Ian Anstice
Public librarian since 1994, user of public libraries since my first memories ... and a keen advocate of public libraries and chronicler of the UK public libraries scene. Library manager since 1998, winner of Information Professional of the Year 2011 and Winsford Customer Service "Oscar" 2012 and 2014, honorary CILIP fellow 2015, CILIP Wales Library Champion of the Year 2016.
Homepage: https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com
Posts by Ian Anstice
Assaulting libraries
Dec 19th
414 libraries (323 buildings and 91 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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
- 2011 in perspective – Walk You Home. “A comment that’s sometimes thrown my way when I talk about fighting library cuts and closures is that perhaps I need to get a sense of perspective. It’s only a few books, what am I getting so het up about? Shouldn’t I take my incandescence and direct it at something worthier, bigger, more ‘important’? In our crazy, messed up world, what’s the point of someone like me spending so much time and energy on library advocacy and activism?…”
- Assaulting libraries – Counterpunch (USA). “If libraries are bastions of intellectual freedom where repositories of knowledge can be trotted out to dispel darkness, closing them implies the converse. The intellectually hungry are to be starved in the Britain of David Cameron, and writers and readers are getting alarmed. Those who would normally not have access to those sources will be kept in perfect ignorance. But the trends are, sadly, global, and the library is under assault as the regimes of banksters and technocrats take hold of the public purse.”
- Fighting the big uncaring society – Express. Trafford “plans have provoked a storm of protest from voluntary groups who vow to boycott attempts to replace staff with unpaid helpers. “A campaign is being launched in Trafford for all community groups to refuse to participate in the scheme if it results in job cuts. A council spokeswoman said it was too soon to say how many librarians would be made redundant.”
- Gift of Reading in 2011 – National Literacy Trust. “In this new report we explore children’s reading in 2011 with findings from our first annual survey of literacy in the UK. It examines children’s ownership of books, access to reading materials, frequency of reading and attitudes to reading. We also consider how these factors could all affect children and young people’s reading abilities.”
- Gus O’Donnell and the UK civil service – Good Library Blog. Perkins the cat does not like the civil service. “Followers of the campaign to rescue public libraries from the menacing hands of all those administrate and run them might observe the level of competence and standard of behaviour of civil servants in Whitehall and public officers in local councils across the country. Almost without exception, over a decade and more, almost every act that has been observed has been self serving, incompetent, idiotic, Kafkaesque in its malicious treatment of the public, and shameful.”
- High Court to rule on campaigners appeal against library closures – London 24. “Library campaigners will find out this afternoon if their appeal against a High Court ruling that paved the way for six branch closures is successful. Crusaders have been battling to save the branches in Barham Park, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton since the council announced they faced the chop in a £1m cost-cutting measure.”
- Inspiration – We Heart Libraries. “Here we link to some of the most eloquent examples of people explaining why libraries matter to them and why they are so absolutely fundamental to our communities and wider society. Read, listen, and get inspired!…”
- Library love: things you love about your local libraries – Huffington Post (USA). Slideshow of positive comments about public libraries from Twitter. “I never met a library I didn’t like”.
- Thanks from a public librarian to anyone who said no to library cuts – Information Twist. ” I realised that as a public librarian I hadn’t said thank you for a long time for the support people are giving public libraries during this tough time. I know some people are putting so much effort in that it’s basically like having a second job! So… thank you to everyone and anyone, wherever you are, who has said “No” to public library cuts over the past year or so. It’s the nicest Christmas present you could have given me. You really don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
- What happened next? The big stories of 2011 – Independent. Colin Dexter chooses library closures as one of the big stories over the last year. “Libraries became the unexpected social flashpoint of 2011 when the Government cut funding to local authorities and councils responded by proposing library closures.”
“I think the Government has been surprised by the scale of the response; their actions were taken on the assumption that people would just sit back and let the consultations pave the way for closure. Instead, you saw the people gather and revolt and take their case to the courts instead. “I would rather turn off every light on the motorway than close our libraries. What we have seen this year will invariably lead to further cultural deprivation.”
- Why we should look East for lessons in education – Independent. Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows UK as no.25 in ranking for reading (top five: Shanghai-China, South Korea, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore).
Changes
Warwickshire – Southam could have new co-located library.
Local News
- Bradford – Council owed £174,000 in library fines – Telegraph and Argus. “Councillor Dave Green, the Council’s executive member responsible for culture, said: “Having had library fines, as I am sure most of the population have, the money is retrieved when people bring their overdue books back. That is the easiest way. “After a period of time when books have not been returned we write to people to say they have the books and they owe us money.””
