Part 1:

T: OK, Stewart. We need to start planning our paper on public libraries. Have you thought
of an angle yet?
S: Well, there’s so much we could look into. How libraries have changed over the centuries,
for instance, or how different countries organize them. What do you think, Trudie?
T: Maybe we should concentrate on this country and try and relate the changes in libraries
to external developments, like the fact that far more people can read than a century ago, and
that the local population may speak lots of different languages.
S: We could include something about changes in the source of funding, too.
T: Yes, but remember we’re only supposed to write a short paper, so it’s probably best if
we don’t go into funding in any detail.
S: Right. Well, shall we just brainstorm a few ideas, to get started?
T: OK. We obviously need to look at the impact of new technology, particularly the internet.
Now that lots of books have been digitalized, people can access them from their own computers
at home.
S: And if everyone did that, libraries would be obsolete.
T: Yes.
S: But the digitalized books that are available online for free are mostly out of copyright,
aren’t they? And copyright in this country lasts for 70 years after the author dies. So you won’t
find the latest best-seller or up-to-date information.
T: That’s an important point. Anyway, I find it hard to concentrate when I’m reading a long
text on a screen. I’d much rather read a physical book. And it takes longer to read on a screen.
S: Oh, I prefer it I suppose it’s just a personal preference.
T: Mm. I expect that libraries will go on evolving in the next few years, Some have already
become centers where community activities take place, like local clubs meeting there. I think
that’ll become even more common.
S: I’d like to think so, and that they’ll still be serving their traditional function, but I’m not so
sure. There are financial implications, after all. What I’m afraid will happen is that books and
magazines will all disappear, and there’ll just be rows and rows of computers. They won’t look
anything like the libraries we’re used to.
T: Well, we’ll see.
T: I’ve just had an idea. Why don’t we make an in-depth study of our local public library as
background to our paper?
S: Yes, that’d be interesting, and raise all sorts of issues. Let’s make a list of possible
things we could ask about, then work out some sort of structure. For instance, um, we could
interview some of the staff, and find out whether the library has its own budget. or if that’s
controlled by the local council.
T: And what their policies are. I know they don’t allow food, but I’d love to find out what
types of noise they ban - there always seems to be a lot of talking, but never music. I don’t know
if that’s a policy or it just happens.
S: Ah. I’ve often wondered. Then there are things like how the library is affected by
employment laws. I suppose there are rules about working hours, facilities for staff, and so on.
T: Right. Then there are other issues relating to the design of the building and how
customers use it. Like what measures does the library take to ensure their safety? They’d need
floor coverings that aren’t slippery, and emergency exits, for instance. Oh, and another thing -
there’s the question of the kind of insurance the library needs to have, in case anyone gets
injured.
S: Yes, that’s something else to find out. You know something I’ve often wondered?
T: What’s that?
S: Well, you know they’ve got an archive of local newspapers going back years? Well, next
to it they’ve got the diary of a well-known politician from the late 19th century. I wonder why it’s
there. Do you know what his connection was with this area?
T: No idea. Let’s add it to our list of things to find out. Oh I’ve just thought - you know
people might ask in the library about local organizations, like sports clubs? Well. I wonder if they
keep a database, or whether they just look online.
S: Right. I quite fancy finding out what the differences are between a library that’s open to
the public and one that’s part of a museum, for example - they must be very different.
T: Mmm. Then something else I’d like to know is...

Part 2:
Richard Livingstone: I’d set off, with my friend Matthew Price, to sail down a little-known river
in the rainforest, in a homemade boat. Our original idea was to go all the way by boat, carrying it
past any rough bits, but the river was much rockier and faster-flowing than we’d thought, which
meant we were only covering a few kilometres each day. Then, suddenly, we realised that, as
the river was about to go over a waterfall, we could go no further by boat.
As it was only a homemade thing, we decided to abandon it, and walk to the nearest road. As
far as we knew, there were no villages or trading posts along the way and, on our map, it looked
like a 100-kilometre walk.

