15.
To find out more about the borough's library service visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/libraries.
ENDS
Notes to editors
GLL was the UK 's first leisure trust. It was formed in 1993 to run leisure centres in Greenwich - managing seven centres to begin with.
The charitable social enterprise created jobs and added new services to existing leisure centres. Since then, it has expanded and is now responsible for running a variety of community services and spaces across the UK .
GLL was the first leisure operator in the UK to be awarded both the Social Enterprise Mark and the Prime Minister's Big Society Award.

By: Ian Mason
Telephone 020 8871 5269 or Email: imason@wandsworth.gov.uk

Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) win Croydon/Wandsworth Libraries contract

I've just been informed that  Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) have won the Croydon/Wandsworth Libraries contract, the other 2 shortlisted bidders where John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) and most importantly the inhouse Wandsworth bid from South London Library & Cultural Services (SLLCS), the preferred choice of the unions and current staff. The contract is worth £8.76m (?) and is initially for 8yrs with a possible further 8yr extension.
GLL already manage Greenwich Libraries on a 15yr contract which they where awarded earlier this year despite much protest from the UNITE union, campaigners and library users.

Wandsworth confirmed in last three to run Croydon’s libraries - Inside Croydon - 01/10/12

http://insidecroydon.com/2012/10/01/wandsworth-confirmed-in-last-three-to-run-croydons-libraries/

"The final bidders, as we predicted, are Greenwich Leisure, John Laing Services (a subsidiary of the company that is already in bed with Croydon over the £450 million URV property speculation deal) and Wandsworth."

Eight-year contracts are on offer, although the local Labour party has suggested that were they to win power in 2014, they would seek to cancel the deal."
“This concluding part of the tendering process follows several months of detailed discussions which have allowed both councils to make sure that the organisations who submit final bids are all fully capable of running the service,” an official council statement issued this afternoon by Croydon Council said.
"Final bids will be due in next month, with the successful bidders taking over the running of our public libraries by April next year.

“This is an important milestone in the project as we have now closed our preliminary discussions with the bidders and they now have three weeks within which to complete and return their tender documents for us to evaluate against established criteria,” said Tim Pollard, the cabinet member for children, families and learners who inherited this policy from the shambles left by Sara “Book Token” Bashford."

A new twist in the Croydon\Wandsworth privatisation tale!

Of the three remaining bids for the Croydon\Wandsworth Libraries contract the one i thought had least chance now appears to be the front runner? The Wandsworth Libraries in-house management bidders have now re-branded themselves as South London Library and Cultural Services (SLLCS), "a private company with charity status" Is this just another way of softening the sound of privatisation, making it more palatable to voters?

"A council document said the SLLCS would work as a separate company to the council, with current staff being transferred to the new company.

It said: "This creation of an external company, independent of the council, would complement the council’s big society policies and would help towards the general council aim of smaller government."

"But Colin Crilly, of Wandsworth Against Cuts, said: "Wandsworth Council are considering letting the Wandsworth library service run Wandsworth libraries. You couldn't make it up could you?"
taken from http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/9904786.Angry_response_to_councils__library_plans/

But where does all this leave the other two bidders, JLIS and GLL?

There were four in the bed and the little one said....!

Essex CC have been knocked out at the latest evaluation stage for the Croydon/Wandsworth Libraries contract, leaving GLL, Laing and a Wandsworth Libraries management bid.

http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/article/11299/libraries_plan_moves_a_step_closer

"These organisations will now undergo further detailed dialogue before submitting their final submissions. The preferred bidder is due to be selected later this year."

"The successful contractor will be expected to continue providing core library services free of charge to users, while library buildings will remain in the ownership of the local authority." I find the use of the 'expected' a little bit worrying!

UPDATE - LSSI pull out of the race for the Croydon\Wandsworth Libraries contract

UPDATE.........

I got confirmation from Cllr Tim Pollard this afternoon that LSSI have indeed pulled out of the race for the Croydon\Wandsworth contract.
What conclusions can we take from this, well i can only assume that they, along with Civica, came to the conclusion that running the libraries in Croydon\Wandsworth would be unprofitable?
The whole process is turning out to be an expensive failure and long may it continue! (a failure that is not expensive!)

Have LSSI pulled out of the race for the Wandsworth/Croydon libraries contract?

A little birdie, well actually a Wandsworth Unison source, has just told me that LSSI, the US based private library firm, have pulled out of the procurement process for the joint Wandsworth/Croydon Libraries contract!
If this is true then the major player has rolled over leaving John Laing, GLL, Essex CC and an in-house management bid still in the bed!
If it's not true then i'm sure that either Stuart St V Fitzgerald or Jim Lynch will tell me so?

Civica pull out of Croydon/Wandsworth privatisation process

Civica, one of the shortlisted companies bidding for the Croydon\Wandsworth libraries contract has pulled out stating;
‘Having undertaken an internal risk assessment and considering the potential risk to the Civica brand of taking on a contract which is outside their core competence, they felt they could not take that risk and must withdraw’.
This has allowed a space in the process for an in-house bid from Wandsworth Council!

see the extract from the Council minutes below;

WANDSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL

FINANCE AND CORPORATE RESOURCES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 19TH APRIL 2012

9.            One of the shortlisted organisations, Civica UK Limited, subsequently withdrew from the procurement process stating that ‘Having undertaken an internal risk assessment and considering the potential risk to the Civica brand of taking on a contract which is outside their core competence, they felt they could not take that risk and must withdraw’.

