Archive for March, 2012

Comment

News

• Jabba the Hutt running the triathlon – James Christie (Via Alan Gibbons).  “Ed Vaizey is obviously hoping the whole problem will solve itself via the noble efforts of well-meaning volunteers, closures, burgeoning self-service, more closures and gradual erosion. I think his actual intention is literally to do nothing. He’s as fit for the job as Jabba the Hutt would be to run the Triathlon.”
• Paperback fighters – Morning Star (Alan Gibbons).   “In the Vaizey “vision” – if we can grace so much back-of-an-envelope thinking with so grand a term – volunteers, who have always supplemented library staff, will no longer be an additional support but often a wholesale replacement.” … “while the activists are winning the public debate in favour of sustaining and improving the public library service, they are finding their efforts frustrated by cuts and the intransigence and abdication of responsibility of minister Vaizey and Secretary of State Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt.”

• Should libraries get out of the e-book business? No, they should be fighting their way in with everything they’ve got…– MMits Blog.  “as librarians we need to think beyond the needs of our current patrons and plan for the needs of future users in many years to come.  And right now that means carving a strong place for ourselves in the e-book market to guarantee our future survival.” Compare this with “Painting Go-Faster Stripes on the Titanic“.
• Uncorrected transcipt of oral evidence of Ed Vaizey to Select Committee – House of Commons.   Repeat after me: there is no crisis, only opportunity, there is no crisis ….
• Walkout to shut down Toronto public libraries – Globe and Mail (Canada).   “The city’s 98 library branches are expected to remain closed Monday while 2,300 employees begin picketing after a marathon round of negotiations during the weekend failed to resolve differences on job security for part-time staff.”

Changes

• Bradford – School Library Service may close in August.  
• Croydon – Consultation on future of Upper Norwood Joint Library until April 29th.  
• Isle of Man – Mobile library and Family Library may be kept open with parish council funding.
• Oxfordshire – £43k investment in ebooks, with ongoing cost of £35k p.a

Local News

• Bournemouth – Redhill parents protest against closure of Hillview School library – Bournemouth Echo.   School is wanting to insert new classroom by ejecting library. 

“I have just been informed that Bradford School Library Service is to close in August. Another cut that will have negative repercussions.” Bradford SLA – Alan Gibbons.

• Croydon – Four options for future of popular library – Croydon Guardian.   “Options include continuing to fund the library at the existing level, reducing funding to the library, withdrawing funding, with money then used in improve other library services in the area and finally withdrawing funding and using the savings to protect other council services.”
• Dorset – County Council questioned on mobile library decision – Dorset Echo.   “A councillor has slammed a decision to send a mobile library to a village with its own library as ‘bureaucracy gone mad’.Dorset county councillor Ron Coatsworth wants answers as to why the mobile library goes to Burton Bradstock when it has a community-led library of its own.”.  Council response is interesting: ““It is perhaps worth noting that some other councils which sought to remove or reduce their mobile library services have been subject to successful judicial review. A decision to withdraw the service will therefore be made when local people have had the opportunity to experience the community-managed service and a mobile library service.”.  [Therefore, service will be withdrawn if volunteers are a success – Ian.]
• Gloucestershire – Cabinet Meeting 5 April 2012 – FoGL.   “…the agenda item for libraries is:“to take a decision as to the future Library Strategy for Gloucestershire, taking into account inter alia the feedback from the consultation on the draft Strategy and having due regard to the statutory equality needs” The meeting will be open to the public so if you are able to attend, contact Shire Hall about ticket arrangements (Tel: 01452 425000)”
• Isle of Man – Working group to assess library options – Isle of Man.com.   “Now a Council of Ministers working party has been formed to examine options to keep the libraries open. That could be with support from local commissioners, with ratepayers footing part of the bill.”
• Isle of Wight – Friends of the IW Library Service statement – via Alan Gibbons.   “Tomorrow 20th Mar 2012, the Ian Mac phone in program on Vectis Radio, the Isle of Wight on-line radio station from 12.00 to 13.00 will feature Keith Fagan, he will be answering questions on the reasons why he felt he could no longer remain a member of the Ethical Standards Committee, a long time and much respected independent member (2005 – 2012). After watching the live coverage of Cllr Pugh giving his evidence to the DCMS Select Committee, Keith felt that he had been placed in a totally untenable position as he knew that Cllr Pugh’ submissions could, at best, be considered misleading and by remaining silent he would be seen to condone Councillor Pugh’s evidence.”.  Statement asks for people to phone into radio programme and notes that several members of the Select Committee may be listening. Details to contact are: Vectis Radio (online Internet radio station) Tuesday 20th March,  12noon to 1pm, the Ian Mac programme http://vectisradio.co.uk/ Phone 01983 527444 or 01983 898548.
• Kent – Developer must give £500k for new primary school in Sherwood – This is Kent. “More than £13,600 would be used to pay for additional library stock, extended hours and more staff at Tunbridge Wells library” 
• Oxfordshire – Painting go faster stripes on the titanic – Question Everything.   “OCC (Oxfordshire County Council) have introduced e-books with a initial spend of £43,560 and a annual cost of £35,598 while cutting 25% out of the library budget partially by withdrawing up to 50% of staff funding rural libraries (and one city). They are also spending £150,074 (estimate) putting wifi in every one of the libraries.70 people have written and asked for e-books, anecdotally they say lots of people have asked verbally too. 70 out of 680,000.” … “They would saved lots of money if they had put the ebooks/audio books/wifi on the back burner for a few years until things settle down and all the major parties can get their heads together and agree on proper standards, it can them be available to all rather than to select devices. This isn’t the public sector way though, evidence of effectiveness, demand or need mean nothing. Its new and shiny therefore we must have it now.”
• Suffolk – Libraries: what a week! – Rosehill Readers.   Events include Aldeburgh manager resigning over libraries policy, collapse of Ipswich Library Co-op and Speak Up for Libraries.
• Surrey – Libraries row goes to High Court – Eagle Radio.  “Chairman of SLAM: “I’m sorry it has gone to Judicial Review, I’m sorry it has gone to court. There would have been occasions previously, where there could have been negotiations between us. Not just us, but all the people concerned to come out with a more effective solution.I think it is a great pity it has gone this far, but we felt we had no choice.”
• Warwickshire – New library times for Wolston and Rugby – Coventry Telegraph.   “Nearly 1,000 people responded to a questionnaire asking for preferences for opening hours at Wolston and Rugby libraries. Wolston will now be open Monday to Wednesday 2.30-5pm and Thursday to Saturday from 10.30am-1pm. It will be closed on Sunday. Rugby will be open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am-5pm, Tuesday from 10am-7pm, Saturday from 9am-6pm and Sunday from 12-4pm.”

