http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
http://www.thisissomerset.co.
Odd Thing Though.... The official stats/figures for public libraries in 2011/12......
http://www.cipfastats.net/
Of 144 library services throughout the country, only 19 spend less on their libraries than Somerset. (Total Net Spend/Per Head of Population).
For comparative purposes, the stats people group library services into what they call 'near neighbours'. Statistical near neighbours, that is.., not geograpical. Somerset is grouped with 15 other library services, most of which have an amount of scattered rural population.....
North Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Devon, Cumbria, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Dorset, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk.
Stock Turnround
(The average number of times each book was issued during the year)
On average, Somerset books were loaned 20% more often than the other 15 authorities.
Total Books Loaned
On average, Somerset Libraries loaned 5.5% more books than the other 15 authorities.
Total Net Expenditure for the Somerset Library Service
£6,464,237
Per 1,000 population. Average of the other 15.
£12,160
That is, Total Net Expenditure for Somerset Libraries is much less than the average of the other 15 comparable library services.
All Acquisitions ( the 'Book Budget' )
Replenishment of the Lending Stock (Books, DVD, Audio Visual, the lot).
Year Total Number Per 1,000 population Average across the other
2007-08 111,904 214
2008-09 77,792 148
2009-10 38,920 74
2010-11 41,414 79
2011-12 38,394 72 165
As you can see there have been significant cuts at the other 15 library authorities. They pale in comparison with the behaviour of Somerset County Councillors. The publically quoted current book budget of £200,000 equates to the 72 in the 2011/12 figure above. An additional £125,000 in one year raises the the 72 to 117. Which is still miles below the average of 165 across the comparable library authorities.
The £125,000 in the second year merely maintains that situation.
1. The local County Councillor for Cheddar, Dawn Hill, is on record as saying of Somerset Libraries.. "They cost a lot."..
2.The now departed Council Leader Ken Maddocks described the library service in terms that implied that he was disappointed it didn't make a profit.
3.The current 'libraries councillor' David Hall has described the libraries as 'underperforming'. ( This is a rather favourite word of his to describe just about any public service .).....
From the official figures, Somerset Libraries are performing well, especially considering what has been meted out to them over the last several years.., by people who have an inbuilt antipathy towards public services.
In terms of the public utterances of County Councillors..., individually, their statements are pretty much par for their local political course.
Collectively, in my opinion, the words of the County Councillors are lies.
-----------------------
