Forum Topic

Privatisation of the Library Service

On 21st May 2013 Ealing Council will be voting on whether to to privatise the Library Service. Ealing Unison have called a Lobby of the Council from 6.30pm - 7.00pm John Laing  Integrated Services have been recommended as the preferred bidder and it is expected that they will vote in favour of this proposal. This is a joint venture with Harrow Council who have yet to vote on it. There has been no public consultation with Library users about how their service should be run nor any proper consultation with the library staff and their Unions. If the privatisation goes ahead it is likely to lead to a worsening of the service for both the public and of course the terms and conditions of the staff. It would be great if you can get along to support the lobby and our library service.

Chris Hurley ● 4871d7 Comments

I get the impression that the current council is totally incapable of actually running anything.

Chris Bell ● 4871d

You do wonder - given the Enterprise contract, monitoring and enforcement - what they might include in the contract to ensure profit is up and service down. So much easier to run a library that barely opens for instance....

Sara Nathan ● 4871d

I was just thinking that the Library service is one thing that Ealing seems to be good at!  I usually order books on line and pick them up from Acton Library - the choice there isn't great.  But this works well, and I even get reminders telling me if I need to renew books.  let's hope it doesn't change

Nina Battleday ● 4870d

Privatisation can only mean one thing - saving money. So either we get a worse service, or the staff get worse terms and conditions. Anyway, I always thought John Laing were a building firm - what do they know about libraries I wonder?

Chris Hurley ● 4870d

As a librarian myself (rather thankfully  not for Ealing but in an academic context now ) I can concur with Chris that our local public library service will sadly, and quite definitely, be a shadow of its former self. Privatisation and thus profit-chasing will lead to de-professionalization, poor conditions for staff and and a dull, unimaginative, lowest-common-denominator service. I remember working in Camden public libraries during the halcyon days of  the 1980s when libraries were exciting, vibrant and crucial community-focused services, and could cry. Of course John Laing know nothing about running  libraries. The people who do will lose their jobs. It's appalling. Go and protest! (I would too if I weren't running a library that night!)

Cathy Johns ● 4870d

It is John Laing Facilities, who currently manage Hounslow Libraries and Parks. A friend worked there when they took over and JL certainly did not have a clue about libraries or librarians, she left as soon as she could...... The contract was let by the previous tory administration and as usual gaps and errors allow JL to levy charges over and above contract terms.

Iain Muir ● 4869d

Lazy and incompetent managements think that they can send some headless idiot with a clipboard to teach experienced professionals how to do their jobs and cut costs. It does not work.

Chris Bell ● 4869d