Archive for March, 2011
Mar 22nd
Barnet – 2 threatened (out of 16) – 1 to go as merge North Finchley and Friern Barnt libraries at “Artsdepot” site; Hampstead Garden Suburb to close (books with self-service machine to be placed in local Institute); Bookfund up by £10k; £3m raised by selling off buildings (Finchley Hill, Church End, Child’s Hill and Grahame Park – to be moved into presumably cheaper buildings); 16FTE lost; £350k saving joint backroom services
News – The Wider Picture
Authors raise doubt over Gove’s 50 Book Challenge – Guardian “children’s laureate Anthony Browne has said Gove’s aims are at odds with the library closures happening under his government’s watch. He declared himself “surprised” at Gove’s comments, “given that the government is cutting library budgets, and that programmes giving free books to children, such as Bookstart, are also being cut.”
Future of librray services in the Big Society – Conference, 21st June.
Marching for public services March 26th – UNISON
Michael Gove: pupils should read 50 books per year – Daily Telegraph
Mountain to climb on deficit is threat to growth budget – London Evening Standard “The squeeze will become increasingly visible to voters as touchstone services like libraries and Surestart centres shut their doors”
News – By Local Authority
Barnet – Councillor Robert Rams speaks out on library review plans released today – Barnet & Potters Bar Times
Flintshire – £635k benefits blunder – Flintshire Chronicle “This money could be better spent on protecting our libraries and heads should roll for this.”
Leeds – Parish outraged by library gaffe – Yorkshire Evening Post
North Yorkshire – Library lifeline – Yorkshire Post “The proposed closure of many libraries in North Yorkshire is of concern to many people. Of greater concern to people who live in the smaller villages is the proposed death of our mobile libraries, about which we hear very little in the press or on television.”
Northern Ireland – Lionel Shriver will bequeathe money to libraries after her death – Culture Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland – Author’s generous legacy to beloved Belfast libraries – Belfast Telegraph
Warwickshire – Closures “A once in a lifetime opportunity”
Mar 19th
Two ways to save libraries
(1) The Government has launched a consultation that could lead to the removal of all statutory protection for public libraries in the UK. Please see this link on the subject (or this one at CILIP) and also a sample letter. If this legal shield goes, expect to see the total of public libraries under threat (or closed) reaching ever higher. No public library will be truly safe.
Be warned that the questionnaire is a masterclass on how to slant a survey to get the result you want. You will be asked if you consider the legislation a “burden” on the council. Well, yes, of course it is. However, it’s a burden they should have and, if you click yes, the general suspicion is that you’re going to be used as evidence the legislation should be deleted. Seriously.
(2) While this legal protection still stands, challenges are being launched to protect libraries. Please see this link for how you can send evidence to help.
Barnet – £1.6m cut, decision on how to cut on 29th March
City of London – plus 1 building threatened – Camomile Street placed provisionally under threat – Library closed and funding for replacement only agreed “in principle”.
Darlington – plus 1 – Cockerton Library under threat
Highland – plus 1 mobile – mobile library service axed, to be staffed by volunteers
North Lincolnshire – plus 1 building – Haxey Library will be entirely staffed by volunteers, council will “manage” them. I have added this as “under threat”.
Renfrewshire – RNIB subscription withdrawn
Warwickshire – Public consultation document -Warwickshire Council (closing nearly half of its libraries is described as a “transformation”. It goes on: “Please visit the website, see below, and keep an eye on the local media for all the latest information about how you can get involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the county’s Library Service”.)
(S) means item added on Sunday.
Cardiff worker to walk to London in protest over spending cuts – Wales Online ““I feel very strongly about the cuts to councils which will mean the closures of libraries, public toilets, social services. It worries me.” (S)
Citizen Pickles “Power to the People” – 24dash “In the future could we see housing associations running libraries”
Julian Barnes wins David Cohen Prize for Literature 2011 – BookTrade “It seems to me that the practice of reading is currently more under threat than the practice of writing. There will always be young writers; will there always be young readers? Our literacy levels are falling, and – disgracefully – public libraries are threatened with closure.”
Libraries and the homeless: random thoughts – Homeless Guy (USA)
Library Advocacy: Sharing and learning from national and internation experience – CILIP conference
Library “Revolution” -Independent (Letters) (1. Letter in response to LSSI, (2) Bob Neill, Local Government minister denies statutory duties are under review – however, the review website still clearly lists them and invites comments about them)
Little Mover and Shaker Thank You post – Walk You Home
Olympic sceptic right up to the starter’s gun – Express “Until then, with eleven billion recession-era quid invested in it, money that could have helped a lot of hospitals and schools, saved a lot of leisure centres and libraries, I reserve the right to be ever so slightly sceptical.” (S)
Open Book: Mariella Frostrup speaks to Will Self about the threat to libraries – BBC (1:07 to 10:44: Will Self repeatedly attacks libraries, does not understand people who use them and comes across as a wealthy anti-library rich technophile who sees them, at best, as museums) (S)
Promoting reading for pleasure – Michael Rosen (via Alan Gibbons)
So-called localism will undo years of human endeavour – Guardian (Polly Toynbee)
Those pesky laws! – Random Letters
Threats to public libraries look overwhelming, yet both defensive mobilizations to resist cutbacks and pressures for innovations offer hope for radical improvements – LSE (“old” 1/2/11 article just discovered)
Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Anglesey – Local authority could be made to merge – Daily Post “tough decisions” to be made on services inc. libraries.
