We just don’t know what’s going to disappear from our lives”

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• Before closing libraries, cut the Evian orders and biscuits at meetings – Mail.   “…right up there, third in the list of important local services for taxpayers, is the provision of libraries.” Article praises the views of Tim Coates who “approaches the debate from a more nuanced perspective than some of his fellow campaigners, who sometimes give the impression that every penny spent on our libraries is as efficiently spent as the money we spend on our own personal libraries at home.” … “Local council bosses will only have the moral authority to close libraries when they can demonstrate that they have cut everything that affects their own personal lifestyles back to the bare minimum.”. Article also questions why libraries have popular DVDs in them [Answer – to make a profit which can be spent on the rest of the library service – Ed.]
• Libraries key to kids’ futures – Sun.  Julia Donaldson, children’s laureate says “Children’s use of libraries has increased every year for the past six years … Without this resource I’m convinced that we will have far fewer avid child readers and consequently lose a large percentage of our future adult readers”.  Libraries allow children to experiment with books for free – bookshops don’t allow this as there is a cost, even if you have one nearby…. “even the best teachers are likely to offer you a much smaller choice and less expertise than a librarian can”.
• Radical council changes must convince public, says NLGN – Public Finance. “The think-tank examined libraries, transport and waste services to see if apparently disparate services facing common problems ‘might also benefit from some common solutions’… councils have chosen to protect spending on social services. They are also not amenable to the usual reform prescriptions of personalisation and competition.” .. ‘The library itself would become a centre that promotes learning and reading,’ the report says.”

“As citizen demands change and cuts start to bite, NLGN’s research shows that, while the average cost of borrowing a book is around £3.50 … NLGN argues that the best way to democratise book access in future will be to make a radical shift to e-readers, online ordering and book vending machines in public places. This would make it much easier for the public to access books while freeing up library space for use by families and communities. Libraries would still hold the most popular titles and children’s books and act as a crucial community hub.” Transforming Universal Services: Transport, libraries and environmental services beyond 2015 – New Local Government Network. Public opinion and “highly motivated activists” are getting in the way.”

• Report proposes $17 million in cuts for libraries – Globe and Mail (Canada).  “Less than a month after Toronto city council spared library branches from the chopping block, more than $17-million in cuts are on the table, including reduced Sunday openings, fewer weekday hours, less spending on collections and the elimination 100 full-time jobs.”
• WH Smith launches “Kindle Killer” – Guardian.  “ts chief executive, Kate Swann, has struck a deal with Canadian firm Kobo to sell its eponymous e-readers, costing from £89.99, and a library of 2.2m books from next week. The retailer will receive a share of the profits on all the Kobo ebooks bought in the UK.”

Changes

Warwickshire – Baddesley Ensor, Bedworth Heath, Binley Woods, Kingsbury and Studley to close. 11 others under threat unless volunteers step in.

Local News

• Bolton – High Court blow to libraries campaign – Bolton News.  “It is thought a similar challenge to Bolton Council would cost campaigners £30,000.” … “Ian McHugh from Save Bolton Libraries (SBL) said: “The cost of a judicial review is a big issue for us and we would need someone to come forward with funds.The other option we are looking at is to ask the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to hold a local inquiry.”.  96% of Boltonians surveyed opposed library closures.
• Brent – Library closures: Protesters vow to appeal ruling – BBC.  ““It’s quite a surprise – it just seems very sudden and quite shocking that it’s going to be boarded up,” said the mum to Annie, 11, and Ewan, seven. “”There are cuts in all areas but this is very visible and concrete. It symbolises all the cuts that are taking place.”We just don’t know what’s going to go disappear from our lives. It makes you feel very unstable.”
• Angry protests as Alan Bennett loses battle to save libraries – Independent.   70 chanted “save our libraries” outside Kensal Rise.  “The borough’s five other libraries to feel the weight of the council’s axe did not boast such fearsome resistance, and were closed without users even being given the chance to return the books and DVDs they had borrowed.”
• Attempts to board up library fail as children protest outside – Save Kensal Rise Library. Video of children protesting.

• Families form human shields to stop libraries being shut down – London Evening Standard.   “People are very angry, very disappointed, but at the same time there’s a sense of buoyancy about it because we will appeal,” she said.”They came to start measuring the windows for boards but there were around 150 people here and they went away. We’re a bit surprised that Brent moved so quickly, we thought the QC said Brent wouldn’t do anything until Tuesday. It’s very quick.”
• Judge rejects celebrity-led campaign to save libraries despite protests that services are being “decimated” – Daily Mail.   “It cannot be right to decimate the library service of an inner London borough whose children are desperate to read and study but whose parents cannot afford books nor the transport costs of regular access to distant libraries.” … Labour culture spokesman says “Ed Vaizey claims to be a champion for libraries but he should stand up for the services they provide for children, families and the elderly. ‘Instead he has just sat back and let Eric Pickles have his way. The closure of these libraries lies firmly at the Government’s door.”
• Kensal Rise library guarded by passionate residents – Harrow Observer.  “Residents started the peaceful protest at around 5pm, and soon found there was plenty of support from passers-by.”
• Protesters resist library closure – Guardian.  “I’ve been writing about library closures for a while now, but seeing this last-ditch attempt to protect a much-loved institution really brought home to me the fact that this is really happening: our libraries really are being shut down.” … “The land on which the library stands is actually owned by All Souls College, Oxford, a gift to the borough of Brent on condition that it remains a library. Today, to prevent the covenant lapsing, users have established a makeshift library of their own, operating from the steps outside.”

• View from Campaign for the Book – Alan Gibbons.   “The council has leapt into action to board up the branches showing an eagerness it has never shown to serve its people. Contrast the years of neglect libraries have suffered with the glee with which these elected representatives order their death. Mr Justice Ouseley has followed the instincts of his social stratum and sided with a slash and burn government and its absurd Future Libraries Programme.” … “Communities may have to resort to direct action to resist these appalling cuts.”