And that walk, through thick rainforest with 25 kilos on our backs, was difficult. We walked for
six days, it was hot and we were permanently wet through, before we came to any sign of
civilisation. There were times when we really wondered if we’d ever get out of that jungle alive.
Then, on the seventh day, we suddenly came across a path – not an animal trail, but a man-
made one, so we knew there must be people living there . It was going roughly in the right
direction, so we followed it and, at dusk, we came to a deserted camp in a hollow. Deserted, but
not uninhabited. There was digging equipment wrapped in plastic, alongside two water-filled
holes. Obviously someone had been digging in search of gold at some time or another.

Nearby, on a rough wooden table, were some cooking utensils and a few other supplies, and
whoever was camping there must’ve been intending to return soon because there was a large
pot full of thick soup. We couldn’t identify either the strange-looking pieces of meat or the
unfamiliar vegetables it seemed to be made from, but we were in a desperate state. Over the
previous seven days, we’d only had flour and rice to eat and, although we had plenty left, we
were low on energy. This was our greatest problem.

So, we cooked up some of our rice and decided to have two spoonfuls from the pot with it. It
was good, so we had another spoonful. And then another. Soon, nothing was left of our host’s
meal. Afterwards, we began to get worried. People living this sort of life could be very tough,
and this one could return any minute. We decided to make an early start.
To show we were grateful, we placed 30 dollars in the cleaned-out cooking pot. It was quite a lot
for the quantity of food – it was probably only worth 10 dollars or so – but that wasn’t the point.
This man wouldn’t be able to pop to the supermarket to replace the food we’d eaten. But I have
no regrets because that dinner gave us the strength to make it the rest of the way through the
jungle safely.
Part 3:
Part 4:
Tonight on BBC London News. “Move away from the door!” The Met's total war on crime as 900
officers target money laundering and online fraud in the capital. Five months - the woman who
racially abused fellow passengers on the Tube. I just hope she can learn from this and change
her ways. Whether it will change her views, I don't know. Keeping the Jubilee safe ahead of the
four-day royal celebration in the capital. We see how the police are preparing for their security
and ceremonial roles alongside the Queen. And performing for more than 40 years, we are with
Des O'Connor as he returns to the London Palladium.

Good evening and welcome to the program. "A total war on crime" - that's what the
Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, promised when he took charge of the Met Police eight
months ago. Today saw the latest in a series of high-profile operations, with nearly 1,000
officers ordered to tackle online fraud and money laundering across the capital. But some
criminologists claim that it is better for public relations than fighting crime. “Move away from the
door! Keep going.” Well, that's what the Met are doing. Not just this morning against suspected
fraudsters but on a regular basis. Big operations targeting specific crimes. It is part of this man's
strategy, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who has been Commissioner since September. He's branded it
a "total war on crime". Today more than 900 officers across the capital were ordered to tackle
financial offences. By this afternoon, the Met had made more than 100 arrest, seized over £1.5
million in cash, plus two cars, imitation firearms and even this motor cruiser. "Total war on crime
is our Commissioner's strap line and that's what we are doing today. We are saying the Met
means business about crimes against business. We are really serious in the long term about
tackling this type of criminality.” In the long term, that's what really matters for businesses and
the public when shopping, for example, online. “Retailers are severely impacted by retail crime.
We estimated the cost last year was something of the order of £1.4 billion. That can have a real
impact on the individual businesses, the people that work in them, and the customers that use
those services.”

But does this kind of policing work? In 9 months there've been 13 operations, with one using
4000 officers. The main criminals targeted have been uninsured drivers, thought to be involved
in other more serious offences. Ben Bowling, a criminologist for more than 20 years, wonders if
it could be style over substance. “Clearly there's a public relations element to this. The Police
Service has taken a battering in recent months, with allegations of corruption, racism scandals,
a bit too close to the media. And so I think that part of this is to make the police look good
again.” And, of course, part of it is also to respond to serious crime. The current Commissioner
wants to copy his previous success in Merseyside. Total crime down there by a third in four
years. Guy Smith, BBC London news. Coming up…