Abstract
This paper was first given at a seminar titled ‘Charging off in all directions; Public libraries and the user pays debate’ run by the ALIA Public Libraries Section (Victorian Branch) in Melbourne on 8 October 1990. It is a public librarian's reaction to what are seen as problem—causing approaches to funding strategies. User pays is seen as a short-term solution with long-term dangers. The attempt to differentiate between so-called ‘basic’ and ‘value-added’ services is seen as a way of avoiding addressing the issue of access to information. The profession's acceptance of paternalistic funding and a professional paternalistic attitude to public libraries are addressed, as are the difficulties caused by espousal of the priorities of the market place. The paper concludes with a call for professional commitment to the maintenance of free public library services.
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