Brideshead

Resubmitted Post Are any other people shocked by the poor management of the new East Dulwich Library? Officially called ?Grove Vale Library? (not Dulwich library at the top of the hill) Let?s take the very simplest issue by way of example. Selection of Daily Newspapers. For literally 2 months since the library reopened after lockdown I have been asking the manager no less when the daily newspapers get resumed. For a period of THREE full weeks I was given the reason, later turning out to be totally false, that ?newspapers & periodicals are not being reinstated until the final phase of roll out of post coronavirus resumption of library services?. Took this at face value until somebody pointed out to me that Dulwich library up the road had been providing newspapers to its customers since THE START OF NOVEMBER. So generously giving the library manager guy a chance (to be more than fair), I mentioned to him that Newspapers were being provided again as normal at Dulwich Library. Then manager told me that ?oh they must be reprovisioning them by mistake in contravention of library policy, so yeah Dulwich library are making a mistake?. Days later (where still no newspapers were provided) he then casually mentions to me that ?oh actually somebody else did not send me an email to authorise getting daily newspapers again. It should have been done at start of November?. Great! So simple problem solved? ?Well, er, no not really He then gives a grave expression ?we used to get it delivered to us but they stopped doing it so it?s a major problem?. Is that correct? The grove vale library has for a long time simply purchased the papers each day. Not withstanding there are newsagents shops everywhere next door or metres away, THE EXACT NEWSPAPERS ARE ON SALE FROM 7AM EACH DAY 3 SECONDS AWAY INSIDE THE SAME EXACT BUILDING AS THE LIBRARY IN MARKS & SPENCERS. After another two days of - you guessed it - no newspapers, I politely asked for an update from the manager about resumption of newspapers. This is due to the fact that admitted by him his Superior had even instructed him to provide this service. He responded negatively in my opinion. This shocked me as I was very polite. Apparently he needed ?far more than 2 days to sort out? such an evidently complicated problem of buying of a newspaper. For sale in the same building. Wow. As I write this as at Monday 6 December 2021 at 1245hrs, there are STILL NO NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES being provided. That is an entire month & a week after Southwark Council policy is to reinstate them. Given the WiFi / computers don?t seem to work reliably either, this means VERY FREQUENTLY that the Southwark local library has no access to up to date news. This in the middle of a rapidly escalating pandemic situation with the OMNICRON variant. This is despite 2/3 staff sitting around literally doing nothing for hours on end. Not much attention to missing newspapers with the whole newspaper shelf bold as brass totally empty. Day after day after day. Wonder why each time I query the situation I am told something completely different each time. Very frustrated by this still ongoing issue as a Southwark council tax payer. Complaint issued to Southwark council 10 days ago but the bureaucracy seems especially slow. Such a simple issue, seems to me OTT. Any other suggestions so we can get the correct service we pay for & are entitled to? Comments welcome! (Please kindly no contributions from library staff pretending to pass off as members of the public with trolling comments, HP etc)

That?s funny because I got a bunch of constructive & positive replies to my original (unedited) post. I copied them just in time and am pursuing at least one of the suggestions to take it forward. Wrong again. And also wrong about trolling, as it?s you that?s the troll. Read your personally directed comments which have nothing to do with libraries & nothing to do with newspapers. But thanks for your contribution.

Yes, so the post is about provision of newspapers & periodicals at Grove Vale library & why it?s not available at only Grove Vale Library 1/ How is ?time spent visiting? relevant? 2/ How is ?internet connection? relevant? Cheap/free/unlimited data is commonly widespread on mine & everybody?s mobile now. You weren?t aware of that? (?Internet connection? Very old fashioned term, not sure I can remember last time I heard that). So to reiterate Newspaper & Magazine availability NOT accessing WiFi or duration of visit or price of baked beans at Tesco Bit clearer I hope? Lol Any sensible contributions anyone?

And of a sudden no post comeback from ?HPSaucy?? Should wake up me thinks Just got a lot more interesting 🧐

Well apart from HPSaucy of course. Who (in my honest opinion only) might be the aforementioned library manager him very self. 😉 [disclaimer: Could be wrong tho]

wolis Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > On the same subject but a lighter note. I was an > Assistant Librarian in the 60s for Lambeth > Libraries. I worked at the Tate Central Lbrary in > Brixton. The reading room with papers and > magazines was next door to the main building - now > part of the Ritzy Cinama. Not a place for the > faint hearted. > Later I worked at The Tate, South Lambeth. The > reading area was in the middle of the large single > room and we always had a few old chaps sitting or > sleeping on chairs. On one of the last ever days > of the 'smog' the room was full of 'tramps' or > 'down and outs' as they were called. The smell > was overpowering and the regular readers and we > staff were having great difficulty breathing so I > opened the main doors and the back door. Gradually > the smog drifted in and it became as cold and > smoggy inside as outside. One by one with much > quiet grumbling all the old chaps left. I once > sadly had to ask one old man to leave and he said > "It's because I smell isn't it? I almost let him > stay. Could apply that to anything. Seen homeless sleeping with head on tables in libraries no newspaper (or even book) required. Is this post relevant to the thread? Admin?

