Some movement forward?

I went to the Library yesterday and felt the impending sense of an institution about to disappear (just like an earlier post by another reader). I am a postdoctoral student at Sree Chitra Tirunal Instt for Medical Sciences and Technology and have keenly felt the British Library network support my life in many ways- in lending books, in biding time, in being a place one could look forward to going to on a Saturday evening... I On an individual level, I could perhaps go to Modern Book Centre and buy a monthly quota of reading but.. of course, the flavour of it all will be different! Arguably there are younger people who still go to a library- not only to the newest shopping mall...and it is their posts that are the most moving. I think we should do more within India- write to the Ministries for HRD and Culture, possibly the Chairperson of the ICCR as well-perhaps, 'The Hindu 'Open Page more generally on the demise of a culture of reading (and how it is contributed to by a charity registered in the United Kingdom which now wants only to administer English tests to the children of its erstwhile colonies at costs that certainly don't merit its 'charity' tag! )Phew! Also, is it possible that we find out how much it costs to run the library. We could then find ways to meet this cost partly AND importantly speak to the British Council in economic terms- they get a place to administer IELTS, perhaps foster trade... for some money that goes into the running of the library? As a relative youngster, however, I am deeply saddened at how easy it is for adults to get divisive. I think, the cause, of preserving a place of learning, of reading, of engendering a culture that goes beyond the blare of discounts on the newest shoes at Big Bazaar, a few blocks away...that cause has no gender...We owe it to the girl who uses the library to do her projects to do more. And should we, of course, still squabble I can only envision Modern Book Centre getting richer!

Reach out

Neil Robertson writes..

Mr Neil Robertson, Development Economist, and member of UNESCO Scotland National Committee, wrote in with his support.

He has also written to The Herald, the private secretary of Scotland's own First Minister Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP and to the Chairperson of the new Unesco Scotland Committee (Ms Joanne Orr) of the Scottish Museums Council, and author William Dalrymple...

Thanks Neil!

" Thanks for the note of the meeting which was forwarded by David Blackie. I have done a letter to The Herald which is Scotland's main quality newspaper and which is read by most of our MPs and MSPs. I've also put another campaign reference on the BBC Newsnight website which also reaches some of the key politicians http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/12/the_political_year_2007.html#commentsanchor

Good luck! "

Neil

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: WNeilGRobertson
To: letters@theherald.co.uk
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:59:45 EST
Subject: Opposition Grows To British Council Library Closures in India and Nepal

Dear Sir,

I am writing to complain in the strongest possible terms over the proposed closure of British Council's libraries in Nepal and India. The British Council has now become an international embarrassment and it is perhaps time for the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - which are after all responsible for education and culture - to join with the Chief Minister of Kerala, campaigners in
in India, Africa and Europe, and Vladimir Putin in Russia, to cut all further links with this unaccountable relic of The British Raj - which costs the United Kingdom taxpayer a fortune but which is in deep crisis.

I also object to British Council's boss in India styling himself as 'British Minister of Culture' - a title that this man Rod Pryde holds apparently as a counsellor at The British High Commission in Delhi. As this is causing confusion in the Indian press over the level of political support involved in this commercially driven library closures programme by a parasitic British Quango, I would also now call on the Culture Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to telegram The Chief Minister of Kerala to assure him that this British Council 'impostor' is not the elected 'Culture Minister' of any country whatsoever.

For further details on British Council (and its recent excesses) see: http://www.dblackie.blogs.com/

Yours sincerely,

Neil Robertson

A student writes..

Respected Sir,

I am a sixth standard student of St.Mary’ s Central School, Mudavanmugal, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram.

For the last two years I am a 'classic' member in British Library. Since the vacation of 4^th standard, I have been a regular reader and fan of Wonder Land. I have read about 200 books from your library and I am simply attached to those books .The language, grammar and humour of those books made me more imaginative. My language and grammar improved-so did my imagination. I believe that no other library in Thiruvananthapuram could provide such books like these. I have learned about the tradition and culture of various places from your books. My General knowledge also improved. After being a member of your library I started to get the highest mark in English. I believed that one day I’d read all the books in Wonderland. Many of my friends took membership in this library because I did. I even started to write stories after I started reading! I have noted the names of all the books, which I’ve read (with their authors). My sister said that when she is as old as me, she would read all the books I have read.

Then one day I heard this shocking news that the library is going to close down! I was grief-stricken about this. Besides me, thousands of people have memberships in your library for many years. This is a disappointing news for all of them. Libraries like yours give children like me a lot of information and fun. Being the only one British library in this area I humbly request your good self not to close the library.

It is a small, kind request in one voice by all of the Malayalees in this State. I hope you will take a favorable action for this.

Thanking You

Yours faithfully

Nandana Nair.K.S

D/o Sarada devi.U

Meeting Report 23/12/2007

Here's what we discussed at the meeting on 23/12/2007.

1. The KIC has expressed its willingness to run the Library, in case all other efforts fail. Two millionaires have agreed to support them in this.

2. Shashi Tharoor has written to a colleague in the UK Govt, and has received an encouraging response. The complete details are not known as yet. T.P Sreenivasan is also trying to help in this matter.

3.The Press Club made a generous offer of its vacant floor , to run the library.

4. Members pointed out the urgency to restart renewal of memberships. As per available figures, around 500 memberships lapse every month. This flow of membership might make the library unviable, in a few months.

5. Dr P Kishore, Director of Public Health at the Isle of Man, has promised to help. He has contacted Ariane , the BBC correspondent who did a feature on Plachimada – Coca Cola issue; so she knows all about Kerala and she will put this on the BBC website. He has also written to David Millibrank, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth – British Council is in his department.

