Figures reveal shocking fall in number of books in Harlow Library
News / Tue 18th Feb 2020 at 09:32am
A COUNTY’S library stock fell by nearly half a million books in a decade, new figures reveal reports the BBC.
The number of books in Essex declined from 1.76 million to 1.29 million between 2007-08 and 2017-18 – a drop of 27%.
Save Our Libraries Essex, which obtained the statistics, said Essex County Council was “setting the library service up to fail”.
The council said the book stock was updated in response to demand.
Over the period, Colchester Library saw the number of books available on its shelves fall by 64,444, while Chelmsford’s stock dropped by 69,481, a Freedom of Information Act request showed.
The number of books in Harlow Library fell from 74,716 to 33,053 volumes.
The council in July reversed a decision to close 25 of 74 libraries – after opposition from campaigners – but said it wanted volunteers to run some smaller branches.
There were protests across Essex, including about 400 children and adults marching in Manningtree town centre, after plans for possible library closures were announced
Andy Abbott, of campaign group Save Our Libraries, said he was concerned fewer books would lead to fewer library users.
“If you were running a bookshop and reduced the stock you would expect to lose customers. Essex County Council is setting the library service up to fail so they can then cut libraries,” he said.
“They must not continue cutting the numbers of books and they should put the proper investment in to buying books.”
Essex County Council said the books removed were either not being borrowed or too damaged to lend.
It added that an extra £130,000 was spent last year on books in Essex.
The Conservative-run council made a U-turn last year after a major campaign against the plans was backed by celebrities including comedian and writer David Walliams, poet Michael Rosen and author AL Kennedy.
jhumphreys84
2020-02-18 11:17:46
To be fair if those books are damaged or not being used then yes they should be removed. I'm sorry but in a time when budgets need to be spent on things that really matter, to me and most people my age libraries are an outdated service that few people use. Most people are at work and the majority of those younger do things digitally these days or on e-readers or their educational establishment tends to have a library with appropriate literature for their courses. Having a huge library space taking up public money when they mainly open during the time most people work is massive waste of funds. I have no doubt that those who use libraries need them or benefit from them being there but the model so i'm not saying shut it down. But like much of the high street is outdated and i personally feel really uneasy about money i pay in taxes being used for something i can't access 5 days a week nor do i need to on the other two days. Libraries should be modernised, reformed and the space within them should included other services relevant to the community within them to make them cost effective to the tax payer. Equally, the political campaigning undertone of this is becoming tiresome. Those involved with this have clear affiliations to a political party and rather than call on the local council to step in and do something (because it's their favoured party of control), they launch attacks on the county council (which is the opposite party). I know the county council oversee libraries but there are a number of more local decisions that can be made by the local council in tandem with the county council too, but i don't see that being called upon due to a political bias. De-politicise this issue and i may have more sympathy for it but right now i don't while all this is in the background...
EmmaBatrick
2020-02-19 17:18:12
I completely agree that if books are damaged or not used then they should be removed but why not replace them? Has money been made from them being sold? Where did that money go? As for usage, Essex County Council stated that their findings showed “Books and reading are still far and away the top priority: that’s what 90% of users visit libraries for and what survey respondents say is a priority for the future.” The majority of users in Harlow are either women or children, and that’s a fairly true reflection of library users in general. Going by Essex County Council figures – and bear in mind this just relates to book loans, and libraries do so much more – 0-19 year olds are the main users of all of our libraries in Harlow apart from the town centre, in terms of gender, females are the main users of all of the libraries in Harlow. Arnaud Norry, chief executive of Hachette Livre, the world’s largest book publisher states that “Ebooks are stupid” and goes on to say that they are unlikely to see further growth. Neilsen’s UK survey found that ebook sales are down and paper book sales are going up, especially with the younger generations. There’s a great case for libraries to be modernised and for opening hours to be expended, I very much agree, but with Essex County Council’s plans we will see the libraries taken on by volunteers, leaving their premises, with reduced book stock and no doubt with reduced opening hours, poor computer access and no professional support. The SOLE campaign is apolitical and has attracted people from all political persuasions, and it’s stronger for it. The fact is it’s the county council who run the libraries and who are making the decisions of those libraries’ futures. The county council take the majority of our council tax and the duty to run the libraries actually lies with them. We actually approached Harlow Council and requested that they stand up for our libraries against closure, and the council – and all the parties involved – voted unanimously to save them. In terms of budget, ECC’s previous plans of shutting so called tier four and tier three libraries would have saved less than 0.1%. Not huge savings in comparison to the need of our young people, library users, and the most vulnerable who rely on them.
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