- Brent – Send a Christmas card! – Save Kensal Rise Library. “You can now send the campaign Christmas e-card to your friends.”
- Cambridgeshire – 13 libraries saved in Cambridgeshire – ConservativeHome. “This should be a beacon to Conservative authorities across the country – libraries have to take their share of cuts in hard times, but the original proposition was disproportionate, as are library cuts across the country, notably in Labour authorities, which generally consider literacy to be an elitist concept, and are not sympathetic to it. Libraries are essential to civilised life, both for the growing number of children who do not have their own books, and for adults who need their services for study and to help look for work.”. Comments following article make clear that the Conservatives are as guilty as anyone else in cutting libraries.
- Gloucestershire – Final ruling papers received: “bad government” and “substantive breach of equality legislation” – FoGL. “The judge found for library users, awarded them costs and quashed all decisions.” … “the judge acknowledges that the case was brought in the wider public interest and judgement was applied and relief given to the whole of Gloucestershire. Also, please note, where the three points of the challenge are discussed, it is the judges opinion that they were so inextricably linked that he felt it was necessarily to quash ALL the plans.” Full decision here.
- Kent – Religious leaders’ concern at library Scientology stock – This is Kent. “Seventeen of the 72 books, written by founder and science fiction author L Ron Hubbard, in the section at the Avebury Avenue library are devoted to the controversial religion.” [NB. public libraries receive boxes of new Scientology books from time to time. It is tempting to put them on the shelves, although almost all libraries do not, for obvious reasons – Ed.]
- Liverpool – Take the budget challenge – Liverpool Council. Consultation on how the council will cut £50m including on libraries.
- Northumberland – Library opens new chapter – Northumberland Gazette. Social care/health desk at Amble Library opens. “NHS staff will provide advice and guidance, and information will be available at the information point on support groups, activities available which people can become involved in, entitlements such as attendance allowance and how social services and other organisations are able to provide support.”
- Oxfordshire – Library campaigners “ignored” over cuts – Henley Standard. “Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet agreed to withdraw half of the staff funding from 16 of its 43 libraries, including those in Sonning Common, Woodcote, Goring, Benson and Watlington, following public consultation. The outcome is better than the two-thirds cut in funding that was previously proposed but the libraries’ Friends groups claim it is unfair on those in rural areas.”
- Some council cuts “political” – Oxford Times. Conservative MP says some councils are closing libraries just to make a political point. [Oxfordshire, on the other hand, is simply blackmailing people to volunteer in them in order to keep them open and to prove the wonders of the Big Society. No political points being made there at all then. Ed.]
- Scottish Borders – “Lip service” claim over library cuts – Southern Reporter. “If councillors vote today for the merger of contact centres and public libraries, with a cut in the opening hours of the latter in four towns, they must be prepared to face the wrath of voters at the May elections. That was the warning this week from Tim Clancey, the member of Innerleithen community council who organised a petition of 1,000 signatures, a third of the town’s population, against the changes.”
- Councillors defend decision to back Selkirk library merger – Advertiser. ““If you look at what is happening in other places, especially England where many public libraries are being closed to save money, SBC and myself are desperately trying to find ways to maintain and extend library services and we must look at how to improve usage further. That has to be achieved by using the best staff in the best roles.”
- Suffolk – Big society sees community groups soar – Mix 96. “A surge in community spirit has seen the number of projects run by friends and neighbours treble in the past three years as the Prime Minister pushes his Big Society plan to shift power away from central government. Shops, youth hostels, parks and pubs have all been taken on by local groups. “
- Trafford – Press coverage round-up – HOOT. “All in all, we got just about all the coverage we could have hoped for and then some. It’s probably safe to say we have launched with a bang – but the real campaign starts here.”
- Warwickshire – Southam could have library, care home, museum and council services all under one roof – Courier. “Plans are being drawn up to rebuild the library and the empty Victor Hodges House care home, with a ‘one stop shop’ for council services and possibly a home for the town’s historic Cardall collection.”
Wrecking Crew of the Year
Dec 16th
Comment
The result of the Brent appeal against the halving of it’s borough’s libraries will be announced on Monday. Meanwhile, Brent Council has made clear what it thinks of the campaigners by awarding the people behind closing the libraries with the “team of the year” award. A library campaigner said:
“We will certainly remember the Libraries Transformation Team as the team of the year but not the for the right reasons. Maybe the award should have gone to the library staff and other council staff who have lost their jobs.”