6) UK India Education Research Initiative has a corpus fund of 4 million pounds. It was suggested that a part of this should be allocated to Kerala.

7. 23,000 students went to the UK last year for Higher education. The figures relating to Kerala should be obtained.

8.We should try and arrange a meeting with the officials of the council.

9. There was a heated discussion over certain points. The meeting broke up after this. A smaller group stayed back and discussed drafting a petition to key people in the Central and State govts. The objective of the petition is to secure an immediate intervention to stop the flow of memberships and transfer of staff.

It was suggested that the petition be sent to the following:

The Prime Minister , A.K Antony ,Vayalar Ravi, E. Ahamed, TKA Nair, Shiv Shankar Menon, Thomas Issac, MA Baby, Babu Paul, Balamohan Thampi, Dr Iqbal.

It was also decided that banners be put up outside the library, informing the members about the campaign , asking them not to refund their membership right away, and with some contact info(email id/web address..) of the campaign.

Other Developments

• We now know that there are 7 British libraries and 6 British Council Libraries. The libraries in Bhopal an Tvpm are BLs .These come under the ICCR, with the British Council providing management support. Hence, the focus should not solely be on the British Council, but we should look at the ICCR too.
  
• We've made contact with the campaign in Bhopal. The leaders of the campaign include leaders of the Congress party, who've promised to raise the issue in the central govt. Bhopal is actually focusing on the ICCR and is trying to persuade ICCR to takeover the library completely. They've written to Karan Singh, the chairman of the ICCR. Ajay Singh , MP (and son of Arjun Singh) has promised to help them. They're also trying to raise the issue with Sonia Gandhi.

Blog Updates

• A video report from CNN-IBN
• A post with information about the library being under ICCR, and its implications
• An email from David Blackie, expert in Intl education based in the UK, extending support to us. He also gives his views on the Council
  
• Newspaper clippings, Links to newspaper articles.
• Details of closure of the British Council library in Nepal

Next Steps

• Finalising and sending the petition to Govt officials
• Banner outside the library
• Look at the implications of the ICCR connection

Please visit the website (www.saveourbritishlibrary.org ) to participate in the discussions, and to keep track of the latest developments.

I've probably missed out some points. If you notice anything that needs to be changed/added, please mail me, after which this'll be put up the blog/website.

Going forward, mailing all the members of the campaign can be done through the google groups created by Arun T. (This will ensure email privacy and make it easier to maintain the list )


An incomplete list of the participants:

Judith Sebastian, Merle Kindred, Biju J Mathew, R Narayanaswamy, D.V Cyril, x, P.Radhakrishnan, P.Vijayakumar, Nayanika Krishnan, Divya Krishnan, Sankar Krishnan, Mrinal M, Anoop Kumar Thekkeveettil, B Stelzer Bouy, Pallichal Pramod, Abraham D, S.Pradeep Kumar, P. Venugopal, Arun T, Mohandas P, Shaji G.S, Sangeeth, Lt Gen SK Pillai, Sudheer M, K Jyothish Kumar, Suneetha, RS Liza, Monu Rajan, Krishna, Dolly Thomas,George Koruth, Asha Gopinathan, Shailaja Nair, Sebastian Mathew, Latha Kurien Rajeev, Tarun Thomas Abraham.

A reply

A reply to a mail send by one of our members to the British Council


"Please accept my apologies for the delay in
responding, I hope my out of office reply explained
that I am currently on leave. However, I have
managed to discuss your correspondence with Mr
Davidson who is very appreciative of your support of
our work in Kerala and does understand your
concerns. However, I am afraid that I must reiterate
that we are committed to the decision for the
reasons that Les Dangerfield has outlined in his
recent e-mail. Our ambitions for the British
Council's work across India mean that we have had to
make difficult decisions and this particular one was
not taken lightly.

Les has underlined the British Council's commitment
to our work in Kerala and Mr Davidson would like to
reinforce and support what he has said not least
because of the concern you have shown, for which we
are very grateful."

With best wishes

Richard Cotton

Private Secretary to the Chief Executive

Attn Hamid Ansari

The Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Mr. Jayan Babu has brought to the notice of the Hon.Vice-President of India,Hamid Ansari the decision of the British authorities(or the ICCR) to close down our library, terming it "a great loss for the book lovers of the state, especially those in the state capital".This was reported by Zee news and can be viewed via the following link.
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=415342&sid=NAT

It remains to be seen if any concrete follow-up action will be taken by Mr.Ansari

Posters and cartoons.... More ideas please..

(Dear Colleagues, Please also visit the Library to know what's happening).

Library cuts in the UK

Article from Socialist Worker (Britain) 2046, 14
April 2007 (www.socialistworker.co.uk)

