The Black and Minority Ethnic Stock Group (BSG) in Hackney libraries

Abstract

The national contextSince the changes in Section 11 funding [1] , different local authorities have responded in different ways to provide a service to their black communities. In general, there has been a decline in the quality and quantity of service provision to black communities. At the same time, qualified and experienced black staff have either been redeployed out of local authority service or been offered lower level posts or jobs that have nothing to do with service to black communities. The decisionmaking process has become even more dominated by non-black staff. Years of experience and community links have been lost. The effect has also been felt in black book trade which has suddenly seen a dramatic decline in funds made available for black material.It is in this context that the experience in Hackney should be seen. It reverses general national experience and sets new standards in quality of service to black communities. In addition, it has empowered black staff at all levels to be active in fundholding, in making, implementing and monitoring stock policy. Black and local suppliers have been used to supply all areas of stock, exposing the myth that black suppliers are not able to supply material required by public libraries. The model has been modified and improved over a period of over two years and is in the process of being formally structured into the new staffing structure following a comprehensive library review. The Hackney factorAfter years of decline, Hackney libraries are undergoing a process of radical transformation. Library staff, in a well-planned series of consultations, came up with a number of The authors Shiraz Durrani, John Pateman and Naila Durrani work in the London Borough of Hackney Libraries.

Combating racial discrimination in British public libraries: the role of the Quality Leaders Project

“…The first public airing of the ideas behind the QLP took place at an executive briefing held at the Library Association in June 1999 organised in association with The Association of London Chief Librarians (ALCL) (see Durrani, 1999). Session 3 focused on the significance of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry for public libraries and the elimination of institutional racism in libraries.…”

An overview of the literature of management and of information and library services management 1999

“…The British Library has funded a project on public libraries, ethnic diversity and citizenship, raising a number of difficult issues to be addressed by the public library service (Roach and Morrison, 1999). The work of the Black and Minority Ethnic Stock Group in London's Hackney Libraries has been described (Durrani et al, 1999).…”