The decisions of the team have not only resulted in increased unemployment and the greatest public protest in Brent for a century or more, for they have failed also on their own terms of saving money:
“The “bill for defending the closures increased from £70,500 in September to £150,000. Another £258,000 has been spent on sacking staff and redundancy payments.” London Evening Standard, 13.12.11
That name of the team, “Transformation”, kind of sticks in the craw as well. It’s a wonderfully positive way of describing something that would more accurately be described as “cutting”. Or “destruction”.
Or “boarding up”.
As a final pat on the back for a job well done to the Libraries Disappearance Team, the council said “the awards are given to recognise colleagues who have worked hard in difficult circumstances or gone over and above what would normally be expected”. My goodness me, with successes like this, it makes me wonder about 2012…. Ed Vaizey, don’t look too smug but it looks like it’s in the bag for 2012.
414 libraries (323 buildings and 91 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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.
If you haven’t already done so, please add your name to this open letter to Ed Vaizey
News
- 15 key insights from 2011 from 15 key thinkers and writers – Forbes (USA). “The most exciting intellectual moment of 2011 for me was learning that People’s Libraries were at the heart of the various Occupy movement camps. The idea that knowledge and culture should be freely-available and widely-shared amongst those who want access to them is incredibly appealing. The spontaneous creation of these libraries against a backdrop of public library closures is a sign of hope. The destruction of nearly 3,000 books in the Zuccotti Park raid only reinforced the power of this idea”
“Today, at the age of 91, Ray Bradbury is alarmed by the service, staff, and budget cuts being thrust at library directors across the country, and the world, for that matter. In the last several years, he has written letters to municipal leaders, he has even gone to libraries to protest service cuts and branch closings. Bradbury has always gotten it. Libraries are the greatest educational institutions in the world. And they always have been. Libraries have always been at the center of the greatest civilizations throughout history from Ancient Egypt to Ancient Greece to the present.” For the Love of Libraries: Listen to the Echoes (USA).
- Hip, loud and sociable? A new wave of “library labs” – Impatient Optimists. “Libraries still provide the kind of services that people have been using for decades: they offer comfortable spaces to learn, help people research important issues, and they loan books and music. But libraries are also high-tech hubs where a third of Americans—including millions of teens—go regularly to goonline, ask for guidance about how to use technology, and take classes that help them prepare for success in today’s digital world.”
- Library says no guns – Wisconsin Dell Events (USA). “”I’m quite comfortable with saying no weapons and posting that sign the insurance company said about we can’t guarantee that nobody’s going to kill you,” he said.”. “Member Gisela Hamm said if someone comes to the library with a gun they should politely be asked to leave. Borck said if someone came to the library with a gun, the library would probably summon police whether or not they had a sign. Hamm said she thought the rules for getting a concealed carry permit made it so easy to carry a weapon that any “idiot” could get one.
- Ruthlessly practical campaigning – Truth2Power. Experienced campaigners are offering workshops and other advice on how to campaign.
Changes
Ealing – Perivale £400k upgrade (saved from closure this year), Hanwell will have £900k essential improvements. 50 volunteers assist.
Surrey – Group: Tattenhams Community Library.
Worcestershire – 30 staff to lose jobs, £1.8m cut, opening hours reduced, charges increase, more self-service (90% target), less bookfund, more co-location. Mobile library review.
Local News
- Bath and Northeast Somerset – Midsomer Norton residents have say in local libraries – Midsomer Norton People. “The consultation will ask for views on proposals including saving £159,000 by withdrawing the mobile library service in Bath and North East Somerset and moving resources into increasing the opening hours of the Council’s part-time libraries across the district and extending the Home Library Service. “
- Bolton – First library in council cuts to close its doors – Bolton News. “Highfield Library in Farnworth, will shut on Friday, January 13, with the neighbourhood collection opening the following Monday.” … Computer in children’s centre will allow issuing of books from small stock there, others can be ordered.
- Brent – Libraries decision expected – Harrow Observer. Result of the appeal against the decision to uphold the closures of half of the borough’s library expected at 2pm on Monday. “A Brent SOS spokesman said: “Dinah Rose QC argued on behalf of library users and Brent SOS Libraries Campaign that in deciding to close six libraries, the council had failed to prevent discrimination against groups such as Asians, young children and local school children, by neglecting to assess the impact on such groups.”