Barnet – Campaigners to protest over library cuts in Barnet – Barnet and Potter Bar Times
Bradford – Campaigners say there are being denied a say over over Bradford council plan – Telegraph & Argus
Brent – Kensal Rise library – Vimeo (video, via Alan Gibbons)
Carmarthenshire – Libraries closure plan “a threat to Welsh culture” – Wales Online
City of London – Camomile Street redevelopment – City of London Council
Darlington – School children campaign to save their library – Advertiser
Doncaster – Score son the doors – Save Doncaster Libraries
Dorset – Oliver Letwin MP says no library should close – Bridport News
Dorset – “Exciting” prospects for Lyme Regis but don’t sacrifice Charmouth – View Online
Dumfries and Galloway – World Book Night success at Ewart Library – D&G Standard (S)
Gloucestershire – Indices of deprivation and GCC’s library Strategy – FoGL (council is closing libraries in it’s most deprived wards)
Gloucestershire – Tuffley: Deprived but told to emulate Buckinghamshire – FoGL
Gloucestershire – Community hope to save Tuffley Library – This is Gloucestershire (see FoGL article above)
Highland – Volunteers could save mobile library service – Inverness Courier
Isle of Wight – All options open to in rescue plan for Bembridge Library – Ventnor Blog “impossibly short and unrealistic timescales”
Neath Port Talbot – None to close this year – This is South Wales
North Lincolnshire – Locals will lend hand at library – This is Scunthorpe
North Somerset – Town’s [Portishead} new library to open next month – This is Bristol
North Somerset – Weston-Super-Mare library move sparks campaign – BBC
Renfrewshire – Partially sighted woman hits out at council axing talking book service – Paisley Daily Express
Renfrewshire – Battle over Lochwinnoch Library – Use Libraries and Learn Stuff
Somerset – Campaigners plan to save Watchet Library – Somerset County Gazette
Somerset – Fight to save Highbridge Library from closure goes to London – Burnham on Sea (S)
Suffolk – New row over council’s New Strategic Direction – EADT (Suffolk looking to offload its library/any other service or combination of services on to anyone willingto take them on, private or volunteer or charity)
Suffolk – Youngsters join campaign to save Oulton Broad library – EDP
Suffolk – Public Post-It for [Ixworth] library ideas – Bury Free Press (S) “I’m willing to start a ‘save our library’ campaign because a lot of us don’t want to see charity shop type libraries.” (S)
Suffolk – Your toilets or a [Debenham] library? – Diss Express
Suffolk – [Lakenheath] Village library in residents’ hands – Bury Free Press (S)
Warwickshire – [Bulkington] Library still in peril – Nuneaton News (3095 petition – half the population)
Warwickshire – Nine lives – Nuneaton News (Bulkington pays £100k in council tax for library, it costs £50k to run – but council says community will have to present “robust business case” for it or it will close regardless)
Warwickshire – Consultation Document – Warwickshire Council (there is some amazing doublespeak in this document, closing half its libraries is called a “transformation”. It goes on “about how you can get involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the county’s Library Service”.)
Warwickshire – The Warwickshire Libraries Consultation: What are the questions? – What’s In Kenilworth (“consultation” is clearly focused on gaining volunteers and donations/funding for the library, no questions about if closures are actually desired or indeed about anything else)
Warwickshire – Warwickshire Library Service: consultation begins – BBC (S)
West Calderdale – Gillian reaches final chapter in 39-year career – Todmorden News (“It’s going to be sad to go but things are happening now and I think it’s going to be a bad year for libraries and I didn’t want to be here when that happens.”)
Heathfield closes with a “wake”
Mar 17th
Doncaster – Second consultaton on closures recommended
Northumberland – 5% budget cut, more “volunteer involvement”.
Richmond – Heathfield Library closed, £400k made from its sale promised for new library which was never built. Library is in poorest area of borough.
Suffolk – one more under threat (Sudbury), article suggests 29 (out of 44) already known to be under threat is just the first “phase”.
West Sussex – big increase in library charges
Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Camden – library cuts survey could be challenged in the High Court – Camden New Journal
Conwy – Llanfairfechan campaigners get glimmer of hope – North Wales Weekly
Croydon – One, two, three… Croydon Library stats! – That Woman’s Blog [consultation responses will not be evaluated by authority, possibly at all. Results will be released to public one week before decision made]
Doncaster – Cabinet to discuss library service review “We messed up, now libaries must pay” – Save Doncaster Libraries [further consultation recommended, with its costs – enough to keep one of the libraries open for a year – to be taken from the libraries budget]
Flintshire – Chief Exec talks about plans for future – Flintshire Chronicle
Flintshire – Fight for Halkyn Library almost won – Flintshire Chronicle [will reduce to one half-day per week]
Isle of Wight – Friends of the Isle of Wight library service – Ventnor Blog
Isle of Wight – Davina Fiore’s legal advice on libraries revealed – Ventnor Blog [it is laughably short]
Lambeth – Read and Shout Festival – Drowned in Sound
Leeds – libraries closure decision “after election” – Guardian
Northern Ireland – Big turnout needed at meeting – Dromore Leader
Northumberland – Village library runs on community spirit – Financial Times
Richmond – Campaigners organise wake to mark Heathfield library’s last chapter – Local Guardian
Somerset – Hope for mobile library campaigners – This is the West Country
Suffolk – Sudbury council vows to safeguard library – EADT
Sutton – Sutton council bosses go to Downing Street to cut red tape – Sutton Guardian “stripping back this red tape will make a real difference to frontline services like highways, street cleaning, libraries and care homes.”
Adopt a library authority, says Newton – BookSeller [Bloomsbury Chief Exec asks publishers to adopt a library authority each and plan events there etc]
All in this together? Not according to our local councils – Telegraph “Suffolk is closing libraries, has sacked lollipop ladies and cancelled children’s travel cards. Meanwhile, Freedom of Information requests reveal that Andrea Hill, Suffolk’s chief executive, who is paid £218,592 a year, spent £14,188 of public money on a leadership adviser” [no mention of bankers in article]
Government puts legal protection for libraries up for review – Guardian
Let’s not fall out over e-book lending – BookSeller [publisher talks about libraries]
Library bodies warn publishers off “retrenchment” over ebook lending – BookSeller
Private Eye on LSSI – Alan Gibbons
Tough times, kneejerk measures? The eight ways to cut
Mar 16th
Worcestershire – Warndon, not (as previously stated) Wardle, is under threat
Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Barnsley – closure date for Priory library -Star
Bolton – Author backs campaign to keep libraries open – Bolton News
Buckinghamshire – Jessica steps up bid to save libraries – Bucks Advertiser (Jessica is 9 and has just met with the council’s head of Culture as well as organising a petition with 900 names to save her local libraries)
Croydon – Setting the Scene – That Woman’s Blog
Isle of Wight – Council responds on libraries legal action – Ventnor Blog (The comments section is always worth reading on the Ventnor Blog)
Leeds – Campaign group fights to save Leeds library [Rawdon] from cuts – Guardian Leeds
North Somerset – Tories too hasty, say opponents on council – This is Bristol (£9.7m upgrade to Council HQ, library would move into it
Suffolk – Campaign to save Lowestoft library gathers pace (Oulton Broad) – EDP24
Suffolk – Library users set to make a stand – Bury Free Press “Duncan Macpherson, Stowmarket town councillor, will be leading the group in a human chain around the library to protest against possible library cuts.”
Suffolk – Public tell county council bosses to cut their pay – EADT (100 at council meeting, 1 attended last year)
Warwickshire – Fight to save [Dunchurch] village library from chop – Rugby Observer
National News
Calls to read before buring clearly came too early for the go-ahead DCMS – Logalgov
Saving a bleeding man by cutting out his heart.