News

• An interview with Jeanette Winterson – American Libraries (USA).  “I’m sorry that we’re now going through a very bad phase with libraries. The thought has been that (a) libraries shouldn’t have any books, and (b) they should be about the lowest common denominator.” … “.  Jeanette is not happy with what has replaced books in British libraries: “Lots of computer terminals, which is good; you need that. They’ve just stripped out the things they don’t think people will want, so literature isn’t big. There’s lots of chick lit. There’s lots of pulp fiction. There’s lots of airport fiction—all of that kind of thing that doesn’t really belong in a library. I’m very snobbish about libraries in that sense. If we’re going to have all that stuff, stick it over in a corner somewhere. Can’t we let the library be what it is, which is a place of excellence, and a place where you can find things you wouldn’t otherwise find?”
• Campaign for a happy ending – Scout London.  “Spare a thought for the humble public library….”
• E-Vaiz-ive – Alan Gibbons.  “These points were typed with the laptop on my knee in Central Hall, Westminster before the rally and lobby of parliament” … “He even dares rattle the sabre of intervention! This is an unbelievable performance. Mensch asks about professional librarians. He couldn’t conceive of a service being run without a professional librarian! How many have been sacked, Ed?” Interesting comment: “Another case which illustrates that UK Parliamentary Select Committees should have the services of a competent lawyer with experience in cross-examination as US Congressional Committees do.”
• Half term report on Ed Vaizey -Alan Gibbons.   Copy of the very entertaining but entirely accurate speech by Alan Gibbons at the Speak Up for Libraries event. 
• Is the internet a threat to libraries, reading and writing culture -News Day (Zimbabwe).  “For a progressive librarian or any advocate of reading culture, it is mundane to think of a library as a physical collection of books in this day and age.”
• Movers and Shakers 2012 – Library Journal (USA).  The most impressive and promising public librarians almost entirely from the USA, although there are some international examples.  Sadly, none from the UK this year (there were two in 2011) but the list is a most impressive one.  As an aside, there appear to be some pretty cool dudes in American public libraries.
• Music and drama on the move – Halifax Courier.  “Subject to legal agreements, the drama collection will transfer to Leeds Central Library and the music will be housed in Kirklees Library HQ on Red Doles Lane, in Huddersfield.”
• Mutually beneficial arrangement? – Stop the privatisation of UK Public Libraries.  A look into the relationship between LSSI and Sue Hill Recruitment.
• Public rallies in support of a fair countract for librarians – Marketwire (Canada).  “Librarians and members of the public rallied today in support of Toronto Public Library services, and against the library board’s threat to those services through provocative demands, days before a bargaining deadline.”

• Save our libraries, they’re balm for the soul – Herald Scotland.  “Of late, however, assaults on the well-being of the public library have been frequent and vicious. Always an easy target in times of financial constraint, libraries have watched in dismay as professional librarians have been made redundant, branches have closed or had their hours curtailed, and book budgets have been slashed. The effects of all of this are not easy to measure. But what those, including Julia Donaldson, the Glasgow-based Children’s Laureate and author of The Gruffalo, who have been campaigning against such cuts are clear about, is that it’s the less affluent who suffer from them the most.”
• Speak Up for Libraries – Skilled paid library workers not unpaid volunteers.  A delegate at the day gives their view of the proceedings and the important points.  “The day got me thinking a lot. It suddenly dawned blindingly on me that I had been forced to leave my last library assistant job in a public library not just because of abusive, prejudice, and downright lazy management staff; but also in part because the restructuring to the service delivery/style”

“‘Libraries were to the mind what the National Health Service was to the body.”

• Speaking up for libraries – Morning Star.  “Culture Minister Ed Vaizey did not announce a review of the government’s demolition job on public libraries because he thinks it a good idea.”  
• Top authors join protest rally to lobby No 10 on library cutbacks – London Evening Standard.   “In a snapshot survey of Unison’s London library workers and activists, three quarters said budgets had been cut, more than a third said opening times had been reduced and more than a quarter reported mobile library, outreach and home library services had been slashed.  It also exposed concerns about staffing levels, with 90 per cent reporting voluntary redundancies and 54 per cent compulsory lay-offs. Half said libraries in their area had closed.”
• Vaizey dithers over library concessions – Morning Star. “During a day of protest against nation-wide library closures the minister suddenly announced a review of the impact of policy changes since the Con-Dem government came to power. Mr Vaizey blurted out the minor concession as Speak up for Libraries protesters held a major Westminster rally and he faced a grilling from MPs on the culture, media and sport committee.”
• Vaizey offers CILIP an olive branch –  Peter’s Gazette via Alan Gibbons.  “Mr Vaizey said: “I would be delighted to sit down with Annie Mauger [of CILIP] and discuss the research she has undertaken . . . and to work with the Arts Council and local authorities where there might be concerns about the reduction of staff, but I do think people should meet half way. I do not think we should see this as an either/or—we have a library service either completely supported by librarians or completely supported by volunteers” 
• Want better reading scores? Hire a full-time librarian – Care2 (USA).  ““There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between advanced reading levels and endorsed librarian staffing trends,” according to the report.”
• Why our libraries are worth saving – International Business Times.   “the cuts give authorities the freedom to make easy savings while appearing to be filling their statutory obligation. They watch local libraries die on the vine, with the onus of responsibility shunted to the community. There is a reason the library debate has caused such vehemence. It is one of the few public services within which every user has their own personal attachment. No offence to the binmen, but you don’t get that with waste management services.”

