Archive for February, 2012

“A library builds up a group of volunteers and the permanent library staff really want and need this help. They keep asking for it as they feel that without volunteers the library could be closed earlier as the service would be poor. The volunteers aren’t specifically to replace trained staff – in fact it started with the porters and more volunteers were needed to help set up events and clear chairs away.

• £230,000 grant announced amid library closure threats – Public Service.  “…to help fund 13 new library projects across the United Kingdom to allow libraries to test new approaches to “service deliveries”. It is expected that the grant will be used to demonstrate ways in which libraries can work together with other arts and cultural organisations to help reach out to broader audiences and become better value for money.” See also:
• ACE library choices attract campaigner criticism – BookSeller.   “Clarke said that overall the choices were “bizarre” and “so sad”, in the light of the widespread cutbacks and closures facing the library service. He said: “The Arts Council and the Local Government Association haven’t faced up to the issues everyone is talking about within the public library service. Libraries desperately need leadership and they have just been shoehorned into the Arts Council’s priorities, where they do not fit.” … “Kirklees Council has threatened seven libraries with closure unless they are taken over by volunteers. Meanwhile, the Arts Council offer funding for a cinema in one of the libraries.”.  However, another commenter points out that it is not the job of ACE to fund libraries, but rather to help initiatives and new strategies.  Some very interesting comments from a lady helping her local library which shows the problems there are with volunteering and poor funding.
• Bilbary seeks to heal the digital rift between publishers and libraries – Good E-Reader.   “Founder Tim Coates, the former CEO of Waterstone’s, Sherratt & Hughes, and WHSmith and a long-time advocate for public libraries, developed Bilbary with the intention of bridging the current divide between public libraries who wish to lend ebooks to their patrons and the publishers who have to guard the interests of their companies and their authors.” See also:
•  Tim Coates discusses eBook access for all – eBook Newser. 

“I have spent the last ten years working in the public library system, trying to save them because they are at the brink of destruction and closure. It’s a shame, but not entirely unpredictable. They are very different than bookstores because they provide enormous low cost access to reading. Two-thirds of reading is books that come from public libraries, while one-third of reading material comes from bookstores. Therefore, libraries are not just a player in the game, they are the player. People who don’t see that are not conscious of how important libraries are. There’s a gulf between the libraries and publishers and it’s coming from 150 years of tradition.”

• BookStart celebrates 20th anniversary with sharing scheme – BookSeller.   “A pledge postcard will be available in libraries and children’s centres in England, Northern Ireland and Wales from this week, with members of the public encouraged to share books through reading to children, whether family members or through a local school or library. Booktrust will also be celebrating with a “birthday bash” during National Bookstart Week in June, with libraries, children’s centres and schools encouraged to take part.”
• Calling the Mayor of London – Good Library Blog.  Lack of leadership from anyone else means the Mayor is the last hope. 33 different library services with their own structures should be more unified to avoid wasteful duplication in management, bureaucracy etc.  Only 5% of £200m budget is spent on books.
• CILIP CEO to give evidence at Culture, Media and Sport Inquiry – CILIP.   ““I am extremely pleased to be giving evidence on behalf of CILIP at the inquiry … This is an opportunity to expand on our evidence and let MPs from all parties know how damaging cuts to public library services in England could be. I will be talking about the importance of a professionally run service and calling on Westminster government to provide the national leadership that an effective, locally delivered service needs.”
• LSSI answers library campaigners’ questions – Stop the privatisation of UK public libraries.   Campaigner responds to points made by LSSI.

““It was hard to understand their concerns,” Pezzanite said. “They were coming from a very emotional place.” LSSI executive Pezzanite doesn’t understand “emotional” library women – SCVTalk (USA).  See also comments below article.

• President Obama’s 2013 budget keeps library funding at current level – Library Journal (USA). “President Obama requested $231,953,777 for fiscal year 2013 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as part of his budget for 2013. The amount is equal to the agency’s current funding. (As LJ reported, last year the President’s budget cut funding nearly 10 percent compared to 2011; the final budget came to a 2.3 percent cut.)  Of that sum, $184,704,000 is meant for the country’s 123,000 libraries. Approximately 85 percent ($156.3 million) of that will be distributed to the State Library Administrative Agencies according to a population-based formula. Other programs funded by this allocation include National Leadership Grants, which support the creation of new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances to shape tomorrow’s libraries; Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants; and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants, which build the professional capacity of libraries by improving staff knowledge and skills. (The Laura Bush program took the biggest hit from funding cuts in 2011, as LJ reported.)” 
• Public libraries: past, present and future – University of Bath.   “This lecture surveys in outline the history of the public library, looks at some of the challenges they currently face, and speculates on how they can adapt to our age of public funding cuts, increased personal affluence and the Internet.  Politics aside, the lecture considers how publicly funded libraries are adapting to changing needs and, where supported, are finding new ways to engage their communities.” [Nice to see my old boss talking about public libraries – hello Mr Nicholson! – Ed.]
• Summary: 9th Feb 2012 National Libraries Day – Uklibchat.  General feeling appears to be day was less well covered and supported than the Save Libraries Day last year, with many authorities (notably Kent but many others) not getting behind it.  See also:
•  National Libraries Day: Why did some authorities refuse to participate? – Voices for the Library. “As an organisation that seeks to highlight the value of libraries and librarians, we are deeply concerned about the actions taken in Kent.  National Libraries Day is an annual national initiative created to celebrate the vital contribution libraries make in our communities, enriching our society and providing the tools to help individuals prosper.”