10.        In accordance with the provisions of the MOU this matter was considered by the Joint Project Team and, following consideration of legal advice, a recommendation was made to the Joint Project Board that the 6th placed bidder, Wandsworth Council, be invited back into the process.  The principal reason for this recommendation was to maintain a credible level of competition upon which to base a contract award.

And the shortlisted bidders for the Croydon/Wandsworth library contract are.....!

Have just heard that LSSI are one of the shortlisted bidders for the Croydon/Wandsworth library contract, along with Civica, Essex CC, Greenwich Leisure Trust and John Laing.

LSSI are a US based private library company who have recently set up office in the UK with a view to gaining 15% of the market.
Civica - "Civica supplies libraries with managed services and computer systems automating stock ordering, lending and tracking systems including the supply of remote access to library catalogues. Civica manages the library systems for the Government of Singapore’s Future Schools initiative. In the UK, Civica provides tailored library services for the eleven library services that are members of the South East Library Management Services (SELMS) consortium – with over three million library users in the region. In total, the group manages over 1,500 libraries world-wide." Wikipedia
Essex CC currently manage the library services for Slough and Southend & Thurrock.
Greenwich Leisure Trust are bidding to manage Greenwich Libraries but their plans have been halted see http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/lewgreen/9555486.Conflict_of_interest_allegation_halts_Greenwich_libraries_transfer/r/?ref=rss
John Laing Integrated Services Ltd run Hounslow libraries which is currently the only UK public library service under private contract.

Wandsworth opens the competition to save London's libraries - Guardian 5/1/12

Outsourcing/privatisation spin from the Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council with some pertinent comments from Shirley Burnham.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2012/jan/05/wandsworth-council-library-tender?newsfeed=true

Save the UK's libraries? It's beyond me, admits US guru - Independent - 28/11/11

"An American library firm that entered the UK market to great fanfare earlier this year has had to beat a retreat, admitting that the attempt has been tougher than expected.

A slug of judicial reviews and lack of tenders by local authorities, which are nervous of outsourcing their library services to independent providers, were among the reasons cited."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/save-the-uks-libraries-its-beyond-me-admits-us-guru-6268882.html

Well it looks as if LSSI have pulled the plug on their UK aspirations, they have obviously underestimated the level of protest and disinterest here. Their last hopes were pinned on Wokingham, now backtracking, and Croydon/Wandsworth, who don't seem to have any clear plans anymore, in fact they are in a complete pickle! I don't think we should drop our guard completely, they still intend to "continue forging relationships with local authorities" and we still have trusts and volunteers to contend with!
Well done to everyone who campaigned against them, we all deserve a pat on the back.

I'll need to find something new to blog about!

Private Eye Library News - LSSI, Croydon and Wandsworth

PRIVATE EYE
Issue No. 1203
22 July to 4 August 2011

LIBRARY NEWS

American outsourcing firm LSSI's ambitions to snap up 15 percent of UK libraries continue apace, as the firm tries to call first dibs on the library service in two London boroughs.

Croydon and Wandsworth chief execs Jon Rouse and Paul Martin jointly held what was described as a "30-minute chat" with Library Systems Services Inc (LSSI).  The councils kept very quiet about this -- Croydon's council leader told his local press he didn't know the meeting was taking place.  But LSSI bosses couldn't help name-dropping places they'd held meetings in an interview with the Sunday Express in June, prompting an outcry from Croydon library campaigners - who had previously been told that there were schools and voluntary groups clamouring to take on local libraries.

Just weeks later the two councils announced a joint market testing exercise to investigate whether a "third party organisation" could offer savings and improvements for the library service.

Ends

Croydon and Wandsworth hold exploratory talks with LSSI

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Leader-defends-colleague-s-surprise-meeting/story-12826983-detail/story.html

"Mr Fisher told the Advertiser: "I have no problem with the chief executive meeting with LSSI. I didn't know the meeting was going ahead but I am pleased that it did."
Mr Fisher said the council would be talking over the next few weeks to "a whole host of people" who could have the potential to run the library service. He added: "When you start market testing like this you don't have to be a genius to realise that LSSI are coming to talk to us."

Proposals to outsource library services in Croydon and Wandsworth

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/where/coulsdon/Council-wants-book-outsiders-run-libraries/article-3622187-detail/article.html

"TOO cash-strapped to run its libraries itself, Croydon Council is setting about finding outsiders to do the job at reduced price.

Councillor Sara Bashford, cabinet member for culture and sport, announced on Wednesday that subject to cabinet approval on June 13, a "market testing" exercise would be launched in conjunction with Wandsworth to gauge interest in running library services in both boroughs.
The councils will entertain proposals from private companies, social enterprises, trusts and even other local authorities."