LIBRARY CUTS THREATEN WORKING CLASS ACCESS TO
CULTURE

Esme Choonara



"Reading opens up a world of opportunities, and books are the foundation on which we can build
learning. Reading should be a source of pleasure in itself as well as an essential support for
increasing the life chances of young people." These wise words came from education secretary Alan Johnson recently as he announced that 2008 will be an official "year of reading".
Yet, around Britain many public libraries are facing cuts, closures and job losses that threaten to
destroy services crucial to promoting access to books and opportunities for reading.
Libraries are immensely popular. As a librarian from Haringey, north London, said, "It’s a beautiful thing that people of any age can come into the library and pick up a book or a newspaper. "People don’t have to be doing any formal study." According to the Reading Agency, more people visit libraries than go to football matches, tourist attractions, museums and theatres. There are around 323 million visits to libraries each year. "Libraries are one of the few places that people can go for free," said the Haringey librarian. "They offer a huge range of services to the community. But it is also somewhere that people can come and use the internet, get CDs and DVDs, bring their children, attend events. "Libraries are at the heart of our communities. The libraries are welcoming to refugees who might not want to go to community centres for political reasons, or new migrants who might not have a community centre. We stock books in 20 languages." Many of the cuts and attacks in libraries are part of wider attacks. Steve Squibbs is a Unison union steward in Hampshire libraries where threats of job losses have led to recent strike action. He told Socialist Worker, "There is a squeeze on local government funding and libraries often come out badly." Cuts have led to threats of branch closures in some
areas. Moray council, in north east Scotland, is planning to close a quarter of its public libraries despite having the fourth highest book borrowing figures and the highest computer use of any service in Scotland. Professional Last year the Library and Information Statistics Unit (LISU) based at Loughborough University recorded the loss of 452 library "service points" over ten years. It explained, "Half of these are local branches, half are small service points open ten hours or less." This flies in the face of official government strategy. The second way in which cuts are being made is by cutting staff, in particular trained professional librarians. This is what is happening in Haringey where the full effects of cuts are yet to be seen, Hampshire where
27 librarians face redundancy and 17 face pay cuts, and Kent where 78 staff members are threatened with job losses. Councils often justify this as reflecting the changing needs of modern libraries. Steve told Socialist Worker, "Library management tried to make out that we are being
elitist by defending the jobs and skills of trained professional librarians. "This is an attempt to divide librarians and library assistants in order to push through cuts in pay and services."
Across Britain, there has been a slight increase in
the total number of library staff over the last ten
years. But the number of professional library staff
in post has fallen by 13 percent from 1995 to 2005.
"One argument is that the introduction of more
computers means that we don’t need the same level of
trained librarians," said Steve.
"In fact, the increase of technology in libraries
means there is a greater need for help and
expertise. Many people coming into the library don’t
know how to use computers or how to find
information.
"At the moment we are able to help them to use the
computers. We give a lot of informal help – with
typing CVs and with problems people are facing with
the Learn Direct employment skills agency.
"Many see libraries as the least threatening part of
council services and come to us for help. If the
cuts go through, we won’t be able to do these
things.
"The main drives for change are for nicer libraries,
more internet access and longer opening hours.
"There is nothing wrong with nice library buildings.
It’s also good that there is more internet and
computer access in libraries. But this shouldn’t be
at the expense of books, which are still our core
service."
Books
According to the LISU, book expenditure nationally
stands at its lowest level since 1995.
In part this reflects the falling costs of some
books, but it also reflects a shift in emphasis away
from books to audio visual loans and computer
services.
The number of books available for loan has fallen 18
percent in ten years.
Steve said, "In Hampshire there has been a downward
trend in book issues and visits. This is linked to
the large cuts from the book fund.
"Many librarians will tell you how poor the book
stock is compared to ten or even five years ago."
Cutting qualified librarians means cutting library
services – often these are projects increasing
access to libraries and going into schools and
community groups.
Steve explains, "In the New Forest and Test Valley
area the proposed cuts will mean cutting the
children’s specialists for that area from five to
one.
"At the moment the team plays an important role
going into schools and running events in the summer.

"It introduces children to libraries. With the cuts,
one person will cover all the primary schools in the
area. That’s one librarian for 19,850 children. "
In Haringey, the cuts will hit the services that
prepare resources for schools and which works with
migrant communities and marginalised groups.
Deskilling
A librarian in Haringey said, "It’s about deskilling
– getting rid of professional librarians. I think
this is preparing the ground for privatisation. They
want to get casual workers in to do as much as
possible."
The head of Haringey libraries was previously
managing director of a private consultancy firm,
Instant Libraries Ltd, that was brought in to
reorganise the libraries.
"She behaves like the libraries are a private
company," said a librarian.
"Last year she was awarded the MBE for services to
local government.
"This was as she was announcing job cuts and
redundancies in the libraries."

Wigan strike shocks management
One of the government’s aims is to increase opening
hours in libraries.
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council calls
for "a global, interactive information, resources
and communications service, 24/7, for learning
knowledge and inspiration."
Yet the drive to longer opening hours is being
implemented in many places without extra resources
and in some cases is accompanied by attacks on
library staff.
In Wigan this has provoked strikes by Unison union
members.
Dave Lowe, a Unison union member, said, "Some 150
low paid staff in Wigan libraries took to the picket
lines on Tuesday of last week after an overwhelming
84 percent vote in favour of strike action.
"Wigan Leisure Trust want to open libraries more on
Sundays and are looking to pay for this by taking
away enhancements to their staff.
"The staff have bent over backwards to provide a top
quality service for the public and want to remain on
national terms and conditions.
"The strike across the borough was solid and was
well supported by the public.
"At Ashton library the whole workforce was out on
strike and on the picket line.
"At Standish library the management opened up the
facilityto a pensioners’ reading group.
"When the pickets explained the reason for their
action, the pensioners walked out giving the
management a piece of their minds.
"Ashton library workers also found themselves
supported by many young people who chanted slogans
in support of the library workers.
"In Wigan and nearby Leigh, there were lively picket
lines, with support from the local community. One
striker said, ‘We provide a service to the community
and all management are interested in is targets and
profits’."


