Upper Hutt Library Changes

Jan from Ebdentown

I am disappointed to have to tell you that I have not heard from any councillors other than Angela McLeod who has acknowledged me and she has indicated that she is looking into it and would like to meet in the near future.
Steve Taylor has contacted me and he at least went and spent time in the Library, he says for him its ok, but he could see it might not suit all.
He also said he thought it was an “operational matter” and couldn’t see what he could do, but we could meet if I liked – I felt dismissed so I declined a meeting, I don’t see the point in using my time to talk to folk who are supposed to represent me and don’t know how that works.

I had been having ongoing correspondence with the Director Community Services – one Mike Ryan – who now no longer replies to my letters- I have been asking him to supply often quoted relevant information. He consistently does not supply it.

The Questions:
• To be given access to the quoted research of “similar libraries here and overseas” that Library and Council say is the successful model that they have adopted for our Library. To be given the statistical data and the sources.
I also asked:
• Is the Library registering and counting over the counter complaints?
• Is the Library registering and counting daily requests for help?
• Do staff point out and direct complainants to feedback forms?
I asked the Mayor in person
Now that there is little to no ‘line of sight’ in the Library and people can effectively disappear behind shelving - accident, illness, emergency, criminality all are obscured in the current layout? He told me there were many cameras I asked if they were being monitored, he said he didn’t know but he would ask and get back to me – I am still waiting.
• CCTV who is monitoring and how often? Will incidents be seen while happening or will it be only useful as evidence after the fact?

I have good reason to believe they do not have the information that they quote as the basis for changing our library. I believe they have never had it.
My feeling is that this trendy philosophy has come directly from our new Library Manager, Marion Read, to satisfy Councils need for a ‘cost to benefit’ analysis, so that data could then be used to downsize or downgrade our Library. Something she perhaps was a part of in Auckland where she came to us from?
We don’t even have a Chief or Head Librarian anymore, which has me wondering what the qualifications now are and whether or not Library Managers cost less than Librarians?
Does Marion Read reside in or pay rates in Upper Hutt?
Remember all these people are paid by us to administer our city, and along with fulfilling what the local body law requires of all our local bodies, they are also supposed to reflect their specific community needs, wants and identity!
Our representatives are elected by us to represent us and are paid for by us.
Be assured that I will not vote for anyone that ignores me and takes my money while doing so!
How sad is it that we will now have to spend even more of our unpaid time and effort to require our paid for by us City Council to comply with the law?

My issues are and have always been Accessibility and Inclusivity

If you want more detail on my correspondence with UHCC go to my blog www.publiclibrarytrends.blogspot.co.nz...