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.
Ripping the heart out. @GuardianAus ABC dismantles sound libraries and axes staff to improve budget. https://t.co/IRyZbz54Uv
— Linda Mottram @Linda@mastodon.sdf.org🌻 (@LindaMottram) January 30, 2018
Similarly, Simon Marnie, long-standing host of the ABC Sydney Weekend program, described the move on Facebook as a ‘corporate lobotomy’.
Comedian and star of 1980s ABC sketch show D-Generation, Tony Martin, was also critical of move, pointing out ‘space savings’ arguments to digitise the music collections are largely moot for the Melbourne offices.
Despite ludicrous gymnasium-sized foyer at Southbank, ABC destroys sound library to 'save floor space': https://t.co/uKNIzVZMWW
— Tony Martin (@mrtonymartin) January 29, 2018
Under the proposal, ABC management will shut down the Perth, Hobart and Adelaide libraries with the loss of four jobs. The Sydney sound and reference library will also lose six staff, however the reference and classic music resources will remain at Ultimo.
Currently, the ABC employs the equivalent of 15.3 full-time employees across its libraries nationally.
In a statement to Mumbrella an ABC spokesperson said: “The proposed changes are subject to consultation with staff and are not yet finalised. The proposed changes are about working most effectively and efficiently in the digital environment.
“The recent introduction of the Digital Music Bank allows us to provide access to the entire collection digitally, and under this proposal we would move from multiple sound libraries to a single library based in Melbourne. Moving from physical to digital would enable these resources to be more easily accessed by content-makers when and where they needed them.
“Under this proposal the Sound Library collection would be centralised in Melbourne and librarians there would continue to provide expert knowledge to assist content makers around the country.”
ABC section secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, Sinddy Ealy said: “This decision is extremely premature, given the ABC hasn’t even begun to bed down its content restructure. This is going to add to the pressure on journalists and content makers.”
“This isn’t just about the format of this content. These ABC librarians are highly skilled and experienced. They make a real difference to high quality ABC productions and they will be missed.”
“I’d expect most of these people will walk into new jobs elsewhere fairly easily because of their unique skills. It’s the ABC and ABC audiences who will lose the most from this announcement.”
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.
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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.
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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
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