“Electronics are here to stay, but someday the digital revolution in publishing may well be seen as just another phase in the natural evolution of a vital and resilient industry.”  Why book publishing can save the digital age – Bloomberg (USA).  “Although there was much grumbling along the way, the industry gradually accepted that the new products and distributors, including libraries, were not evil incarnate. To the contrary, they were something of a boon in that they generated interest in reading among people who didn’t frequent bookstores.”

Changes

• Bath and North East Somerset – Two mobiles saved from closure after public protest.
• Caerphilly – School Library Service and one mobile library closed in 2011 (source: email).
• Calderdale – Consultation on moving Halifax Library delayed at least until June.
• Edinburgh – Longer Saturday openings, existing Sunday opening safeguarded.  Balerno, Balgreen, Colinton and Gilmerton are still set to see their Thursday service cut, while late Thursday openings will end at all of the city’s facilities. Stockbridge, Portobello and Morningside libraries recently upgraded.
• Kent –  Kent has the most libraries of any council in the UK, with the need to cut its libraries budget by £4m by 2014.  Plans include withdrawing direct council control from many (un-named) branches.  Considering possibly of tending library service to private companies.
• Leeds – Rawdon Library is run by volunteers on Thursdays. 
• Northamptonshire – Daventry and Towcester libraries to move into new buildings shared with other services. 2 mobiles closed.
• Portsmouth – Paulsgrove Library to move to better shopping centre position, new library to open at Drayton (but dependent on volunteers).
• Suffolk – 20 jobs (from 160) to go, cut in budget from £9m to £6.4m.

Local News

• Barnet – Last ditch plea to save library – Barnet Today.  “… the proposal’s by the Save Friern Barnet Library group are set to be rejected because it would still require £124,000 from the council’s budget and would mean the authority would lose up to £37,000 in potential rental income. It is recommended the library will be closed on March 31.”
• Council officers recommend Friern Barnet Library closure – Times series.   “If Barnet Council cabinet members agree to the plans on Monday, Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries would close, and a new one would be set up at Artsdepot in North Finchley. But Martin Russo, a member of Save Friern Barnet Library (SFBL), said: “We don’t see this as a transfer – we see it as a closure.The idea of transferring services sounds exciting but some people, like children, won’t be able to commute to the Artsdepot.”
• Bath and North East Somerset – Mobile library service is saved as villagers bring council to book – This is Somerset.  860 name petition saves service. “Villagers of all ages in Timsbury turned out in force at the mobile library’s recent visit to take part in a hug-in organised by the Women’s Institute.”
• Mobile libraries to stay on road as cuts are abandoned – This is Bath.  
• Mobile libraries saved as B&NES confirms council tax freeze – This is Bath. 
• Mobile libraries: we’re still listening says council – This is Bath. 
• Brent – Magazine gets it wrong again – Preston Library Campaign.   “The loss-making Brent Magazine this month proclaims Ealing Road Library to be the top venue for the events on March 1. Yet on the previous page we have just been told it will be closed for improvements between 27 Feb and 26 March.”
• Anger over Willesden Green library plans – Harrow Observer.   “Chaos broke out at a council meeting this week as it was agreed Brent’s closed libraries would not be used during the redevelopment of Willesden Green Library Centre.” … “There was also anger that Willesden Green Bookshop is being turfed out of its premises at the centre and will not be given space in the new cultural hub.”
• Visually impaired Brent resident makes a splash for local libraries – Save Kensal Rise Library.  ““This is a cause very close to Marcos’s heart. Marcos began volunteering his time at the library as soon as he heard about the closures. Marcos is very keen to do the sponsored swim to raise money. We are all very proud of him. Go Marcos!”
• Caerphilly – Library in Aberbargoed to close next month – Campaign. “Aberbargoed Library will be closing its doors on Friday March 9. The library services have been relocated to the new and exciting Hanbury Chapel Library in nearby Bargoed.”
• Calderdale – Halifax library consultation will be re-run in June – Halifax Courier.   “The entire consultation process which started in December is being scrapped and the detailed views of more than 2,500 people consigned to the dustbin. In a humiliating climbdown, the council’s Lib-Lab coalition had decided to begin the whole process again in June – a month after the council elections. But it might not take place at all if there is a change of political power at the town hall.”
• Camden – Third community run and managed library approved – Camden Council.   “The Council approved transitional funding and grants from the Camden People’s Fund of over £100,000 for each group to deliver libraries and community projects through a radical new approach. This will mean that for the first time in the UK, these facilities will be run by residents offering their time and managed by Primrose Hill Community Association (Chalk Farm library); The Winch (Belsize library); and Keats Community Library (Heath library in Hampstead).”

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response from the community and have worked extremely hard with Camden Council to come to an agreement. We still need more offers of help and donations to ensure that we can deliver this bold ambition but hope that with this agreement in place these will continue to be forthcoming. To date 350 people have pledged to donate £521,000 and over 150 people have volunteered to give their time to help in the library building which is fantastic.”

• Darlington – Campaigners hand over library petition – Northern Echo.   “…mothers and children have joined campaigners working to save a library threatened with closure to hand over a petition of more than 3,000 signatures against the plans.”
• Dorset – MPs support campaigners’ fight to save Dorset libraries – Dorset Echo.   “Members of the Ad Lib (Association of the Friends of Dorset Libraries) are trying to keep eight libraries in the county open as community-run facilities when Dorset County Council withdraws funding in September. The group has now received backing from West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin and South Dorset MP Richard Drax at a meeting in Dorchester, as well as the support of MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Annette Brook.”
• Edinburgh – Libraries receive a welcome boost – Deadling.  “A new future for some of Edinburgh’s libraries is to be decided next week following a consultation with almost 10,000 people.” … “Views on the top priorities for investment in libraries services included provision of books, music and DVDs but also highlighted strong support for new technology, such as access to computers, to enhance these facilities.”
• Major changes in store for city library opening hours – STV.  
• Gloucestershire – Doctor! Doctor! Has GCC’s Chief Exec got amnesia? – FoGL.  Council boss suggests to BBC that council has been listening to population regarding cuts and are still on track.  FoGL, and presumably the 16000 people who signed a petition against the cuts, see things differently.
• Council “on track” with £114m cuts – BBC.  “Mr Bungard said: “Every time we have stopped doing something we have tried to find a way of getting the community to step in.”
• County council urges residents to take part in library consultation – Stroud News and Journal.   ““So far we have spoken to more than 1,200 people and more feedback is coming in every day – that’s exactly what we’re aiming for.”
• Greenwich – Union threatens strike over Greenwich Council’s decision to transfer library services management – News Shopper.   “At a Greenwich Council cabinet meeting last night, councillors voted unanimously in favour of the transfer to shouts of “shame on you” from the public gallery.” … ““In terms of closures, there are no closures planned and one thing that would happen to some of the libraries would be to expand the provision of library services.””
• Hertfordshire – County Hall urged to rethink plans to scrap schools library service – Mercury.  ” “All in all, we have reduced the cost of providing the service by 43 per cent over the last five years, but it is still in deficit, and it has become increasingly difficult to develop a service offer at a contract price which individual schools are now prepared to pay. If the value that schools place on the schools library service does not translate into actually buy subscriptions, then the service is no longer financially viable.”
• Kent – Secret library plans revealed: are they still under threat? – Kent Online.  Council report from 2011 leaked, showing options for closing up to 44 branches and/or withdrawing council support.  Kent has the most libraries of any council in the UK, with the need to cut its libraries budget by £4m by 2014.  Plans include withdrawing direct council control from many (un-named) branches. 

“KCC has just confirmed it is reviewing these and among the options being considered is whether to put them out to tender and allow the private sector to run them. At the smaller end of the scale, watch out for reduced opening hours. Either way, anyone who thinks that Kent will be able to preserve its network of libraries as they are now is probably being unrealistic.”

• Kirklees – Leader hits back at Tories’ quite “ridiculous” criticism – Yorkshire Post.   “The Labour administration is committed to keeping libraries open against the backdrop of budget cuts. We would like people to help us with that and to find innovative ways of providing an effective long-term service. The number of library users has fallen quite significantly across Kirklees, but community-run libraries have been successful elsewhere and this is an idea that is very much worth exploring.””
• Leeds – Supporters urged to back Rawdon library campaign – Wharfedale Observer.   “Rawdon Library was earmarked for closure by Leeds City Council, but was given a reprieve to assess its viability. Since then, volunteers from the Friends of Rawdon Library have received training to keep it open on Thursdays and now they are hoping to rally more support from library users to “ensure a viable and exciting future”.”
• Northamptonshire – The Chron looks at what the future holds for Northamptonshire’s libraries – Northamptonshire Chronicle. “Currently about 450 volunteers contribute their time to local libraries and, by March next year, it is hoped this figure will have almost doubled. Grace said: “Since 2008 we have been looking for people to be more involved in the service. We now have 26 Friends groups and also there are individuals who have become a ‘Friend.’” … “By 2014, Grace said, libraries in Daventry and Towcester would have moved to newly-built premises which they will share with other facilities. In Daventry’s case, the building also looks set to house the council’s registrar service.”
• Portsmouth – Budget speech by Portsmouth City Council leader – About My Area.   ” I cannot speak more highly of the great success of the new Southsea Library. This has encouraged many more people in the library and help give support for the shopping in Southsea. “I am happy to be able to announce that the council intends to make additional investments in libraries in the north of the city. In Paulsgrove the intention is to move the library (subject to survey) to a shop location on Allaway Avenue so that more people use the library. In Drayton we aim to open a library this year. This is something for which local people have campaigned for 30 years and we will deliver it. This will have to have volunteers to help run it and again will have a shop front location. Finally, in Cosham, we will be looking for a location to move the library onto the High Street.”
• Suffolk – New libraries board recruits teenager – BBC.   18-year old has been volunteering for five years in local library. 20 jobs to go (from 180), large budget cut, board of Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) will be nominate to begin with but be elected by its own members by late 2013.
• New board members for libraries IPS – Diss Express.   “Eight new board members – three more than originally planned – join the three founding members after being nominated by the local library groups they are members of.”

• Surrey – New friends group set up to support Molesey Library – Elmbridge Today.  “”The friends group will help to promote the library in the community by fundraising and organising events, and just to get the word out that Molesey Library is here.”.  Origins were in initial proposals to pass library over to volunteers last year.
• Is SLAM opposed to volunteers? – Surrey Libraries Action Movement.  “The truth is that SLAM has always been pro-volunteers. Indeed, most SLAM supporters are library volunteers, but they want to support SCC by volunteering alongside paid staff, not in place of, and certainly do not want to take legal responsibility for the running of their libraries, an unusual demand to make of an unpaid volunteer.”

399 libraries (309 buildings and 90 mobiles) are currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK.  The librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

• Amazon, up in flames – New York Times.  The suspicion that Amazon are aiming for a monopoly on bookselling is increasing and even super-librarian Nancy Pearl is caught up in it.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with which local authorities his Department has had discussions on the scale of library closures carried out or planned since May 2010. [93901]

Mr Vaizey: In 2011-12, departmental officials met with council officers from the metropolitan borough of Bolton, the London borough of Brent, the metropolitan borough of Doncaster, Gloucestershire county council, the London borough of Lewisham, Isle of Wight, and Somerset county council. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the respective council’s library proposals in light of the Secretary of State’s duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. Hansard, 6th February.

• February is Public Library Month on Libraries Thriving – Credo Reference Blog (USA).  “In response to the work of Voices for the Library, a UK campaign aimed at spreading the value of public libraries, Libraries Thriving, a collaborative space and community for e-resource innovation, has decided to drum up some attention for public libraries in their community as well. For that purpose, they have established February as Public Library Month on Libraries Thriving!”
• Five compete to run Croydon and Wandsworth libraries – Guardian series.   ““Closure is not an option for us. Our central library is the third busiest in the country, and last year we consulted widely on the future of all of our branches. We got the message loud and clear that these are important community facilities that must be kept open as a matter of priority.”.  Library campaigners, however, are not altogether happy at giving money away in the form of profit to companies at a time of great shortage.
• Reading a book “adds a year to children’s education” – Telegraph.  “Nick Gibb, the School Minister, said that reading books for just half an hour a day could be worth up to 12 months’ extra schooling by the age of 15. Today, the Department for Education will unveil plans for a national reading competition for children in the last three years of primary education and the first year of secondary school.”  As some of the comments suggest, without school libraries and public libraries, only the rich kids stand a chance of winning this competition. See also Alan Gibbons on This time, some sense from Mr Gibb.  “The single most effective transmission belt for reading for pleasure in schools is a well-stocked library staffed by a well-trained library. So why the dogmatic rejection of any demands for statutory school libraries? The last time I wrote to Secretary of State Mr Gove the rejection was issued with unseemly haste.” 
• Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence to be published as HC1815-i – Parliament.  Full text of Tuesday’s inquiry into library closures.

Changes

Aberdeenshire – Eight branches taken off threatened list.  A report from early 2011 suggested eight were endangered.  However, the council confirmed via email today hat none are under threat this year.

Local News

• Bath and Northeast Somerset – Final chapter for consultation on bid to scrap mobile libraries – This is Bath.  “Meanwhile Conservative councillors have said the authority’s plans to increase the hours of other part-time libraries by using volunteers and to extend the home library service, will eat up the savings made by axing the mobile service.”
• Cornwall – Vote on fate of arts library – This is Cornwall.   “The fate of St Austell’s Performing Arts Library will be decided tomorrow when Cornwall councillors vote on proposals to reduce staffing levels and move some resources. A committee will consider plans to keep just one of the three part-time specialist librarians at the facility and redeploy the library assistant.”
• Croydon – Council insists National Library Day events were not shelved – Guardian series.   “ Council failed to publicise any of its events for National Libraries Day” but many events were held.
• Durham – County Durham library opening hours cuts to save cash – BBC.   “Durham County Council has said it does not plan to close any of the 12 town centre and 27 community libraries. The mobile service, which has suffered from a drop in membership, would only visit communities at least four miles from a library building. A 12-week public consultation on the proposals starts on Friday.”
• Isle of Wight -IOW council leader to speak at Library Inquiry – BookSeller.  
• Island’s library changes defended – IWCP.  “”We needed to develop a service that was affordable and sustainable and as we progressed the changes we adjusted the plans along the way to respond to particular needs and issues.

“This flexible approach has not only ensured the successful establishment of five community libraries but has complemented the local enthusiasm and efforts to secure the long-term future of these valued facilities.”

• Milton Keynes – Dozens watch Josephine Cox open new library – Milton Keynes Citizen.  “The new library is the result of a new Partnership Agreement between Milton Keynes Council and Woburn Sands Town Council. The library is more accessible than the current library premises in Hardwick Road and is located in a prominent site on Woburn Sands High Street.”
• North Yorkshire – Library is open for longer in shake-up – Yorkshire Post.  “Coun Chris Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s executive member for the library and information service, said: “Our library service has been one of the most outstanding in the country, and the necessity of making savings has provided the incentive for us to step back and come up with innovative plans to maintain a vibrant service into the future. “Our communities have risen to the challenge of finding solutions to keep our libraries open in a way that is sustainable so that they can grow and develop to meet future needs.””.  £1.7m cut.  Volunteers will take over many libraries.
• Surrey – Library volunteers “thwarted at every turn” – Get Surrey.   “Plans to re-open Byfleet Library under the stewardship of the Friends of Byfleet Library group had to be postponed after the Surrey Libraries Action Movement (SLAM) successfully applied for a temporary injunction, preventing Surrey County Council from rolling out its proposals.” … ““We think we can turn it into a really good community centre with a library and we know people would like to see it open more hours so, in actual fact, where we diverge from SLAM now is that we believe we will offer a bigger service.”

News

• 1964 Act is “barrier to reform” claims LGA – BookSeller.  LGA argues that “A modern Libraries Act without the superintendent role of central government would give councillors the scope to re-design their library services to meet local people’s needs.” and includes the gem of a line “Closure of a library does not automatically mean a decrease in access to library services”.

“When an authority refuses to pay its library staff, and lays down the Sophie’s choice that either they work for free or the service is shut down, the real baddies of the piece are, of course, the authority. But knowing that doesn’t help us any. We still have to choose between descending into charity or watching as a community suffers. At least as things currently lie, I believe the only responsible action is the latter. I believe this in part because I suspect the voluntary model to be ultimately unsustainable, but principally because I believe we have a collective responsibility to our trade on a broader level. The communities we serve can only prosper if we can afford to serve them.”  Are you experienced? Volunteer now! – Succentorship Without Sneers.  

• Big Society? Legal wrangles turn voluntarism into big headache – Guardian.   “Surrey council’s legal battle over libraries shows how volunteer-led public services can fall at the first legal hurdle” … “Another problem is the procurement legislation that requires councils to ensure that various hoops are jumped through before any transfer of services can take place. Councils cannot close facilities by transfer of responsibilities (including libraries, as Surrey found out) without full consultation, and ensuring that a reasonable council service remains”
• Community libraries in Spain: does this sound familiar? – Voices for the Library.  “Two weeks ago the Arts councillor from Madrid, Fernando Villalonga, announced that two new libraries in the city would be run partly by volunteers. To support his idea he said it is common in English speaking countries to have volunteer-run libraries. After some complaints from professional associations, Madrid’s Mayor Ana Botella the spouse of the former Spanish President, Jose María Aznar, backed the Arts councillor saying that not only should libraries be run by volunteers but also several other public services. She said that “We have to be able to give back to our society what society gives tous” (Does that sound familiar?). “I refuse to believe that a library won’t be opening because there aren’t volunteers to run it”, she added.”
• Culture committee publishes inquiry evidence – BookSeller.   “Six hundred pages of written submissions to the library inquiry being held this week by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, including those from The Booksellers Association, The Publishers Association, The Reading Agency, and The Bookseller, have been published online.”
• Culture, media and Sport Committee publish library inquiry responses – Voices for the Library.  “It is interesting to note the balance of responses from these different groups of respondents, especially from public library authorities. Only approximately 16 authorities or their representatives responded to the Inquiry. Considering that there are over 140 public library authorities in England this is a very low response rate. Compare this to 33 recognisable library user and campaign groups who responded, plus further individuals whose names we recognise as local campaigners.”
• Culture minister visits library – Salisbury Journal.   “Ed Vaizey popped into Salisbury Library on Saturday. Mr Vaizey was in the area and wanted to visit a local library as it was National Libraries Day.”. 
• Evidence published: CMS Select Committee investigation into library cuts – FoGL.  “We are very proud of the impact that Gloucestershire residents have had on the national dialogue regarding unprecedented, eye-watering library cuts. Let’s hope that, unlike GCC, the Select Committee listen to us. Thank you to everyone who made submissions and those who supported us with the JR.”
• Unequal library campaigns – Spectator.   Compares Brent’s legal fortunes with that of Somerset and Gloucestershire.  “It only goes to show how integral bureaucratic equality regulations have become in the fabric of our national life. The West Country councils, having failed to show ‘due regard’, are having to reconfigure their plans. Whereas Brent council can now execute what Philip Pullman has described as its ‘philistine’ strategy.” [However, the article misses the key legal point that the situation was different in the two cases – Ed.]. 

Changes

Plymouth – New Plympton Library reopened after old building destroyed in fire in 2008. 

Local News

• Barnet – Campaigners show support for Friern Barnet Library – Times series.  “Around 200 people joined a community walk from the old Town Hall site to the library, in Friern Barnet Road, where an event was held to raise awareness of its threatened closure. Young and old came out and braved the elements and held heart-shaped banners emblazoned with the message, “I Love My Local Library”.”

• Brent – The next stage: challenge the DCMS – Preston Library Campaign.  “Today, our legal team has sent a letter demanding action. The DCMS met with Brent Council last year, but has so far ignored thousands of complaints made by us.”
• Library campaigners denied further closure challenges – Guardian.  “”We are definitely fighting on – the question of whether Brent is meeting its obligation to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service isn’t a question for the courts – it’s a question for Jeremy Hunt, the secretary of state, who has so far spent some nine months failing to answer our complaints,” said resident Philip Bromberg. “We will now be pressing him to reach a decision on those complaints.””
• Dudley – Cradley and Long Lane libraries get self-service system – Halesowen News.  “The two libraries are the last in the borough to have the system installed, which is It is expected to be in place by the spring.”
• Durham – Library plans “as bad as Beeching’s rail axe” – Teesdale Mercury.   “A former Children’s Laureate says plans to cut library services, axe staff and hand the buildings over to a charity are “short sighted” and “almost immoral”.Best-selling author Anne Fine, who lives in Barnard Castle, said council officials will be “vilified” in the way Lord Richard Beeching was following cuts to railway services in the 1960s.”

• Gloucestershire – Tuffley Library Support Group: we need your support – FoGL. “We want to make sure that Tuffley Library is kept as a local, easily accessible library. The draft “new” library strategy, currently out for consultation, is proposing a statutory library for Tuffley. It is to be branded as a “Partnership Library”. We have concerns about who the partners may be and how such an arrangement might work. We are also worried that Gloucestershire County Council might wish to re-locate the library to smaller accommodation in a remote location.” 
• Northamptonshire – Library users hug to show their support – Evening Telegraph.  “
  The events were special for many as last year eight libraries in the county were under threat of closure as part of Northamptonshire County Council’s budget cuts. Following tireless campaigning by residents, they were saved from the immediate axe but the authority is hoping to recruit an army of volunteers to run them to save funds.” … “The Friends of Irchester Library, which was among those earmarked for closure last year, physically hugged the building. The library also held a Nintendo DS Swap Shop and cake sale on the day.”
• Plymouth – Wait for new library is over – This is Plymouth.   “The town has waited three and a half years for a replacement after its old library burned down in the summer of 2008.” … “
  The library has been built next to Harewood House on the same site as its predecessor, which was destroyed by fire in 2008. At 458 square metres it is 50 per cent bigger than the old library.”
• Suffolk – Future of Halesworth’s library is discussed – EDP.   “About 30 people attended Dr Jones’s talk which focused on three main themes – the importance of the library to the town, how it will funded and the uncertain future of its staffing arrangements.”
• Surrey – County Council disappointed by High Court library decision – Eagle Radio.   “”It was never our intention to close any of Surrey’s Libraries. Our Intention was to give some of those that account for only 7% of Surrey’s Library take up over to the community as a Community Run Libraries so we could have done what other counties have done and just closed them – but we didn’t want to do that.”
• Library campaigners to have their day in court – Get Surrey.  
• Library volunteers want campaigners to drop county council court battle – This is Surrey Today.  “The 12-strong volunteer committee already plans to open the library in Tattenham Crescent on six days as opposed to the current four, although some will be mornings only. Among the 80 volunteers, eight have formerly worked in libraries, including Mrs Sowry, 62, a retired librarian.” [This is an especially illuminating piece showing the difficulty lovers of libraries have in deciding what is best for libraries, and for themselves.  I refuse to condemn either side, although my heart is with those who seek to maintain a proper public service rather than replacing it with the unpaid.  I also greatly fear for the long-term.  Ed.]
• Trafford – Council plans to run two libraries entirely with volunteers – Third Sector.   “All library services at the two libraries will then be run by volunteers. One paid member of staff will remain at each library to run a separate project that offers advice to local residents on council services including benefits claims, council tax and pothole reporting. However, the paid staff will not work on library services.”

• Battlelines drawn in the fight for Old Trafford Library – Mancunian Matters. ““We think it is outrageous that the Council is effectively punishing Old Trafford for having a strong history of volunteering and community activism.” Very detailed report.
  
• Wirral – Write for the movies with Marc Gee – Wirral Council (press release).  “On 16^th February Leasowe library will host author and playwright Marc Gee who has previously run writing courses for the British Film Institute, BBC and Wirral Metropolitan College. The session runs between 10.00am and 12.00pm and is free and open to all members of the public.”

Can you help…?

• Attend the Speak Up for Libraries lobbying event on 2.30pm 13th March at Central Hall, Westminster, London.  #librarieslobby hashtag. Beforehand there will be a rally from 12 – 2pm at Central Methodist Hall featuring keynote speakers, films and entertainment. There will also be a ‘pop up’ library on display to demonstrate the range of services offered in a modern library.
• National Libraries Day, 4th February 2012 – Attend or publicise an event on the excellent NLD website or check your local libraries website

News

• Accessible websites, airline fees and community libraries – Radio Four (You and Yours, 39:00 to 48.20).  Looking at volunteer run libraries, pointing out the importance of commercial support even to them.  Includes Chalfont St Peter (Buckinghamshire): “nothing much has changed”: “it’s enthusiasm and commitment that marks the difference between success and failure”, “I can’t imagine this village without a library”.  The only option to Chalfont St Peter was volunteering or closing.  Local business sponsorship vital to the success even in this prosperous leafy neighbourhood.  Fairweather Insurance now has logo on library sign outside for £18,000 over three years. Also looks at Eco Computer Systems in Lewisham, “It’s basically a site for my business” – computer recycling makes the library possible as it provides the funding for the library parts.  Fear libraries will close anyway as council money dries up but Cheryl Gillan MP (Conservative, Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire and – surreally – apparently also Secretary of State for Wales) reckons that enthusiasm will be permanent.
• Alan Gibbons: National Libraries Day –  Book Trust.  An interview for National Libraries Day from one of the greatest of all library campaigners.  

“I would not be a writer if it were not for public libraries. Books were a luxury we couldn’t afford when I was growing up, but the working-class culture of my time and place was that education was the way you escaped your history. And education came courtesy of books. My mother used to take me to the public library years before I could read.” Best selling crime writer Val McDermid on the importance of public libraries – Mirror.  

• Bleak times mean crime takes over from romance when it comes to library book lending – Telegraph.  Overall borrowing figures for the year 2010/11 was 300 million loans down from 309 million the year before – and from more than 370 million on the previous decade. But the most dramatic change is the with from romance novels to crime and thrillers.”

“Many of the campaigners involved in tomorrow’s events around the country will, rightly, focus on the negligence and contempt exhibited by Coalition politicians towards the welfare of the library service and its users. They deserve every brickbat. All the same, the myopic idiocy of these false economies cuts straight across party lines. In spite of ferocious competition, from Cumbria to Dorset, I would argue that no local authority has behaved with quite such pig-headed arrogance in pursuit of the destruction of much-loved branches as Labour Brent. Which makes it dismaying, if predictable, that the libraries initiative now launched by shadow arts minister Dan Jarvis contents itself with kneejerk Tory-bashing and fails to examine the mess on Labour’s own municipal shelves.” Branch line to another life – Independent (Boyd Tonkin).  

• Councils must take library duties seriously in difficult times – Yorkshire Post.   Councils think anyone can work in a library.  “Modern libraries are the result of professional management and development; the application of new technological developments; high professional standards in the education of librarians and information service providers and an ongoing commitment to provide information that supports local democracy.”
• Don’t forget that tomorrow is National Libraries Day #NLD12 – Voices for the Library.  “Unlike Save Our Libraries Day, tomorrow is a celebration of all types of libraries throughout the UK, including public, academic, school, business and specialist libraries. Many organisations running these services have planned events to support the day and are listed on the National Libraries Day site.”
• Last chance – BookSeller.  Blog by Desmond Clarke.  Savings can be made by reducing the number of library authorities and the cost of council overheads.  DCMS must produce guidelines and help for volunteer run branches.  Comment by Shirley Burnham points out Ed Vaizey must either be in denial or under orders.

“Many credit the vigour of the campaigning for the fact that the tally of library buildings to have closed their doors is much lower than had been suggested. A year ago, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals predicted that 600 libraries could go – yet so far, according to the website Public Libraries News, only 32 in the UK have closed. Forty-three mobile libraries have also shut down; eight libraries have been handed over to local communities to run; four more, in Lewisham, have been transferred out to a social enterprise company.” National Libraries Day marks a year of protests against library closures – Guardian.   “”I think the public library service would have incurred phenomenal damage had not Brent, Somerset and Gloucestershire campaigners created a knowledge in councillors that there would be resistance” says Alan Gibbons. 550 out of 600 could continue as volunteer run, says Desmond Clarke.

• Novel events keep libraries on the front page – Herald Scotland.  “Activities are planned across Scotland, which has over 500 libraries, many of which are finding that their services under strain.” Fines amnesties, librarithons, flashmobs are all happening.
• Revenent Branch – Golau Glau.  Library related orchestral music.  Is that a datestamp?  A computer?  A library door closing … for the last time?
• Save Our Libraries: Reader’s reports – Guardian.  Each story is different: Including Mar Dixon (#savelibraries), Cockerton Library (Durham), Isle of Wight, Stony Stratford (Milton Keynes), Sonning Common (Oxon), Brent, Upper Norwood (Croydon), York Gardens (Wandsworth), Doncaster, Gloucestershire, Alan Gibbons.

“Of course libraries could be improved but we will not have the libraries of tomorrow if we allow the libraries of today to close.”

