No new library books for Southend.

[Lester Bangs]

Just seen on the local news that due to budget cuts Southend will be unable to buy any new books for its libraries next year. I know it sounds like there should really be a punchline but unfortunately it really isnt a joke.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Is this a sensible way of budget setting or is unreasonable. Do you care?

 

[MK Shrimper]

Amazed they're not shutting libraries carte blanche. Does anybody use them these days?

 

[Napster]

It's a shame, as Southend is one of the better stocked libraries around - especially compared to here in Kent. I think the library should be maintained as the centre of the community, more so now the post offices are closing.

But, as budgets get cut, it's inevitable I guess. Or the council could get rid of the some of the more superfluous layers of management.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I don't use the library but I am disgusted.

Now I know how the people that don't go to church feel when churches get turned into mosques.

 

[seany t]

Amazed they're not shutting libraries carte blanche. Does anybody use them these days?

School kids and students.

I sure as hell had to when I was younger. Without them where could you trawl decades worth of info for free?

Admittedly I don't use my local one as much as I used to, but I reckon they're vital to a city centre.

 

[Napster]

Amazed they're not shutting libraries carte blanche. Does anybody use them these days?

Don't be so ridiculous, of course people do. It's ideal for children, to discover the books they like, it's ideal for people like me who read on average 2 books a week, its ideal for OAPs who cant afford the expense. It's also a great place for meetings, for information, and for homework.

 

[MK Shrimper]

School kids and students.

I sure as hell had to when I was younger. Without them where could you trawl decades worth of info for free?

Admittedly I don't use my local one as much as I used to, but I reckon they're vital to a city centre.

Really? As I understand it all research is done on Wikipedia.

I too used them as a kid, but I haven't been in a (non Uni) library for nearly 20 years I'd imagine.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

Amazed they're not shutting libraries carte blanche. Does anybody use them these days?

Surprisingly quite a few people do still use them

It was muted a while back that the council was going to shut them down, during the same period the council managed to offload the Community Centres, to the Centres' Volunteer Committees and make all the Centres Caretakers redundant, to help budget issues.

I am guessing not buying new books is not so drastic where cuts are concerned.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

Really? As I understand it all research is done on Wikipedia.

Right and all of wikipedia can be trusted a la Nicky the **** Bailey.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Right and all of wikipedia can be trusted a la Nicky the **** Bailey.

Oh of course not, but try telling that to a 15 yr old kid doing a project.

Guy on 5-Live had a good idea this morning - a 20p charge for the lending of a book.

 

[Napster]

Oh of course not, but try telling that to a 15 yr old kid doing a project.

Guy on 5-Live had a good idea this morning - a 20p charge for the lending of a book.

It's not just the lenders, but the authors who will suffer. Authors get a royalty from how many times their books are loaned out.

ps how many 15 year olds do you know? I guarantee most schools encourage them not to use wikipedia, even more so at university.

I don't think it's a good idea. It should remain free.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Just seen on the local news that due to budget cuts Southend will be unable to buy any new books for its libraries next year. I know it sounds like there should really be a punchline but unfortunately it really isnt a joke.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Is this a sensible way of budget setting or is unreasonable. Do you care?

Amazed they're not shutting libraries carte blanche. Does anybody use them these days?

I use my local library (admittedly that's not Southend) - once or twice a week. Libraries are a fantastic resource and I'm amazed more people don't use them.

As for not buying any new stock, this seems to be a reasonable compromise. Libraries have plenty of good books in them already and people should try reading them.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

One thing I have to be thankful to the libraires for is encouraging my children to love books.

The Southend Libraires run an event for Pre-schools called Storyrhymes, where parents can take the toddlers to these events. Stories and nursery rhymes are read out, and then children are encouraged to look for a few books themselves to take home and enjoy.

This simple little event really helped my two to develop a real excitement about going to the library and choosing books each week.

 

[Smudger]

Admittedly I don't use my local one as much as I used to, but I reckon they're vital to a city centre.

Absolutely. Otherwise, where would homeless people go when they fancied a w**k?

 

[canveyshrimper]

I use my local library (admittedly that's not Southend) - once or twice a week. Libraries are a fantastic resource and I'm amazed more people don't use them.

As for not buying any new stock, this seems to be a reasonable compromise. Libraries have plenty of good books in them already and people should try reading them.

Apart from which other councils / areas may still be replenishing their stock, so you can still order books you want on line, at no cost. In addition to books you can borrow DVD's, CD's and also there's a facility for free use of PC's for internet etc. Libraries are a resource that shouldn't be lost and one of the few things I actually feel I get value for money from my council tax.

 

[Slipperduke]

My one seems to be used mainly as a creche or a local meeting place, which is probably a good thing. Mind you, if they hadn't ****ed the budget away trying to turn every library into an internet cafe a few years ago, there might be a bit left in the pot for new books.

I like the idea of nominal charge for a book. Who would resent paying 10p for a book?

Also, royalties for authors? Seriously? How do I find out about this? You know, on the off-chance that I can hunt the 3 people who have taken Football Fables off the shelf to the end of the earth? And then dry-hump them in gratitude?

 

[Napster]

Also, royalties for authors? Seriously? How do I find out about this? You know, on the off-chance that I can hunt the 3 people who have taken Football Fables off the shelf to the end of the earth? And then dry-hump them in gratitude?

http://www.plr.uk.com/

 

[Reg Martin]

Hopefully there are similar problems in Ongar that will lead to a re-appearance of one of the best newspaper headlines of all time... Book lack in Ongar

 

[Mad Cyril]

Just seen on the local news that due to budget cuts Southend will be unable to buy any new books for its libraries next year. I know it sounds like there should really be a punchline but unfortunately it really isnt a joke.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Is this a sensible way of budget setting or is unreasonable. Do you care?

I just hope this doesn't impact the Southend bid to become UK City of Culture in 2013.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

We even made the ITV/BBC News last night on the back of this.