- Appeal verdict expected Monday 2pm at the High Court, the Strand – Preston Library Campaign. “Using the very same data that the council executive used to decide to close the libraries, Dinah Rose showed that 28% of Brent’s population is Asian and that 46% of active library users were Asian, so it was obvious that the closure of the libraries would disproportionately affect Asian residents. She also showed that the highest concentrations of Asian populations in the borough were concentrated around three libraries – Preston, Barham and Tokyngton – all of which were closed. She had evidence to show that since closure, the library that users of these three libraries were expected to use instead – Ealing Road – was overcrowded.”
- Library closure team honoured at Brent council awards ceremony – Times series. “rent Council’s end-of-year achievement awards has caused outcry after the team behind the project which resulted in half of the borough’s libraries closing was named Team of the Year.”
- Guardian, Society Daily – Library campaigners in north-west London, who are planning to sing carols tonight. They’ll be gathering at the green on Preston Road, Wembley, at 5pm before walking to Preston Road. They are highlighting Brent council’s decision to close six of its 12 libraries, a decision the Brent SOS Libraries group is challenging in the high court, and they’ve even written their own words to the carol We Three Kings, which begins:
We need our libraries – local they are,
Now we’ll have to travel afar
Traffic, parking
Drive us barking.
Paying to park the car.”
- “We’ll make our own holidays, thank you” says Preston Library Campaign as Brent cancels Christmas – Brent Libraries. “Brent Council has this year refused to provide a Christmas tree or Hanukah lights, despite spending £half a a million of taxpayers’ money on Christmas promotions on Willesden High Street and activities at Willesden Library. Tonight our merry band of singers took celebrations into their own hands, walking from the Green up to Preston Road station to entertain commuters, shoppers and local shopkeepers.”
- Ealing – Perivale library to get a £400,000 facelift – Ealing Gazette. “Perivale library is to get an over-due £400,000 refurbishment five months after it was saved from closure.Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for community services, told a full council meeting on Tuesday how the 1930s building, in Horsenden Lane South, would get the cash injection in the new year. Hanwell library is also due to receive £900,000 to make essential improvements to the dated buildings.” … “Funding will come from the recovered £2million invested in an Icelandic bank, thought lost during the financial crisis. Mr Dheer said more than 50 volunteers had stepped up to help run the libraries at a reduced cost, while all 40 Labour councillors will volunteer at a large reading event in March.”
- Gloucestershire – Public meeting on future of Gloucestershire library service: report from an attendee – FoGL. Summary of meeting including questions for council unanswered as it refused to attend.
- Library campaigners ready for next chapter – Cotswold Journal. “The group has come up with a template on how it thinks the county council should undertake its new library review – which will start in the new year.”
- Hertfordshire – Children’s author Michael Morpurgo makes plea to save schools library services – Times Series. “Morpurgo, a former Children’s Laureate who was born in St. Albans, wrote to Hertfordshire council hoping the letter will be read out at a meeting on Monday, before the decision is ratified. He wrote: “Every year I come to Hertfordshire to talk to your children about writing, to try to inspire them to find their own writing voice, and to encourage them to read.”
- Scottish Borders – Chapter closes as local library protest fails – Peeblesshire News. “Innerleithern campaigners have hit out after councillors forged ahead with plans to merge libraries and contact centres.”… “Campaigners opposed to the move raised a petition which drew over 1000 signatures. But the Peeblesshire protest was largely ignored.” … “”The report estimates that the proposals will cost £360,000 to carry out, and their estimate that the savings made will recoup this cost within three years are based on assumptions such as finding buyers for vacated council property …It is likely that the cost will take far more than three years to recoup. There is no saving in the short or even the medium term.”
- Surrey – County Council U turn on library emails – Eagle Radio. Emails from library campaigners to councillors will not longer ber automatically blocked. “A Surrey County Council spokesman said: “We have to be strong enough to recognise when we have got something wrong and in this case we have. We value people’s views and Mr Alsop’s emails will now arrive straight into inboxes, instead of councillors having the option of opening them. People’s opinions are always considered when a decision is made and this was the case with the recent decision to change the libraries policy, which was heavily informed by the opinions of library users.”
- Libraries appeal for volunteers ahead of library shake up – This is Local London. “Three libraries desperate to stay open are appealing for volunteers as Surrey County Council continues its plans to replace full time staff with volunteers. Ewell Court, Stoneleigh and Tattenhams are three of 10 Surrey libraries which will be handed over to volunteers next year.”
- Worcestershire – Library staff to lose jobs in council cut backs – Worcester News. “While Droitwich Library has already been transformed to accommodate other services such as Age Concern and Jobcentre Plus plans are underway to deliver a community-led library with the parish council, police and other partners in Broadway and move Bewdley’s facility in the museum/ Guildhall complex as part of a wider regeneration scheme including the creation of a new medical centre.”
