Philip Booth, a spokesperson for the Stroud District Green party said: "Just two weeks ago the Green party raised concerns about the rebranding of the libaries being a step towards privatisation(ii). Now we have confirmation of Government plans for book choice to be privatised by wholesale suppliers. We have already seen private companies run Haringey's libraries, public-private partnerships building new libraries and the growing threat of international legislation to force libraries to become profit-making enterprises (iii). This latest news is more centralised control and another step towards wholesale privatisation."

John Marjoram, a Green party District and Town councillor in Stroud, who helped launch a local petition two weeks ago, calling for return of community notice boards at Stroud library and raising concern over possible future privatisation said: "These changes are the most radical since public libraries were set up in the 19th century, and even the consultants commissioned by the government have acknowledged they would have 'a cost to local democracy'. It makes our petition all the more important."

John Marjoram continued: "Labour seem infatuated with the idea of involving the private sector, despite evidence that it leads to profits for shareholders and poorer services. Two weeks ago it was the absurd part-privatisation of the Royal Mail (iv) now we have this. Our public services are based on a completely different set of principles to profit (iv). I don't want to see those disappear. Please call me if you can help collect signatures for this petition."

Petitions can be obtained from John Marjoram and returned by 28th September. Telephone for more details: 01453 750962


Notes

(i) In The Guardian: "Libraries face their biggest shake-up"
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1539170,00.html

(ii) Gloucestershire Green party news release

The petition reads: "We the undersigned, object to the three large signs which adorn the stairs leading up to the main foyer of Stroud Library, call for their removal. In their place we call for the re-instatement of local A4 posters which gave us valuable local information, so enriching community cohesion in the area. Branding rhetoric is an insult to the people of this town. We fear this may be the first move in privatising the Library Service, which we deplore." Petitions can be obtained from John Marjoram and returned by 28th September.

(iii) See Ruth Rikowski's book is entitled: Globalisation, Information and Libraries: the Implications of the World Trade Organisation's GATS and TRIPS Agreements (Chandos). Her research, published earlier this year, shows how even if Labour do not have specific plans now for privatising libraries, that along with other public services such as health, education, water and housing it is likely that libraries will come under international legislation like GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services). GATS is a set of trade rules whereby WTO member countries must open up their service sectors to the global market. Although the UK (under the EU) has not so far committed its Library Service to the GATS, this could easily change in future negotiations with other advanced industrial countries, particularly as private companies search for ripe opportunities. For more information see: 'Library privatisation: fact or fiction?' By Ruth Rikowski
 http://www.libr.org/ISC/articles/17-Rikowski-2.html

(iv) See The Guardian article: 'From pillarbox to post: fight over future of Royal Mail heats up as liberalisation looms' at:
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1533809,00.html