Fighting for the right to information
The cuts and attacks are provoking many campaigns in
defence of libraries and library staff and services.
Libraries are an essential resource for working
class people to have free access to information and
culture. People have fought for them over the
generations.
Andrew Coburn from the Library Campaign, a national
charity for friends and users of libraries, told
Socialist Worker, "Public libraries have been seen
for many years as a vital community facility.
"It is not just about books. If you are a school,
university or college student, you can go to the
library to study. If you are 70 and you want to
learn new skills you can go and find the information
you need and pick up a book.
"That hasn’t changed. Other things have changed.
Many staff now can offer help and guidance with
books or with finding information."
In Haringey, north London, around 1,500 local
residents signed a petition against the cuts. They
stopped the closure of Hornsey audio visual library.
In Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, parents and
library users are organising against plans to close
several libraries.
Residents have organised a petition against the
cuts.
Shona Hutchinson uses Colinsburgh library in a small
town on the Fife coast.
She said that the library was a big success with
book loans increasing 500 percent in the last two
years.
"The library is a central and consistant part of our
community," she said. "It is part of our heritage."
At Upper Norwood joint library, which is run by
Lambeth and Croydon councils in south London,
campaigners fighting to secure the funding of the
library were surprised to be joined on a recent
demonstration by Tessa Jowell.
She is the minister with overall responsibility for
the current attacks on libraries!
For more go to www.librarycampaign.com



____________________

original article at
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=11134

Has the downward trend started?

I was at the BL today.

Actually, my daughter had been doing some project work there since morning using the BL reference and I went along at noon to collect her. You could almost see a sense of doom there and a deterioration in place already. The books were lying round like it never had been before and the staff smiled in a pathetic attempt at cheerfulness. There is one person on the staff with whom I had attended a study course once upon a time, and even he had no expression in his eyes. The readers except maybe the kids, looked like zombies...Is it all my perception? Or is it an inertness that comes from resignation that I saw there?

Later on I heard from my daughter that she couldnt find any books in its place, and asked me 'is it because they are closing down?"

What do I tell her? The last time I spoke to her on the topic she asked me with a lost look, "amma, where will do my projects from after February?"


Do we have an answer to give her?

All the more the reason.....

.... for a quick action to force the ICCR. Any time Kathmandu moves can happen in Trivandrum. Has it already begun? .

Pillar to Post !!

We contacted Chris Gibson today . He asked us to contact the Thiruvananthapuram library manager. The Thiruvananthapuram manager says its the council's decision and asks to contact the Council officials !

I feel we really need to escape from this loop.

Here's an insight from Nepal - (The British library at Kathmandu will be closed by mid Jan 2008)

In an interview , Mr John fry, the country manager of British Council Nepal said:

“ We recently got letters from our members asking us the reasons why we're closing our library. They also informed us that they were disappointed to know about this. We replied to them that we're not closing our library as such; we're rather expanding our horizons so as to provide more services.” When asked how the idea of removing the library emerged suddenly, Fry answered, “There were two things that came together. The first was refocusing on our works and then concentrating more on training of languages and other English preparations. We've decided to completely close our library by mid-January 2008 and transfer all our books and collections "

There's no ICCR in Nepal. The presence and involvement of ICCR here, offers us many options.

Mangalam Reports

Mangalam has given us immense support right from the beginning. The links to these articles on the net were not available, so here are some of the clippings. Click on the picture to view the full size image.

(Note:The links to the articles in other publications, have already been given. More newspaper/video clippings will be put up very soon)

David Blackie writes

Mr David Blackie, an expert in International education, has sent us this email expressing his support. Click here for his blog.

" Thank you for responding. Feel free to do whatever you want.

The British Council is, I think, an arrogant, and self-centred, organisation - certainly that has been my experience. It is entirely typical that their officers say what a wonderful job a library is doing, and then, because they see an opportunity for saving or making money (or both), close it down.

They enjoy diplomatic status, when they are not diplomats, and they enjoy charitable status when - realistically - the organisation is not a charity. They operate as a business without being a business.

What they don't like is people drawing all this to the attention of others, and I urge you to make as much fuss as possible (they clearly didn't do enough in Lucknow 10 years ago), and use all your powers of persuasion.

They say they are closing down libraries to come up with programmes for more people - well, what are these programmes? Do they mean yet another web site which will cost a fraction of the library, get lots of hits but actually be of no value to anybody? Or what?
Libraries, like books, are valued all over the world - and you have made it clear that you value them more than most.

So make sure everybody knows, write to the Indian High Commissioner in London, the Foreign Secretary, the Publishers Association and your own politicians and keep it in the news, and don't stop until you get a result!

Keep up the fight! "

- David

David has blogged about the closure of the Trivandrum library here. And, as he says, "I have had a go at the British Council on my blog a couple of times over this (7th December and 24th December) " . Read his blog to know more.

An Important Observation

It is understood that the British Council has responded negatively to the CM’s request. The reply was received on 24th December. While many keep reiterating that the closure decision is based on a policy of the British Council, there is an unexplored angle to it. A collective effort with support from other States could save the libraries in Trivandrum, Bhopal and perhaps another five on the chopping block. Read More..

Is the British Council Policy, a smokescreen for closure?

The web site http://www.iccrindia.org/fcc.htm shows that the British Library (BL) in Trivandrum and Bhopal are among the seven libraries in India administered as a Foreign Cultural Centre by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) of the Government of India. In addition to this, there are four British Council Libraries (BCL) in India directly administered by the British Council.

While all 4 the BCLs are being retained, it is the 2 BLs that are being closed down!

ICCR's Regional Centre (“ROHINI”, TC – 16/131, Easwaravilasom Road, Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum – 14, Ph: 2320825 Fax - 2332479) is tight-lipped and seems to be indifferent about the developments here. Mr. M.R. Krishnamoorthy is the Centre head.

Are'nt these Concerns Grave?

Only a "British Council Library", which is run directly by the British Council can be closed down solely on the basis of British Council's policy. But while the BCLs are continuing to function, the BLs are being closed down.

The self sustaining "British Library" in Trivandrum which is administered by the ICCR has been closed down by the British Council without following a democratic and rational process.

The State Government was not called for consultations by the ICCR which is the administrator of the BL in Trivandrum. The decision was taken and announced by the Director of the British Council and was communicated to the Cultural Affairs Minister and the CM.

