Changes

Ideas

National

  • CILIPS Guide to lobbying – CILIPS. “Advocacy is about persuasion and influencing for change whereas lobbying is about making a case for political change and is targeted towards political representatives.  Lobbying and advocacy are key instruments for creating awareness of the value of professional skills and the importance of library and information services to society. CILIPS recognises that many of our members are keen to engage with their political representatives when issues of concern arise so we have produced this guidance to support that activity.  As an organisation we also understand that politicians are likely to give more attention to approaches from a concerned constituent than from an organisation because they are sensitive to the opinion of their electorate.” [A clear guide to how to lobby – Ed.]
  • Developing digital skills in Public Libraries – Tinder Foundation. “We’re pleased to announce that Tinder Foundation has recently won a contract with the Society of Chief Librarians and the Arts Council to develop training to increase the digital confidence and competence of the public library workforce. Over the next three months we’ll be creating a Workforce Development Programme that will give customer-facing library staff the means to excel in their current roles, helping them deliver the core elements of their Universal Information offer and the assisted digital agenda. That might mean updating digital records and archives, or simply having the knowledge and practical skills to help their customers use and benefit from governmental online services.”
  • National Libraries Day a great success – Alan Gibbons.”National Libraries Day took place on Saturday 8 February 2014. It rounded off a week celebrating all types of library and library staff. It is the third time that National Libraries Day has taken place. This report provides a summary of the publicity achieved through press, social media and web. Staff in the CILIP External Relations Team co-ordinated social activity through National Libraries Day social media accounts, supported with press relations activity and, with Online Ability, managed the website. Key figures from the day: • Over 603 events registered on the website, • Over 17,000 tweets using the hashtag #NLD14 (3 – 9 Feb) • A social reach of 286,000 through the Thunderclap • Support from celebrities and politicians on Twitter • Nearly 31,000 Facebook users reached • Over 8,200 website visits (3-8 Feb) • 38 press mentions (3-10 Feb)”

Primary Research Group Inc., (www.PrimaryResearch.com) publisher of research reports and surveys about libraries, is surveying library use of 3D Printers. The international study is open to public, academic and special libraries of all nations. The study is only open to libraries that have already purchased or deployed 3D Printers. Survey participants receive a free copy of the final report generated from the survey data. The institutional name of participants is listed but responses are aggregated or not attributed to particular respondents. To take the survey follow the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3DPrintingLibrarySurvey” Post on Lis-Pub-Libs

“Join Carolyn Waite, Information Development Manager at Lancashire Library Service, as she discusses how the Enquire 24/7 digital reference service helps libraries to meet SCL’s Universal Information and Digital Offers: “Lancashire joined Enquire in 2013 and it has increased the contact that our customers have with their local library service. We now have a better appreciation of our customer’s needs and now our staff have the means to meet them… The webinar event is an online session, to be held on Thursday 27th February at 10am – please complete the registration form at: http://registration.oclc.org/reg/?pc=enquirewebinar” ” Post on Lis-Pub-Libs

  • New UK public libraries report: Timely, or deliberate time-wasting? – TeleRead. “Massive skepticism is likely to attend anything commissioned by Ed Vaizey. (This is the man who received a vote of no confidence from the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals, remember?) And the suspicion here is that the report is simply a deliberate attempt to divert attention, blunt criticism, and waste time, while the real business of starving public libraries out of existence goes on elsewhere. That choice of questions will only help reinforce the skepticism, given the emphasis on service delivery models, and on community libraries – a.k.a. the government’s attempt to foster local volunteer libraries that it doesn’t have to pay for.”

International

  • Children read out loud to cats in adorable pictures – Independent. “Children have been reading out loud to cats at a shelter in Pennsylvania, practising their literacy skills as well as soothing their feline audience” … “While the cats enjoy the company, the children also learn to love the animals. Mums of the children who participated in the programme left their feedback on the website.” [Now I wonder if we can somehow mix this up with library cats – Ed.]
  • Health Hubs in Kenyan libraries – Elsevier Connect (Kenya). “Only one out of five people surveyed said they would expect to find health information in a local library. The report recommended that “libraries need to engage with the community at a more tangible level that goes beyond passively providing books information only, e.g., facilitating community interaction with service providers of health, agriculture and culture.”To this end, Book Aid International has spent three years working with Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) on a project to establish Health Hubs in 15 branch libraries, with funding from the Elsevier Foundation’s Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries Program. Our project was a direct response to findings such as these; it targeted KNLS  librarians so they could identify health information needs in their own communities and provide  primary healthcare providers access to relevant, trustworthy and up-to-date information in public libraries.”
  • Library cat – Wikipedia. Full entry on the bibliographic feline phenomenon “Library cats have been used to befriend patrons, boost librarian morale, and inspire reading and literacy programs.[3] The presence of a cat can create a relaxed tone and ease daily stress for patrons and librarians alike,[7][8] but usually without the typically disruptive loud noises other animals (e.g. dogs) may produce. Cats’ generally independent nature may also suit the intellectual environment of a library, as they are low-maintenance and may more readily suit the otherwise preoccupied intellectual personalities who frequent libraries.“