• Stand up for your library tomorrow – London Evening Standard.   Dan Jarvis MP, shadow for libraries “”The cuts imposed by national government are the driver for cuts in local government. The challenge I have is to articulate why people shouldn’t take the easy option and cut these services.” National Libraries Day takes place as dozens of facilities face closure in London, sparking protests.”
• Support National Libraries Day – BookSeller.   The [arguable] success of library campaigns described “The Bookseller‘s editor-in-chief Neill Denny says: “On National Libraries Day tomorrow, take your family and friends to your local library, take out some books, cheer up the staff, make a point. 

• Why do we love libraries? This is why – Voices for the Library.   Superb colleciton of tweets on why people support public libraries.
• Your library needs you – Afeitar.   And why you need the library.

Changes

Leicester –  £1.24m cut inc. Aylston Library to close, with books moved to local leisure centre with a self-service machine, transport for disabled to library scrapped, opening hours to be cut.

Local News

• Brent – Case refused by Supreme Court – BookSeller.    Bad news for campaigners as their final legal avenue against council closures ends.  No “arguable point of law” says Court. Legal action now may be possible against the DCMS. 
• Library closures: Supreme Court rejects appeal bid – BBC.  Campaigners say “We remain of the view that the secretary of state for culture, media and sport should hold a public inquiry into Brent’s failure to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for those living, working and studying in the borough. We have submitted petitions with more than 12,000 signatures against the closures.”
• Library supporters vow to carry on campaign – Brent and Kilburn Times.   Council says ““This final decision of the Supreme Court fully vindicates Brent Council’s actions and upholds the earlier decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the High Court that the council acted lawfully.”.  Large number of events being held in Brent by campaigners to show the fight is still alive.
• Library campaigners take appeal hit – Grantham Journal.  
• Carmarthenshire – Putting spotlight on library revamp – This is South Wales.  Llanelli has £3.8m revamp, “”Our aim was to provide a wholly integrated, modern public library, housed in a safe, secure and attractive building, on the present library site in Llanelli.”
• Croydon – Under fire over national Libraries Day – BookSeller.   Croydon has no NLD themed events tomorrow, although some non-NLD events being held.  The council is currently trying to outsource its libraries and is involved in a dispute about the Upper Norwood Joint Library that may end in its closure.
• Bovvered? National Libraries Day, but not in Croydon – Inside Croydon.   Council is ignoring NLD, as it is the Olympics.
• Greenwich – Union’s warning over Greenwich library transfer proposal – News Shopper.  Council aims to transfer libraries to GLL Trusts. Unite union not happy with this as it simply means cuts will be made by GLL instead, especially staff wages.  

• Leicester – Hundreds sign petition against library closure – This is Leicestershire.  “A petition signed by more than 200 people who oppose the closure of their library has been submitted to the council. Leicester City Council wants to shut Aylestone library, in Richmond Road, and move books to the leisure centre in Knighton Lane East, where there would be a self-service facility.”
• North Yorkshire – Sign up as library volunteers – Wetherby News.  “Volunteer Linda Clark, who works in Harrogate Central Library, said: “When I started I was so nervous. “I thought I’d maybe last one or two weeks at most, but I became addicted and just love helping at the library.”
• Northamptonshire –  Show a little love for your local library – Evening Telegraph. “This time last year, eight libraries in Northamptonshire were facing the axe. After an overwhelming show of support from people who use those libraries, Northamptonshire County Council back-tracked, announcing it would no longer close them and would look at other ways of saving money. But councillors made it clear that money must be saved and revealed it wanted to recruit an army of volunteers to help run our libraries. If this couldn’t be achieved, it reserved the right to reconsider closing libraries.”

“A lot of people think because we were not shut, we were saved. That is not the case. It is only a reprieve. We need people to come in and use the library and the events we run.”

• Use library or lose community’s heart – Biceser Advertiser and Review. “Mrs Webb said footfall in libraries is carefully monitored, and although Towcester is safe at the moment, future spending reviews could find the library at risk of closure. She said: “They do work out how much per person it costs to go into a library, but often people don’t even know their library is there or the facilities it provides, and a few years down the line it will be under the cosh again.”.  WI to hug library on Saturday.
• Rotherham – New reading scheme for kids is launched – Selby Times.   “The ‘Chatterbooks’ reading groups have been introduced by Rotherham Library and Information Service to help inspire more children to read for pleasure.”

“The launch of Chatterbooks 2012 gives libraries and schools a best practice framework for creating inspiring reading groups for primary school aged children. The scheme captures and shares the expertise of librarians and is backed by 17 publishers who are working with independent charity The Reading Agency to offer a year round menu of exciting reading opportunities. It also harnesses the involvement of young volunteers.” Chatterbooks.

• Trafford – Residents have their say over plans to help run Hale and Old Trafford libraries – Manchester Evening News.  “Library staff said they feel ‘very undervalued and demoralised’, and that the council should be looking at ways of increasing revenue from the libraries, rather than replacing staff.”… “Residents are planning a ‘day of action’ at Old Trafford Library tomorrow (Saturday, February 4) between 2pm and 4pm to protest against the plans.”.  However, 100 people have already expressed an interest in volunteering. 
• Wakefield – Talks still ongoing on the future of library services in the area – Express series.