Is it appropriate for the British Council to decide and communicate closure of BL in Trivandrum and Bhopal to the respective State Governments when the ICCR is the administrator?

Should'nt such decisions be based on a sound rationale and after a democratic process driven by the ICCR for exploring viable options.

Should the Policies and Priorities of ICCR, a government of India body, be decided by the British Council?

Will this painful indifference of the Regional Centre of ICCR in Trivandrum help to serve its stated mandate of strenghtening their activities in Kerala?

Should'nt we Act Fast ?


- SIGNPOST

Move ON

Our meeting on 23/12/07 did not go the way we hoped. At this point, it is easy to lose our focus.

But if that happens , we stand to lose what we've been working for. We shouldn't let that happen.

Maybe these things are to expected in any campaign like ours..

Take a look at what Bhopal has been upto - here

Watch the CNN -IBN video in Tarun's post . (Click to play)


( There were quite a few positive developments and updates; the meeting minutes will be put up shortly )

Lets move on ..

- krishna

IBNLive.com - Shutters to fall for British Councils Library

Reposting here, originally submitted by anonymous on this post





~activity

My dream library(ies)

What is it that I think makes for a good general purpose library ( as opposed to specialised ones ):

* a good collection of general purpose books
* a good range of general purpose journals/ newspapers
* a knowledgeable and helpful staff
* a cheerful staff
* minimum bureaucracy and red tape in library management
* member - library management interaction on a regular basis
* other extension programmes of the library - kids corner, CDs, DVDs, adult education, braille and other services, visiting authors, writer's workshops etc
* ability to do interlibrary loans ( perhaps to a lesser extent than the scientific library)
* housed in a airy, naturally well lit building with great ambiance
* should feel comfortable using the library i.e not get harassed on the premises
* enough funds to get new books on a regular basis
* showcase a range of authors/ opinions /publishers
* cosy

What I think makes for a good scientific library :
* a good collection of general books on science and technology - appealing to the general reader as well as specialised
* a good collection of special interest books - especially those with relevance to the areas of work conducted in the city
* the ability to do interlibrary loans with great libraries around the world
* subscription to a range of online journal services thus providing the best and most current online information to scientists / techies. Will not do to have Nature arriving 3 weeks after publication. Now a days most people active in the field look at prepublication online articles.
* a staff well - versed in managing such a library
* cheerful and helpful staff
* minimal bureaucracy and red tape in library management
*other extension programmes - IT centre, lectures by local, national and international scientists - at both specialist as well as popular level, kids corner, special interest or general interest courses, outreach to schools, rural areas, research centers in other cities
* management with member- library interaction
* enough funds to get new books on a periodic basis
* should not be harassed on premises
* housed in airy, naturally lit building with comfortable seating


These are just some thoughts - I don't see the British libraries being able to fulfil all of these criteria. Maybe we should think in terms of a split - two libraries being created along the proposed guidelines. See where the British Council can continue to help the city and the state in this regard- by allocating funds, training staff, help acquire books, journals, subscription to online journals, running their education service. So they become part of the greater library project as opposed to the people who run the library. Others too can be involved in the library project - Singapore Library, Commonwealth and so on.

AG

Prof PVK writes

PVK responds to the Council's decision :

"Please point out (to the council) that we will not react positively to the retaining of only the so-called 'educational services'.
Personally I feel like asking them to send their master trainers in English to Iraq or Afghanistan. We have been managing and can continue to manage without them.

It is devastating that at a time when so much new knowledge is emerging in the world our one tiny window to it is being closed. After all , the Alliance Francais is just a peephole.
More importantly, I'm thinking of all the kids who will have to grow up in Trivandrum without this or a similar facility.

I wish we could drive home to the ones who take the decision that it is more important to win hearts and minds in places like Trivandrum or Kerala; that though intangible the benefits to Britain are huge, in terms both of goodwill for Britain and the professionals who enrich British institutions later. And remind them that once the library is closed, people here will seriously explore the possibilities of universities in Europe which are now offering courses in English to attract people from places like India.

Because the truth is, in the long run it will hurt the British more than it will hurt us in the short."

- P Vijaya Kumar
(Dec 18)

Black ribbon/band boycott of BCL

Let us all wear black ribbons / bands when we go to BCL from now on.

That will be a way of expressing our anger at what they are doing.

AG

Interesting But.........

The below post by AG assumes great importance, especially when there is a valid reason (though commercial) to close down the library. It is in the absence of this, an institutional structure is relevant to take over this library with its costly assets.

Some facts

I was googling and found out the following:

*Les Dangerfield and Rod Pryde of BC - Delhi have visited the libraries in chandigarh, hyderabad in the past two years and praised their work.

*Chris Gibson, director South Zone went to Bangalore and committed to developing ties between IISc, IIM and British Council in addition to bringing music etc

*UK India Education Research Initiative has a corpus fund of 4 million pounds. Can someone find out from Mr. Subramony how much of this is allocated to TVM?

*23,000 Indian students went to the U.K in 2006-2007 for higher education. Can someone find out from Mr. Subramony how many of these were from Kerala ( and who had used their services ) and which universities and courses they went to study ?

*How many institutions in Kerala have any tie up with British universities ?

* How many collaborations and joint ventures have started between universities , companies in Kerala and U.K ?

AG

Creating a Citizen's committee

I think I have posted on this topic before. But I believe that the only way to reach a solution that we the public and members of BC can be satisfied with is if WE put in the necessary effort to reaching this solution. For this, we need to attend meetings, contribute ideas, time, contacts what have you.
Last week we formed a small core group. We need to expand it to atleast 10 members. Each person or gp of two or more shd take on some responsibility - like making arrangements for the next meeting, being the contact pt for the Press, being the contact pt for BC, CM etc. We will be discussing this in depth this Sunday. Because if we want our dream library, we have to imagine it and then work towards achieving it.

