Seventh News Update
RUTH RIKOWSKI
News Update No.7
There are a number of interesting and important news items which have been brought to my attention from various sources, over the last week or so, and these are included in this News Update.
1. William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Local History Museum under threat and information about the ‘News from Nowhere Club’
The William Morris Gallery and Vestry House local history museum in East London (in Walthamstow) are facing weekday closures because of a cut of £56,000 in museum services by the local council. The gallery is the only public museum in the world that is devoted to William Morris. The concern is that this could be a slippery slope, leading eventually perhaps towards the complete closure of the museum and gallery.
I was alerted to this very concerning news by ‘A World To Win’, who have a news item about this on their website (see URL below). As they say, Morris was:
“…a poet, writer, translator, architect, textile and book designer. His artistic work was inseparable from his political vision, based as it was on the revolutionary role of human labour and the possibility of a non-capitalist form of society.”
William Morris was born in 1836. He was a student of art critic, John Ruskin and was a member of the pre-Raphaelite group of artists. Furthermore, he wrote over 400 articles for the Socialist League’s paper, Commonwealth, and was a founder member of the Socialist League.
In 1890 Morris wrote News from Nowhere, which was an optimistic novel with a vision of a better world, based on a strong sense of community.
Today, there is a very active ‘News from Nowhere Club’ (which was inspired by William Morris), in Leytonstone, East London, which meets monthly and has talks and discussions on a wide range of topics. I gave a talk about libraries (from both a global and a local perspective) at this club, on 10th February 2007. I think I was of particular interest to the group, given the fact that I am an author from East London. Further information about this is at: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=events&sub=Globalisation
(towards the bottom of the page)
Events for the ‘News from Nowhere Club’ are organised by Ros Kane, author of To have an only child, London: Do It Yourself Press, 2005. The group meets at: The Epicentre, West Street, London, E11
The events are FREE - all are welcome, and there is no need to book.
Ref
News item from ‘A World to Win’ (for a future without global capitalism) website –
‘Cuts stalk William Morris Gallery’
http://www.aworldtowin.net/frontline/WilliamMorris.html
2. Stuart Hall Library
Stuart Hall is one of the founding and leading figures in Cultural Studies, and was the Director of the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies, at Birmingham University, from 1968-2002. Stuart Hall has been one of the leading intellectuals of the postwar period. Within this he has also been very critical of New Labour and Blairism. His areas of interest include cultural studies, popular culture and youth subcultures, media and communication, racism and postmodernism.
A new contemporary visual arts building in Rivington Place, East London will be opening this autumn (2007). Stuart Hall has been very much involved in the successful completion of this project for several years now. It will be the UK’s first permanent base for ‘culturally diverse visual arts and photography’.
Furthermore, there is to be a library within the building (a fund has been set up for this). This will be known as the ‘Stuart Hall Library’. In this way the work and ideas of Stuart Hall can and will be very much preserved and built on. It will also demonstrate an appreciation of Stuart’s work at the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies, at the Open University, at Autograph ABP and the Institute of International Visual Arts (inIVA).
The whole project is being led by Autograph ABP and the Institute of International Visual Arts (inIVA). For more information on inIVA, see: http://www.iniva.org/
The appeal for funds is being sponsored by Larry Grossberg, Lola Young,Angela McRobbie, Henry Louis Gates, Michael Rustin and many others. Ithas a target of £100,000. If you want to find out more aboutcontributing, as a way of honouring Stuart, then please contactobinna@iniva.org.
I received this News item in a News Letter from
‘Lawrence & Wishart News’
3. Feminist Library in London will be opening every Saturday from 14th April 2007
The Feminist Library new Management Committee released the following library press notice on 3rd April 2007. Basically, the Feminist Library will now be open every Saturday, from 14th April, between 11am and 5pm.
This is certainly very good news, as it will enable more people to be able to view and use the stock, as well as hopefully getting more volunteers and more people to work, talk and liaise together. Building up a network such as this can only be beneficial for the hopefully long-term survival of the library and its valuable, unique collection.
FEMINIST LIBRARY PRESS RELEASE
5 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE17
FEMINIST LIBRARY SURGES AHEAD WITH NEW OPENING HOURS AND MANAGEMENT TEAMThe Feminist Library is to open to the public every Saturday between 11 and 5pm, from 14 April, it was decided at the first meeting of the new management committee, which took place on Tuesday 27 March. The group also found members to fill crucial roles involving coordination of volunteers, finances and publicity, so we are now in a good position to work on securing the library's future.It was the first meeting of the new management committee since the Feminist Library held an emergency meeting to decide its fate, at the end of February. Most of the volunteers were new to the committee, having volunteered at the emergency meeting. Editors notes:1. The library is also open by appointment at other times.2. Media contact: Jess McCabe, 07914621817, mailto:jess.mccabe%40gmail.com3. Volunteer contact: The Feminist Library is still looking for volunteers,both for regular weeknight cataloguing sessions and Saturday opening hours.Please email us at feministlibraryappeal@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering, or offering your services in some other way, or at other times.
4. ‘America Gone Wrong: a Slashed Safety Net Turns Libraries into Homeless Shelters’ by Chip Ward, April 2nd 2007 (article)
See: http://www.alternet.org/stories/50023/
There was a very interesting and important article in ‘Alternet’ last week about the homeless in America and how they are turning to the library as a place for shelter. The article focuses in particular on Salt Lake City Public Library, where quite a number of homeless people go for refuge.
The article is by Chip Ward, recently retired Assistant Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library, who emphasises how:
“In bad weather – hot, cold, or wet – most of the homeless have nowhere to go but public places…Fast-food restaurants, hotel lobbies, office foyers, shopping mails, and other privately owned businesses and properties do not tolerate their presence for long. Public libraries, on the other hand, are open and accessible, tolerant, even inviting and entertaining places for them to seek refuge from a world that will not abide their often dishevelled and odorous presentation, their odd and sometimes obnoxious behaviours, and the awkward challenges they present to those who encounter them. (p.2)
Salt Lake City Public Library is the Library Journal’s 2006 “Library of the Year”. It endeavours to engender an environment for public dialogue, a sense of community, and a place where people can self-organise, as well as providing an opportunity for people to read and borrow books of course. I also talk about the variety of opportunities that the public library can and should provide in an article of mine entitled ‘Library privatisation: fact or fiction’ (further details below). Chip Ward says:
“I like to think of our library as the civic ballroom of our community where citizens can practice that awkward dance of mutuality that is the very signature of a democratic culture.” (p.8)
Meanwhile, social workers work with completely inadequate resources, in an endeavour to try to do what they can for the homeless.
The responsibility to look after the homeless should clearly not be resting with places like our public libraries. It is wonderful that Salt Lake City Public Library is providing this refuge for them, but it also demonstrates the inadequacies of society, once again, that we find ourselves in this type of situation. We are brought back to the need to analyse and uncover the intrinsic workings of capitalism, which by its very nature cannot and does not care about humankind. Only then, can we start to see and move beyond it.
Ref:
Rikowski, Ruth (2003) Library privatisation: fact or fiction, Information for Social Change, Iss 17 http://libr.org/isc/articles/17-Rikowski-2.html
5. ‘Painswick Fights for its Library’ by Graham Coult.
Article in Managing Information, April 2007, Vol. 14. No. 3, pp. 34-35
(also ‘Painswick Gateway Project’, p. 36; ‘Blueprint for Public Library Excellence’, launched by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, pp. 37-40)
Earlier this year, I informed Graham Coult, the editor of Managing Information that Philip Booth had been writing quite a lot about my book Globalisation, Information and Libraries on his ‘Ruscombe Green’ web blog,
(http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/search/label/library) and relating this to the treat that was being posed to Painswick Library in Gloucestershire. Philip Booth is a Green Party Stroud District Councillor and the Green Party in Gloucestershire have been taking quite an active interest in my work on the GATS and Libraries for some time now (see for example - http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=719&Itemid=2)
Graham was very interested in this, so much so, that leading on from me communicating with Philip and introducing them to each other, Graham went to Painswick itself and interviewed Philip Booth and another local councillor there. He also looked around Painswick and took some lovely photos. The first report of this is in the current April issue of Managing Information. Graham says, for example, that:
“There are strong arguments that by leaving sectors of society behind, in terms of their lifeskills and attitudes they are taught, and the quality of their lives compared to many others, we are creating dangerous divides and tensions which threaten future stability.” (p. 35)
Alternative ideas for saving the library are also highlighted (on p. 36 of April issue of MI). The campaign will be explored in more detail in the forthcoming May issue and there will opportunities for further discussion in the MI blog.
