Sir — The people who are proposing to devastate Oxfordshire public libraries are led by an accountant who presumably knows the price of everything and perhaps whose professional knowledge ends there.
In South Wales during the depths of the 1930s Depression, the local (Carnegie) public library was a social and knowledge oasis. It was open six days a week until 10pm. Do not disregard the mental health aspects of a library.
It provides a peaceful, unhurried focal point for social contact in an atmosphere of learning and inexpensive respite.
A library is an essential part of the “social cement” of a community. The library service now faces what might prove to be a terminal and irreversible attack on its future. It is too important a social service to be left solely to accountancy criteria.
In the Said Business School, there is a huge resource of expertise in financial, organisational and innovative business entrepreneurship.
If Mr Mitchell and colleagues wish to reorganise and run public services on what they profess to be business lines, then why not approach this pool of expertise in our community?
“Slash and burn” does not have to be the only option for saving public money.
Said has a faculty for social entrepreneurship; focus can include “urgent social and environmental challenges”. Emphasis can be on action as well as academic reflection.
In Oxford, as in most of the UK, we are now facing urgent social challenges.
If approached, perhaps the Said Business School would be prepared to offer its expert advice to the local amateurs. Your move Mr Mitchell.
John Howard Williams, Oxford
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