Mar 15th
The Government has denied that statutory protection for libraries is under threat despite the most vital protecting pieces of legislation being still clearly on a Government website marked for review. These statutory duties are called “burdens” on the same page. Until the documents are taken off the site, they are still under review and everyone who cares should put in their views to help save libraries.
Flintshire – confirmed 1 (of 2) mobiles closed (£40k cut)
Calderdale – what our budget plans mean – Halifax Courier
Isle of Wight – Legal challenge to library closures – Isle of Wight Radio
Isle of Wight – “Unlawful” decision challenge – Ventnor Blog “Latest word in Niton is that library users will be asked for a £10 “voluntary” annual subscription”
Isle of Wight – Legal threat to libraries’ closure – IWCP
Lincolnshire – Primary school turns old classroom into “first-class community library” – This is Lincolnshire
Manchester – Have your say on libraries facing the axe – Manchester Evening News
North Somerset – Weston-Super-Mare Library to move to town hall – BBC
Northern Ireland – Big turnout needed at Gilford meeting – Dromore Leader
Northern Ireland – Libraries NI needs to keep vital Killyleagh facility – Belfast Telegraph
Staffordshire – Free Wi-Fi introduced at libraries – Lichfield Blog
Suffolk – 28 hour read-in to save smallest library (Debenham) – Wordblog “A wall of books will also be built to defend the library.”
Suffolk – Anoher village campaigns to save library (Capel St Mary) – Wordblog (1200 have signed in village population 2900)
Warwickshire – Save Bulkington Library petition signed by more than 3000 – Coventry Telegraph
National News
American Library Association attacks HC e-lending policy – BookSeller
Bestselling author Joanne Trollope slams library cuts on visit to Welwyn Garden City – Welwyn Hatfield Times ““It is important to save people’s health, but libraries save people’s sanity” ”
Call out Cutswatch hotline – don’t suffer in silence – Mirror “Is your Sure Start centre under fire? Is your library earmarked for closure?”
Government threat to universal library service – Mirror “The move comes despite Arts Minister Ed Vaizey promising last month that the Act was guaranteed and would not be reviewed.”
DCMS not achieving value for money – M&H “some recent cost-cutting decisions have been made based on “insufficient financial information and analysis”, as exemplified by the decisions to merge and close some arm’s-length bodies, such as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.”
DCMS not value for money – Guardian “The over riding picture that the report paints is of a department – and therefore ministers – making decisions, often in a salami-slicing way, without being fully aware of the financial consequences.”
Government denies library statutory protection is under threat – BookSeller
How Britain became a self-service nation – Independent “In 2009, Leicestershire County Council introduced automatic checkouts in 16 of its libraries, aimed at saving tens of thousands of pounds, but also leading to 19 redundancies. “Lots of staff feared for their jobs because of cuts,” one library assistant said at the time, “but no one dreamt they would be replaced by a machine.”
Lauren Smith, Doncaster and UK library campaigner, “Mover and Shaker” – Voices for the Library
Library-saving machine Lauren Smith, 2011 Mover and Shaker nominee – Library Journal (USA)
Publisher limits shelf-life of ebooks – Wall Street Journal (USA)
Voluntary Sector Cuts – Cuts Map “So who’s going to run the libraries?” (tweet by Lauren Smith, ibid)
Mar 15th
(1) The Government has launched a consultation that could lead to the removal of all statutory protection for public libraries in the UK. Please see this link on the subject and also a sample letter. If this legal shield goes, expect to see the total of public libraries under threat reaching 1000 or more by February 2012. No public library will be truly safe.
(2) While this legal protection still stands, challenges are being launched to protect libraries. Please see this link for how you can send evidence to help.
Flintshire – confirmed 1 (of 2) mobiles closed (£40k cut)
Isle of Wight – Legal challenge to library closures – Isle of Wight Radio
Isle of Wight – “Unlawful” decision challenge – Ventnor Blog “Latest word in Niton is that library users will be asked for a £10 “voluntary” annual subscription”
Isle of Wight – Legal threat to libraries’ closure – IWCP
Lincolnshire – Primary school turns old classroom into “first-class community library” – This is Lincolnshire
Manchester – Have your say on libraries facing the axe – Manchester Evening News
North Somerset – Weston-Super-Mare Library to move to town hall – BBC
Northern Ireland – Big turnout needed at Gilford meeting – Dromore Leader
Northern Ireland – Libraries NI n
Staffordshire – Free Wi-Fi introduced at libraries – Lichfield Blog
Suffolk – 28 hour read-in to save smallest library (Debenham) – Wordblog “A wall of books will also be built to defend the library.”
Warwickshire – Save Bulkington Library petition signed by more than 3000 – Coventry Telegraph
National News
American Library Association attacks HC e-lending policy – BookSeller
Bestselling author Joanne Trollope slams library cuts on visit to Welwyn Garden City – Welwyn Hatfield Times ““It is important to save people’s health, but libraries save people’s sanity” ”
Call out Cutswatch hotline – don’t suffer in silence – Mirror “Is your Sure Start centre under fire? Is your library earmarked for closure?”
Government threat to universal library service – Mirror “The move comes despite Arts Minister Ed Vaizey promising last month that the Act was guaranteed and would not be reviewed.”
DCMS not achieving value for money – M&H “some recent cost-cutting decisions have been made based on “insufficient financial information and analysis”, as exemplified by the decisions to merge and close some arm’s-length bodies, such as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.”
Government denies library statutory protection is under threat – BookSeller
Lauren Smith, Doncaster and UK library campaigner, “Mover and Shaker” – Voices for the Library
Library-saving machine Lauren Smith, 2011 Mover and Shaker nominee – Library Journal (USA)
525 libraries (464 buildings and 61 mobiles) currently under threat or recently closed/left council control out of 4517 in the UK
Information on 176 authorities listed out of 206 in UK, 135 of those are on record as (at least) considering closing libraries or making significant cuts (list below news), 59 on record as not closing libraries in 2011/2 (list at bottom)
– Legal challenges are being prepared/under way in Brent, Gloucestershire, Isle of Wight, Lewisham and Somerset. In addition, a judical review has been called about the Culture Secretary’s failure to comply with his legal duties at a national level. Your help is needed to gather as much evidence as possible, from anywhere in the country, to demonstrate councils are breaching their legal duty – please email after reading this blog post from Voices For The Library.
- Aberdeen – 8 (out of 16)
- Aberdeenshire – some, (brief mention here seems to suggest all but this very unlikely)
- Anglesey – 4 libraries earmarked for closure have apparently been (temporarily) saved
- Angus – 4 libraries closed this year (April) to be possibly replaced by a mobile. More info here
- Argyll and Bute – 3 libraries and mobile library.
- Barnet – some – public consultation here
- Barnsley – 3 (confirmed) (combine 11 surviving libraries with “customer centres”)
- Bedfordshire – 1 mobile to go
- Bexley – 3 and 1 mobile (3 from a list of 5 will go, plus one mobile) (this is the five) (£1m – 16% cut) (merge with Bromley?) (5 could be unpaid)
- Birmingham – 39 (three libraries lose hours so Tower Hill can remain open) (school library service to close)(all branch libraries under review, £200m super library being built)
- Blackburn with Darwen – 1 mobile (reduced opening hours) cut, opening hours reduced, bookfund cut.
- Blackpool – 2
- Bolton –9(out of 15)(£400 to £500k) (consultation 12 weeks from 1/3/11)
- Bradford – 5 (Confirmed 5 to close – £70k)
- Brent – 6 (out of 12) (6 confirmed as closing) (talking to private company LSSI)(legal challenge)
- Bridgend – 3 (may not be able to reach Welsh Assembly library standard) (opening hour cuts at most)
- Bristol – (£200k cut from staffing, self-service, “alternative provision) (£90k cut off bookfund of £700k)
- Bromley (link is on page 7) – 8 (out of 15) (KAB talking books cut) (Penge and Anerley libraries merged)
- Buckinghamshire – up to 14 to close or be staffed by volunteers (extra time given to look for volunteers) (this article says 11)(£688k cut)
- Bury – 1 (1 other reduced hours) – Manchester Evening News (libraries to be transferred to trust/private company/charity) (housebound service closed)
- Caerphilly – (“rationalised”)
- Calderdale – (£250k cut, opening hours and bookfund cut – previously reported as £350k cut inc.12 jobs, £200k stock)
- Cambridgeshire – 13 (36% cut in funding, £445k in 2012, £3.2m by 2016, closures down from previously reported 19) (mobile services already “slashed”) (£1.1m cut) (school library service closed)
- Camden – 5 plus one mobile library (£2 million cut)
- Cardiff – (no closures, cuts to be considerd on 4/3/11)
- Carmarthenshire – 5 in 2011, 18 in 2012 therefore 23. (improvements in Llanelli and Carmarthen)
- Central Bedfordshire – one mobile library to go
- Ceredigion – (£1m “relocation” of Aberystwyth, £100k to be spent on Cardigan)
- City of London – (15.9% cut to Libraries/Archives/Art Dept budget, cuts to London Metropolitan Archives opening hours. Source = LAGAG update email ) (cuts in Guildhall and City Business Libraries hours)
- Conwy – 7 (out of 12) (review under way)
- Cornwall – 2011 cuts confirmed – (£1.5m cut, 90 hours lost, merge with Registrars/One Stop Shops)
- Coventry – (opening hours cut, more fees)
- Croydon – Up to 6 (public gets to choose which), (£690k saving) (council will decide in July 2011)
- Cumbria – (review under way, no closures yet, 3 of 6 mobile libraries closed in 2010)
- Darlington – some (£250k from budget of £1m) off budget (consultation may take one year)
- Denbighshire – (Rhyl has reopened after £300,000 refurbishment; no closure or merger plans, although ‘this may be reviewed”)
- Derbyshire – (Opening hours to be cut)
- Devon (may have reduced opening hours, less mobile stops, no new Exeter Library – suggests mobile library service has improved). BBC article confirms no closures. (“brutal” cuts to Exeter Record Office).
- Doncaster – 14 (out of 26) safeguarded for one year but still under threat (may also be taken out of council control) (over 50% cut in funding)
- Dorset– up to 20 (out of 34) to close or be given to community groups (£143k off bookfund). Dorset is the sole council to receive an actual increase in funding for 2010/11. (£800k cut for libraries)(council confirms £800k cut but gives three months extra time for consultation)(apparently, only choice on consultation is for the community to take them over)
- Dumfries and Galloway -(£256k cut via staffing and other)
- Dundee – (to transfer to the same trust as swimming pools/basketball)
- Durham – some (£1.5m cut by 2015) (decision on closures delayed until 2012)
- Ealing – 3
- East Sussex – (£313k cut) (less books bought)
- Edinburgh – (£550k cut)(possible cut in mobiles)
- Enfield – Up to 3 out of 16 libraries under threat (£1.5m cut over four years)
- Essex – 2011 confirmed (extensive opening hours cuts to 54 of 73 branches, 21 jobs to go) (no cuts to mobiles)
- Falkirk – (transferred to Trust)
- Flintshire – 3 confirmed (8.3.11, 2 libraries reprieved) as closing one mobile confirmed (£40k cut)
- Gateshead – some (school library service, music library, AIRS talking newspaper under threat)
- Gloucestershire – confirmed 10 branches and 6 mobiles to close or be run by volunteers. 8 libraries open 12 hours per week rather than previously proposed 3.5, £10k to community groups who take over a library [previously, up to 18 and 6 mobiles – 10 to close or go to volunteers. 7 to close if they don’t find a partner (43% total cut in funding). (Cinderford saved) (revised proposals here) A further 11 reduced to 3.5 days a week. 100 library jobs to go say UNISON, 40 FTE to go says council, inc 36 managers cut to 9, 3.5 FTE librarian posts cut (to 10)] (legal challenge)
- Greenwich – 1 (Greenwich council has reserve of £133m – the highest in the country)(could be turned into a Trust) (school library service closed)
- Hammersmith and Fulham – 2 (to be run by volunteers) and 1 mobile (record office to have £70k cut from £88k, volunteers, presumably no professional archivists, reduced hours) (£310k cut)
- Hampshire – 13 mobiles confirmed as cut (now 365 stops rather than 1200) (£600k cut, 58 FTE jobs to go) (and mobile libraries cut within two miles of each branch, this report says 18FTE to go)(libraries merged with IT/property etc) Source of number of mobiles is UNISON Hampshire, No extra overtime or weekend pay
- Haringey – (staff cuts)
- Harrow – (34 FTE to go)(self-service machines to increase)
- Hartlepool– 2 (out of 7) to close (another to merge with community centre, all library’s hours cut)
- Herefordshire – (new Ledbury Library delayed) (no branches to close but mobile library review)
- Hertfordshire – 5 mobiles (2011 Confirmed – opening hours to be cut by one third – from 2236 hours down to 1575) (mobile libraries cut)(records office hours cut) – At least one library (Borehamwood) faces a 40% cut. (£580k cut in first year, £1.4m after – plus a further £275k from mobiles and £131k in records office/HQ library mean total cut of over £1.8m)) (cuts confirmed) (some mobile stops saved)
- Highland – (Wick Library to close and merge with school library) (Libraries to be run by an ALO – “Arms Length Organisation” to avoid tax) (this report says no closures) (suggestion that professional staff are being lost – a source is needed).
