Up to 1,000 UK libraries to close in next 18 months.....

[Rick C]

**Radio Alert!** Libraries Minister Ed Vaizey in a BBC Radio 4 studio discussion shortly regarding the future of libraries in the UK.



"What's the Point of the Public Library?" to be broadcast next Tuesday morning 31st August, 9.00 am BBC Radio 4.



Maybe anyone has also seen the major article with Mr. V in a recent edition of "Local Government Chronicle" regarding the way ahead for the library system. I think the LGC website might have a transcription.



Read between the lines (!)

[alan french]

Hi,

I am suspicious that programmes being broadcast are cunningly trying to brainwashing us into agreeing with closing libraries. I accidentally came accross a local radio 'phone in a few months ago. The presenter was either saying things to stir up debate or did not not know what he was talking about. Anyone who 'phoned in, seemed to be looked upon with inferior intelligence if they did not agree.



Alan French.

[moonfleet]

Libraries in films ... with a poor googlesearch







Wings of Desire / Wenders







In Se7en, Morgan Freeman searches helpfull books in a beautiful library (which town ) accompanied by J.S Bach piece of music...











The Name of the Rose







The Ninth Gate ... bien sur.

[Fellwanderer]

name='alan french' timestamp='1282931536' post='468534']

Hi,

I am suspicious that programmes being broadcast are cunningly trying to brainwashing us into agreeing with closing libraries. I accidentally came accross a local radio 'phone in a few months ago. The presenter was either saying things to stir up debate or did not not know what he was talking about. Anyone who 'phoned in, seemed to be looked upon with inferior intelligence if they did not agree.



Alan French.

I quite agree. Exactly the same thought went through my mind when I saw the BBC trailer for a programme on the new school year and were we doing it the right way?



It's a cast iron certainty that they'll come up with raising the age at which children must legally start school as being more effective - the fact that each year it is raised by would, theoretically, mean about a 7% reduction in treasury expense would be simply a coincidence.



Still, it's a truism that tories know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

[theuofc]

name='moonfleet' timestamp='1282934262' post='468543']

Libraries in films ... with a poor googlesearch









In Se7en, Morgan Freeman searches helpfull books in a beautiful library (which town ) accompanied by J.S Bach piece of music...

It may have been the beautiful Free Library building in Philadelphia since Se7en was filmed in Philly and mostly LA. I don't think it's the central library in downtown LA nor a branch. Or perhaps it was one of the other buildings in LA where they shot at with a room or two reshaped into a library setting.

[moonfleet]

name='theuofc' timestamp='1282937202' post='468554']

It may have been the beautiful Free Library building in Philadelphia since Se7en was filmed in Philly and mostly LA. I don't think it's the central library in downtown LA nor a branch. Or perhaps it was one of the other buildings in LA where they shot at with a room or two reshaped into a library setting.

Hi Barbara, thanks for the info

Love those kind of immenses "all wood" libraries...

[moonfleet]

name='theuofc' timestamp='1282937202' post='468554']

It may have been the beautiful Free Library building in Philadelphia since Se7en was filmed in Philly and mostly LA. I don't think it's the central library in downtown LA nor a branch. Or perhaps it was one of the other buildings in LA where they shot at with a room or two reshaped into a library setting.

Have you been there ??

[Mark O]

name='Fellwanderer' timestamp='1282937112' post='468553']





Still, it's a truism that tories know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the distinct impression we had a Coalition Government in Britain!

[Steve Crook]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1282949466' post='468593']

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the distinct impression we had a Coalition Government in Britain!

Who is very much the senior partner in that coalition and who is very much the junior partner?



How many election pledges have the Lib-Dems already had to abandon because the Tories had a different idea?

How many Lib-Dem election pledges have actually been implemented (or are ever likely to be)?

The Lib-Dems may have a few seats in the cabinet, but do they have any influence?



Steve

[will.15]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnFv29iPACc

[julian_craster]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport...al_librar.html

[CaptainWaggett]

A Trip to the Library



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd-DXveyuJ4

[Mark O]

name='Steve Crook' timestamp='1282950356' post='468596']

Who is very much the senior partner in that coalition and who is very much the junior partner?



How many election pledges have the Lib-Dems already had to abandon because the Tories had a different idea?

