SURREY County Council has recently launched an online public consultation about transforming libraries and cultural services.
It would appear, however, they have ignored the Crystal Mark standard and instead have chosen ambiguity and repetition as their method of communication.
I (Noel Hogan of Castle Hill, Farnham) have therefore attempted to decipher their questions and options and hope the below Plain English rewording is of assistance to anyone considering completing the consultation:
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following principle: Libraries and cultural services provide and enable opportunities for everyone to learn, access information, acquire new skills, improve literacy and be involved in their communities.
[] Strongly agree
[] Agree
[] Neither agree nor disagree
[] Disagree
[] Strongly disagree
[] No opinion
Rewording: Libraries are a good thing?
What impact would this principle have on you?
[] Highly positive
[] Positive
[] No impact
[] Negative
[] Highly negative
[] Not sure
Rewording: Match the number of your answer above with the number here. If you get this bit wrong, it will cancel out the answer you gave above.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the principle that, given restricted funding, libraries and other cultural resources should be targeted to the wellbeing and strengthening of communities, particularly the most vulnerable, to enable them to be resilient.
[] Strongly agree
[] Agree
[] Neither agree nor disagree
[] Disagree
[] Strongly disagree
[] No opinion
Rewording: We are skint, so can we take it out on those who need our services the most or not?
What impact would this principle have on you?
[] Highly positive
[] Positive
[] No impact
[] Negative
[] Highly negative
[] Not sure
Rewording: Match the number of your answer above with the number here. If you get this bit wrong, it will cancel out the answer you gave above.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following principle: Libraries and cultural services are most effective and efficient when they work in partnership with the public, voluntary and community and private sectors, including through the creation of shared spaces.
[] Strongly agree
[] Agree
[] Neither agree nor disagree
[] Disagree
[] Strongly disagree
[] No opinion
Rewording: Can you run these things for us, using volunteers and part of your house or office, even though you will still be paying for them with increasing council taxes every year?
What impact would this principle have on you?
[] Highly positive
[] Positive
[] No impact
[] Negative
[] Highly negative
[] Not sure
Rewording: Match the number etc. This is not a trick question, honest guv.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following principle: New technologies, including digital, enable libraries and cultural services to reach new audiences, and existing audiences in new ways, and offer 24/7 access.
[] Strongly agree
[] Agree
[] Neither agree nor disagree
[] Disagree
[] Strongly disagree
[] No opinion
Rewording: Google it, reading is for dinosaurs.
What impact would this principle have on you?
[] Positive
[] No impact
[] Negative
[] Highly negative
[] Not sure
Rewording: Match the number etc. Honestly, we are just making sure you know your own mind, why would we trick you?
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following principle: Volunteers are crucial community advocates and assets in libraries and cultural services, who also gain valuable skills and relationships through the work they do.
[] Strongly agree
[] Agree
[] Neither agree nor disagree
[] Disagree
[] Strongly disagree
[] No opinion
Rewording: We like to make volunteers feel warm and fuzzy, as it saves us a fortune. Do you like them too? Of course, you do, they’re lovely.
What impact would this principle have on you?
[] Highly positive
[] Positive
[] No impact
[] Negative
[] Highly negative
[] Not sure
Rewording: Match the……you get the gist (but it is definitely not a trap)
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the county council extending the use of volunteers to help in delivering and collecting books to our most vulnerable residents who wish to access library services?
[] Strongly agree
[] Agree
[] Neither agree nor disagree
[] Disagree
[] Strongly disagree
[] No opinion
Rewording: We’re flogging this volunteers’ question to death, aren’t we? And it isn’t because it saves us a fortune. Do you like them too, of course, you do, they’re lovely
What impact would this have on you?
[] Highly positive
[] Positive
[] No impact
[] Negative
[] Highly negative
[] Not sure
Rewording: see above (still not a trick, though, honest)
Do you have any specific ideas about how we could achieve these principles through libraries and cultural services, both Surrey-wide and locally in your area?
Rewording: This bit is to make you feel involved and it gives us all a laugh. We have a top ten list of the funniest in the office.
WW adds its grateful thanks to many others here in Farnham: to Noel Hogan
Castle Hill, Farnham
One little ten-year-old summed it all up really:
