Monday's Newsnight programme (BBC2) featured a discussion on the state of Britain's public libraries and their future. The Culture Minister opined that more Public-Private-Partnerships were needed, and that one way of increasing the footfall numbers would be to introduce more coffee shops INSIDE failing libraries. Well, as someone who has been using public libraries here in the UK since 2003, I do not see this as a very sensible suggestion.
I have analysed the situation in two north London public libraries over a period of 5 years, from 2004/5 to 2009 and there has been a dramatic change in the scene over these five years. Earlier, there were only the very seriously-motivated who came in to the library; some on a daily basis, others who dropped in only over the weekend. The libraries were oases of calm: a rare feat, considering one was bang in the middle of a busy shopping area, while the other was one street away from yet another busy main road. It was perfectly possible to work undisturbed for hours together, be it learning a new language or researching for a work of fiction...All this changed gradually. First came the new sections reserved only for "Teens" and "Children". Needless to say, the Children's area was a noisy one - with occasional singalong events for toddlers and mums alike! It got worse as months passed by - on some mornings, it was virtually impossible to make one's way to the issue desk, due to the baby buggies abandoned haphazardly. And in the afternoons, the library was mobbed by loud teenagers who dropped in after school. Whatever happened to discipline and silence inside libraries, for heavens' sake???
More recently, these libraries have become popular "hangouts" for yobs. On several occasions, I have witnessed Community Police Officers making their way to the upper floors of these two libraries, to reprimand the unruly gangs. Announcements over the public system, imploring these young people to keep calm were made in vain. The situation deteriorated even more, as drugs were openly peddled just a few feet away from these libraries...
Its all very well to say that libraries need to reinvent themselves, to become more attractive to today's generation. To increase the number of members, and thereby the revenue, libraries do have to improve the range and quality of services offered. The initiative to have special events for toddlers and younger children (and the Mums) has been applauded by all. So too, the range of short courses in IT and Business support services. All these are commendable efforts. Yet, by having coffee shops inside libraries, aren't we damaging the very essence of "the library"??? One is talking of open spaces on the main floor of the library, not specially demarcated areas of libraries that would be converted into "coffee shops". I honestly think the authorities and the people of Britain need to appreciate what they truly have in this country.
I come from a country where "free" public libraries were almost unheard of. Till the turn of this century, only the privileged had access to libraries outside their academic institutions. Circulating libraries as well as those run by foreign missions like the British Council and the USIS (United States Information Service) libraries had fairly steep membership fees. In comparison, public libraries in Britain today offer much more to their non-fee-paying members. To change these into "coffee shops, with additional book lending facilities" would be a real shame.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment