The Society of Chief Librarians, Sopra Steria and visa/immigration services in libraries!

It appears that the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) have been busy striking a deal with the IT outsourcing firm Sopra Steria to deliver their newly won digital visa/immigration contract via 56 public libraries.

Sopra Steria have an 'interesting' record, they were recently linked to a scandal re the loss of 500,000 NHS documents and the loss of 220 jobs in their UK government business.

I suppose it's seen in library establishment circles as just another pragmatic partnership a bit like the ones with Barclays, Cisco, Halifax et al but it'll be interesting to see how this develops and whether CILIP, library users/staff and campaigners put up a fight against what many will see as another major invasion of public library space by a private interest and a further erosion of our ethos.

DILON & whiteness in librarianship, my article for 'Opendemocracy' and privatisation in Herefordshire and Hertfordshire.

DILON

Firstly and most importantly - the issue of 'whiteness' in the UK library and information profession (96.7% white) is one that needs to be urgently discussed and addressed so it's great to see a new group 'Diversity in Libraries of the North (DILON)' set up which "advocates for POC/BME/non-white library and information workers in the north of England". For more about the group read this interview with the founder Jen Bayjoo.

'Opendemocracy' article

Recently I wrote a piece for 'Opendemocracy' on the fight against library cuts and the need for Labour to adopt a national policy supporting statutory public libraries and the paid/trained staff who work in them.

"Campaigners were told to "innovate don't save” and urged to "adopt a positive narrative…if you keep saying libraries are in crisis then people will start to believe it"

But groups like Voices for the Library, Speak up for Libraries & the newer Radical Librarians Collective spoke out against the cuts and the closures. We spoke out against privatisation and commercialisation. And we were ridiculed and side-lined but we kept speaking out.

Hundreds of local campaign groups were formed and spoke up too, organising hundreds of marches and protests and union and community activists even managed to organise a national demo in 2016."

Herefordshire

It's heartening to see Labour supporting Unison's campaign and petition opposing the privatisation of libraries in Herefordshire.

"UNISON believes that the public deserve the best possible service when it comes to Museums, Libraries and Archives and our policy is always to keep services in-house."


Hertfordshire

It looks very likely that Hertfordshire CC will adopt the PSM (Public Service Mutual) model for their library service. They cite Suffolk, Devon, York and Northamptonshire as successful adopters of this model but recently worrying figures have shown a 43% drop in usage in Devon and in 2016 both Suffolk and York showed drops!

Proposals to Outsource Libraries in Herefordshire.

In Oct 2016 and then again in Nov 17 Herefordshire CC issued a 'Soft Market Test' for their museum, library and archive services. Basically this is to gauge market interest before making a final decision to outsource/privatise.

It now looks as if the council are ready to push ahead with the process with Halo Leisure Services Ltd, The Courtyard Trust, GLL (Greenwich Leisure Ltd) and Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure Ltd in the running but concerns and doubts have been expressed in a recent article and council submission by the campaign group Joint Action for Herefordshire Libraries and by Cllr Gandy, a Tory, who not only mentioned the Carillion scandal but said;

"What evidence is there that outsourcing will produce the savings required and by how much?"

As far as I can see the council is looking to cut £65k in the current financial year from the Libraries budget so from these figures and the fact that the council has been pushing the community-led model over the last few years it looks as if the decision to privatise libraries will be an ideological and not a fiscal one, which in my experience is more than often the case.

Outsourcing Fundamentalism, Hasn't Herts heard of Carillion? and SCL/Taskforce backed vol-led 'libraries' conference comes to Sheffield.

Northamptonshire, along with Barnet one of the Tory outsourcing flagships, has had a Section 114 order slapped on it which basically means it can't spend any more money on public services except apparently on crucial statutory services which apparently doesn't include libraries! A Tory council collapsing under Tory austerity cuts, who would have thunk it!!
Oh and I forgot to mention that the ex-CEO of Northamptonshire CC is Dr Paul Blantern who just happens also to be the ex-Chair of the government's Libraries Taskforce. Paul is a bit of an outsourcing fundamentalist, who planned to shrink his council workforce from 4000 to 150 core staff by 2020 by outsourcing services to 4 'Next Generation' social enterprises. His council had previously moved libraries into a 'Wellbeing Community Interest Company' but also more recently had planned to cut/close libraries and hand over many of them to volunteers. When I asked him at a Speak up for Libraries conference a few years ago whether he thought that an outsourcing fundamentalist was a good choice to chair a Taskforce on public libraries he just laughed it off, hope he's stopped laughing although the £100k pay off he received from Northamptonshire might help lighten his mood.

