More than just the Beatles

A long time ago there was a pamphlet called More than just books designed to promote all the other good stuff, beyond books, which you can get in libraries. I was reminded of this while I was in Liverpool (for most of last week) at the Cofhe/UC&R Conference. At the Conference Dinner, held in the magnificent surroundings of the Town Hall, the Lord Mayor was keen to emphasise that there is more to Liverpool than (quote) "the Beatles and two famous football teams."

Of course you're right, your Worship. There's two cathedrals, three universities, the largest retail development in Europe, a newly regenerated dockland (but hey, everywhere's got one of those), some brilliant buildings, and lots and lots of cultural activity - as you'd expect of one of the two European Capitals of Culture (go on - name the other one?).

It all got me thinking about what "culture" means. Some Conference delegates went off to see the Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool, some went to see the Antony Gormley figures on Crosby beach, some (of us) took a tour round Anfield, some looked round the great buildings like St George's Hall or the Liver Building, some (of us) visited Doctor Duncans to enjoy the fine traditional pub architecture and the excellent ales produced by Cains brewery,  and I'm sure some will have taken a ferry 'cross the Mersey and gone on the Magical Mystery Tour... It's all "cuture" innit?

 The other thing mentioned by the Lord Mayor was the negative image which the world tends to have of the Scouse Scally - who'll nick your hubcaps as soon as you turn your back. Well, your Worship, we library and information professionals understand a thing or two about negative images and how unjustified they can be. We know that the Scouse Scally image of ducking and diving is just as false as the bookish saddo image of the librarian or the geeky nerd image of the info specialist. Don't we?

The guest speaker at the Conference Dinner was Frank Cottrell Boyce, Carnegie winner for his debut childrens novel, Millions, and currently writing a play to be staged later in the year as part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture programme. He spoke marvellously about reading and libraries and about how books can take us into worlds other than our own. I told him we'd all come and see his play if it's staged when we're back in Liverpool for the PLA Conference in October.

So, a top author and screenwriter like Frank Cottrell Boyce thinks librarians are great; and a high-profile politician like Michael Portillo thinks librarians are great; and the Controller of Knowledge at the BBC thinks librarians are great; and the Director of Culture at DCMS thinks librarians are great...It's been a good couple of weeks, in my world, for advocating the value of library and information professionals and the contribution we make in society. And I'll be building on that, in the coming weeks, as we move forward with the dialogue about professional standards of service initiated by the Conway report.