Insulting

Published: 17 February, 2011

• WE are profoundly concerned about the libraries consultation.

The design of the questionnaire is insulting to respondents; its makes it quite clear its authors are not seriously interested in learning from local people’s experience and views on how our library services might be improved and safeguarded. The first three questions merely give the opportunity to choose various permutations of pre-determined cuts; it does not give respondents the opportunity to reject all the proposals that have been presented in the document. The fourth question asks only for ideas about other “savings” that might be made. Nowhere are we asked what we believe are the strengths and weaknesses of the service, nor how we think it could be more efficient and effective. The online version of the questionnaire is even worse. It is impossible to write one’s views in the comments box unless one has chosen a cocktail of cuts from the lists provided first. 

We believe the questionnaire is so deeply flawed and biased it leaves the consultation open to accusations that it is designed simply to achieve the results senior members and officers want.

FABIAN WATKINSON 
Friends of Highgate Library