“Government critics are keen to paint library protesters as characters akin to Steinbeck’s Lennie Small, hugging their libraries too tight to their chest, but that is a far better notion than relaxing their grip and realising too late that it has slipped through their fingers.”

Changes

North Lincolnshire – Proposals inc. 4.5 hours less per week for Scunthorpe Central Library, 5.5 hours less at Ashby Library, 3.5 hours longer at Barton. 
Suffolk – Government grant given for £250k for Industrial and Provident Society for new computer management system, split with council.
Yorkshire Libraries and Information Service – Music and Drama Library to be split up, with drama moving to Leeds Central Library and drama to Kirklees Libraries HQ.  

Local News

• Bolton – Axed libraries to close next month – Bolton News.  “The last of Bolton’s five axed libraries will close next month. Astley Bridge Library will close on April 5, Bolton Council said last night. A neighbourhood collection point, which will replace the library, will open the following week in Oldhams Children’s Centre, in Forfar Street.”
• Brent – Willesden Green library campaigners surround building – Harrow Observer.   “Dozens of local people surrounded the centre on Saturday, on the second day of a two-day exhibition to display the plans for a new cultural centre to the public. On Monday, a petition to save the library from demolition was handed in at the Brent Council officers with more than 5,000 signatures.”.  Replacement library in plans is apparently smaller.  “The ‘Keep Willesden Green’ campaign has now joined the Brent SOS (Save our Six) Libraries group.” … “The campaign development comes as All Souls College in Oxford, has reportedly given the community permission to run a volunteer-led service at the closed library building in Kensal Rise.”
• Minister should order meeting with Brent library campaigners – Brent Council Liberal Democrats.   “According to Mr Vaizey the key difference between the councils [Wirral and Brent] is that Brent Council carried out an “extensive and significant review of libraries”. Brent campaigners claim that the review is flawed and failed to directly engage with users most affected by the cuts.”.  DCMS met with the council but not with campaigners.  Also, the council has failed to explore the volunteer option, unlike Ed’s stated preference.
• Willesden Green library campaigners join Brent SOS – Harrow Observer.   The Victorian Society is also unhappy.  [Are Brent Council normally this prone to bad publicity? – Ed.]
• Willesden Green demonstration attracts thousands – Preston Library Campaign.   “Preston library campaign with our friends across Brent worked hard to inform Willesden residents about the threat to their library. Willesden is the biggest and most expensive library in Brent, the “success story” that leader Ann John falsely compared to our own beloved Preston library. She kept telling us how great Willesden was, why that would stay open and ours would close instead. And all the while, plans were afoot to close and demolish it. Which means there will soon be only 5 small libraries left in Brent, and some badly need to be rebuilt.”
• Almost 6,000 people join the fight to save Willesden Green Library – Brent and Kilburn Times.  “Nearly 6,000 people have signed petitions to save Willesden Green Library Centre from demolition. In a remarkable demonstration of community action, hundreds of people rallied outside the library in High Road, Willesden, on Saturday, to stop Brent Council from knocking down.”
• Cornwall – Panic rooms “will ruin town’s library” – This is Cornwall.   “Fitting CCTV, alarm buttons and panic rooms in Bodmin Library, the town’s new One Stop Shop, has been dismissed as “health and safety gone mad” which will ruin the library.” … “A number of libraries are undergoing similar work to accommodate One Stop Shop staff, who offer help with council services including housing, benefits, council tax, business rates, refuse and recycling.”
• Darlington – New Friends group forms to secure library future – Northern Echo.  Cockerton Library: “After its success the original group decided to retire and was replaced by a group of seven local people at a public meeting last night, where they pledged to work with the council, schools and community groups to ensure that the library remains a well-used facility.”

“Lynne Litchfield, libraries manager at Darlington Borough Council, attended the meeting and confirmed that employment law would make it illegal to allow volunteers to take over the duties of librarians who have been made redundant.”

• Dorset – Charmouth Library to be handed over to Friends in September – View Online.  “The Cabinet noted that it would be impossible for the Friends of Charmouth Library to take over the running of the building unless the roof and heating system were put in good order before the official handover in September, which it was agreed to do. However, further requests for set-up grants were turned down, meaning the community of Charmouth will have to raise funds themselves to refurbish the damp-stained interior of the library, buy new furniture needed to create an internet cafe and finance all the costs involved while the library is established.”
• Gloucestershire – Protesters who lobbied government over library cuts received praise in Gloucestershire – FoGL. “Chairman of the Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries (FOGL) Johanna Anderson said it was clear going back to Victorian methods of funding libraries through philanthropy was not going to work. “There has been a general deterioration of libraries for a long time and the last government got rid of the library standards where authorities had to meet certain criteria,” she said.”
• Fairford residents could decide fate of Lechlade Library – Wilts & Glos Standard.   “in a last push to secure a partnership library service with GCC, Lechlade campaigners have asked Fairford to hand over the nine additional library hours that they were awarded from the county council last year.”
• North Lincolnshire – Reduced library opening considered for Scunthorpe and Ashby but boost for Barton – This is Scunthorpe.  
• Oxfordshire – Libraries aren’t in crisis, says Vaizey – Oxford Mail.  “The Wantage MP spoke out as campaigners celebrated the 40th anniversary of a library in his constituency. Grove Library marked the milestone after surviving the threat of Oxfordshire County Councils cuts in 1998 and again in November 2010.  The library is one of five in Oxfordshire – along with Chinnor, Faringdon, Wheatley and Woodstock – that will now see volunteers making up a third of the staff after the council scaled back planned budget cuts.”
• Suffolk – County’s Libraries to get a computer update from government – EADT.   “library service is to get a major software update as it is being transferred to a new not-for-profit operation. The county’s libraries have linked up with the Cambridgeshire service to get a £250,000 government grant to introduce the software which should improve the service it offers customers.”.  Not clear what the money is for but it appears to be for financial management.
• Surrey – SLAM lobbies Surrey MPs in Parliament – Eagle Radio.  “Pressure group SLAM – that’s the Surrey Libraries Action Movement – are in Westminster today for a rally and lobby.  They’ll be joining up with protesters from all over the country, including a new alliance called “Speak Up For Libraries”.  They’re warning that budget cuts and underfunding will mean libraries across Britain are facing a “bleak future”