Hertfordshire are 'consulting' on their libraries again and in the spirit of the government's 'Digital by Default' agenda misspelled 'consultation' in the link meaning that you got 'page not found' when you clicked on it, it has I'm glad to report now been fixed. Oh and the 'consultation' asks folks whether they want their libraries to be privatised or cut/closed and apparently doesn't mention that libraries are a statutory service, wonder why?

The 'Community Managed Libraries Peer Network', "a network of peers from the full spectrum of community managed libraries from independently funded libraries to those who receive local authority support" is holding its first national conference in Sheffield on 20/3/18. The network is funded by 'Power to Change', "an independent charitable trust that supports and develops community businesses in England", it's so independent that it lists DCLG & 'Big Society Capital' as partners! Basically it's just another front for the government's 'Localism' agenda, an ideological agenda that seeks to offload public services to suspect SocEnts and volunteers.
The network is not only supported by Locality (the armed wing of the DCLG and the Localism movement) and the Upper Norwood Library Trust but also by the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) and the Libraries Taskforce! Some see the involvement of the SCL and Taskforce as a pragmatic move but i think it's absolutely shameful and indicative of the ethical void at the upper echelons of our library establishment.
Oh and holding their first conference in Sheffield is a little ironic considering that volunteer-led 'libraries' there have seen a huge drop in usage!

Barnet, Lambeth, Bromley, Manchester & Kent. (or selling the family silver by the ton!)

Barnet

Boy has it been an eventful couple of weeks in Capitaville; first we had this;

"Barnet Council's libraries consultation is 'unfit for purpose', according to report"
http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/11733760.Libraries_consultation_is__unfit_for_purpose___according_to_report/
"An investigation into Barnet Borough Council’s library consultation has revealed people find it “impossible" to respond in any meaningful way."
for full report see; http://www.pdf-archive.com/2015/01/16/barnetcouncillibraryconsultation16jan2015/barnetcouncillibraryconsultation16jan2015.pdf

then this response/demand;

The Libraries Consultation: a joint letter by the Barnet bloggers
http://wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-libraries-consultation-joint-letter.html

Anyone who has tried to complete the consultation will already know that the consultation is loaded to the point were it's been re-named the 'nonconsultation', see; http://wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/brought-to-book-barnets-nonsultation-on.html

And then the BIG one;

Exclusive: "So others can get a cut of the business": who is plotting to take over Barnet Libraries?
http://wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/exclusive-so-others-can-get-cut-of.html

It appears that Barnet Council are planning to franchise their libraries to Starbucks et al and hope to sell the model to other boroughs!!! Shocking but not surprising considering that Tory Barnet councillors are at the forefront of the governments 'public bad private good' onslaught.

Lambeth

Shocking news from Lambeth where it looks as if the council is looking to cut libraries again. A public consultation has been launched which prompted local campaigners to tweet this yesterday;

	SaveLambethLibraries (@SaveLambthLibs)
31/01/2015 21:56 @VftL_UK Latest proposals for Lambeth Libraries lambeth.gov.uk/consultations/… 800k cut, 40%+ staff reduction, 2 libraries closed & sold off

So much for being the 'Co-op Council'.

Bromley

More tales of woe with proposals to hand libraries to volunteers and to privatise the rest of the service.
http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/news/last_chance_to_have_say_on_libraries_1_3936998
"Consultation is also underway regarding the market testing of the core service in order to protect the service, keeping libraries open, while making savings. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the core library service will be subject to a full outsourcing market testing exercise, which will be taken in line with any decisions taken regarding the Community Library management options."

I've heard that a 'Save Bromley Libraries' campaign group has been set up so good luck to them.

Manchester

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-library-visitor-numbers-fall-8491284
"Seven Manchester libraries have seen visitor numbers plummet by as much as 90per cent since funding cuts led to them being run by volunteers with drastically reduced opening hours."

A shocking indictment of the volunteer-led libraries model, with tumbling footfall and usage who would have thought it?

Kent

Kent CC are proposing to hand libraries over to a trust.

Should Kent County Council transfer responsibility for its libraries to a charitable trust?
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11737064.Should_Kent_County_Council_transfer_responsibility_for_its_libraries_to_a_charitable_trust_/
"Kent County Council is planning to transfer responsibility for its libraries to a charitable trust.
A consultation has begun on whether Kent County Council (KCC) should hand over responsibility for the library, registration and archive (LRA) services to a trust. Residents have until April 8 to make their views known."

But remember this from last year?