“At a meeting of cabinet yesterday county councillor Liz Tucker, who represents Pershore, said there was “real shock and anger” in the town when it looked like the library was moving but town councillor Chris Parsons said the 11 months of discussion and negotiation had been worth the effort. “It’s been a difficult time but this is a wonderful example of how a little town council like Pershore’s can work with the might of the county council to hopefully achieve success,” he said.”
- Staff could go in Worcestershire council libraries plan – BBC. “About 30 staff could be laid off next year and opening hours reduced under proposals to cut a council’s libraries budget by £1.8m. Charges for late books will rise, with less spent on new books, under plans by Worcestershire County Council.”
- Talks to determine Catshill’s future – Bromsgrove Standard. “Council chiefs will now begin discussions with the parish council and Catshill Middle School on a proposal that could see a refurbished library and services collection relocated to the middle school.”
What Ed Said, and didn’t say, in the Commons.
Dec 15th
Comment
House of Commons – Oral answers to questions: Libraries – Hansard. Ed Vaizey, Minister-technically-in-favour-of-Libraries was asked questions by several MPs today (Thursday). The following are his key statements (in bold) with my analysis thereafter:
(a) Library cuts are due to local authority decisions. The DCMS has met seven of these to “discuss their proposals”. But then they have done absolutely nothing. At least six local authorities (Gloucestershire, the Isle of Wight, Somerset, Brent, Lewisham, Doncaster) cut services to a similar level as the Wirral case Ed got so hot under the collar about when in opposition.
(b) Trafford has opened a new library in Urmston. Librarians are “incredibly important”. Ed does not mention the five at all – two are to be entirely converted to self-service (unstaffed), two are to be run by volunteers and one mobile library to close. One of these libraries, Old Trafford, had a major refurbishment last year. Ed has not given any guidelines on what level of professional staffing is necessary and is in favour of “community” branches in, for example in Oxfordshire where many will be 50% staffed by volunteers. Northamptonshire today is making volunteers working in libraries to replace paid staff a part of its policy. North Yorkshire is also following this line, as are many others. It is easy to say things like librarians are “incredibly important”, it takes more effort to actually protect them.
(c) “local authorities have challenging decisions to make, and my approach is to give them the space and time to make those difficult proposals. Local authorities are going about their provision differently but all have a strong commitment to their library service, and the Government are also strongly committed through maintaining the statutory duty. Giving infinite space and time is inaction, not an approach. The Government is keeping the statutory duty on the record books but, by completely refusing to enforce it, has effectively made it useless. Ed waited while campaigners in Glos/Somerset won their case, those in Brent lost (and have appealed), and the Isle of Wight failed to challenge cuts in the courts due to inability to secure funding. Therefore, Ed’s policy is to wait for the public to raise the money or not for the legal challenges themselves and to ignore the problem either way.
(d) “co-locating a library service, whether with a children’s centre or other services, is very important.” It can save money while delivering mutual benefits, it’s true … but it has many down sides if rushed into or if both sides are squeezed into the same space as one of them had before…
“In practice, however, this model is not achievable everywhere. There are not many existing buildings with the space to include a full library service, and cost is always going to be a major issue when it comes to building new ones. Most children’s centres and village halls, for example, even if the expertise of trained library staff is made available, are much too small to accommodate a large enough stock of books or to be able to run an efficient library service alongside their normal business.” Vivien Hampshire, library outreach worker for a children’s centre.”
Of course, children’s centres are being closed down too.
(e) “it is also worth focusing on the fact that more than 40 libraries are opening or being refurbished across the country“. 40 out of 4612 that is. Please compare with the c.400 under threat of closure or removal from council funding. Also, several, including Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester Centrals are being refurbished/built due to investment in place before 2010. The figure also presumably includes controversial decisions such as Brent where a big new library will be built at the expense of closing six branches. Of course, Ed reduced the grant from £13m to £3m for upgradubg libraries when he abolished the MLA earlier this year, thus reducing by three quarters what was available in upgrading/support money from central government.
(f) “Unlike the previous Government, we are not putting that statutory duty under review.” The previous Goverment never put the statutory duty under review. It was mentioned as a possibility in a discussion paper.
414 libraries (323 buildings and 91 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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.