Sorry if I am sermonizing.

AG

An Option for Thought – If British Council Does Not Change Its Policy

To prevent shutting down of this excellent institution, the British Library may have to be re-constituted as an autonomous body under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act of .1955 as an “International Knowledge and Learning Centre - Trivandrm”. This body with patronage from the Government could also have donors and mamber representatives in the Governing Council.

Suggested activities of the proposed Entity

1. Value for money library and information service to the individual, family and institutional members - This will continue to be the High Priority area.
   [Under the Library services, it is advisable to continue with materials in English Language to project uniqueness; the publications in English from all over the world can find a place in the proposed Knowledge Centre not limiting to British content.]
   
2. Electronic Knowledge Hub by linking of web servers with E-enabled International Knowledge Resource Networks
3. Dissemination of information from globally acclaimed paid sites to educational institutions and Industry
4. Networking with educational institutions in the State, National and International Canvas
5. Initiation of Social Learning Spaces and Self Renewing Learning Communities tapping resources from the Government of India and International agencies as part of their Socially responsible interventions. The perspective plan of the National Library Board of Singapore is in this direction. The management of the above can be through virtual library networks.
6. Conduct of knowledge management related events tying up with the Commonwealth Business Council, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, UNDP, UNIDO etc.
   
   Concerns Ahead and Answers?
   
   1. Will the announcement for refund of membership fees adversely affect prospects ?
   
   Chief Minister’s assurance on government patronage would help to prevent membership cancellation. The library management should immediately persuaded to stop refund, permit renewal and issue new memberships irrespective of who would manage the library in future.
   
   2. Will the present premises of the Library be available ?
   
   Chief Minister’s assurance would help to extend the period of lease in this Government property currently with the YMCA. The existing ambience can be thus maintained.
   
   3. Will there be constraints in income ?
   
   The current 6500 plus memberships could easily fetch around Rs.90 lakhs income per annum. This should not come down due to unwillingness on the part of the present library management to renew memberships.
   
   4. Can the commitments on the expenditure front be met ?
   
   Government patronage would help to contain rent. Some retirements would reduce wage bills. Purchase of economy edition would bring down the cost of replacement of books. Expenditure can be easily met within the income from memberships.
   
   5. Will diversity and standards of book collections be sacrificed?
   
   Diversity can be enhanced by including books not necessarily of UK origin and re introduction of subjects which have been recently taken off the shelf.
   
   6. Will service standards be met?
   
   Advice of librarians with proficiency in international networks can be sourced. The trained staff is capable of ensuring service standards. Recruitment of trainees and their capacity building will strengthen this area as is being done now.
   
   7. Can Government ensure professional management?
   
   A structure that ensures Governmental supervision and participation of professional institutions, industry and members in governance and library management by trained professionals would be very effective. The library could be restructured as an autonomous body of international standards with government patronage as announced by the Chief Minister.
   
   8. Can international networks be tapped as of now?
   
   Collaboration with libraries and knowledge centres in many countries are possible. Coverage will increase with introduction self-learning and knowledge nurturing spaces as in the case of initiatives by the National Library Board of Singapore..
   
   9. Will the new set up have access to online periodicals and journals?
   
   While maintaining the technologies introduced by the British Council, more IT interventions can be conceived. Access to e-materials in English language will increase substantially as connectivity to paid networks all over the globe can be facilitated. How ever the collection of books should be given utmost priority
   
   The British Council should be requested to donate the Assets in this Library to the people of Kerala as a Christmas gift who will cherish and nurture it.
   
   The British Council should be requested to keep the money earmark for the announced refund of membership fees to meet the transition costs. As this is a self sustaining library ICCR should also be asked to advocate for this .
   
   A Corpus Fund could be conceived by availing contributions from the Governing council members, ICCR, Ministry of Human Resource Development, and other governmental / non governmental sources. Large Corporate bodies who would also be willing to donate considerable funds for this Corpus Fund under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives could also be inducted into the Governing Council. The interest earnings from this Corpus will also supplement the annual revenues of the new Centre.
   
   Activities for constitution of the proposed International Knowledge and Learning Centre – Trivandrum may have to commence urgently so that transfer of assets and staff is effected before the inauguration of the restructured entity, say on the 1st of April 2008, which is the 44th Birthday of this Library.

- K Padmakumar

Victory - partial anyway

The CM met Chris Gibson of BC - Chennai on Dec 18th.
The outcome - the govt is prepared to help the BC with land, a new building or anything they need to stay on.

A delegation from BC will be visiting the city in early Jan to continue the negotiations.

I think we at the SAVE OUR LIBRARY campaign should definitely take some credit for this happening.

But we must not lose steam.

Let us meet again on Dec 23rd at 4 pm at the Press Club, near SMSM Institute to
* review this past week
* get an update from core gp members ( and any others ) abt what they have done
* strategise on how to set up a town meeting with the delegation
* prepare a wish list on what we want from them

We strongly urge all members of the community to attend and express your views. Together we can build a chain of good libraries across Kerala.

AG

A Poem

"Mrs Lalitha Thomas, a BCL member, dropped by yesterday and gave me a poem that she had written on the closure of the BCL. The poem's heartfelt emotion is so evident. We could share it with others. I cannot but help compare this with the very well drafted and polite reply by the British High Commission to the Indian Express (published in the IE on 18 Dec, 07), which in the end, leaves us no wiser about the new organisation which is to replace the BCL and presumably, extend our horizons further. The poem , on the other hand is very clear."