A lot of the posts seem to take the form of flippant disingenuous answers like: - use the internet (Already said it?s unreliable, patchy & rationed to 45/50 usable minutes.That?s even if it were equivalent in any shape or form!) - go to the other library (take & pay for a bus to another library that can manage a simple thing. Maybe wait in a queue (which often happens for a popular service). And then take & pay for bus back again.) - buy a paper as you should ?pay for journalists?. (Hmm why not apply that to the books as well ?you should pay for writers?) You might as well respond to any library issue with ?order a book on Amazon?, ?try another borough?s libraries?, or, ?knock on your neighbours? doors to borrow something to read? The issue as you are fully aware is not only perfectly reasonable, legitimate it?s eminently qualified to be posted on a local community forum!!! 😜 nice try though guys/girls!

hpsaucey Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You're still suggesting that the fact the library > manager hasn't done this 'simple task' might be > down to OCD or autism. Do you really think that's > ok to say??? > > HP You have misconstrued the intention behind my comment by 180? Firstly, I?ve clearly written the word MAYBE. That is I have no idea of what the difficulty either is or might be. The fact I have been given at least 3 explanations for the issue, which all turned out to be false (for whatever reason) means I think I?m entitled to speculate about the reason. It maybe any sort of reason! Maybe a confidential library closure review is imminent so managers have been instructed not to make any new or reinstated expenditure, & closedown any customer requests. Secondly I?m trying to be compassionate we are all human beings.In fact all of us - in my opinion - are on the OCD & Autism spectrum, it?s just a matter of where. Hope that clears that up. Hoping from this forum I can get some tips taking this forward, for example councillors/ library management committee/ library users groups/ starting petition Simple matter; sure it can get fixed working together with other stakeholders in the local community!

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Using a new (alternative?) User ID, first posting, > why not just use your original ID ? Think you will find haven?t changed the ID Your may have jumped to conclusions. I?ve resubmitted it with exactly same account taking out large chunks of opinion that are not permitted. First time poster so not familiar with the rules & regs.

Edited & resubmitted post: Are any other people concerned as I am by the mismanagement of the new East Dulwich Library? Officially called ?Grove Vale Library? (not Dulwich library at the top of the hill) Let?s take the very simplest issue by way of example. Selection of Daily Newspapers. For literally 2 months since the library reopened after lockdown I have been asking the manager no less when the daily newspapers get resumed. For a period of THREE full weeks I was given the reason, later turning out to be totally false, that ?newspapers & periodicals are not being reinstated until the final phase of roll out of post coronavirus resumption of library services?. Took this at face value until somebody pointed out to me that Dulwich library up the road had been providing newspapers to its customers since THE START OF NOVEMBER. So generously giving the library manager guy a chance (to be more than fair), I mentioned to him that Newspapers were being provided again as normal at Dulwich Library. Instead of owning up to the mistake or maybe his confusion & polite apology, he told me that ?oh they must be reprovisioning them by mistake in contravention of library policy, so yeah Dulwich library are making a mistake?. Days later (where still no newspapers were provided) he then casually mentions to me that ?oh actually somebody else did not send me an email to authorise getting daily newspapers again. It should have been done at start of November?. Great! So simple problem solved? ?Well, er, no not really He then gives a grave expression ?we used to get it delivered to us but they stopped doing it so it?s a major problem?. Is that correct? The grove vale library has for a long time simply purchased the papers each day. Not withstanding there are newsagents shops everywhere next door or metres away, THE EXACT NEWSPAPERS ARE ON SALE FROM 7AM EACH DAY 3 SECONDS AWAY INSIDE THE SAME EXACT BUILDING AS THE LIBRARY IN MARKS & SPENCERS. After another two days of - you guessed it - no newspapers, I politely asked for an update from the manager about resumption of newspapers. This is due to the fact that admitted by him his Superior had even instructed him to provide this service. He responded negatively in my opinion. This shocked me as I was very polite. Apparently he needed ?far more than 2 days to sort out? such an evidently complicated problem of buying of a newspaper. For sale in the same building. Wow. As I write this as at Friday 3 December 2021 at 1245hrs, there are STILL NO NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES being provided. That is an entire month after Southwark Council policy is to reinstate them. Given the WiFi / computers don?t seem to work reliably either, this means VERY FREQUENTLY that the Southwark local library has no access to up to date news. This in the middle of a rapidly escalating pandemic situation with the OMNICRON variant. This is despite 2/3 staff sitting around literally doing nothing for hours on end. Not much attention to missing newspapers with the whole newspaper shelf bold as brass totally empty. Day after day after day. In the old building of Grove Vale library I remember a lady Rachel who ran the library like clockwork. She also was efficient, helpful, hard working, genuine & polite. The place ran like clockwork even in an old cramped creaking premises. Think she was the manager. Maybe someone else can correct me if I am wrong. What a terrible shame she is no longer in charge. Maybe it?s an ocd or autism issue with this simple task, in which case I guess we need to be understanding. Very frustrated by this still ongoing issue as a Southwark council tax payer. Complaint issued to Southwark council 10 days ago but the bureaucracy seems especially slow. Such a simple issue, seems to me OTT. Any other suggestions so we can get the correct service we pay for & are entitled to? Comments welcome!