If you haven’t already done so, please add your name to this open letter to Ed Vaizey
News
- Library closures: writers attack Ed Vaizey in open letter – Guardian. “Joanna Trollope, Yann Martel, Patrick Ness and Kate Mosse were among the 200-plus signatories to a blistering open letter to culture minister Ed Vaizey urging him to take action to prevent libraries from closing up and down the country. Penned by library campaigners in Gloucestershire, who saw a judge rule last month that their council’s plan to close 10 libraries was unlawful and should be quashed, the letter lambasts Vaizey for his “deafening” silence in the face of library cuts and closures, and calls on him to act.”. DCMS has promised that Ed Vaizey will respond but their bland everything-is-OK reply at the end of article shows why so many people are angry at the start of the article.
“Use of statutory powers, including intervention, will be exercised on a case by case basis only when all other avenues of dialogue have been exhausted.” DCMS [on the basis of the minister’s inaction this year, campaigners suspect “all other avenues” may include waiting until the heat death of the universe – Ed.]
- Time reveals Person of the Year: The Protester – BBC. While library supporters are not actually listed in this article, I think one can assume the article includes them in spirit.
- Why I’m against library privatization – Social Action Web (USA). “ The main goal of a corporation is to increase shareholder wealth, not to delight library patrons.” … “The pattern also includes slashing benefits for library workers, blurring lines between trained professionals and volunteers, and hiding behind the corporate veil when there are any hard community questions.” … “in LSSI’s contract, that there is a demerit system for being late and a demerit for not telling on a co-worker who is late.”
- Why the Big Society plays havoc with Britain’s borrowers – Independent. “Local authorities have a legal duty to provide public libraries, not for the benefit of poets but for the sake of people who have no other adequate access to learning. Some councils seem to believe this duty is an option.” (mentions Glos, Somerset, Brent, Lewisham). “Today, there will be a small step towards slowing this impending cultural catastrophe when MPs gather to form an All-Party Parliamentary Libraries Group, chaired by the Tory MP Justin Tomlinson, who oversaw Swindon’s libraries for four years as a local councillor. Mr Tomlinson is not looking to embroil the group in political controversy. He says he wants it to be “positive and constructive” in dispersing information about how councils can run modernised libraries more efficiently.”
- Windsore, Ontario, Library ends late fees, moves into art gallery – Library Journal (USA). “”We are trying to project a modern, inclusive, welcoming and relevant image to our customers,” Windsor Public Library Board Chair Al Maghnieh said in a library press release. “Fines have a negative connotation which serves to limit access and in my mind are punitive. We don’t want to alienate our customers; we want them using our facilities. Fines perpetuate the old-fashioned, stereotypical view of public libraries and serve to address 21st-century problems with 19th-century solutions,” he said.”.
Changes
Caerphilly – Aberbargoed library may close, transferred to new library in Bargoed.
Nottinghamshire – Some hours regained in libraries whos opening had been cut in half earlier in 2011. Bookfund cut.
Local News
- Caerphilly – Campaigners’ last-ditch bid to save Aberbargoed Library – Wales online. “During consultation, a petition received 898 signatures to save the community library, which has stood in Pant Road for 36 years. A five-year plan was approved in 2009 to move the library’s services to a facility recently opened in Hanbury Road, Bargoed.”
- Camden – Shortlisted library groups wait to hear fate of Heath, Belsize Park and Chalk Farm branches – Camden New Journal. “It is understood that no profit-making library providers, who had offered to take libraries off the council’s hands, bid for the branches. The bids came in after the council ran workshops in September explaining what they would need to do to make the libraries a success.”
“The mercury on the hand-drawn marker is currently standing at an impressive £300,000 after just a month of fundraising – but the Primrose Hill Community Association leading the bid are aiming for £1.2 million in pledges. The campaign must be one of the country’s glitziest with stars such as Joan Bakewell, Sadie Frost and Jon Snow all backing the campaign. Author India Knight told the New Journal last week she would be pledging her time and money to the new library. “
- Doncaster – Update and open letter to Ed Vaizey – Save Doncaster Libraries. “We (and thousands around the country) believe he is neglecting his responsibility to superintend the UK’s library service. “. Analyses poor situation in Doncaster libraries and inadequate response.
- Gloucestershire – Public library meeting raises concern – This is Glos. “A public meeting was held in Gloucester last night to discuss the future of the public library service in the county. Library users came from many different communities across Gloucestershire. In a packed meeting hall at the GAVCA offices on Eastgate Street, the front row was reserved for invited senior members of the County Council administration. Several speakers expressed their disappointment that Gloucestershire County Council administration and officers responsible for library services had declined an invitation to the meeting.”
