CHAIR�S LETTER TO THE LOCAL TIMES

Dear Sir,

One of the kindest comments made about statistics is, "What they reveal is interesting, but what they conceal is vital."� It is regrettable therefore that the table of statistics on the Richmond upon Thames Council Performance Indicators published in accordance with the Audit Commission requirements is hardly even interesting.� To make sense of these tables requires some reference to a standard of performance, comparative Council benchmarks or national average statistics.

Whilst even these need to be interpreted with care, an example of the library statistics illustrates the point.� The draft DCMS standards specifies a "user satisfaction" level of 95% compared with the Richmond figure of 68.5%; the national average for "book issues" per capita in l999 was 8.14 compared with Richmond's 7.08.

It has been estimated that the Richmond upon Thames Library Service will require more than �300K to bring it up to the DCMS draft standards level.� Given the current financial situation of the Borough, the future of the library service looks bleak unless further national funding is forthcoming.� Already Vincent Cable MP has drawn attention to the recommendations of the House of Commons Select Committee Report on Public Libraries, which among its many excellent recommendations, suggests that extra funding could be provided from the Lottery Funds.� It is essential that this report is debated effectively and its recommendations implemented promptly.

RON SALMONS

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE 6^TH REPORT FROM THE CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE

The short report into libraries has come up with a list of recommendations to which the Government has responded.� It will be no surprise that there is no significant change in the avenues of funding available for library services though the following recommendations were made:

� it should be the responsibility of local authorities to protect funding levels for libraries

� [the government would] encourage local authorities to pursue � support for libraries from the private sector

� allocate funding of libraries to a specific National Lottery fund.

The final �recommendation� of the report noted:

� We can recollect few if any inquiries that have generated as many submissions to the Committee.� That public interest reflects both the need for public library services and the high regard in which they are held by millions of people.�� cont. p3