"In July last year, KCC confessed to a "mistake" when a job advert went out to oversee the transformation of the LRA services before publicly consulting on the change or having councillors agree to it.
The project manager role was advertised and then withdrawn when the blunder was spotted but Councillor Tom Maddison told News Shopper he was disappointed.
He said: "I don’t feel very happy about the council advertising the job before the elected members of the council have been consulted."

As pointed out recently by a local campaign group this makes a mockery of the consultation process;

Laughable “public consultation” to commence on Monday
https://clikent.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/consultation/
"Obviously, we must forget the fact that a job advert went up in June last year asking for candidates who can “ensure the implementation and delivery of a trust model for Kent Libraries, Registration and Archives” because, of course, that is simply a figment of our imaginations and will have no bearing whatsoever on the entirely fair process that Kent County Council is about to embark on.
We have full confidence that, unlike Lincolnshire County Council, the consultation will be entirely above board because, unlike Lincolnshire, Kent clearly haven’t already made their decision before launching the consultation."

Information resources on the privatisation of public services, including public libraries.

I thought it might be useful to put together a short guide for anyone looking for information on privatisation, including libraries. It's a work in progress and will grow, so here goes;

UK

http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/privatized-libraries-outsourcing-library-services - Information on library privatisation from THE public libraries information website in the UK if not the world?

http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/acrobat/PublicLibraryStandardsandGuidelines.docx - a resource list compiled by me for library campaigners, includes links to info on library privatisation.

http://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/local-government/key-issues/privatisation/home/ - the main union for library staff in the UK and a key partner in the Speak up for Libraries coalition.

http://soslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/ - Save Croydon Libraries Campaign. Croydon Libraries, along with Hounslow, Harrow and Ealing, are now managed by Carillion, a private construction firm.

http://falseeconomy.org.uk/campaigns/item/scalp-sheffield-communities-against-library-privatisation
- SCALP: Sheffield Communities Against Library Privatisation.

http://weownit.org.uk/evidence/libraries - info needs updating.


US

http://www.seiu.org/division/public-services/state-and-local/ - SEIU represent many public library staff in the US and helped organise the 'Privatization Beast' campaign.

http://www.privatizationwatch.org/ - "PrivatizationWatch is a daily news blog covering privatization, and is a joint project of Essential Information and The Center for Study of Responsive Law." US based but very comprehensive and informative. You can sign up for their daily alert service.

http://www.afscmeinfocenter.org/ - "Resources brought to you by the library at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees" - You can sign up for their daily alert service.
see also; http://www.local1321.org/

http://www.ala.org/tools/outsourcing - the American Library Association (ALA),  see especially Keeping Public Libraries Public: A Checklist for Communities Considering Privatization of Public Libraries (PDF).


International

http://www.psiru.org/ - PSIRU was set up in 1998 to carry out empirical research into privatisation,
public services, and globalisation.

 

http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/ - The Outsourcing and PPP Library provides analysis
and information on the consequences of outsourcing public services, Public Private Partnerships,
PFI projects and strategic partnerships.

Other useful resources/articles/reports;

http://classonline.org.uk/library/item/the-real-cost-of-privatisation - 'The Real Cost of Privatisation'

http://communitiesagainstthecuts.com/2013/04/26/seven-reasons-to-oppose-the-privatisation-of-the-library-of-birmingham/ - excellent article outlining 7 reasons to oppose library privatisation.

http://www.ier.org.uk/events/public-sector-cuts-privatisation-and-employment-rights - A conference held in 2013, see 'Conference Papers' for presentation by John Medhurst of the PCS.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/12/privatise-public-libraries-cuts - article ny Neil Clark from 2011.

http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/2011/09/the-privatisation-of-public-library-services/ - article by me for VFTL from 2011.



 

The 'We Own It' campaign.

Congratulations to the 'We Own It' campaign for fighting for public services, see;
http://weownit.org.uk/

"We want the UK to have high quality public services, owned by and accountable to the public. We are happy for private companies to produce some things – like coffee, shoes and computers. Other things – like health, education, energy and water – are public goods that belong to all of us and they should be run publicly. Privatisation isn't working; it's time for public ownership."

for Public Libraries see;

http://weownit.org.uk/evidence/libraries

Weakening TUPE legislation will drive down workers' terms and conditions, warns TUC - TUC Website - 05/09/13

http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-22562-f0.cfm

"The TUC has today (Thursday) warned that government plans to weaken the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations will drive down terms and conditions for vulnerable workers and make privatisation cheaper and quicker.
TUPE protects employees' terms and conditions of work when a business is transferred from one owner to another. Staff automatically become employees of the new employer on the same terms and conditions as they were on before, and their continuity of service is also protected.
However, under the government's plans TUPE will not always apply when services are outsourced."