Ed Vaizey

Defensive posture, looks uncomfortable

Staffordshire is not cutting libraries.  They’re “entitled” to do this.  Spectrum of cuts from none to a lot – many have been “reconfiguring” their libraries for a number of years.
Are they an easy target?  (resilient use though) – They’re not in crisis, usage has stabilised.  Down to charities including The Reading Agency. All are doing it [but one has dropped out that he is not aware of – due to not having enough money].  Sat with CIPFA and will sit down with ACE to use statistics to keep libraries open e.g. spending too much on admin.  Did not answer question.
Chief Executives being paid more? It comes down to local accountability.  Electorate should ask council why they have decided to pay more to councillors and closed libraries.  “They should justify the salaries they are paying”.
You were a fervent advocate of intervention in 2009, what’s changed?  My job was in opposition.  I did not believe libraries were in crisis then.  Closure of libraries are acceptable inc. Wirral and one in Swindon.  Ed visited Swindon and the Wirral.  “I took the view that Wirral justified a public inquiry”.  Found against the Wirral because they did not do a library review, just a buildings review – you need to engage with how library services are using the service.  Charteris Review gave clear guidance.  Ed has written to each English authority to remind them of the Review and will assess deicsions based on the Review.  1964 Act makes libraries statutory – authorities still need to provide a comprehensive and efficient service.  “My officials have sat down with seven local authorities that have been high profile” and discussed the process and impact.  Officials then advise Ed.  No-one wants the statutory power to be removed.
Wirral was proposing nearly half the libraries, Brent has closed half of its … what’s the key difference? Brent had undertaken a review thinking about demographics.  The two court judgements in Brent shows that they have.  Tower Hamlets has closed half of its libraries and has renamed them Ideas Stores but Whitechapel is the third most visited.  The Idea Stores are extremely popular.  Sometimes you have to make tough decisions.  “We will have to evaluate submissions” made on the case.
What is a needs assessment? Some people in need won’t be filling in council survey forms.  Have you met the Campaigners there?  I haven’t the campaigners, my officials have met the council.  My advice as a Minister was that it would prejudice my decision if I met Councils and Campaigners.  Clear indication from Ed is that he will not be intervening.
Is it that if the Courts are OK with the decision, you are OK with it too?  Isn’t it your decision?  I’m not saying that. We have to analyse in the department to see if it is comprehensive and efficient.
If you’re a champion of libraries, how many library closures have you stopped? I believe I am a champion as I have engaged with library authorities eg. tri-borough merger of libraries.  Future Libraries Programme has made a difference.  The Arts Council will make a difference.  DCMS will call in changes for councils and I have written to authorities on three occasions.  I can’t claim one library saved.
Comprehensive and Efficient – how integral are professionally paid staff? Librarians are the core of any local authority but they don’t need to be in the frontline all the time.  There’s always been a debate – e.g. 1962 Bourdillon Report talked about the opportunities to use non-professional staff.  Highly trained librarians are quite rightly an expensive resource.  They’re the core.
The number of librarians has declined.  Does that worry you?  We have to be realistic and use librarians as effectively as possible.  Debate is stuck in binary debate about closures.  Librarians can train up volunteers and open more libraries.  If libraries are about the books then we should think creatively.  Ed likes libraries in a phone box.  Inside a book it shows one where the nearest library is.  Councils should be offering the services of librarians to create more volunteer-run branches.
9% is spent  on books.  A big cost is professional staff. What impact do you think the decline of librarians will have? Has the DCMS done any work on this? We have to be realistic and “delighted” to work with CILIP to see how significant decline in librarians is.  Volunteers in libraries is not a disaster and our societies would not survive without them.  It’s not an either/or.  Hillingdon’s focus is on customer service and engaging with library users. 
Volunteers are not a threat to professional librarians and provide a “great opportunity”for librarians.  Libraries taken over by volunteers can be open longer, have better stock and run by locals. “A balance has to be struck”. 
To what extent are volunteers a means to replace paid staff with free staff?  Where a council examines its service and there’s an opportunity for volunteers to save a library that would otherwise be closed, that opportunity should be saved.  Community Libraries do not replace a council-run service.  DCMS does not see volunteer-run libraries as statutory. 
Are there any plans to monitor this?  This will now happen.
Suffolk planned closures but, after consultation, libraries won’t close but there will be a contracting out of libraries to a volunteer-run organisation. Is that a good idea?  Authorities can look at a range of options.  Hounslow is privately run.  Who the council decides to run the library service is up to the council.  It’s “exciting”. 
Comprehensive and Efficient – Should there be any definitions?  I’d be interested to see the Select Committee’s views on this.  “Comprehensive” means range and spend of stock. 

…..

1964 Act is very clear – needs to be free?  Any possibility of charges?  None.  We’re not going to.  Happy for charges to be made on other items. 
Why do you think that you and Mr Hunt are better than Mr Pickles? Mr Pickles is more scary.  Librarians can fall into quite a few departments – e.g. Education, DCLG, DMS – we should all have an impact on libraries policy. 
Will volunteer run libraries wither on the vine? I will commit to looking at how such libraries are doing by 2014.