- Hounslow – initial plan to close 8 cancelled after public consultation, £300k cut in bookfund, some libraries may still be at risk as cuts “postponed”.
- Inverclyde – some
- Isle of Wight – 5 (confirmed) (out of 11) (£100k offered as temporary extra) (four libraries will remain open at 21 hours per week rather than previously mentioned 10 hours) (full proposals here – 2/3/11) (Legal challenge)
- Islington – some (consultation to be launched on £430k cut/7.5% in 2011/12)
- Kent – some (volunteers to be asked to run some) (83 FTE to go as self-service comes in)- Isle of Thanet one of areas hardest hit (School library service closed)
- Kingston – (50% adult bookfund cut)
- Lambeth – 4 branches (out of 11) and 2 mobiles (setting up a trust “which will give you a chance to run libraries”)(“@walkyouhome: EVERY librarian in Lambeth has been told they are having their post deleted. Only assistants and admin staff remain” on twitter 9.3.11 confirmed 13.3.11)
- Lancashire – 2 mobile libaries (plus 16% staffing cut)
- Leeds – Up to 20 (out of 52) – council says 20 closures are not about cuts but to make service viable.
- Leicestershire – NB This information is under doubt. I have received a call saying this article relates to Leicester. Article, though, seems to be indicate it is Leicestershire. No libraries are down for closure according to his article, although they could all/some be transferred to a trust or privatised (merge of lending/reference- 14 FTE jobs lost).
- Leicestershire – (£250k cut in bookfund and hours)
- Lewisham – Confirmed 2011/2 5 (41% cut – £800k) (legal challenge)
- Lincolnshire – (“services will be cut back”)
- Liverpool – some (£500k / 28% may be closures / cuts in opening hours)
- Manchester – 5 (may also be 4, may be 6 – see link) (plus no libraries open on Friday or Saturday)(£394k cut) (end of homework clubs) (council has reserve of £109m)
- Merthyr Tydfil – some
- Merton – (cuts in opening hours at West Barnes and Colliers Wood, £81k cut)
- Milton Keynes – 2 (Feb 2011 – closures delayed for 12 months)
- Moray – some – (previously marked as no public libraries closing but council has appealed for volunteer groups to run them, may move to being in a Trust, another article here).
- Newcastle – (12 jobs lost, £245k cut) (8 libraries to be semi-staffed “library express”)
- Newport – 7 (“No closure plans; considering how to ensure “21st Century provision”)
- Norfolk – (£1.5m over 3 yrs proposed cut inc opening hours cut, staffing cut, bookfund cut, less mobile visits)
- Northern Ireland– 20 (cut in bookfund, 15 to 25% cut in hours, recruitment freeze, removal of buildings budget (denials up to 30 could close)
- Northamptonshire – Up to 8 libraries originally under threat,. Libraries given a reprieve but still apparently under longer term threat. (Cuts to management and support).
- Northumberland – some
- North Lanarkshire – 1 (closed March 2010)
- North Lincolnshire – (£15k opening hour cut, £30k Bookfund cut)
- North Norfolk – some (c. £1m reduction)
- North Somerset – 1 closed, 2 proposed, volunteers may run libraries. Weston Mercury update
- North Yorkshire – 24 (out of 42) to close or be staffed by volunteers, 9 mobiles to go off road, surviving libraries could have funding cut to share out with any community-run libraries established. (£2.3m cut from £7.5m total)(£650k to keep libraries open a bit more, inc. from bookfund)(consultation ended)
- Nottingham – 1 (3 libraries to close, 2 new ones to open) (computer use to be charged)(1 library closed)
- Nottinghamshire – (22 out of 28 libraries to have their opening hours cut, 80 FTE jobs to go, 50% off bookfund, 1 library already closed.
- Oldham – (increase in volunteers, merging, cuts)
- Oxfordshire – (£300k extra found – strong rumours libraries to be “saved”) (apparently confirmed 2011 but subject to review in Summer) 20 – (£2m) list of those under threat here, Oxford Central hours extended to 7 days per week . also, Record Office cuts. (private company LSSI interested in taking over libraries)
- Peterborough – (8 out of 10 libraries cutting hours, most by one third, £250k cut from £1.9m)
- Plymouth – some – £370k cut 2011 £480k 2012 £620k 2013 – 9 FTE (10%) cut to staffing, reduction to opening hour, increased computer charging, less security. No closures 2011 but 5 claimed as under threat for future years – Stoke, Southway, Ernesettle, Eggbuckland and West Park
- Powys – (cuts, decision in March)
- Redbridge – 5 out of 12 may close, another may relocate (£2.3m cut). Goodmayes saved.
- Renfrewshire – 1 (1 library to move into smaller sites in community centres)
- Richmond – 1 (£351k cut) (service may be privatised) Heathfield due to close in March.
- Rochdale – 1 (some library managers to to go in first phase of cuts, bookfund cut by two-thirds)
- Rutland – (6 libraries to have reduced hours, staff cut)
- Salford – 3 – some libraries to move to sports centres or provide space for community groups (2 to have reduced hours)
- Sefton – 3 (consultation here) (or is it “just” an opening hours cut?)
- Sheffield – (30% cut expected, £2.5m) (no closures, opening hours reduced) (33 FTE, mobile reduction)
- Shropshire – 2 and 3 mobiles(reference library to merge with central library) (may move to Trust, volunteer or privately managed)
- Slough – (put library services out to tender, Essex will help run service)
- Somerset– 2011 Confirmed – 11 (out of 34) (£1.35m cut) will be closed/offered to community groups over 2 years. 4 (out of 6) mobile libraries will also go. 25% cut in funding. Full (revised) plans here (20% cut in opening hours). Rethink on mobiles may happen – article here. Public will be asked for “voluntary contributions”. (legal challenge)
- South Tyneside – (libraries could move into a Trust)
- Southampton – 2 (charges increase)
- Southend – some
- Southwark – (school libray service closed)
- Stoke – 2 and 1 mobile library, (ends RNIB service)
- Suffolk – confirmed 2011 £350k this year, 29 (out of 44) to be “divested” 2012/13 – (three month consultation here until April 30, £2m cut 30% ) (Private firm LSSI in talks to take over all libraries) (petition here)
- Surrey – 11 and 5 mobiles (£1m cut)(confirmed 1/3/11 council overrules scrutiny committee, 6 months for local groups to organise to run them) (Feb 2011 -delayed while consultation takes place – 1/3/11 scrutiny committee argued for longer consultation)
- Sutton – 1 mobile library and some branches (9.3.11 “main” libraries will be kept open) (£935k off £6m p.a. budget) (school library service to close)
- Swansea – some
- Thanet – some
- Thurrock – Confirmed 2011 £350k cut, staffing reduction (20% cut in hours if work more than 15 hours), all to close on Mondays.