Birmingham Libraries to be run by private company

Someone very kindly brought this to my attention, it's a procurement notice for the operation of the Library of Birmingham project;

http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/Search/Tenders/Expired.aspx?ID=%20000000004067822&sect=F059&cat=15&Page=Categories

"The Library of Birmingham project will create a new library for Birmingham, replacing the current 1970’s central library. It will comprise of 10 levels; nine above ground and one below ground amounting to approximately 31,000m² of space. Construction will be completed by mid-2013. The new Library will set new standards for libraries both in terms of iconic design and in terms of creating an exceptional resource for learning, information, and culture. This is an exciting opportunity to modernise the library service for the people of Birmingham for the decades to come. The Library has been designed to be open, welcoming and accessible and with an embedded technology focus running throughout the building. The successful applicant will be expected to operate the Library of Birmingham (LoB) including but not limited to the City’s archive collection, support services for Community Libraries, the Mobile Library, Library Service at Home and management of the Council’s book fund."

See the Library Campaign website for more on this story;
http://www.librarycampaign.com/another-library-service-going-private/


And some breaking news; it looks as if LSSI might be bidding for the contract?

1. Alan Wylie‏@wylie_alan19h
2. @stuwystv  yes thanks for this helpful insight Stuart, are LSSI bidding for it?

1. 
   

   Stuart Fitzgerald‏@stuwystv10h

   @wylie_alan  hahaha! That's commercially confidential information! Why does one presume a private co will win it?

 

 

see earlier tweet by Stuart Fitzgerald;

 

Stuart Fitzgerald‏@stuwystv5 Mar

 almost - actually 1997 California; tomorrow push for Sefton n Brum! #ohyeoflittlefaith

 

Library campaigners organise public meeting for Tuesday - Postcode Gazette - 03/03/13

http://postcodegazette.com/news/9003133977/library-campaigners-organise-public-meeting-for-tuesday-AT-sheffield-central-united-reformed-church/

"Sheffield Communities Against Library Privatisation (SCALP) is holding a public meeting this Tuesday (March 5).
Campaigners say none of Sheffield’s 28 community libraries should close after the current review into their future concludes next month.

The council has warned that 14 will close if alternative means of meeting their running cots are not found, as the council struggles to makes £50 million of spending cuts from April.

Businesses and community groups are currently being sought to help run libraries, which might see their range of services extended to include things like coffee shops.

The meeting rakes place at Central United Reform Church, Norfolk St/Chapel Walk at 6.30pm. All are welcome."

for more on the cuts see http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/sheffield-council-budget-cuts-revealed-1-5463075

"* Library budget to be cut by £1.6m, putting 14 of 27 community libraries at risk of closure"

"....and the council admitted up to 14 of 27 libraries could close - but it hopes to avoid any closures by inviting third parties to bid to run them."

also SCALP can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheffieldagainstlibrarycuts


 

Privatisation madness in Madrid!

A group of fellow librarians and library staff from Madrid contacted Ian Anstice asking him to publicise their campaign to stop the privatisation of  Madrid's Public Libraries, here is their message;

Dear collegues,

I  write you in the name of some librarians from Madrid.

We work in the Madrid City Libraries System, which include 28 public libraries, 1 Newspaper Library (The most important in Spanish Language in the World) , 1 Library specialized in Music and and other one Historical (founded in the XIX century) and the Archive of the Ville.

We are threatened by the shadow of privatization from the new major, Ana Botella, is in charge of Madrid City Council. We have stoped the privatization of 2 new libraries but we are suffering attacks from every where. Not just librarians, but the rest of Public Services (Museums... etc) (they are reducing our salaries and our rights). I send you some of our protest, just in case you can support us or we can do something for you as well, to let everybody know that this is happening in a lot of places in Europe.

Every friday we stand up in our libraries main door, wearing in black and informing people, and the 24th of May we will walk around the main streets of Madrid wearing in black and carrying banners.

I send you a photo just in case you want to published.

Thanks a lot, you have our support and we would love to have yours as well.

