Library Report 2015

Libraries have seen better days. As the economy suffers and revenues decrease the harsh reality is that goods and services get cut. Libraries have not escaped this and with libraries not being the most vocal or noticeable goods and services they are easy targets. The digital intrusion is gaining traction especially in the academic market and the traditional bookseller is finding it difficult to get a foot hold in this market and it is designed mostly to run from source to end user with very little room for the middleman which is the bookseller. A brief summation of the state of libraries is given.

Western Cape
All businesses like stable environments and the WC currently offers the most stable environment for library suppliers. Provincial Library buys frequently and City Libraries attend the selections. Orders are frequent and ongoing.

Eastern Cape
ECPLS has appro submissions according to a schedule which is roughly every month or so. An element of stability seems to have crept into their process which should be welcomed. Nelson Mandela Bay Libraries has finished the last tender cycle of three years and a new tender was submitted. The outcome is yet to be determined as the adjudication is taking some time. Buffalo City called for tenders some time ago but nothing came of it.

Northern Cape
They have called for their first appro submission and we await the outcome of their selection process.

North West
They finished their three year cycle and called for new tenders. These are almost finished being adjudicated and the approved suppliers should get word shortly.

Limpopo
They ‘attached’ themselves to the old NW tender and utilised their approved suppliers. Clarification still needs to be sought on how they are to operate considering the above developments.

Mpumalanga
They approved their suppliers for the three year cycle with some surprising omissions. They have had an exhibition in April but orders are yet to be finalised, or if orders are to be placed at all. The exchange rate collapse will create problems as six month have passed since selection was done.

Free State
They were up and going asking for quotations but were instructed by the premier to halt everything. One can only infer that there is no money for books or the money is going to be used elsewhere.

Gauteng
I will deal with the three major buyers but there are smaller entities who buy in their own particular fashion.

• Johannesburg Libraries: There was a three year contract with approved suppliers and buying was occurring. This came to a sudden halt by the issuing of a letter terminating the contract mid-point. No reasons were given. Again the inference is no money!
• Ekurhuleni: They have called for a tender and prospective suppliers submitted their bids.
• Tshwane Libraries: The tender was awarded last year and successful suppliers were approved. They have just called for their first submission for their new financial year 2015/16.

As you can see from the above it is a very stop start process in library supply and the only province that does not rattle your bones through halting processes is the Western Cape. Supply Chain Management still seems to be a problem as they do not recognise the unique nature of books when considering rights, editions and availability. Never mind the unique nature of booksellers but I will not go any further on this topic of booksellers as it would take many pages just to describe the clothes and hairstyles they wear.

The exchange rate is marching victoriously over everything we do and if booksellers are reckless with their quotations they could soon be out of business. Usually we have a three quarter rebound when the exchange rate falls but over the last three years it has been a constant sometimes dramatic collapse with no rebound in sight. It does not auger well for the Culture of Reading when the relative cost of books is so prohibitive.

Richard Hargraves