Dan Scorpio
2003-09-11 13:01:37 UTC
The Spectator.co.uk
An axe to the root of our culture
Julia Lewis reveals how the government is forcing libraries to sell - and
sometimes pulp - great works of literature in the name of vibrancy and
multiculturalism
Are you sure you really want to sell these?' I asked the librarian, having
picked out The Darling Buds of May, a George Eliot and two Oxford
UniversityAn axe to the root of our culture
Julia Lewis reveals how the government is forcing libraries to sell - and
sometimes pulp - great works of literature in the name of vibrancy and
multiculturalism
Are you sure you really want to sell these?' I asked the librarian, having
picked out The Darling Buds of May, a George Eliot and two Oxford
Press Dickens novels, all in immaculate order, which I was about to buy
forless than 50p each. It seemed odd that a library should be almost giving
away good-quality books, especially as Merton, like other London boroughs,
was desperately short of cash.
That tiny sale was nothing to what followed. At Raynes Park and Wimbledon
libraries, rooms have been set aside for tables stacked high with hundreds
of books of every description, and underneath are yet more volumes crammed
into boxes. Art books, children's encyclopaedias, botanical books, science
books, countless classics and modern works of fiction, most in excellent
condition and all at ludicrously low prices.
People have come away from sales laden with bagfuls of books, and there
areaway good-quality books, especially as Merton, like other London boroughs,
was desperately short of cash.
That tiny sale was nothing to what followed. At Raynes Park and Wimbledon
libraries, rooms have been set aside for tables stacked high with hundreds
of books of every description, and underneath are yet more volumes crammed
into boxes. Art books, children's encyclopaedias, botanical books, science
books, countless classics and modern works of fiction, most in excellent
condition and all at ludicrously low prices.
People have come away from sales laden with bagfuls of books, and there
more sales to come. Every local authority is at it. Wandsworth admits it
ispulping books it cannot sell. The shelves must be cleared to make way for
new, different titles, and it's all because of the government's Public
Library Standards, issued earlier this year, which require that libraries
'meet the needs'
On that 'basis', the libraries would be making available copiesnew, different titles, and it's all because of the government's Public
Library Standards, issued earlier this year, which require that libraries
'meet the needs'
of the Sun, Daily Mail and Mirror to the public everyday -
the rest would be going to the pulper (that would 'improve' our
culture no end, eh?)
of the communities they serve and that book stocks be 'up
to date and attractive'.
Does 'communities they serve' mean people who actually useto date and attractive'.
the library, or has it got a more sinister, PC connotation?
Each local authority has been given 8.5 years in which to replenish its
entire stock. Councils have to submit a 'library plan' to the Department
ofentire stock. Councils have to submit a 'library plan' to the Department
Culture, Media and Sport
For which read: 'Ministry of Truth': note how this governmentcontinue to promote centralised 'plans' for everything ranging
from library books through NHS 'targets' through to policing.
Big Brother is quietly shafting you.
each year, outlining their objectives and the
'services' they intend to deliver. There is even to be a 'Best Value'
inspection every year
By whom?'services' they intend to deliver. There is even to be a 'Best Value'
inspection every year
to ensure each authority meets local 'targets'
Set by whom?for
services to children, the socially excluded, ethnic-minority communities
andservices to children, the socially excluded, ethnic-minority communities
people with disabilities.
How about the people who are 'readers'/ those who actually borrow booksfrom libraries?
'The targets are to make sure that libraries are vibrant and attract
peopleto them. We want authorities to provide choice in books and to meet the
needs of users,'
Those objectives might be mutually exclusive of course...needs of users,'
a Department of Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman told
me.
David Blunkett has just called for immigrants to learn English and make an
effort to integrate themselves into the life and customs of this country.
IfDavid Blunkett has just called for immigrants to learn English and make an
effort to integrate themselves into the life and customs of this country.
he wants them to get to know our culture and if he wants English to become
aunifying force, he should perhaps take a look at his government's library
policy. It is dividing the population, rather than uniting us, because its
emphasis is on buying in books in other languages
By 2050, they'll all be written in Newspeak if this lot has its way.policy. It is dividing the population, rather than uniting us, because its
emphasis is on buying in books in other languages
and supplying each
community with its own selection. The government is taking an axe to the
roots of our culture.
Among the books being thrown out are those that represent the best of
English and American writing, as well as translations of European classics
and works by contemporary authors. By the end of the year, Merton council
says it will have got rid of around 30,000 books to make space on the
shelves for the new titles that it is now required to buy. To meet the
government's deadline, it must continue to sell off books at an even
greaterroots of our culture.
Among the books being thrown out are those that represent the best of
English and American writing, as well as translations of European classics
and works by contemporary authors. By the end of the year, Merton council
says it will have got rid of around 30,000 books to make space on the
shelves for the new titles that it is now required to buy. To meet the
government's deadline, it must continue to sell off books at an even
rate.
