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TheLibraries struggle because they "try to do too much" by becoming community centers offering yoga clbades and iPads rather than focusing on books, said the former Waterstones CEO.
Tim Coates has criticized the "hopeless" direction taken by British libraries over the last 20 years, attributing their decreasing use to the industry's obsession with "faking" them with the latest technology and fashionable activities.
His comments come after recent research has revealed that the use of the public and school library in the United Kingdom accounts for less than half of that of the United States because "America is only to supply books, "he said.
Mr. Coates, who was also the Executive Director of WhSmith, said that British libraries had "lost leadership," adding, "The librarian's job has overemphasized its importance as a" social force "and it is serious mistake.
"They try to do too much. They lost the ability to do the only thing they needed: to supply books.
"They've been told all the time that kids do not read, they just watch TV and use the Internet to find everything they want. So people in local governments started asking why we should be providing libraries.
"There is a battle going on and it is important to know what the libraries are for. They are not there to provide a service to the local council as a community center. They are there to read.
Coates interviewed 300 UK residents about their reading habits. According to the figures, 87% used a book in the last 12 months.
However, the number of adults who got their last book in a library rose to only 8% for those aged 10% to 25 years old and 12% for those over 54 years old.
In the United States, a survey of 1,100 people found that the number of libraries was much higher: 32% of people aged 8 to 17 looked at their latest book in a library.
"Public and educational libraries play a very important role in providing print books to readers" in the United States, the survey concluded.
"Twenty years ago, British libraries insisted on being present and began installing many computers and activities. But at this point, millions of books from public libraries have been removed, "said Coates.
"They have this halo around their heads, claiming that they are all focused on education and community – but in reality, they are not doing the job that people want you to do," she said. he added.
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