ABC proposal to shut down sound libraries draws fire from staff
A proposal by the ABC to restructure its sound and reference libraries, resulting in the loss of 10 staff has been blasted by current and former employees.
The proposal, which will see the state-based libraries centralised in Melbourne and Sydney with most of the CD and print collections digitised, is part of the national broadcaster’s efficiency drive under CEO Michelle Guthrie.
The host of current affairs show PM, Linda Mottram, described the proposal as “ripping the heart out” on Twitter, following reports of the move in The Guardian.
As a long-term employee of ABC Archives am truly appalled to read in ‘The Guardian’ that my old firm is intending to discard its priceless ‘Federal Reference’ and ‘Sound’ libraries as well as making its talented librarians redundant. These irreplaceable collections have been built up since the ABC began transmission in 1932 so I urge Michelle Guthrie to reconsider her decision, which is no amount of digitisation can ever replace. In a letter to ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ yesterday, Gayle Davies of North Sydney, echoed my sentiments entirely: ‘Right across the Commonwealth and state public services, senior executives in the mindless grip of the digital delusion, have abolished the positions of records’ managers and librarians and disposed of their incumbents, as surplus to requirements. The ironically named Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is just the first to see it come back to bite them. Ironic, therefore, that the ABC is also in the process of culling its libraries and archives and disposing of its librarians. Perhaps it will think twice now’. I understand that the Clippings Library and the film and video collections will not be affected but maybe the word ‘yet’ is silent.
The proposed ABC Library closures will cause irreversible harm and the loss will affect us all, as Ray Bradbury made clear in Fahrenheit 451. There is little difference between dumping, storing or burning books – empty book shelves in a Berlin memorial are a mute reminder of the horrors of the 10 May 1933 Nazi book burnings. Fanatics tried to rid the world of printed knowledge – now administrators are doing the same to ‘save money’.
Making such cuts will have devastating consequences – Nicholson Baker’s book Double Fold describes how the British Library (and others) are now suffering because in the 1990s they were conned into getting rid of their hard copies of international newspapers which dated from 1850.
Online is not for ever as two Observer journalists noted – while it is still possible to read the thousand-year-old Domesday Book, an expensive multi-media version became obsolete after 16 years – http://www.theguardian.com/uk/.....ning/print.
It would be a terrible mistake to reduce the collections of the ABC Libraries and to deliberately end the services of ten specialist librarians with their combined skills, knowledge and experience. Please recognise the value of both and reconsider this decision.
Please contact the ABC via its contact page
http://www.abc.net.au/contact
or send a letter or email to the Australian Library and Information Association, which is collecting letters of support to pass on to the ABC Board, and Minister Fifield.
email: advocacy@alia.org.au
Closing date for letters: 19th February.
Many thanks,
Gayle Davies
Membership Secretary,
ABC Friends NSW /ACT