Most of what is worth reading has disappeared from the shelves of my local
library, and the choice has been diminished, not enhanced. It's
heartbreaking. Obviously a certain amount needs to be thrown out each year
and new stock bought, but in these days of shrinking budgets and a looming
recession such a large-scale purge seems appallingly wasteful.
One of the criteria being used to decide whether to 'withdraw' a book is
howMost of what is worth reading has disappeared from the shelves of my local
library, and the choice has been diminished, not enhanced. It's
heartbreaking. Obviously a certain amount needs to be thrown out each year
and new stock bought, but in these days of shrinking budgets and a looming
recession such a large-scale purge seems appallingly wasteful.
One of the criteria being used to decide whether to 'withdraw' a book is
often it is borrowed.
See remarkls above wrt Sun etc.The quality of the book doesn't enter into it.
Is there any PC or political bias involved in this?
(I'll wager Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn make it to the
pulpers on the first pass...)
The
Library Association told me it was a 'commercial decision', similar to
thoseLibrary Association told me it was a 'commercial decision', similar to
made by Waterstone's or Blockbusters.
Ah, so the purpose of libraries is now redefined as to becommercial organisations? Will Nulav privatise them?
Certainly bodes ill for standards of literacy and breadth
of learning.
It is also up to each local authority to keep the kind of books it
believesTricky word that 'believes', esp when you leave it to 'local authorities'
(much better left to the librarians)?
each community needs, which may explain why I can no longer find anything
Iwant to read at my local library. Colliers Wood is considered a 'deprived'
area, unlike predominantly middle-class Wimbledon, which is why it has
beenarea, unlike predominantly middle-class Wimbledon, which is why it has
designated a 'different' selection of books.
I went to Merton council to meet Labour councillor Karl Carter and John
Pateman, head of libraries, who informed me that my library was one of
theirI went to Merton council to meet Labour councillor Karl Carter and John
Pateman, head of libraries, who informed me that my library was one of
success stories, now that a new manager had 'changed' the stock. Mr
Pateman,who spoke of 'moving away from the classics' and of not wanting to 'lose'
black
Why, are they great readers/users of the library services?black
or working-class people, stressed the difficulty of trying to cater
for such a wide range of tastes, adding, 'We try to get it right as often
aswe can, for as many people as we can.' They assured me that a copy of any
book could always be obtained through the library computers.
You could even get them through Amazon - assuming you werebook could always be obtained through the library computers.
fairly well off (oh, and not paying council tax/income tax/VAT/
road taqx, etc, etc. such as to fund a decent library service)
But this
assumes that you know what you are looking for in the first place.
You maybe touch the point.We already have lowest common denominator TV, radio and press;
this seems like a move into LCD library services as well. No doubt next
we'll have sponsorship; how does the 'Merton Sun Library' sound to you?
It is a long way from the idealism that lay behind the desire of Victorian
philanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie, who aimed to help poorer people
educate themselves by supplying them with a library full of good books -
notphilanthropists such as Andrew Carnegie, who aimed to help poorer people
educate themselves by supplying them with a library full of good books -
a dumbed-down selection.
It's about as far away as Teflon Tony Blair is from Kier Hardy.Sad and predictable.
Concerned about what was actually left, I decided to do a survey at my
library, the Donald Hope, with the help of a book bought at one of the
library sales - 100 Great Books: Masterpieces of All Time. The library
computer revealed just seven of these books. It registered a zero when I
typed in Aristotle's Ethics or Malthus's Essay on the Principle of
Population - hardly surprising. But no Pride and Prejudice, Robinson
Crusoe,library, the Donald Hope, with the help of a book bought at one of the
library sales - 100 Great Books: Masterpieces of All Time. The library
computer revealed just seven of these books. It registered a zero when I
typed in Aristotle's Ethics or Malthus's Essay on the Principle of
Population - hardly surprising. But no Pride and Prejudice, Robinson
Madame Bovary, Brave New World or War and Peace?
It's called 'Dumbing Down' dear chap. An ignorant, semi-literateand ill-informed public tends to be docile.
(Was 1984 there btw? <g>)
The library itself contained a range of videos, including recent feature
films and some popular television dramas.
Only Fools and Horses?films and some popular television dramas.
(1,000,000 to 1 says they didn't stock: 'A Very British Coup')
There was also a small assortment
of 'Indic' and Chinese videos. On the main counter stood a revolving
stand,of 'Indic' and Chinese videos. On the main counter stood a revolving
with 'ReadySpex' reading glasses for sale. The shelves containing books in
English were packed with light fiction, with the odd classic or more
demanding work dotted about here and there. There were several stands of
paperbacks, one filled with Mills & Boon novels, but hardly a worthwhile
modern writer to be seen among them. The non-fiction sections contained
countless health books but almost nothing on history, science and maths.