- Library campaigner’s letter to minister backed by hundreds – This is Glos. FoGL responded to article by adding “The point of the letter that this article refers to is that the county council, in light of the lack of supervision by DCMS, were taken to the High Court and their plans were deemed unlawful…..any exhaustion of dialogue happened some time ago when the plans were confirmed as final (not “proposed plans” as you suggest) and the DCMS allowed GCC to carry on down the unlawful path. They were due to implement the unlawful plans in JULY and were only stopped due to an injunction. This comment really does make the DCMS look very foolish. DCMS were “monitoring” and had “met with” GCC officers to discuss unlawful plans and did nothing. “ Also mentioned in Booktrade.info.
- Library proposals in Gloucestershire to be reconsidered after High Court ruling – Gazette. “So far the authority has revealed no details of the new proposals but the council has said the plans must be sustainable and affordable. The county council’s cabinet will be meeting on January 20 to discuss the plans, and if agreed, a public consultation will then be launched.”
- Hertfordshire – Petition set up against school library cuts – Comet. ““It’s a vital service, especially for primary schools and smaller secondary schools,” said Hitchin-based Andy Darley, who heads the group. “School librarians tend to be working on their own, they don’t tend to have a network.” … “The Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) and the National Literacy Trust (NLT) also condemned the likely closure of the Herts service this week, and said it could eventually impact the whole country.” See also Alan Gibbons.
- North Yorkshire – Grave fears over council’s “unworkable” plans – Yorkshire Post. “it has now emerged that Hunmanby library – one of eight branches earmarked for closure next year unless volunteers take over the running of it – currently does not have a viable scheme.”
- Northamptonshire – Local deal proposed for people of Northamptonshire – About My Area. “”In return though we are asking people across the county to get further engaged in the services we know they value so much. To help us bring costs down for example we need volunteers to help at libraries and to help at country parks.”
- Nottinghamshire – Moves to keep 15 libraries open for an extra 70 hours – This is Nottingham. “…just months after they were cut by up to half. Notts County Council has announced plans to keep the libraries open for an extra 70 hours a week from April next year after finding extra cash in its budget.” … “Mr Cottee said management restructuring and changes in the way the service is run had led to savings of £110,000, which the council would use to pay for the increased opening hours.”
- Western Isles – Council to make £3.1 million cuts and savings – Hebrides News. “Cuts are also being explored in grants to voluntary groups, economic development, sport, libraries and public toilets.”
Friends don’t make friends redundant
Dec 14th
Comment
For some time, volunteering has been made into a party political statement by the current government’s policies. It’s interesting to see that in Trafford, the volunteering sector have revolted against the plans to replace paid staff with volunteers. One wonders whether this could be the start of something big.
414 libraries (323 buildings and 91 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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
- 10 ways to give the library for holidays – Books for Walls (USA). Summary: Give library bags or wrap presents in your local libraries re-usable bags! Give a library card! Give a “Friends of the Library” Membership. Shop at library gift shops. Giving someone an eReader? Check to see if their local library has OverDrive.Giving books for Christmas? Stop by your library and get information on how to donate books.Donate books to a library in the name of a friend. Be sure to call you library and ask what books they need. Then put a bookplate with “Donated by: your friend’s name” …
- High-profile authors sign up to Vaizey letter – BookSeller. “Authors including Patrick Ness, Kate Mosse, Simon Singh, Mary Hoffman and Katherine Langrish, comedians Chris Addison and Marcus Brigstocke, library users, librarians and book trade professionals have all joined campaigners in signing up to a joint open letter urging culture minister Ed Vaizey to intervene over library closures.”
Changes
Leicester – £250k cut 2012 inc. reduced hours, transport, bookfund, three cheaper buildings.
Stoke on Trent – Co-location of libraries, reduced staffing.
Local News
- Calderdale – Fantastic new home for library and improved retail for Halifax – Courier. Councillor says “We are talking here about the opportunity to have a new state of the facility in which to house the library collection. The books and archives that make up the library will be preserved and placed in a new state of the art building that makes it easier to access them. Currently the library does not have full disabled access and wheel chair users are being excluded. Modern libraries are fantastic learning spaces where increased computer technology and open planning makes information more accessible. Halifax deserves to have a facility such as this. This fantastic new home for our library will be paid for not out of taxes but out of the sale of the Northgate House site. If we don’t sell the current site there will be no money to refurbish the current library.”. Local worries that new library will be in worse place.
- Dorset – Campaigners vow to carry on fighting for Corfe Castle library – Daily Echo. Library has funding withdrawn by council, locals need to volunteer in it or it will close.
