My local library won't be stocking Graham Linehan's "Tough Crowd". Anyone else had the same response?

[OccultGnuNew]

I've been reading the ongoing discussion on Graham Linehan's book and decided to follow the suggestion within the thread and asked my local library about getting it into stock. I filled out the online form a couple of weeks ago.

Today I had a phone call from the library saying they were very sorry but wouldn't be adding it to their catalogue.

When asked why the response was "our supplier has given it a low rating". I asked for further clarification on what it was being rated as "low" on, the person on the phone didn't know but a low rating meant it wouldn't be being procured for the library.

I said I was aware the author had engaged with some controversial topics and was that the reason for the low rating? Again the person didn't know. I also asked for an example of a book with a high rating and again - don't know - the rating system is applied by the supplier not the library and the library uses the ratings as a guide.

I don't think the person on the phone was being obstructive, they evidently did not know the ins and outs of the rating system and how it was applied and were just passing on the information.

The supplier our library uses is Askews. I'm in a town with a population of 200,000 that has around 15 libraries and I've seen some of the crap they keep on the shelves. Why this is being declined I'm not sure,

Has anyone else come across this?

I'll be in town tomorrow so I'll pop into the library and ask them to get it in. That should help in the 'popularity' stakes.
Fingers crossed! They got Helen Joyce's Trans at my request.

My library is part of a very large group of Councils in the London and adjoining areas.

I reserved this recently, & only Staines library in SCC is acquiring a copy.

My library used to have the facility to request a purchase, but the "new, improved" website has dropped this.

Libraries don't only buy things they know will be popular. They buy things to tick boxes for inclusivity even though they hardly ever go out. It's not unusual for us to be discarding books after 5 years that have only been out once or twice.

Yup.

But it is also the case that libraries can't buy every book. So there are always decisions being made.

I think even though they have the numbers in front of them, a lot of librarians believe in some faith based way that all of these books go out a ton.

Looking at their website, it looks like they are basically set up for libraries to outsource as much as possible to them, including book selection. I have no doubt that some libraries would pretty much take that approach.

This book is in the top 1,500 books on Amazon uk in both the Kindle & Hardcover sections, in the top 100 for each of the categories it is placed in (which are fairly mainstream categories that are hard to get into the top 100 ranking).

Based on current data from Amazon uk, it's selling an average of 800 books per month (may have been higher on the first few days & may go lower in the next few weeks so that's just a snapshot based on the figures right now) for ebook (so about 27 copies a day) & another almost 200 hardbacks a month (half dozen copies a day), so it might not be selling like a new JKR book, but it's a decent enough release.

It has been out for 7 days & already has more reviews than most books ever get.

Most traditionally published books sell several hundred to a few thousand copies in the first year across all formats & this book is on track to do that.

That's just looking at book sales from Amazon uk, it may be available on other amazon stores around the world (but I haven't looked) - this is published wide, so there will also be sales from other sources like Kobo, Apple, Booktopia etc..- other book stockists like Waterstones, plus any libraries who take it on & so on.

This is not doing badly at all for a book that is most definitely facing a tough crowd from an author who doesn't have an established fan base of book buyers from previous releases to lean on.

I've just checked Kent County Council (county-wide library service) and there is 1 book on order via Canterbury Library. (Do you think Rosie D ordered it?)

Thank you for all the replies, much appreciated.

I know our library has Helen Joyce's "Trans" so I'm hopeful this isn't some covert censorship scheme. But then again I did see they were holding a Drag Queen story time so who knows.

I think I'd like to know more from Askews as to exactly what they're basing their scoring system on. They have an email address, I'll let you know if I hear back.

I was interested to see that the low score wouldn't automatically cause the library to avoid the book and the decision rests with purchasing, thank you DangerFrog.

And I might give Eye Books a heads up as well - again if they reply I'll let you all know.

That’s interesting. I searched Essex libraries and the only result was Staines SCC.

That single book has its work cut out if it’s being shared throughout London and a good portion of the Home Counties.

The Kent single copy has 5 reservations already (3 weeks per loan). Kent now charge - could be £1 to reserve a single book. So that could be offputting to those on lower incomes that they won't be able to obtain this book easily.

I don't believe the low rating can be anything other than censorship as the book is selling well and better than lots of other books stocked, and OP's asked for it.

You could do a FOI to see how many people have asked for it, I bet you're not the only one.

It's quite ironic really, given one of the main stories in the book is about being cancelled. Still, it's not good enough, libraries are publicly funded. What else won't they let you read? Yes, they have to prioritise, but if that prioritisation is based on anything political then they're breaching the Nolan principles. They should be politically impartial.

Right! I've emailed Askews and asked for a copy of their rating system (didn't mention Rough Crowd in the email, let's see what they have to say without any bias)

And emailed Eye Books as well.

I've long been a lurker on Sex & Gender but never started a discussion so this thread is a new experience for me - again than you for the replies.

The Askews Instagram account has numerous mentions of Queer Up which trivialises surgery to teenagers. Disappointing but not surprising.

I've just checked, & my queue position is 1.

The Libraries Consortium is 23 Councils, including 19 London Boroughs.

If every eligible person on this thread reserved the Staines copy, the message just MIGHT through.

UPDATE!

I've heard back from Eye publishers and I have their consent to share their reply.

They said it was very strange that Askews had given the book a low rating as "they (Askews) have not even seen the book so not sure how they can rate it".

The person I emailed seems to want to take it further and asked if it was ok to share my library experience with someone who will look into it - I said yes definitely.

As yet Askews have not replied to my email.

Perhaps Askews give all books low ratings if they haven't had chance to look at them yet? I dunno, what do people think?

Great stuff, OP. 😀

AFieldGuideToTrees - thank you!

I have always been too much of a coward to be an activist like some people on this board (hats off to each and every one ) but for some reason being told no by my library has really hacked me off.

Onward and upward - Askews, I await your reply

Yes, I think this is the problem.
it’s so sad.

Just checked and within my county there are 3 reservations on the book. Hopefully that will increase as it becomes available.

My library doesn’t stock it so I’ve asked them to get a copy.

Edinburgh libraries haven't ordered it yet, so I have filled in an online book suggestion form. If anyone else who is a member of Edinburgh Libraries wants to do this here's the link
yourlibrary.edinburgh.gov.uk/web/arena/book-suggestion-form

Completely off topic but I briefly worked for Askews backing books (student holiday job) so am excited to see them being mentioned! Children’s picture books were the worst- would take forever to get through a stack of the buggers. The staff sale of ‘seconds’ on Fridays was great- got a couple of (fairly feminist!) Amanda Vickery history books there. I’ll be sad if they are really attempting to block books on ideological grounds though.

I’m 4/7 on the reservation list at our library but looking at the location details for two copies it still says ‘on order’

It’s not on RB Kensington & Chelsea catalogue. Just sent a request through. I think most of London uses Askews.

I'm a member of 3 libraries (online) and it is not available at any of them. It does appear in a search, the cover comes up, but the only thing you can do is set a tag to notify you if it come into the library catalogue. I will give it a little while to see if it does come up, but if it does not, given the amount of utter crap on there while ignoring a well-known comedy writer, I will contact them all.

One copy on order for East Riding of Yorkshire libraries. I have reserved it. Well done OP 👍🏼