6. ‘Constraining Public Libraries: the World Trade Organization’s General Agreement on Trade in Services’ by Samuel E. Trosow and Kirsti Nilsen, Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland, USA, 2006 ISBN 13 978 0 8108 5237 2 (pbk), 261pp.
I was delighted when Rory Litwin informed me that another book has now been written about the implications of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) for libraries (see details above). I have now read and reviewed the book.
As I say in my review, whilst it is great to be at the forefront, it is also great to know that others are now taking up the issue, and like me consider the topic to be important enough to warrant a whole book! Trosow and Nilsen examine the GATS in some detail, which includes chapters on ‘The Scope of GATS Coverage’ (Ch.2) and ‘The GATS Disciplines’ (Ch. 3). Also, like me, they are concerned about the threat that the GATS poses to state-funded library provision. They make a number of recommendations (in Ch. 6) to try to avoid this negative impact, such as limiting commercialisation and avoiding user fees and monitoring trade developments.
Obviously, the more that people know about this small (in terms of size) but disturbing and powerful agreement, and the more information that is circulated about it, the better.
My reviews (2 different versions) will be published in 2 journals – one library focused and one education focused.
i) Progressive Librarian
http://libr.org/pl/index.html
Progressive Librarian is the bi-annual journal for the ‘Progressive Librarians Guild’. PLG is based in America, and has similar aims to ‘Information for Social Change’. The Progressive Librarians Guild provides “…a forum for the open exchange of radical views on library issues” (see http://libr.org/plg/plg-cc.php). PL, PLG and ISC all reside within ‘Libr.org’ which is a web space, hosted by Rory Litwin that has been ‘Supporting Progressive Librarians Since 1998’. Rory Litwin is also the book reviews editor for Progressive Librarian and he invited me to review the book for PL.
ii) Policy Futures in Education
http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie/content/maincontents.asp
Policy Futures in Education is an international, peer-reviewed ejournal, which “…emphasises innovative thinking in education policy and theory from a range of diverse viewpoints."
My review will be published in the Spring 2008 issue of PFIE
N.B. I would like to thank Corrina Lotz, for kindly supplying me with the Information for Items 1 and 4 of this News Update, No. 7.
If any people want to send me any news items that they think might be pertinent and relevant to this News Update, that they would like to be considered for inclusion, do please feel free to send them to me.
Hope you all had a Happy Easter
Best wishes,
Ruth
10th April 2007
4. ‘America Gone Wrong: a Slashed Safety Net Turns Libraries into Homeless Shelters’ by Chip Ward, April 2nd 2007 (article)
See: http://www.alternet.org/stories/50023/
There was a very interesting and important article in ‘Alternet’ last week about the homeless in America and how they are turning to the library as a place for shelter. The article focuses in particular on Salt Lake City Public Library, where quite a number of homeless people go for refuge.
The article is by Chip Ward, recently retired Assistant Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library, who emphasises how:
“In bad weather – hot, cold, or wet – most of the homeless have nowhere to go but public places…Fast-food restaurants, hotel lobbies, office foyers, shopping mails, and other privately owned businesses and properties do not tolerate their presence for long. Public libraries, on the other hand, are open and accessible, tolerant, even inviting and entertaining places for them to seek refuge from a world that will not abide their often dishevelled and odorous presentation, their odd and sometimes obnoxious behaviours, and the awkward challenges they present to those who encounter them. (p.2)
Salt Lake City Public Library is the Library Journal’s 2006 “Library of the Year”. It endeavours to engender an environment for public dialogue, a sense of community, and a place where people can self-organise, as well as providing an opportunity for people to read and borrow books of course. I also talk about the variety of opportunities that the public library can and should provide in an article of mine entitled ‘Library privatisation: fact or fiction’ (further details below). Chip Ward says:
“I like to think of our library as the civic ballroom of our community where citizens can practice that awkward dance of mutuality that is the very signature of a democratic culture.” (p.8)
Meanwhile, social workers work with completely inadequate resources, in an endeavour to try to do what they can for the homeless.
