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Library chiefs dismiss downgrading
HAMPSHIRE library service has
been downgraded to a one-star
service from the two-star rating it
had last year.
The county council failed to
meet targets for library opening
hours, visits per 1,000 population,
number of computers and new
book buying.
But Cllr Margaret Snaith, who
is in charge of the county's 55
libraries, played down the worsening
performance at cabinet
last week.
She said: "We took the decision
not to chase standards. It is a
waste of time and damaging for
staff who work here."
The council says the 10 public
library service standards are outof-
date and due to be dropped
next year from the list of performance
indicators used by the
Audit Commission to assess local
authorities.
A council spokeswoman said
"They were widely seen in the
library world as not properly
reflecting the performance of
modern public library services.
"For example, they don't capture
anything about the outreach
and community activities of
libraries, use of the People's Network,
web-based transactions, or
the increasing use of online reference
material."
She added: "Hampshire has
been concentrating on things
that will attract a wider range of
people to make use of their
library services.
"This has included the very
successful introduction of discovery
centres, major refurbishment
of many library buildings, new
mobile libraries, and spending an
additional £350,000 this year on
books and other library
resources."
But the figures show acquisitions
per 1,000 population
dropped to 192 in 2007/8 from
196 in 2006/7 - well short of the
target 216.
Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Lib Dem
opposition spokesman for
libraries, said: "The council
shouts from the rooftops when
they do well, but discredit the
system when it does badly.
"The county library chiefs have
been looking at the service
through rose-tinted spectacles,
but the truth is it is not as good
as it should be and the ratings
prove it.
"They should accept the facts
and do something about it."
Nicola Horsey is currently acting
head of the library and information
service since the
retirement in March of chief
librarian Richard Ward.
10:56am Thursday 3rd July 2008
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