Does ACE have the resources?  MLA had already been cut in half when we took over. ACE has enough resources.  ACE is spending more than the MLA [nonsense] on libraries.  “I have very strong confidence” that they will be a great resource for councils and libraries. 
London boroughs altogether? Recommend Desmond Clarke’s mailing list “An example fo the Big Society in action”.  We need to look athe CIPFA statistics.  Boris did “mutter” about a London library service.  We’ll see how the London boroughs and electorate react.

News

• Another library is possible – Library Journal (USA).   “A couple of advertisements in the most recent issue of Library Journal jumped out at me. One was an ad for library furniture with the tagline: “Want to look more like a bookstore?” Uh, do you mean like that big empty hole where Borders used to be?”
• Language of leadership – Sue Hill Recruitment.   “A number of wry smiles were raised at the question of whether restructuring and severance programmes were being conducted on a truly strategic and sustainable basis, or simply on the basis of headcounts and political expediency.”  One librarian commented on the “on schadenfreude of finding their own redundancy resulting in no less than 5 new staff being taken on in another hemisphere”
• Outsourcing public libraries – Kojo Nnamdi Show (USA).  “Cash-strapped communities across the country have outsourced services ranging from trash pickup to tech support. But in a trend that’s sparking debate around the country, more and more cities and towns are hiring outside contractors to run their public libraries. Some see the move as a savvy way to save money, while others worry about the implications allowing a private company to take control of the neighborhood library. We explore both sides of the issue.”.  Cutting public library funding was the second most popular choice in states last year.  LSSI declined to appear on the programme.

Changes

Aberdeenshire – Inverurie Library extended, library app for smartphones.
Blaenau Gwent – £15k cut as two mobiles to be replaced with smaller vehicles, increasing visits to homes and “community venues”
Cambridgeshire – Staffing increased at larger libraries to replace “reserve” system of having staff throughout county on call. 
Middlesbrough – Mobile library will end on March 31st, £50k cut.  £20k of this to move to housebound service. 
Wandsworth – Friends groups to start as pilot at Tooting and then be rolled out: to provide funds (inc. for maintenance), publicity, volunteers, other assistance.

Local News

• Aberdeenshire – Library gets bigger and better – Inverurie Herald.  “Inverurie Library launched a new range of initiatives last week, designed to mix the best of new technology and the area’s rich history. The extended library was officially opened by Aberdeenshire Provost, Bill Howatson.” … “The expansion of the library means it will also encapsulate the Carnegie Museum, and will continue to exhibit items in dedicated display cases. A ‘pop-up’ museum service is currently being trialled across Garioch, which sees small collections of museum artefacts circulated between libraries to complement the static museum service.”
• Bath and Northeast Somerset – Tories didn’t always support mobile libraries – This is Bath.   “the Lib Dem group had – readily – accepted the Conservative amendment to retain the mobile library service at least for another year and whilst the present consultation exercise is still ongoing.
• Blaenau Gwent – Libraries set for change – South Wales Argus.  “There are currently two mobile libraries serving the county – one which directly caters for 196 housebound and visually impaired customers, and one which serves communities more than two miles away from a library building and visits 36 stops a week. Under the new plan, agreed by the education and leisure scrutiny committee last week, the council will have two smaller vehicles that can cater for more home delivery customers and help to set up and maintain frequently changing collections in local centres.”
• Brent – Council “pays £70,000 a year” for library closed to cut costs – London Evening Standard.  “Neasden library, one of six to be axed by Labour-run Brent, was closed four months ago. However, Liberal Democrats on the council claim it is locked into leasing the building until at least 2022, for £55,000 a year, as it recently renewed the lease. Business rates and maintenance charges take the annual cost of the building to more than £70,000, they said.”  Library had recently undergone a £300,000 refurbishment too. [Good grief – Ed.]
• Cambridgeshire – Staffing at Huntingdonshire libraries goes up while opening hours go down – Hunts Post 24.   “Cambridgeshire County Council libraries employ 41 full and part-time staff. But from April 1 new opening hours and staffing structures will see 11 more staff as the council replaces a system reliant on reserve staff to fill gaps when employees are sick or on leave.”
• Devon – Sidmouth: New library technology gets a mixed response – View Online.   “The new and modern self issue machines were initially criticised for their lack of human touch, which many local library users are used to. With the introduction of the hi-tech machines, another major change in the library was the removal of the main help counter reinforcing the initial concerns. However, a week in and staff at Sidmouth Library are settling in with the changes thanks to the help of extra relief staff from Exmouth, and the new technology is growing on library users.” … “Staff have been reduced across East Devon libraries in a bid to save money and prevent library closures and cuts to funding for books and other resources.”
• East Sussex – Readers urged to complete survey on libraries’ future – This is Sussex.    “The county council has launched a three-month review to look at how it provides rural and mobile services in villages such as Forest Row and Hartfield.”