- Regards, Sushil Pillai

PLEASE -PLEASE

Please dont take the Library from us,

Please don't think we are making a fuss.

I want you to know you are breaking our hearts,

We are crying, we are sighing, in fits and starts,

We loved its lovely atmosphere

Now our city is all out of gear !

The Books, oh the Books, the classics ;our mind,

(The Winter Wind is not so unkind!)

Please dont make our Library

A thing of the past, a memory !

This poem was wrenched straight from my heart,

If the Library goes, I'll be torn apart

~ Lalitha Thomas

17-12-2007

Meeting Report

Here's a summary what was discussed at our meeting on 16/12/07.

(Please also see the previous post by ..N.. , which raises some important points)

The report of the meeting in the media: Indian express, Hindu,

1. The online petition- The petition is addressed to Rod Pryde, the head of the British Council, India . It has collected 1159 sigantures in 8 days. The petition aims to persuade the council to reconsider its decision. Mr Pryde should also come down to Tvpm to meet the members and explain to them, the rationale behind this move.
2. Members of the Bhopal library have started a campaign as well.Tying up with them was discussed, as their campaign is significantly more active than ours.
3. The need to get all sections of the members, including children and women into the campaign.
4. The examples of the USIS and the Russian cultural centre were mentioned.
5. The lack of transparency in the British Council's move. Many members suspect that the real reasons for shutting down the library might be different. The fact that the library was refurbished very recently at a cost of around 45 lakhs, is also suspicious.
6. The British Council says that it'll 'stay in touch' through its UK Education counselling facilities. This probably means that they have now decided that selling UK education products to Indian students and helping to recruit them into UK universities is a much more profitable activity for them. If the British Council does not reconsider its decision to shut down the library, which is a service at large , the students from the state should be asked to stay away from UK education products.
7. Removal of assets from the premises, should not be allowed.
   
8. The idea that IT tools could replace printed books and a real library was firmly rejected. Participants pointed out the failure of such initiatives around the world. Also, that Kerala is being selected over the metros for implementing these IT tools and promoting UK education products is highly illogical and possibly even suspicious
9. Shashi Tharoor has already offered to help in retaining the library. Involving him was discussed. Tharoor is taking it up with a colleague of his.
10. Involving the Kerala International center and Ex Ambassador T.P Sreenivasan. Mr Sreenivasan is meeting with the Mr Subramoni.
    
11. Rod Pryde has visited many of the council libraries and interacted with the members. Similarly, he should meet the members of the Thiruvananthapuram library too.
12. In the event that the British Council decides to exit,in spite of all our efforts, we need to think of an alternative . An alternative library could be set up under the ICCR itself. Low cost editions, Indian publishers and independent UK publishers could be included in this.
13. Most of the current magazines at the British Library do not have much of a readership. These could be replaced with the older set of magazines, which were also cheaper.
14. The counseling facilities at the library, though useful, is not the primary reasons why we want the council here. Its for the library.
15. The Principal of the Tvm Intl School is taking up the matter with an UK MP.
    
16. The Government should facilitate to set up an alternative organisational structure.
    
17. The library is profitable.
    
18. Running the library independently will be financially viable too. 6000 members contributing 1000 per yr means a budget of 60 lakhs per year - more than enough to run the library.
19. It was suggested that citizen's committee be formed - a diverse gp of 10 citizens ( includes children, elderly, women, disabled, students, aritists, techies- in short compostion to reflect the readership of the library). A rotating position - each member serving for abt a
    year. This will meet abt 4 times a year to review the library and see whether any recommendations shd be made to the BC abt its running.
20. The Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan is meeting with a high ranking official of the council on 18/12/2007. The outcome of this meeting will be crucial.
21. Even though a meeting with the CM has been scheduled, the library has already started sending out letters , announcing the closure and the refund of membership. This indicates that the Council has already dismissed the meeting as inconsequential.
    

Finally, the following action points were decided upon.

1. A status quo needs to be maintained till an acceptable solution is found.
2. Members should not get their membership fees refunded right now
   
3. British Council officials should come to Thiruvananthapuram to interact with the members.
4. School and College students should be involved in the campaign
   
5. A Plan B needs to be worked out. To raise funds for such an event, Malayalee Industrialists, Technopark cos, NRIs etc need to be contacted.

An incomplete list of the participants in the meeting :

Asha Gopinathan, Niranjanaa Sajan, Shailaja Nair, George Thomas, Saraswathy Nagarajan, Hemachandran S, T.T Kripananda Singh, Krishnamohan, Robs george, Unnithan Venugopal, S.A Rahman, Suseendra Das, K . Padmakumar, George Koreth,Sebastian Mathew, Dolly Thomas, Prof M Sirajudeen, P Vijaya Kumar, Abraham D Patrickan, Lt Gen (Retd) VK Pillai.


The following have volunteered to be part of a core group, who will coordinate the campaign:

Asha Gopinathan, Saraswati Nagarajan, George Koreth, K Padmakumar, Dolly Thomas, P Vijaya Kumar, Krishnamohan



The next meeting will be held on 23/12/2007
Time 4pm.
Venue:Press Club Hall

What's Our Strategy?

I think it would be a good idea to brain storm on ideas on how to make our protest as efficient and effective as possible. I know for a fact that the members who are currently very actively involved, like K and AG, have come up with some really good ideas. Why not use this blog to discuss that?

We must have posts/threads concentrating on

1) Visible and effective means of protest

2) Possible outcomes of protest and how to leverage/counter them

3) Assuming we get a chance to meet the authorities who can really make a difference, what valid reasons are we going to present to them, how are we planning to validate them with facts? ie. How do we ensure that we appeal not just to their hearts but also to their brains? We need some solid facts to tell them that shutting this down won’t be such a good idea. Emotional appeal will work only so far and no further, imho.