- Tower Hamlets – (staff made to reapply for their own jobs -23 library staff replaced)
- Trafford – (mobile library to be staffed by volunteers)
- Vale of Glamorgan – mobile library reduction considered
- Wakefield – at least 2 ,(libraries may be run by church/charities) new central library but local closures.
- Walsall – some (previous article had called them safe but under review, may close in 2012)
- Waltham Forest – some
- Wandsworth – (York Gardens – description of council proposals here, library stays open but with cuts in service and staffing – decision not well-liked) mention in Guardian here plus reduction in hours in others. Council papers here.
- Warrington – (2011 Confimed) 2 and 1 mobile library confirmed . More info here. Journals stopped also, £25k off staff. £10k off reference.
- Warwickshire – 16 (out of 34) (council agenda here, 30%, £2m cut from £7.4m budget over three years) – official report from council here, (£2m already cuts since 2006, staffing already cut by 63 FTE 24%), Statistics of usage/cost in table/chart form, special county map of closures here.
- West Berkshire (£200k cut).
- West Dunbartonshire – 3 (some staff losses too)
- West Sussex – Some (5 FTE lost, some librarians pay reduced to library assistant)(job losses) (new library opens)Western Isles – (cuts in opening hours by one day per week and during Summer)
- Westminster – 1 (St James’s Library to close) (Marylebone may never reopen)
- Wigan– Up to 15 out of 17 (£1.1m cut off £4m budget)
- Wiltshire – 10 (plus reductions in hours in all but one of the others, more cuts next year) (26 FTE posts have gone in Dec 2010 inc. 9 out of 13 community librarians)(cuts include a £940k library opened Dec 2010)(self-service in all)
- Worcestershire – at least 4 (St John’s, Wardle, Pershore and Broadway) (£1m plus cut) (Pershore library to move out of town centre) , contact centres may combine with libraries
- York – (libraries to be “hit”)
- Anglesey
- Brighton.
- Barking and Dagenham
- Blaenau Gwent
- Cardiff
- Cheshire West and Chester.
- Cornwall – (90 hours cut, £1.5m cut, one stop shops/Registrars merging into them, book supply being done differently to save money, no guarantee for 2012) (23% cut in library budget, 102 hours p.w. cut).
- Coventry (but less opening hours, fees to rise).
- Derby.
- Devon (may have reduced opening hours, less mobile stops, no new Exeter Library – suggests mobile library service has improved). BBC article confirms no closures. (“brutal” cuts to Exeter Record Office).
- Dumfries & Galloway (£256k staff/pther cuts)
- Edinburgh (£550 cut) (pledge to keep open is for the lifetime of the administration)
- Essex(but other cuts – see list above).
- Glasgow – no closures (or cuts to opening hour cuts to bookfund)
- Gwynedd.
- Halton “Despite the economic climate we are continuing to invest in our libraries”
- Haringey .
- Harrow (some increase in hours, more self-service but less staff).
- Highland (but other cuts – see list above).
- Hillingdon.
- Hull (number of libraries actually increasing here).
- Kirklees.
- Lancashire (but staffing cuts)
- Leicestershire (but opening hours and bookfund cut – £250k).
- Lincolnshire (but “library services cut back”)
- Medway.
- Merton – (£118k cut – 2 libraries will have reduced hours but reprieved from threatened closure).
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newcastle.
- Norfolk – no closures but staffing cut, bookfund cut, opening hours cut, less mobile visits).
- North Ayrshire.
- North Lincolnshire.
- North Tyneside
- North East Lincolnshire.
- Northumberland:
- Nottinghamshire – no plans to close any branches but massive reductions in opening hours.
- Oldham
- Pembrokeshire.
- Plymouth(opening hours to reduce, managers to go)(but major cuts, closures possible 2012/3)
- Poole.
- Portsmouth (opening new library).
- Rhondda Cynon Taff:
- Rochdale:
- Sandwell:
- Slough (3 new libraries opening, opening hours up 20%, contract out service)
- Southampton.
- Staffordshire (free internet access also retained, using libraries as meeting places, wifi introduced). ““While libraries around the country are closing, Staffordshire is committed to protecting and innovating the service to meet people’s needs. It’s very clear that libraries are a priority for the people of Staffordshire.”
- Sheffield (cuts in opening hours).
- Slough (3 new libraries opening here, usage significantly up).
- Swindon.
- Torfaen (but one closed April 2010)
- Tower Hamlets,
- Thurrock (but other cuts)
- Trafford – (but mobile library staff will be replaced by volunteers).
- West Berkshire (£200k cut).
- Windsor and Maidenhead.
- Wirral (plus £1 million investment inc ebooks, wifi, info screens)
- Wrexham (libraries increasing)
Keep them close, don’t watch them close
Mar 14th
Manchester – (Hulme added to closure list) – Rack House, Barlow Moor, Clayton, East City to close. Miles Platting and Hulme will close after “alternative provision has been found”. I am of two minds as to whether this counts as 4 or 6 but, until certain, have gone for middle ground with the grand total.
Monmouthshire – all to stay open
Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Brent – latest campaign update – Save Kensal Rise Library
Dorset – Michael Partington to play charity concert to save Puddletown’s library – Dorset Echo ““The opportunity to make these discoveries and profit mentally and spiritually from reading should not be considered a luxury but a fundamental right that every member of any community should be afforded.”
Isle of Wight – Political unrest explodes across island – Spoof
Manchester – Have your say on libraries facing the axe – Manchester Evening News
Manchester – Libraries consultation – Manchester council
Monmouthshire – 2.9% tax rise; all Libraries to remain open – Free Press
Suffolk – Don’t close Bungay Library – Luke Wright (inc. poem “The misspelled writing’s on the wall
they’ll sell the land for shopping malls, an ash of Dewey Decimals, it makes good business sense”)
Suffolk – Villagers protest at Capel St. Mary’s library closure plans – 1200 signatures so far – EADT
Warwickshire – Saving Bulkington Library – 3000 signatures collected so far – What’s In Kenilworth
Wiltshire – vote to decide fate of Aldbourne Library – This is Wiltshire
National News
It’s now or never for library leadership – BookSeller
Keep them close, don’t watch them close – Living Streets
Keys to success in managing service change (event) – Local Government Group “Come and join like-minded library practitioners and frontline managers, looking at delivery change.”