• Kirklees – Letters – Huddersfield Examiner.  “We’re told we now have five weeks to save Golcar Library. Volunteer now, Kirklees says, or we will close it down. This is an ultimatum, not a consultation. How quickly we can get rid of a proud public library service that has existed for 163 years! How diminished we will be!” … “It doesn’t have to be this way – there could be a real debate on what we want from our libraries in the 21st century, how to prepare for the digital future and libraries investing in e-books.”.  Two other letters also angrily dispute the wisdom of forcing volunteers to run libraries.

“Will he stop the closure of libraries? 18 libraries remain open but another three require £3million in repairs. We are talking to partners and community organisations to find ways to keep library services present in these areas. It’s been really tough to find the cash to keep these services going following another £50million cut in our budget from the government.” Liverpool – Anderson answers – Liverpool Echo.  

• Middlesbrough – Nunthorpe gran is so sad to lose library link – Gazette.  “The service cost the council £50,000, however £20,000 will be reinvested in the housebound service. Of the £30,000 net saving, as part of the £13.8m budget reduction for 2012/13, £21,000 is for staffing and £9,000 is transport costs. Mrs Yolland’s daughter Linda, 62, a retired teacher, added: “For the community it’s a big loss but a big thank you for everything they have done over the years – it has been brilliant.”
• Monmouthshire – New-look Chepstow library re-opened – Free Press.   “Chepstow Library was officially reopened last week after a £120,000 refurbishment … The refurbished library offers customers improved internet access, with free wifi and laptops available for use within the library.”

• SLAM’s tour de Surrey – SLAM.  Excellent review of the volunteering situation in Surrey, pointing out that each library and community is different, none were properly consulted, none thought that volunteers were a better choice than council run, none thought that being without a paid member of staff was an improvement, 60-100 volunteers needed per branch, self-service machines unreliable, reserving via “buddy libraries” unsatisfactory.
• Wandsworth – Residents help shape future of libraries – Wandsworth Council.   “Friends of Libraries groups could be rolled out to libraries across the borough to create more community involvement in the service. Wandsworth Council has agreed that a Friends of Tooting Library pilot group be established as a model for the creation of similar groups across Wandsworth.” See Save Croydon Libraries Campaign for a response to this article. 
• West Sussex – Council spends £100,000 on “how to wash your hands” video – Telegraph.   Well, £100k on that and 91 other films that have had 100,000 viewings in total but still….  “The figure has angered residents who have seen big cuts in other services, like day care for the elderly, bus routes and library opening hours.”
• Worcestershire – Full circle for library as hall plan mooted –  Malvern Gazette.  “Speaking at a meeting of Upton Town Council, Councillor Simon Speers said he had “floated” the possibility of incorporating the library and TIC, and even other services such as the police station, into Memorial Hall.”