Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Tim Coates makes unsurprising 'gissa job' demand:
Coates: 'Put me in charge'
Former Waterstone's chief Tim Coates has nominated himself to lead a radical overhaul of the public library service.
In a proposal to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Coates outlined plans to scrap the Advisory Council on Libraries and the libraries role of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and replace them with a National Public Libraries Board, which he would set up and run.
The proposal coincides with the release of CIPFA library figures (see box right), and pre-empts the government's delayed response to the Select Committee report on libraries, expected in six weeks.
Under Coates' plans, the National Public Libraries Board would include members of the public alongside an executive management team, and comprise two subdivisions to represent England and Wales.
Its function would be to communicate government policy and provide "assistance, guidance and coaching" to local councils, as well as to monitor library performance and provide "meaningful and timely data". It would have the power to intervene in failing library authorities.
In three to five years, with "pump priming" funding, Coates plans to have "completely renewed and improved" library book stocks, increased opening hours, and restored all library facilities. "The experience that I have in succesfully bringing reading to people [at Waterstone's] is the kind of experience that the library needs," he said.
Toby Sargent, DCMS head of culture and campaign, said: "We are grateful for the suggestion and will look at it closely, although my kneejerk reaction is that [the overhaul] would be a little more complicated than Tim Coates suggests." A formal response will be issued "as soon as is practical", i.e. by the autumn, following ministerial changes.
MLA chief executive Chris Batt denied the library service was in decline, while CILIP chief Bob McKee rejected the plans. "Coates should think before he speaks."
Bertram Group chief executive Terry Reilly said he was "supportive of Tim Coates' aims", but that he stepped back from the politics of the debate. "There is no point arguing about who steered the 'Titanic' into the iceberg because it's not going to save any passengers."
He STILL hasn't noticed the differences between bookshops and libraries has he? People are visiting libraries more but taking out books less which suggests that Coates big plan for change might not achieve what he says it would, depressing visitor numbers as well.
Still, harsh words from a representative of CILIP there. After indulging him last year and inviting him along to meetings to air his half-baked views it would seem they've had enough. If Coates is still giving it all that next year, expect a statement from CILIP along the lines of "Oy! Did yew call my library a poof? Eh pal, does yer bookshop sew?"
Coates: 'Put me in charge'
Former Waterstone's chief Tim Coates has nominated himself to lead a radical overhaul of the public library service.
In a proposal to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Coates outlined plans to scrap the Advisory Council on Libraries and the libraries role of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and replace them with a National Public Libraries Board, which he would set up and run.
The proposal coincides with the release of CIPFA library figures (see box right), and pre-empts the government's delayed response to the Select Committee report on libraries, expected in six weeks.
Under Coates' plans, the National Public Libraries Board would include members of the public alongside an executive management team, and comprise two subdivisions to represent England and Wales.
Its function would be to communicate government policy and provide "assistance, guidance and coaching" to local councils, as well as to monitor library performance and provide "meaningful and timely data". It would have the power to intervene in failing library authorities.
In three to five years, with "pump priming" funding, Coates plans to have "completely renewed and improved" library book stocks, increased opening hours, and restored all library facilities. "The experience that I have in succesfully bringing reading to people [at Waterstone's] is the kind of experience that the library needs," he said.
Toby Sargent, DCMS head of culture and campaign, said: "We are grateful for the suggestion and will look at it closely, although my kneejerk reaction is that [the overhaul] would be a little more complicated than Tim Coates suggests." A formal response will be issued "as soon as is practical", i.e. by the autumn, following ministerial changes.
MLA chief executive Chris Batt denied the library service was in decline, while CILIP chief Bob McKee rejected the plans. "Coates should think before he speaks."
Bertram Group chief executive Terry Reilly said he was "supportive of Tim Coates' aims", but that he stepped back from the politics of the debate. "There is no point arguing about who steered the 'Titanic' into the iceberg because it's not going to save any passengers."
He STILL hasn't noticed the differences between bookshops and libraries has he? People are visiting libraries more but taking out books less which suggests that Coates big plan for change might not achieve what he says it would, depressing visitor numbers as well.
Still, harsh words from a representative of CILIP there. After indulging him last year and inviting him along to meetings to air his half-baked views it would seem they've had enough. If Coates is still giving it all that next year, expect a statement from CILIP along the lines of "Oy! Did yew call my library a poof? Eh pal, does yer bookshop sew?"