LGA hails innovative new library services – Public Sector Executive – [Lambeth is included in this – the same authority that seems to be innovatively sacking all its qualified librarians]
Letter to my MP – Girl in the Moon
Libraries remain relevant in digital age – Star (Malaysia) ““The Library has but one criterion for admission: curiosity.”
Library saviours or council spindoctors? – Scribble City Central
New models for library services in changing times (event) – Local Government Group
Prevent the abolition of the duty to protect libraries – Posterous
Protect the legal duty to provide public libraries – Girl in the Moon
Public libraries’ legal protection under threat – CILIP
Threat to 1964 Act’s protection of libraries – BookSeller
(The) Time for libraries is NOW – Walk You Home
Dunkirk Time for Libraries
Mar 12th
However, there has never been a better time either. A Barnet campaigner has said that this is Dunkirk time for libraries. I believe that it is. It is the time when all who love their libraries should concentrate on the big picture of saving libraries and not fight over the details. It’s also an exciting time when new technology and new ways of working mean there are more opportunities, if we recognise them as such, as ever before. The public has never shown such widespread devotion to the public library as now. Tens, hundreds of thousands, will not stand for the loss of one the cornerstones of our way of life. To paraphrase Churchil just a little – we will fight them by the enquries desk and in the foyer, on the streets and by petition, in the law courts and in the council chamber. We will never surrender. This could be our finest hour.
Two ways to save libraries
The Government has launched a consultation that could lead to the removal of all statutory protection for public libraries in the UK. Please see this link on the subject and also a sample letter. If this legal shield goes, expect to see the total of public libraries under threat reaching 1000 or more by February 2012. No public library will be truly safe.
While this legal protection still stands, challenges are being launched to protect libraries. Please see this link for how you can send evidence to help.
(S) shows article added on Sunday.
Bristol – £200k cut by “alternative provision”, self-service, “flexible working”; plus £90k cut from £700k bookfund.
Highland – Libraries to move into an “arms-length organisation” (ALO)
Lambeth – confirmed every professional librarian will be sacked (S)
Barnet – Save Barnet’s Libraries 19th March Library Love in – Barnet Eye
Bristol – UK Uncut will turn a bank into a library on19th March – UK Uncut
Cambridgeshire – Countywide petition launched – Gopetition (S)
Doncaster – ICT costs: tell us the whole story – Save Doncaster Libraries
Hampshire – Fewer mobile library visits – Hampshire Chronicle “Three new volunteer co-ordinator posts are to be created.”
Harrow – Budget passed – Harrow Times ““We want to stimulate a far reaching community discussion on the issues which concern them, such as, libraries, children’s centres, and sports provision where there will be significant opportunities and challenges. There will also be many other difficult decisions we will need to make.”
Highland – Council hands over leisure services inc libraries to “arms-length” firm – Press & Journal
Highland – Libraries move to ALO – Council website
Lambeth – Save Our Libraries music festival sells out in 40 seconds – This is Local London (S)
Leeds – Library boss email gaffe – Yorkshire Evening Post “Oh I like it. Keep the pressure on the poor sods. Wind ’em up”
Norfolk – Is the future of Norfolk’s Libraries an all-singing all-dancing one? – EDP (No talks or wish for talks in Norfolk)(S)
North Yorkshire – Playwright Alan Bennett speaks out in support of Craven libraries – Craven Herald & Pioneer
Oxfordshire – Youth schemes look for supporters – Oxford Mail “intense competition” for £600k council Big Society money
Somerset – Residents in save your mobile library plea – Weston Mercury
Stoke on Trent – “Please don’t shut our libraries” – This is Staffordshire “”I can tell that closing Fenton Library will have a devastating effect as it is such a valuable resource for the children. “They can go in there for a quiet place to do their work and to see it go will be such a big loss.” says headteacher
Suffolk – Call for more feedback over libraries – EADT “The consultation continues until April 30 – and after then the council will draw up proposals for divesting the service.” (presumably regardless of what those consulted actually say)(S)
Worcestershire – No deal on plan to move Pershore library service – Worcester News (S)
Beaten on libraries, Government looks to change the law – Inside Croydon
Big Society, Egyptian style – Observer (S) “The things that knit societies together – libraries, leisure centres, transport services, after-school clubs, day centres for the elderly – will all be sacrificed as local government budgets are slashed.”
Boycott HarperCollins – USA Today
Can libraries survive in the digital world? – BBC Click (article plus 9 minute video)
Ebooks on “You and Yours” – BBC Radio Four
First Ebooks in Libraries book available – CILIP
Libraries go to court – YourNews24
Why are libraries being closed – Good Library Blog (S)
Writer’s block: the end of bookstores – The New Republic (S)
Libraries may lose their legal protection
Mar 11th
Mr Vaizey said barely a year ago that “it was “outrageous and offensive to everyone who ever cared about books and reading” for [ex Libraries minister] Hodge to raise the question of whether libraries should remain a statutory local authority service”.
Please see the Voices For The Library post on the subject and also a sample letter. If the statutory protection goes, expect to see the total of public libraries under threat reaching 1000 or more by February 2012. No public library will be truly safe.
City of London – Cuts to opening hours at Guildhall and City Business Libraries
Nationally – Consultation on the repeal of the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act
South Tyneside – libraries could move into a trust
Wakefield – libraries could be run by church or charities. (council wishes to commission services only)
Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Barnsley – No choice but to slash services – Yorkshire Post (surviving libraries will be joined with “customer centres”).
Barnsley – Councillors approve budget, 3 libraries close – Star
Bradford – final chapter for five libraries – Yorkshire Post
Buckinghamshire – Villagers rally together to stop Farnham Common library from closing – Maidenhead Advertiser
Camden – Force a u-turn on library closures – Camden New Journal
City of London – Hours cut in Guildhall and City Business Libraries – City of London council
Doncaster – threat to wardens and libraries fuels anger over Mayor’s savings – Yorkshire Post “Doncaster Mayor Peter Davies’s plan to close down more than half the town’s libraries was by far the most controversial element of his cost-cutting budget for the coming year.”