Guadalupe Uceta

Ayte. de Archivos y Bibliotecas

Hemeroteca Municipal de Madrid

Conde Duque 9-11

914800636

Privatized Libraries: Not An April Fool’s Joke - The Pulse: Blogs - 01/04/12

http://thepulse-mag.org/2012/04/privatized-libraries-not-an-april-fools-joke/

"Whenever local libraries face a budget crisis, which never happens, LSSI is there for you. At the behest of barrel-wearing city governments, LSSI takes over the management of said city’s library system and proceeds to wring out magical savings, often through reducing staff, replacing union librarians with non-union librarians, and eliminating employee pensions. You know, the usual corporate chicanery."

A breath of fresh air!

Isle of Man Libraries to be funded by online gambling firm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-17585066

"An Isle of Man-based e-gaming firm has come forward with funding to secure the future of the Manx library service.

Pokerstars, which has headquarters in Onchan, will fund the family and mobile service for the next three years.
The announcement comes after a controversial government decision to close the facilities down.
The funds, which will be donated through the Manx Education Foundation (MEF), will maintain the current level of service and safeguard all jobs."
see also:
http://www.energyfm.net/cms/news_story_203044.html

A new spin on the private funding concept! What does Pokerstars want in return i hear you ask? Well we don't know yet but it definitely raises concerns surrounding suitability and sustainability!

Are Privatized Public Libraries So Bad? - The Atlantic Cities - 28/03/12

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/03/are-privatized-public-libraries-so-bad/1583/

"I'll admit, to me, the idea of a privatized public library has a certain dystopian ring to it, the ultimate public space corrupted for a profit. That image was not much aided by my first (and second and third) call to Library System and Services Inc., the only library privatization company in the United States. LSSI now runs at least 15 library systems in California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. This means it is, effectively, the fifth largest library system in the country."

see comments on this article, a very interesting debate going on!

The chair of ACE told to step down, a political decision?

There was quite a lot of criticism from library folk about the decision to hand the public libraries portfolio to ACE, it was seen by many as a deliberate attempt to sideline libraries. Very recently there has been another twist in the story, Jeremy Hunt has now told Liz Forgan, the current chair of ACE, to step down after only spending one term in the post!
This is seen by many to be a political decision as Forgan is perceived to be left of centre, was appointed by Labour and is the chair of the Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian and the Observer! Hunt wants to appoint someone with experience of private funding as he sees this as a future priority for ACE. A worrying sign of things to come?

Outsourcing Public Libraries | The Kojo Nnamdi Show

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-03-08/outsourcing-public-libraries

Outsourcing Public Libraries | The Kojo Nnamdi Show

thekojonnamdishow.org

Public libraries offer free services many patrons consider invaluable. But as communities struggle to "do more with less" some seek to save by outsourcing the management of their libraries.

Listen to this great discussion about the privatization of public libraries....LSSI was invited to participate but declined.

Ealing Council in talks to out-source libraries - Ealing Gazette - 26/1/12

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2012/01/26/ealing-council-in-talks-to-out-source-libraries-64767-30204555/

"EALING Council is in talks with Brent and Harrow to establish a shared, privately-managed leisure service to save the libraries."

"The authorities met with seven potential providers last November to discuss taking over just libraries or sports facilities, or both. A formal decision is expected later this year."

In fact Ealing conducted a 'soft market testing' excercise last April with parties interested in the libraries and one of them was LSSI (as far as we know?)

Proposals to outsource Ealing's Leisure and Library Services

Just had a look at the proposals for outsourcing Ealing's Leisure and Library services, for libraries the usual names appear LSSI, Laing, GLL etc The paper goes to council on 24/1/12
http://www2.ealing.gov.uk/services/council/committees/agendas_minutes_reports/cabinet/24may2011-15may2012.html - item 12
What i didn't know was is that this process started in Apr11 with a 'soft-market testing' excercise, was this public knowledge?

Council defies public and goes ahead with library closures - Inside Croydon - 31/12/11

http://insidecroydon.com/2011/12/31/council-defies-public-and-goes-ahead-with-library-closures/

"First revealed by Inside Croydon in June, that privatisation “hidden agenda” was finally unveiled by the council in September, with the formal announcement of the tendering process undertaken with Tory-controlled Wandsworth. LSSI, an American firm known for trimming down services and staff levels to maximise its profits, was suggested as the preferred bidder.
But reports this week suggest that having taken a preliminary look at Croydon’s libraries, LSSI has pulled out."

Croydon is selling off library books ready for privatisation - Inside Croydon - 14/01/12

http://insidecroydon.com/2012/01/14/croydon-is-selling-off-library-books-ready-for-privatisation/

"Reducing the book stock might be the action of a local authority in the midst of an exercise designed to make its libraries as economically attractive to a potential “partner”, in a costly privatisation exercise which the people of Croydon have never been consulted over."