Music Library Closure - YLI

[Dave2002]

See http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureA...ary/review.htm

If you feel strongly enough about the withdrawal of a public service which may be impossible to reconstruct if it's dismantled, then start writing and campaigning to tell the authorities how you feel. We may have hard times, but remember that 400 people in the USA have more wealth than over 100 million US citizens, and more than the whole of the UK. There is money out there, but not distributed well or fairly. There should be no need for this kind of vandalism in the UK.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Four years ago, I was cheerfully told that a score listed as "available" on the Bradford Library website had been given (together with most of the Music Stock) to Wakefield. To get it, I could either go over to Wakefield or reserve it through the inter-library Loans (at a higher cost than it would take to buy thescore myself). When I said that I thought this was a poor way to run a public Library, the tone changed exactly to that mentioned in this "press release": why should we subsidize your hobby?

You're right Dave: this educational vandalism isn't necessary and shouldn't be tolerated without protest. Thank You for drawing it to our attention.

[Roslynmuse]

Here's part of an email from the organisation Making Music - representing, amongst others, the many amateur choirs and orchestras that use the sets in Wakefield Library.

You may already be aware that a decision has been made to cease running Yorkshire Libraries & Information (YLI) Music and Drama Service, currently operating from Wakefield Libraries Headquarters.
Making Music has had previous successes in lobbying to keep other library collections available and we need your help to oppose the YLI proposal in the strongest possible terms and protect this vital resource for musicians everywhere.
The music collection at Wakefield is one of the most important in the country, and comprises over 500,000 items of music and 90,000 copies of plays, thus making it one of the largest collections of performing sets in the UK. It is available not only to individual users, schools and music and drama groups in the Yorkshire and Humber area but also to organisations and groups outside of the region on a pay per use basis.
The 12 local authorities that subscribe to the service have decided ‘in principle’ to close the service at the end of March 2012, and are considering this decision and its implications at their next meeting on 3 November.

Key facts:
The library service is available to individual borrowers, music groups and other public libraries across the whole of the UK, and has been since 1974
It is used by thousands of choirs and orchestras, providing an excellent and affordable service and making it possible for hundreds of thousands of people around the country to enjoy music in their community
It offers a valuable resource to young musicians, students of music and those preparing for careers as professional musicians
The International Association of Music Librarians (IAML) is fully behind a campaign opposed to the library’s closure
The decision was made on 30 September, and only made public on 20 October. Read the announcement.
Allegedly all users of the service have received a letter from Councillor Andrew Pinnock, although we have reason to believe many users have been ignored in this process
The decision will be agreed at a meeting of the local council subscribers on 3 November, leaving very little time for action
The reported ‘online survey’ to assess customer response did not include IAML nor the public libraries around the UK using and valuing this service
It is thought that the decision to close the service has been triggered by the imminent move of the library from its existing premises and corresponding move /new storage costs
If the service is withdrawn, what then?

We don’t know what will happen to the 500,000 music items – the collection is likely to be broken up, or housed outside of the public domain
Public libraries, music groups and individuals will no longer have access to this enormous and highly valued catalogue of music
Costs will increase as groups need to source music elsewhere
Many musical works will receive fewer performances; many groups will perform less; many local communities will hear less live music in performance
We cannot allow this vital resource to be lost. We do not believe that splitting the collection and distributing it across the 12 Local authorities is a workable solution. We want the collection to be preserved as a complete library and in public ownership. Without it our communities will suffer. It’s in all our interests to campaign to keep the service running.
We need YOU to support this campaign and let the decision makers know how much it means to you and your community!

What can you do?

WRITE to Yorkshire Libraries to let them know your views by 2 November (next Wednesday). You can use or adapt our template letter (attached), or write something completely different in similar vein
Send your letter by email or post (or both) to Kate Holliday, YLI Manager, Balne Lane, Wakefield WF2 0DQ - kholliday@wakefield.gov.uk
Send us a copy of your letter (to info@makingmusic.org.uk) so that we can gather together a body of evidence of support from the voluntary music sector
Make sure your Librarian writes – and as many people in your group as you can muster!
LOBBY your local councillors and MPs
LOBBY key parliamentarians in the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and the Department for Communities & Local Government
TWEET your protest and pass on the word, using the hashtag #saveyorkshiremusiclibrary (this will ensure all posts are collected together as a massed body of material)
SPREAD THE WORD to everyone in your music group, your friends and local community to encourage them to do likewise – and visit our campaign page https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/savey...remusiclibrary
Are you a user of the library service? Were you consulted during the decision making process? Did you receive the letter informing service users of the closure decision? Can you add any useful information to our campaign? Let us know!
Thank you for your help. Together we can turn this around.

All best wishes

Robin Osterley
Chief Executive







Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies