When it's a 'one stop shop', of course!There appears to be a fierce debate going on in the pages of this blog (see comments under Gazunder Goes Gaga below) about whether our beloved council plan to use Ramsgate Library, which is currently being rebuilt after the 2004 fire, as a 'one stop shop' for council services and the like. Such plans are already well advanced for Margate Library.
Observer, generally one of our better informed local bloggers, has opined that such rumours are mere gossip and tittle-tattle, but I beg to differ. The following extract is from TDC's very own Corporate Plan 2007-11. Under Theme 6: Modern Council - What we will do they clearly state their intention to embed council services at some point during 2009-11 in the new Ramsgate Library:
Still, they're only catering to the market, I suppose. I gather student demand in Oxford recently led to the opening of a late night booze and kebab outlet in the Bodleian!
5 comments:
Having worked in a public library I do not see anything wrong in being an information shop as libraries are information providers and are often people's first port of call, especially newcomers to an area, but I am not so happy if it involves people paying things or complaining. Think that should be separate to keep noise levels down in the library, but that the library should hand out leaflets explaining the complaints procedure.
Depends on the information - most library types live to provide answers and helpful information, but the whole nature of the service changes if the enquiries are from rather stressed people needing assistance with housing repairs, benefits claims and rubbish collection...
Libraries were traditionally in the education section of a council, then more recently in Arts and Leisure. Which directorate covers this new multipurpose and hybrid service? Hard to get building control to provide an increase in books and journals budgets I suspect...
A library is not a library when it is a One Stop Shop.
I Absolutly agree with the last two comments..
Oh well. At least it will put a stop to books and DVD's being knicked. There won't be any!
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