4) Sources of information related to similar closures elsewhere

5) Statistics – on general readership, british council membership, revenue and whatever we can get our hands on to start with.

6) How can we rope in companies to sponsor and support our cause? Also educational institutions. What should be our strategy? How will it help?

7) Who are the people whom we should contact? How are we to contact them? What are we aiming to learn from them and how do we leverage that knowledge to our advantage?

8) What percentage of time are each of us willing to spend on activities that will help take this forward and how are we to distribute work?

Let’s have at least a post each on the major areas addressed above, we can use the comments section to discuss.

I was not able to make it to the meeting, but I would really like to know what happened there, so would a lot of others I’m sure. May I request someone who was present at the meeting to post an overview of the whole thing.

Meeting in Press Club

Friends of Save our British Library / We want library campaign have organised a meeting to discuss :

* the proposed closure of the British Library
* what has been done to prevent it
* what if we prevent it
* what if we cannot
* alternate ways to preserve the library - new management, donors buying and retaining current staff
* formation of citizen's committee to manage the library
* diversity issues - committee to rotate -annually and composed of the diverse range of citizens in town
* comparison with Bhopal
* links with Bhopal and Lucknow and Patna and other centers

Date : Sunday Dec 16, 2007
Venue :Press Club, opp Sports club,near SMSM institute
Time : 4 pm

Women, Children especially welcome. We have especially fixed this time and venue to ensure attendance by these gps. We want to ensure diversity in all its forms right from the beginning.
Not a collection of opinionated, old men.

So do come in huge numbers and have your say.

AG

Turning the library into a mainly IT outfit

The latest I information I have received is that they are trying to turn the library into a mainly IT enabled center. I think we should oppose that lock, stock and barrel. Without books ( on literature, fiction, travel, history, science, cooking, gardening-- the kid's corner etc etc ) , a library is NOT a library. No amount of IT can bring abt the pure pleasure of curling up with a good book and a plate of upperi on a wet, rainy day.

So folks, even our Techies please insist on story books and show that we are multidimensional real humans and not programmable robots.

AG

Act Now

Marketing Guru Seth Godin writes,

"One person, with just a few hard-working people in the field, managed to derail a bill that lobbyists spent millions of dollars on.

Sure, it helps that it was a lousy bill, that Cory co-writes the most popular blog in the world and that the bill was about something that blog readers care about. Doesn't matter. Because as readership grows and issues start attracting loyal readers, what this proves is that Tip O'Neill was wrong..."

We are no Boing Boing, but we can make ourselves heard too..

The meeting between the Chief Minister and the Council (scheduled for this 18th) might turn out to be a success, but in the meantime we could do whats possible. Here's what we could rightaway

1. Sign the petition (link)
2. Get others to sign it.
3. Spread the word - office, friends, family..
4. Think. If you have an idea that might make a difference, post it here. (To join the blog, leave a comment with your gmail id)
   
5. Search the net for any useful info - governance structure of the British Council, key people; organisations, people we could contact in the UK..

The bad news is that this is not first time that the BC has closed down a library in India. In 2001 Lucknow branch was closed down, in spite of similar protests.

But this is not 2001. Internet activism is now mature - a force to be reckoned with.

Let's stand up for our dear library in its time of need. Saving the library might be possible this time, but we need to act Now.

(Asha has suggested that we meet on the library premises, this Sunday afternoon. If you are okay with it, leave a comment. )

Creating a community of citizens to save the Library

This is just an addendum to my earlier post. The citizens of Bhopal ( the other library to shut down) have also put up a blog, orkut site and are also holding meetings in the library. We need to do that SOON too and link up with the people of Bhopal and work on this together.

So who will take the initiative and organise a meeting of members in the library - Mr. Subramoni does not seem to allow that but Ms. Gitanjali of Bhopal is certainly allowing members to use the library to hold meetings. Can someone organise a meeting with members for Sunday 16th - noon at the BCL - Tvm library. Also bring all your kids to it too.
DO it and post the meeting time and site on this blog.
Thanks
AG

Creating a community of citizens to save the Library

This is about the save the British library in Tvm blog. It is important that interested citizens get together and brainstorm about what we can do. And do it soon. I have set up an online petition which has about 750 signatures already ( I put it up on Dec 10th). Mostly it is Techies as the message was spread through the Technopark intranet. I would like nontechies, literature, history, philosophy majors to sign it too. Also as many students and schoolchildren as possible. The idea initially was to close it on Dec 31st and send it to Mr. Rod Pryde, Director of British Council in Delhi who took this decision. However, as the Christmas vacations are approaching and things may shut down till abt Jan 6th, I am thinking of sending it on Dec 19th, 20th. The URL is :
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/bcl64lib/petition.html

I urge all of you who have not signed to sign it soon and also forward the URL to as many others as you may know. Many people don't know how to sign an online petition. So if you get their consent, just sign up for them.
Also it is important through this blog to create a community of citizens who will be ready to hold a town meeting with Mr. Pryde ASAP.
Thanks
Asha Gopinathan, Ph.D
IIITM-K
Technopark

The Notice

From: IN_TRV1_BL (India)
Date: Dec 11, 2007 3:11 PM
Subject: British Library, Thiruvananthapuram: Closure Notice

Dear Member

NOTICE

I would like to inform you that the British Library in Thiruvananthapuram will close from February 29^th, 2008 and loans will cease from February 1^st, 2008. We will no longer be accepting applications for membership or renewal.

You will be entitled to claim a refund on the unused portion of your current membership, between January 2^nd and February 29^th, 2008. For more information about how to apply for a refund, please contact the Library help desk.

Thanks & Regards

Dr T K Subramoni

Library Manager