Ok thank you for the comments. The bit I thought about including actually addresses your points, in that I have submitted more than 4 official complaints to Southwark council going back two weeks, via the website. I received an acknowledgment to one complaint 10 days ago that ?it was received?. Then nothing. No response. No explanation. No action. No newspapers or magazines. Such a simple thing, just astonishing. My complaint was limited to facts in complaint to council without the embellishments made here on the forum. Have tried very hard to keep the details of the issue objective without personal attacks or insults. In fact I?ve even acknowledged that the individual I dealt with may have some issues about which are not obvious. There is no objectionable language, sexist, racist, derogatory, ageist or defamatory comments in what I have submitted. However, this individual actually accused me ?I?m the only one complaining?(didn?t complained just asked question. Plus there are 3 three other customers just I know about also frustrated). And there is little explanation for a different story being offered that these are at least mostly lies, hence the person can be reasonably to possibly be a liar. Thank you for Southwark council switchboard number. Have you ever rung it hoping to speak to a council officer? Try it out. Then come back here with the result! Lastly with reference to buying newspapers myself. If I bought just 2 newspapers every day for 25 days each month it would be over ?30 a month! Maybe instead of books I should buy them out of my own pocket using the very same argument? Surely we have paid already via the Council Tax, so why should we be double charged?

Are any other people shocked by the mismanagement of the new East Dulwich Library? Officially called ?Grove Vale Library? (not Dulwich library at the top of the hill) Let?s take the very simplest issue by way of example. It seems to boil down to the rather strange new manager of the library that has seemed to arrive from nowhere. Probably got rid of somewhere else, although I?m guessing. Selection of Daily Newspapers (Reinstatement) For literally 2 months since the library reopened after lockdown I have been asking this manager when the daily newspapers get resumed. For a period of THREE full weeks I was given the story, later turning out to be total made up rubbish, that ?newspapers & periodicals are not being reinstated until the final phase of roll out of post coronavirus resumption of library services?. Took this liar & chancer at his word until somebody pointed out to me that Dulwich library up the road had been providing newspapers to its customers since THE START OF NOVEMBER. So generously giving the library manager guy a chance (to be more than fair), I mentioned to him that Newspapers were being provided again as normal at Dulwich Library. Instead of owning up to his mistake or maybe his confusion & polite apology, he then claimed to me that ?oh they must be reprovisioning them by mistake in contravention of library policy, so yeah Dulwich library are making a mistake?. Made up silly story number 2 folks! Hint: This will be a recurring theme, forum members Days later (where still no newspapers were provided) he then casually mentions to me that ?oh actually somebody else did not send me an email to authorise getting daily newspapers again. It should have been done at start of November?. Great! So simple problem solved? ?Nah-ah, people!!! He then gives a grave expression ?we used to get it delivered to us but they stopped doing it so it?s a major problem?. Ding dong!!! Silly story number 3 The grove vale library has for a long time simply purchased the papers each day. Not withstanding there are newsagents shops everywhere next door or metres away, THE EXACT NEWSPAPERS ARE ON SALE FROM 7AM EACH DAY 3 SECONDS AWAY INSIDE THE SAME EXACT BUILDING AS THE LIBRARY IN MARKS & SPENCERS. After another two days of - you guessed it - no newspapers, I politely asked for an update from the manager about resumption of newspapers. This is due to the fact that admitted by him his Superior had even instructed him to provide this service. He responded in aggressive, overly defensive & kind of unhinged fashion. This shocked me as I was very polite. Apparently he needed ?far more than 2 days to sort out? such an evidently complicated problem of buying of a newspaper. For sale in the same building. Wow. As I write this as at Friday 3 December 2021 at 1245hrs, there are STILL NO NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES being provided. That is an entire month after Southwark Council policy is to reinstate them. Given the WiFi / computers don?t seem to work reliably either, this means VERY FREQUENTLY that the Southwark local library has no access to up to date news. This in the middle of a rapidly escalating pandemic situation with the OMNICRON variant. This is despite 2/3 staff sitting around literally doing nothing for hours on end, the manager chatting with them about his favourite sci fi films, James Bond, his personal problems finding a flatmate & computer gaming. Oh and endless discussion about their tea break!!! Why such urgent need for tea break when sat doing absolutely nothing for 3+ full hours scrolling your mobile phone? Not much attention to missing newspapers with the whole newspaper shelf bold as brass totally empty. Day after day after day. In the old building of Grove Vale library I remember a lady Rachel who ran the library like clockwork. She also was efficient, helpful, hard working, genuine & polite. The place ran like clockwork even in an old cramped creaking premises. Think she was the manager. Maybe someone else can correct me if I am wrong. What a terrible shame she is no longer in charge. This story teller guy new manager is called Lawrence. Have any other people had issues? Maybe it?s just personal to me you never know. Maybe it?s an ocd or autism issue with this simple task, in which case we need to be understanding, but the task needs to be given to someone else whilst he can get treatment or some time off to get well again. Very frustrated by this still ongoing issue as a Southwark council tax payer. Comments welcome!

