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Irish booksellers 'could lose their jobs' after library contracts outsourced to UK

The chair of Bookselling Ireland said that “at least three Irish companies will more than likely go out of business”.

IRISH BOOKSELLERS have said that they are at risk of going out of business after a State decision to outsource the majority of procurement for new library books to the UK.

The tender process for the procurement of library books has granted 60% of the €6 million annual contract to a UK company.

The announcement of the contracts in December was met with dismay by Irish cultural bodies, such as the Irish Writers Centre and Poetry Ireland.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, the chair of Bookselling Ireland, Frank Kelly, said that the move may mean “at least three Irish companies will more than likely go out of business”.

He also pointed out that the short-term gain for the government in terms of savings on books will be offset by the cost of people losing their jobs as smaller booksellers struggle to compete.

Kelly said: “In the short run, the UK might be the cheaper option. Next time there’s a tender there won’t be any competition. They’d be free to increase their prices then. It’s a short-term gain for a long-term loss.”

As well as the impact on local jobs and communities – Kelly employs over 10 people at his Sligo business – there are fears that there will be a negative cultural impact from this outsourcing.

In a statement, Bookselling Ireland and Words Ireland said:

Irish booksellers and library suppliers offer unique local industry knowledge, and have been instrumental in supporting Irish publishers and authors by ensuring Irish content is available in Irish libraries.

Author and former Children’s Laureate Siobhán Parkinson said that, a year after we commemorated the 1916 rising, we should continue to promote events of Irish cultural and historical significance through the books we have in our libraries.

She said: “A nation that aspires to develop independent thinking in its children needs a public library system that can provide our children with books written by Irish authors, published in Ireland (as well as elsewhere), mediated by specialist Irish librarians.

“And supplied by specialist [children's books] Irish library suppliers who have expertise in Irish requirements and can source and recommend the titles that Irish readers and especially Irish children want and need to read.

If library supply contracts are outsourced to corporate entities outside Ireland, the cultural consequences will be enormous and irretrievable.

Cultural groups want the government to implement a “cultural exemption” to the procurement process which, under EU directives, can make tender processes subject to cultural sensitivities.

They say that, instead of locking out suppliers from overseas, “it would provide smaller Irish firms with some security for the future”.

Kelly added that specialist Irish suppliers had worked with libraries here for decades, and that they were aware of the specific requirements that libraries up and down the country have.

He said that a specific skillset will be lost if the contracts go ahead, and companies from outside Ireland take control of library supplies.

“We won’t be around the next time a procurement process comes along,” he said. “We want this to be looked at again before the contracts are signed, but it’ll be a tough battle.”

TheJournal.ie has asked the Local Government Management Agency, the State agency responsible for the provision of services to library authorities, for comment on the issue.

Read: Staffless libraries: 111 people had membership withdrawn in pilot libraries, one over drunkenness

Read: Cork community library shut on 90 minutes notice is closed ‘indefinitely’

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34 Comments
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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Jul 6th 2018, 8:37 PM

    I like him , he did his own thing and made it a success .

    220
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 6th 2018, 8:53 PM

    @Ken Hayden:

    His legs flail about as if independent from his body!

    89
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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:03 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: I know , It’s a disgrace . And who wears shirts like that ?
    I’d like to go two rounds with him , but I’ll choose the music .

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    Mute Alan M
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:03 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: https://youtu.be/cGZ15IHN2_Q

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    Mute Carlovian77
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    Jul 6th 2018, 11:16 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: Were you a fan of Friends then?

    5
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
    Favourite Quentin Moriarty
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:09 PM

    The man resided in Ireland spent a fortune restoring Castlehyde House and paid his taxes so hats off to him for that .

    229
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    Mute happinessnow
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    Jul 6th 2018, 8:50 PM

    Would love a tour of Castle Hyde, good on him for all he’s achieved

    114
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:31 PM

    @happinessnow:
    I heard he has an alligator pit

    10
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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Jul 6th 2018, 10:02 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: I have two arm pits .

    47
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:54 PM

    Fair play to him for what he’s achieved . Wouldn’t necessarily be my type of entertainment but he’s helped put Ireland out on the international stage so that can only be a good thing..

    92
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    Mute Siobhán Ni Mhurchú
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    Jul 6th 2018, 8:41 PM

    Loved watching him dancing.. his shows were fantastic!

    86
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    Mute Terence Martin
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    Jul 6th 2018, 10:52 PM

    10 out of 10 but I’ve a good excuse having worked for the man. Doesn’t get the respect he deserves here really.

    63
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    Mute Irving Chubbie
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:12 PM

    The new James Bond. Dr. Knob.

    24
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    Mute Alan Currie
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    Jul 7th 2018, 8:43 AM

    they say 90% of women don’t like men who wear leather trousers, which is convenient as 90% of men who wear leather trousers don’t like women.

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    Mute Ciara Ni Mhurchu
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:35 PM

    A national treasure? I haven’t heard Americans call him that.

    9
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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Jul 6th 2018, 10:04 PM

    @Ciara Ni Mhurchu: Keep out of it , he liberated Irish men .
    Before Mick came along , we were forced to dance with our hands by our sides .

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jul 7th 2018, 6:54 AM

    @Ken Hayden: The reason that Irish dancers danced with there Hand’s down by their sides was because the dances were carried out in little cottage’s and there was no room to be flamboyant with them .True or false ,I don’t know but that is what I was told

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jul 7th 2018, 7:58 AM

    @FlopFlipU: or to make sure they had a good hold on the coins jingling in their pockets ?

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    Mute Scottyal
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    Jul 6th 2018, 9:49 PM

    Nothing that is the way I would like it. Just nothing

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Jul 7th 2018, 8:17 AM

    he’s also a above average chess player

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    Mute Paul Powell
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    Jul 7th 2018, 11:35 AM

    Watch your back mickey.d

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