Local UK news by authority

  • Birmingham – Closing Spring Hill Library and what will be lost? – Birmingham Libraries Campaign. “n the last four years over £380k has been spent by the city council in refurbishing both the interior and exterior of Spring Hill Library. This spending on the 121 year old library was envisioned as an investment in the future for the people of Ladywood. This valued local facility and the investment in the library is now under threat due to a proposal to close Spring Hill library.” … “It is likely that over £600k of public and private money has been spent on the development of the Spring Library site. We would invite the Chair of the Ladywood District Committee to confirm the exact amount.”
  • Brent – Fraudulent Email Enquiry Update – Save Kensal Rise Library. “On Friday the police requested additional evidence and information in respect of the fraudulent email case, and this has been provided to them by the Council’s audit and investigation team. Updates will follow.”
  • Cornwall – Mobile library service future questioned – BBC.  “The service has been under review with officers from the Liberal Democrat-Independent unitary authority analysing how much each library visit costs the taxpayer. The council said one mobile service, which covers Tintagel, St Blaise and the St Dennis area costs £39 per visit. Mr Kaczmarek said: “When it comes to savings and cutting the service completely that’s where we have to draw the line. “We do need to supply a mobile library service where it is very well used. This is a lifeline for a lot of people in rural areas.””
  • Devon – Exeter Central Library Development – Devon Libraries. Loads of pictures of the building work.
  • Doncaster – Fresh battle on to save Doncaster library – Doncaster Free Press. “A library which survived Doncaster Council cuts and was taken over by volunteers just a year ago is facing a new threat to stay open. The fight is on to save Bessacarr Library which was spared the axe 18 months ago when volunteers stepped in. But Doncaster Council has unveiled plans to merge Cantley and Bessacarr libraries, with both buildings closing to be transferred to a new combined base – which could be in the community centre on Goodison Boulevard.”

“This is a real kick in the teeth for the people who volunteered to take over its running. he whole idea of creating community libraries was to preserve them and now the council has gone back on its word of saying it would support people.”

  • Edinburgh – Shhhh teddy bears sleeping – Tales of One City. Corstorphine Library has teddy bear sleepover … and then photographed what the bears got up to.
  • Lincolnshire – A very positive result” my arse… – Save Lincolnshire Libraries. “One of the latest pieces of spin from Lincolnshire County Council talks about community groups coming forward to take over all 30 libraries earmarked for closure. Councillor Nick Worth, Executive Member for Libraries, describes this as  “a very positive result”. However, responses from those taking over libraries suggest that they’re doing so because they feel coerced. “The responses so far make fascinating reading, and confirm that for many this not “a very positive result”, but in reality quite the opposite. And if you want another dose of reality and an indication of how “saved” these libraries are, read about on the many drawbacks of volunteer libraries discussed here.”
  • Lincolnshire – County council’s library closure decision faces high court challenge – Boston Standard. “Spokesman Phil Dilks: “We regret that Lincolnshire County Council is steam-rolling ahead with seriously flawed cuts to remove statutory provision for more than thirty libraries rather than listen to 25,000 council tax payers who have actively supported our campaign to Save Lincolnshire’s Libraries.”” See also Lincolnshire library campaigners file for judicial review – BookSeller.
  • Lincolnshire – Group challenges council’s library change – BBC. “County councillor Nick Worth said: “Before the decision was made, the council carried out extensive consultation and thoroughly considered the impact on our residents. We will be presenting the strongest possible defence, showing that all the necessary steps needed to make a lawful decision were taken.” Solicitor Paul Heron, who is representing Save Lincolnshire Libraries, said: “Most people understand that in an age of austerity that savings have to be made, but … the council has ignored the way that libraries play an education role … and importantly play a community role, especially in rural areas. “The council had already made up its mind – and the consultation itself was a paper exercise to justify the cuts.””
  • Newcastle – Future of three Newcastle libraries still under discussion – Chronicle Live. “Three libraries still have an uncertain future, one year on from a campaign to save them. Hundreds hit out after Newcastle City Council confirmed a three-year budget last year that would have seen the number of libraries in the city slashed by almost half. Initially, 10 out of 18 were under threat but in the last 12 months communities and partnerships have come together to save six. One to close was Moorside and the future of Blakelaw, Fawdon and Newbiggin Hall libraries is still being decided.”
  • North East Lincolnshire – 2,000 have their say future of libraries in North East Lincolnshire – Grimsby Telegraph. “Over the last two months, residents of North East Lincolnshire have been giving their views on the area’s library service following the news that the council needs to save up to £500,000 on the service by the next financial year.” … “The proposals within the consultation documents and questionnaire explored a range of options, including reducing the size of the library network, reducing opening hours and also sought the community’s views on alternative delivery models that may include libraries being delivered by other groups or organisations or providing access to books in other locations where a branch library may no longer exist, for example within a shop or community centre.”
  • Sefton – Council slammed following promotion of Library Day after the closures in Southport – Southport Visiter. “Cllr Haydn Preece has spoken of the council’s “hypocrisy” over it’s promotion of the event after making the decision to close seven libraries across Sefton, including three in Southport. He said: “A National Libraries Day is no celebration for Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown and the Labour Party locally know it.”
  • Sheffield – Libraries could all be saved – Star. “Around 75 library staff would lose their jobs.”
  • Sheffield – Libraries may be saved by public health funds – BBC. “The authority said, as a result of the process, people had identified they needed help to pay for the running of the premises. The £262,000 would be available each year for three years and would help organisations pay for utility bills. The council said the funding had not come from library services – because there was no cash available – but had been identified in public health coffers. Bob Mynors, who is part of a group hoping to run Stannington Library, said: “Having funding to run this would be an enormous weight off our shoulders.”
  • Somerset – Concerns raised over council’s revamp plans for Burnham Library – Burnham on Sea.com. Move to co-locate council offices and registrars into building suggests loss of library space.
  • Southend on Sea – Community Managed Libraries meetings – Julian’s Musings. “I would have preferred that these meetings were not necessary, but the Conservatives, with the connivance of the bulk of the Liberal Democrat councillors, have foisted this upon us.”