Hampshire libraries

Nice to see that blog comments are arriving from viewers; alright, it may only be one, but it's a start. Sorry to be absent for a while, Easter vacation, and OFSTED inspection on the 30th April is my excuse, along with Scouts and a dose of the unfortunates. Anyway back to libraries and the Hampshire situation continues; one member of staff from Hampshire is due to change to West Sussex soon, while the protests continue. A recent one is featured in this article from the Hampshire Chronicle recently circulated amongst the HIOW Committee. At the bottom of the article is petition from John Sadden of Hampshire Libraries who has been fronting the campaign.

Hampshire libraries in the media

The HIOW letter to The News has been published in the edition of 22nd March in it's entirety (I have found another similar letter from a history group in Basingstoke appalled at the lost of professional staff). However, this morning, I have received a message from El Presidente who has fired off an email to a local FM radio presenter who infuriated her with a jibe at the current strike action in Hampshire public libraries. I have also created another RSS feed on MyYahoo page for news items on the strike action which seems well supported yesterday and today; I hope the strength of feeling shown causes a rethink. I note that the powers to be in the Council apologise for the disruption caused, but perhaps they should have thought of that when they proposed to downgrade professional standards and service.

It's never quiet in the library and information world

Reading thru headlines of bloggers jailed, bloggers freed, Google and YouTube facing copyright action big time, DVD format wars, satellite broadcasting tensions, the national and internation situation for library and information services is continually changing. Even locally, readers will know of changes taking place in many local authorities, and CILIP are aware of more across the country. The biggest issue is that facing Hampshire County with what seems to draconian measures to balance its budget against the perceived information service needs in public libraries; UNISON has now received and approved a mandate for strike action on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd March, with a protest awaiting Police approval in Winchester on the first day. This situation has been reported frequently in the Hampshire press, and even Dr McKee has had a letter published in the Hampshire Chronicle championing the issue of quality service needs qualified staff. However, The News in Portsmouth, 12th March 2007, led with a very negative doom laden article that the growth of the web is one of the key reasons for the start of the end of the librarian as a career option. What utter rubbish; the growth of electronic services is challenging the library profession, but qualified staff are still need teach their respective communities how to use and interpret the mass of information with which they are faced on a regular basis. The HIOW Committee met last week and added this article for discussion and a letter will be issued shortly to The News telling them what a positive and progressive career librarianship is, whether it be with books or electronic media. The final text of the letter will be posted here in library land.