Dorset- Charmouth Library campaigners plan for the worst – Bridport News
Gloucestershire – Council underspends on staff by £4.7m – This is Gloucestershire
Hampshire – Cuts for libraries but not for councillors – Get Hampshire
Hertfordshire – Cabinet agrees changes to library opening hours – Hertfordshire.com (the “changes” are cutting by a full one-third)
Leeds – With a bit of imagination, we could save vital services – Yorkshire Post “All 20 libraries can be kept open for £270,000 per year. We would do this by cutting back on IT across the council by £300,000”
Leeds – Efficiency argument fails to save vital services – Yorkshire Post
North Yorkshire – We wish the Government would step in and save our libraries – Voices For The Library
North Yorkshire – Huge response to libraries plan – Malton Mercury
Oxfordshire – Campaigners back library innovations – Banbury Cake
Sheffield – Under-fire Clegg intent on showing he’s the Man of Steel – Yorkshire Post – praises lack of closures in Sheffield cf Manchester ““some councils might be trying to make these really nasty cuts to blame it all on government. That’s not good enough”. (Sheffield is cutting library budget by 30%)
South Tyneside – Trust us on leisure centres says council – Shields Gazette
Suffolk – Call for more feedback over libraries review – EADT
Wakefield – Catalyst for change? – Pontefract and Castleford Express “A radical overhaul of council services could see private sector companies and volunteer groups running the district’s parks and libraries.”
Warwickshire – library usage on the increase – Rugby Observer
Warwickshire – Councillers lead fight to save Studley Library – Redditch & Alcester Standard
National News
DCMS quango cuts (inc. MLA) not properly costed – The Stage
Elderly trapped as local shops are axed – Wales Online ““Unfortunately, we are being hit with a decrease in amenities, such as libraries, banks and community pubs, and an increase in fast-food outlets and betting shops, which can cause problems for local people.”
Future of public libraries – PSFK (USA) (future libraries will provide computers/tech/space too expensive for the individual) – see Alan Gibbon’s comment
Great Book Giveaway – BBC “There is already an established campaign across the UK to save libraries from closure due to local council cuts. Maybe these campaigners could talk to the organisers of World Book Night to see how their aims could be aligned. The authors and publishers who took part in, and financially benefitted from, World Book Night, due to the additional retail sales – could give that money to support the libraries. And perhaps the recipients of the million books given could make a donation as well?
HarperCollins not ruling out ebook lending limit – BookSeller (as if one kick in the teeth in one day is not enough…)
Is it time to rebuild and retool public libraries? – Make:Online (USA)
Libraries are at the heart of our neighbourhoods – Walk You Home
Library of the future opens – wi-fi, flatscreens, automated book sorting – Chicago Tribune (USA)
Living Streets is calling for Government to give communities the power to safeguard essential shops and services, including libraries …- Voices For The Library
Matt Baker asks David Cameron “How do you sleep at night?” on The One Show – Metro “‘You can ask me how I sleep at night if you like. It’s easy – I’m not closing libraries.” (says Marcus Brigstock)
Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 – Voices For The Library
Public Libraries in Yorkshire – Good Library Blog
525 libraries (464 buildings and 61 mobiles) currently under threat or recently closed/left council control out of 4517 in the UK
Information on 173 authorities listed out of 206 in UK, 134 of those are on record as (at least) considering closing libraries or making significant cuts (list below news), 57 on record as not closing libraries in 2011/2 (list at bottom)
– Legal challenges are being prepared/under way in Brent, Gloucestershire, Lewisham and Somerset. In addition, a judical review has been called about the Culture Secretary’s failure to comply with his legal duties at a national level. Your help is needed to gather as much evidence as possible, from anywhere in the country, to demonstrate councils are breaching their legal duty – please email after reading this blog post from Voices For The Library.
Your help is needed
Mar 10th
– Legal challenges being prepared/under way in Brent, Gloucestershire, Lewisham and Somerset. In addition, a judical review has been called about the Culture Secretary’s failure to comply with his legal duties at a national level.
Your Help Is Needed (taken from Voices For The Library)
“Voices for the Library have been asked to gather as much evidence as possible to demonstrate that local authorities are breaching their legal duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” public library service.
Campaign for the Book organiser Alan Gibbons said “I have asked Leigh Day solicitors to pursue the Campaign’s concerns over the possibility of a large scale withdrawal of funds from public libraries. I think it is vital that the Courts examine the legality of the Secretary of State’s approach on the provision of libraries in England and Wales. He has a duty to ensure that councils provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service. I believe that he is failing in that duty.”
The Campaign for the Book is an umbrella body that attempts to raise the profile of reading for pleasure and supports libraries and librarians. Richard Stein and Rosa Curling of Leigh Day & Co Solicitors, who are acting for Campaign for the Book said “The duties under the 1964 Act require the Secretary of State to investigate and compel, if necessary, local authorities, to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service in their area. The current cuts to public libraries across the country demonstrate that he is failing to do this.”
We need as much information as possible from all over the country to show the court that the proposed closures are resulting in a less than comprehensive and efficient library service. Some examples of what information would be useful are:
- Library reviews undertaken by the council
- Statements from the council announcing closures
- Minutes from Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Cabinet Meetings or Council Meetings
- Letters from local campaign groups
- Letters from residents
- Information about literacy rates, deprivation statistics, demographics
- Evidence that the council has failed to conduct an Equalities Impact Assessment or looked into local public transport networks
Please send any information to librariesact@voicesforthelibrary.org.uk – we will organise this information by library authority and send it on to Leigh Day.”
Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Birmingham – Plans to demolish Central Library move closer – Birmingham Post
Bolton – 600-name petition to back fight for Astley Bridge Library – This is Lancashire
Camden – children are joined by writers, actors and politicians at Highgate Library as they fight to prevent closure – Camden New Journal
Camden – Save Camden libraries petition – Petition.co.uk
Cornwall – New library opens in phonebox – BBC
Cornwall – Redruth Library to close one day per week – Packet
Flintshire – Headteacher delighted Queensferry library saved – Flintshire Chronicle “One of the main factors which led to the library being saved was a petition of more than 1,000 names which had been co-ordinated by Queensferry councillor David Wisinger.”
Isle of Wight – Bembridge village out to rescue its library – IWCP
Leicestershire – No closures – Loughborough Echo
Lewisham – lawyers demand Hunt inquiry into Lewisham libraries – BookSeller
Warwickshire – Usage/Cost/Visits statistics in table and graph form – What’s In Kenilworth
Warwickshire – Around the county in 34 libraries – What’s In Kenilworth
National News
Arts quangos axed (inc. MLA) “before costs known” – BBC
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