The responsibility to look after the homeless should clearly not be resting with places like our public libraries. It is wonderful that Salt Lake City Public Library is providing this refuge for them, but it also demonstrates the inadequacies of society, once again, that we find ourselves in this type of situation. We are brought back to the need to analyse and uncover the intrinsic workings of capitalism, which by its very nature cannot and does not care about humankind. Only then, can we start to see and move beyond it.
Ref:
Rikowski, Ruth (2003) Library privatisation: fact or fiction, Information for Social Change, Iss 17 http://libr.org/isc/articles/17-Rikowski-2.html
5. ‘Painswick Fights for its Library’ by Graham Coult.
Article in Managing Information, April 2007, Vol. 14. No. 3, pp. 34-35
(also ‘Painswick Gateway Project’, p. 36; ‘Blueprint for Public Library Excellence’, launched by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, pp. 37-40)
Earlier this year, I informed Graham Coult, the editor of Managing Information that Philip Booth had been writing quite a lot about my book Globalisation, Information and Libraries on his ‘Ruscombe Green’ web blog,
(http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/search/label/library) and relating this to the treat that was being posed to Painswick Library in Gloucestershire. Philip Booth is a Green Party Stroud District Councillor and the Green Party in Gloucestershire have been taking quite an active interest in my work on the GATS and Libraries for some time now (see for example - http://www.glosgreenparty.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=719&Itemid=2)
Graham was very interested in this, so much so, that leading on from me communicating with Philip and introducing them to each other, Graham went to Painswick itself and interviewed Philip Booth and another local councillor there. He also looked around Painswick and took some lovely photos. The first report of this is in the current April issue of Managing Information. Graham says, for example, that:
“There are strong arguments that by leaving sectors of society behind, in terms of their lifeskills and attitudes they are taught, and the quality of their lives compared to many others, we are creating dangerous divides and tensions which threaten future stability.” (p. 35)
Alternative ideas for saving the library are also highlighted (on p. 36 of April issue of MI). The campaign will be explored in more detail in the forthcoming May issue and there will opportunities for further discussion in the MI blog.
6. ‘Constraining Public Libraries: the World Trade Organization’s General Agreement on Trade in Services’ by Samuel E. Trosow and Kirsti Nilsen, Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland, USA, 2006 ISBN 13 978 0 8108 5237 2 (pbk), 261pp.
I was delighted when Rory Litwin informed me that another book has now been written about the implications of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) for libraries (see details above). I have now read and reviewed the book.
As I say in my review, whilst it is great to be at the forefront, it is also great to know that others are now taking up the issue, and like me consider the topic to be important enough to warrant a whole book! Trosow and Nilsen examine the GATS in some detail, which includes chapters on ‘The Scope of GATS Coverage’ (Ch.2) and ‘The GATS Disciplines’ (Ch. 3). Also, like me, they are concerned about the threat that the GATS poses to state-funded library provision. They make a number of recommendations (in Ch. 6) to try to avoid this negative impact, such as limiting commercialisation and avoiding user fees and monitoring trade developments.
Obviously, the more that people know about this small (in terms of size) but disturbing and powerful agreement, and the more information that is circulated about it, the better.
My reviews (2 different versions) will be published in 2 journals – one library focused and one education focused.
i) Progressive Librarian
http://libr.org/pl/index.html
Progressive Librarian is the bi-annual journal for the ‘Progressive Librarians Guild’. PLG is based in America, and has similar aims to ‘Information for Social Change’. The Progressive Librarians Guild provides “…a forum for the open exchange of radical views on library issues” (see http://libr.org/plg/plg-cc.php). PL, PLG and ISC all reside within ‘Libr.org’ which is a web space, hosted by Rory Litwin that has been ‘Supporting Progressive Librarians Since 1998’. Rory Litwin is also the book reviews editor for Progressive Librarian and he invited me to review the book for PL.
ii) Policy Futures in Education
http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie/content/maincontents.asp
Policy Futures in Education is an international, peer-reviewed ejournal, which “…emphasises innovative thinking in education policy and theory from a range of diverse viewpoints."
My review will be published in the Spring 2008 issue of PFIE
N.B. I would like to thank Corrina Lotz, for kindly supplying me with the Information for Items 1 and 4 of this News Update, No. 7.
If any people want to send me any news items that they think might be pertinent and relevant to this News Update, that they would like to be considered for inclusion, do please feel free to send them to me.
Hope you all had a Happy Easter
Best wishes,
Ruth
10th April 2007
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