Are any other people shocked by the mismanagement of the new East Dulwich Library? Officially called ?Grove Vale Library? (not Dulwich library at the top of the hill) Let?s take the very simplest issue by way of example. It seems to boil down to the rather strange new manager of the library that has seemed to arrive from nowhere. Probably got rid of somewhere else, although I?m guessing. Selection of Daily Newspapers. For literally 2 months since the library reopened after lockdown I have been asking this manager when the daily newspapers get resumed. For a period of THREE full weeks I was given the story, later turning out to be total made up rubbish, that ?newspapers & periodicals are not being reinstated until the final phase of roll out of post coronavirus resumption of library services?. Took this liar & chancer at his word until somebody pointed out to me that Dulwich library up the road had been providing newspapers to its customers since THE START OF NOVEMBER. So generously giving the library manager guy a chance (to be more than fair), I mentioned to him that Newspapers were being provided again as normal at Dulwich Library. Instead of owning up to his mistake or maybe his confusion & polite apology, he then claimed to me that ?oh they must be reprovisioning them by mistake in contravention of library policy, so yeah Dulwich library are making a mistake?. Made up silly story number 2 folks! Hint: This will be a recurring theme, forum members Days later (where still no newspapers were provided) he then casually mentions to me that ?oh actually somebody else did not send me an email to authorise getting daily newspapers again. It should have been done at start of November?. Great! So simple problem solved? ?Nah-ah, people!!! He then gives a grave expression ?we used to get it delivered to us but they stopped doing it so it?s a major problem?. Ding dong!!! Silly story number 3 The grove vale library has for a long time simply purchased the papers each day. Not withstanding there are newsagents shops everywhere next door or metres away, THE EXACT NEWSPAPERS ARE ON SALE FROM 7AM EACH DAY 3 SECONDS AWAY INSIDE THE SAME EXACT BUILDING AS THE LIBRARY IN MARKS & SPENCERS. After another two days of - you guessed it - no newspapers, I politely asked for an update from the manager about resumption of newspapers. This is due to the fact that admitted by him his Superior had even instructed him to provide this service. He responded in aggressive, overly defensive & kind of unhinged fashion. This shocked me as I was very polite. Apparently he needed ?far more than 2 days to sort out? such an evidently complicated problem of buying of a newspaper. For sale in the same building. Wow. As I write this as at Friday 3 December 2021 at 1245hrs, there are STILL NO NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES being provided. That is an entire month after Southwark Council policy is to reinstate them. Given the WiFi / computers don?t seem to work reliably either, this means VERY FREQUENTLY that the Southwark local library has no access to up to date news. This in the middle of a rapidly escalating pandemic situation with the OMNICRON variant. This is despite 2/3 staff sitting around literally doing nothing for hours on end, the manager chatting with them about his favourite sci fi films, James Bond, his personal problems finding a flatmate & computer gaming. Oh and endless discussion about their tea break!!! Why such urgent need for tea break when sat doing absolutely nothing for 3+ full hours scrolling your mobile phone? Not much attention to missing newspapers with the whole newspaper shelf bold as brass totally empty. Day after day after day. In the old building of Grove Vale library I remember a lady Rachel who ran the library like clockwork. She also was efficient, helpful, hard working, genuine & polite. The place ran like clockwork even in an old cramped creaking premises. Think she was the manager. Maybe someone else can correct me if I am wrong. What a terrible shame she is no longer in charge. This story teller guy new manager is called Lawrence. Have any other people had issues? Maybe it?s just personal to me you never know. Maybe it?s an ocd or autism issue with this simple task, in which case we need to be understanding, but the task needs to be given to someone else whilst he can get treatment or some time off to get well again. Very frustrated by this still ongoing issue as a Southwark council tax payer. Comments welcome!