Managing multisite polytechnic library services

Abstract

It has been widely assumed for the past ten years that multisite libraries, a feature of polytechnic institutions in the U.K., are expensive to operate, difficult to administer and by implication that the services offered are limited. Some years back, Wilfred Ashworth wrote an authoritative article covering most of the major administrative problems of multisite library systems and much of what he said still has considerable relevance. But given the increasing pressures resulting from the stringent financial climate and the continuing diversification of polytechnics, it is worth re‐examining some of the management problems associated with multisite library services in polytechnics. My observations are based on numerous conversations with colleagues in other polytechnics and as such have no particular reference to any one library service.