How many Lib-Dem election pledges have actually been implemented (or are ever likely to be)?

The Lib-Dems may have a few seats in the cabinet, but do they have any influence?



Steve

I can answer your first question but as for the others I've absolutely no idea Steve, though Clegg is most definitely in charge right now whilst Sam and Dave take their maternity leave, maybe you'd know the answers to the other questions being a 100 times more brainier than me!



Still whatever, as you I don't trust Politicians either, of any party, they're all in it for themselves, though I'm not surprised Harriet Harman has used her position to arrange for herself a private audience with the Pope when he visits next month, and there was me thinking everyone on the far-left was a committed Atheist!

[moonfleet]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1282995187' post='468669']

I can answer your first question but as for the others I've absolutely no idea Steve, maybe you'd know the answers being a 100 times more brainier than me!

It's a bit exagerated

[alan french]

Hi,

The problem is that everything costs money. Mathematically, things look good on paper. But sometimes when a radical decision is made, at a later date it is realised why you should have left things alone. In this town, in order to save money some public toilets were closed. Since then some distasteful things have been witnessed, and a headline in a local paper has appeared, which I thought I would never see as the top story in a paper. A little girl wet her knickers. What sort of society have we become? Just to save money! The council have now started, in a small way, to modify their decision. But not completely.



Our main library is in demand. And what I have seen, so are other libraries in the radius of this town. I hope that we are left alone.



Hopefully, next week's broadcast is not a brainwashing excercise. But I have doubts. It could also be a feeler. A test to see what public reaction is likely to be, should closures take place.



Only the future will knows the outcome.



Alan French.

[Fellwanderer]

name='alan french' timestamp='1283005810' post='468709']

Hi,

The problem is that everything costs money. Mathematically, things look good on paper. But sometimes when a radical decision is made, at a later date it is realised why you should have left things alone. In this town, in order to save money some public toilets were closed. Since then some distasteful things have been witnessed, and a headline in a local paper has appeared, which I thought I would never see as the top story in a paper. A little girl wet her knickers. What sort of society have we become? Just to save money! The council have now started, in a small way, to modify their decision. But not completely.



Our main library is in demand. And what I have seen, so are other libraries in the radius of this town. I hope that we are left alone.



Hopefully, next week's broadcast is not a brainwashing excercise. But I have doubts. It could also be a feeler. A test to see what public reaction is likely to be, should closures take place.



Only the future will knows the outcome.



Alan French.

Unfortunately, services once cut are rarely re-instated. If a library is closed, the facility will be sold off and then it is gone for ever.



Keynes was right in the 30s and he is just as right today - one would have expected the libdems to be aware of that, assuming he is not persona non grata with them now they've got some new buddies to cosy up to.

[CaptainWaggett]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1282995187' post='468669']



Still whatever, as you I don't trust Politicians either, of any party, they're all in it for themselves, though I'm not surprised Harriet Harman has used her position to arrange for herself a private audience with the Pope when he visits next month, and there was me thinking everyone on the far-left was a committed Atheist!

I have no idea why you would think that Tony Benn certainly isn't - as well as being a devout Christian himself, his mother was head of the Congregationalist Church

[GRAEME]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1282995187' post='468669']

... there was me thinking everyone on the far-left was a committed Atheist!

Only communists were ever supposed to be atheists - and not even all of them were/are...



There is a very proud tradition of Christian Socialism; many left thinkers and activists were/are Jews; there are practising Muslims on the radical left.

[theuofc]

name='moonfleet' timestamp='1282934262' post='468543']

Libraries in films ... with a poor googlesearch







In Se7en, Morgan Freeman searches helpfull books in a beautiful library (which town ) accompanied by J.S Bach piece of music...

Hi, Moon,



I went too late to get into the Free Library in Philly but I did see its imposing exterior. It's been a long time since I've seen Se7en; the library in the film seems similar to the Free Library or not?



Free Library, Philadelphia, PA - USA

[theuofc]

name='moonfleet' timestamp='1282937591' post='468556']

Hi Barbara, thanks for the info

Love those kind of immenses "all wood" libraries...

Hi, Moon,



I agree. another reason I would be sad to see libraries close. Perhaps the most beautiful library I've visited is the St. Gallen Abbey Library in Switzerland. It's a mystical experience for anyone who cherishes books.