We continue to pursue the appalling reorganisation (if that’s the word) of Birmingham’s libraries. After sending plenty of evidence and Freedom of Information requests, we have now made an official complaint to the DCMS with a whole list of concerns – poor consultation, lack of thought about accessibility, deprivation and legal equality duties, lack of concern about the implications for education. We are working in tandem with the brilliant local campaign, Birmingham Loves Libraries (BLL) who have also made a complaint.
One thing makes the Birmingham mess unique. We have told the DCMS that, along with BLL, we are ‘deeply disturbed that the whole concept underlying the reorganisation – uncontrolled merging of library staff into a general advice service – is unheard-of, eccentric and has never been justified.
‘The basic concept was never consulted on. It is evident that it was conceived, and implemented in practice, by officers with no understanding of library work. Staff were not consulted at a formative stage. The role and skills of library staff were not defined at any stage. This bad practice has grave implications for the quality of library services both in Birmingham and nationwide.’
That alone, we say, should justify a local enquiry.