TheEnglish were packed with light fiction, with the odd classic or more
demanding work dotted about here and there. There were several stands of
paperbacks, one filled with Mills & Boon novels, but hardly a worthwhile
modern writer to be seen among them. The non-fiction sections contained
countless health books but almost nothing on history, science and maths.
'English Literature' stock was a mere handful of volumes.
My heart sank at a display of recently acquired stock, which included a
bookMy heart sank at a display of recently acquired stock, which included a
on gluten-free cooking, one on beauty and make-up, guides to Lisbon and
Brittany, the latest Danielle Steel and something called The Livewire Book
of British Women Achievers.
Since 20 per cent of Merton's population is made up of ethnic minorities,
that percentage of its library budget is spent catering for those
communities;
But how many of them actually 'read', either seriouslyBrittany, the latest Danielle Steel and something called The Livewire Book
of British Women Achievers.
Since 20 per cent of Merton's population is made up of ethnic minorities,
that percentage of its library budget is spent catering for those
communities;
or as a hobby?
Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Tamil, and the black section.
Blunkett sez them all gotta red Inglish (but i seems the waythis exercise is panning out that all of us will be reduced
to dimbo monosyllabic half literates).
Lewisham council predicts that by the year 2011 its black and minority
ethnic communities are likely to form almost the majority of its
population.ethnic communities are likely to form almost the majority of its
It says pupils in its schools speak 141 languages, with 40 languages being
spoken by 'sizable communities' in the borough. Don't these figures
presentspoken by 'sizable communities' in the borough. Don't these figures
a compelling enough reason for libraries to encourage the use of English
andunify our fragmented population, rather than trying to cater for so many
different groups? And why is there the extraordinary assumption that
peopledifferent groups? And why is there the extraordinary assumption that
only want to read authors from their own ethnic or social background?
Just how many authors exist in their own ethnic backgrounds?Was I looking at things from too white and middle-aged a standpoint?
No: but then who am I to judge.Certainly in my experince of using libraries the readership
is overwhelmiongly white and middle class - not because of
any exclusion, but because these are the serious and well
educated people who realise the benefits of significant books
and thus form (virtually by definition) the library users.
You will no more find a gangsta rapper in a public library
than you would find a white, middle class headmistress in
a crack house.
My
younger, black friend, Novelette Stewart, didn't think so. She was happy
toyounger, black friend, Novelette Stewart, didn't think so. She was happy
hear that the black writer Zora Neale Hurston came up on the computer, but
saddened that only one book by William Saroyan appeared and that was in
Urdu. Her other favourite classics, such as Aristophanes' The Birds and
Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, just weren't there.
'It is incredibly patronising. A person's socio-economic condition does
notsaddened that only one book by William Saroyan appeared and that was in
Urdu. Her other favourite classics, such as Aristophanes' The Birds and
Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, just weren't there.
'It is incredibly patronising. A person's socio-economic condition does
in any way dictate what their interests will be with regard to literature.
It is terrible to get rid of books, and once they have gone you can never
get them back. The question is: is an author worthwhile? Should it not be
the quality of the work rather than the demand?'
While Ms Stewart sees a need for black sections, she believes every
libraryIt is terrible to get rid of books, and once they have gone you can never
get them back. The question is: is an author worthwhile? Should it not be
the quality of the work rather than the demand?'
While Ms Stewart sees a need for black sections, she believes every
should stock as wide a selection of books as possible in English -
classics,modern classics, contemporary writers, light fiction, history, science and
maths books. Good writing, she believes, has a universal appeal.
'There is a point to be made about cultural heritage, too. If you are in
England, the dominant culture has to be English.
Absolutely.maths books. Good writing, she believes, has a universal appeal.
'There is a point to be made about cultural heritage, too. If you are in
England, the dominant culture has to be English.
There are a lot of double
standards here.'
Ms Stewart added that Sygy, her ten-year-old daughter, whose favourite
poemsstandards here.'
Ms Stewart added that Sygy, her ten-year-old daughter, whose favourite
are The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and The Lady of Shalott, has given up
onher local library in Clapham because she no longer finds 'anything
interesting' there.
The government's policy is well-meaning but misguided. Publishers must be
rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of all those library
bookshelves waiting to be filled.
Yes, just think about that a little more will you (they've just refilledinteresting' there.
The government's policy is well-meaning but misguided. Publishers must be
rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of all those library
bookshelves waiting to be filled.
most of the shelves in schools with 'approved' lieterature)
Meanwhile, lovers of English literature may do better on the other side of
the Channel. In a recent edition of the Oldie, Wilfred De'ath writes of
histhe Channel. In a recent edition of the Oldie, Wilfred De'ath writes of
delight at finding a complete set of the novels of Elizabeth Bowen in a
French provincial library. Would it still be possible to find such a thing
in the English equivalent?
The Spectator.co.uk
Excellent article: thanks for posting it.French provincial library. Would it still be possible to find such a thing
in the English equivalent?
The Spectator.co.uk