- Hertfordshire – SLS faces imminent closure – BookSeller. “The unit is among the largest School Library Services in the country, and supports some 150 schools in Hertfordshire, including nearly half its primary schools and one-third of its secondary schools. It could close on 31st March 2012, with the decision by the Hertfordshire Local and Libraries Cabinet Panel likely to be rubber-stamped by the council on 19th December. A petition has been started on the Herts Council website to try to reverse the decision.”
- Leicester City Council sets out £600,000 of cuts to services – This is Leicestershire. “”It’s a shame that libraries are going to be cut back – it seems like one of the staple council services. “But I suppose most people would prefer to see libraries lose funding than care for the elderly or the disabled.” … ” Cuts to library opening hours, reduced management costs, a reduction in the number of librarians by five and a trimmed book budget are all on the cards. A minibus service which regularly takes more than 250 old people to their library would be scrapped. Aylestone, St Matthew’s and Fosse libraries would be moved to buildings nearby and have a reduced book selection. These moves would save about £250,000 next year and more in subsequent years.”
- North Yorkshire – Hunmanby library to close after volunteer plan fails – BBC. “North Yorkshire County Council said it had no choice but to close Hunmanby library in 2012 and replace it with a mobile service.”…”He said: “We are stealing learning opportunities from our young people. Their parents are already facing tough times, our young people will loose out on opportunities for getting on in life if Hunmanby library is allowed to close.”
- Oxfordshire – Volunteer solution keeps county’s libraries alive – Get Reading. “On Monday, Oxfordshire County Council gave the go-ahead to a new three-tier system in a bid to keep all its libraries open to try and claw back cash following Government cuts.”
- Spreadsheet of libraries shows which ones are statutory (“core) and non-statutory (“non-core”). Those with 33% or 50% volunteer staffing are reported as being non-statutory. This item does not have official confirmation as yet but comes from a reliable eyewitness source at a vital meeting.
- Redbridge – Schoolkids can get homework help from online library – Guardian series. “Redbridge Council’s virtual library offers free use of reference books and encyclopaedias to help check facts and do research for pupils aged from five to 18.”
- Suffolk – Future of Suffolk’s library service: our response – Rosehill Readers. “Whilst Rosehill Readers are delighted that all branch libraries in Suffolk are remaining open, we remain doubtful over the level of service that they will be able to offer, and wonder if Suffolk County Council appreciate that ‘books and buildings’ do not constitute a library service.” High-Risk model chosen with funding for two years, despite public wishes.
- Surrey – Library messages treated as junk mail by council – Get Surrey. “An email sent on behalf of head of customer services Simon Pollock to all councillors, as well as chief executive David McNulty and other senior staff, said that future communications between the Surrey Library Action Group (SLAM) would now appear in their junk mailbox rather than their inboxes.”
- Trafford – War of words: campaigners say no to library cuts – Messenger. “The voluntary sector is refusing to co-operate with council plans to replace library staff with unpaid workers.”
- Voluntary sector refuses to back Hale Library cuts – Messenger. “Barbara Bleeker, chief officer for Trafford CVS said: “There’s a lot of anger about it because they are kicking people out of their jobs.“It’s job substitution and our national body will not let us do that sort of thing. “Volunteering is not about kicking people out of jobs and I don’t think any other volunteer centres in the country would get involved in something where they’re replacing paid workers with volunteers.””
- Objectors will not co-operate with Trafford council’s cost-cutting plan – Manchester Evening News. “own hall bosses have given the initial green light to cost-cutting measures that could lead to 103 jobs axed and libraries run by volunteers.”
- Stoke on Trent – Children may share centre with addicts under city council cuts – This is Staffordshire. “AMILIES fear libraries, children’s centres, alcohol services and needle exchanges could be forced to share buildings under radical plans to cut £1 million. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is consulting on plans to slash 10 managerial posts and have three teams in charge of running everything from libraries and children’s centres to youth offending services.”
- Worcestershire – Libraries face moves and cuts to staff and opening hours – Shuttle. “The council’s cabinet will tomorrow discuss proposals to move Stourport Library into the civic centre and Bewdley Library to the museum and guildhall complex site. The plan for Kidderminster Library is to integrate other services under the same roof. Furthermore, 28 to 30 full time equivalent library staff will be cut from across the county, equating to 712 staff hours.”
The last chapter?
Dec 13th
… where you can join with such luminaries like Dr Steve Jones, Robin Ince, Yann Martel, Julia Donaldson, Geraldine McCaughrean, Simon Singh, Chris Addison, Marcus Brigstocke, Rovert Swindells, Alan Gibbons and Paul Geraghty. Wow. The Minister supposedly-for-libraries will actually have to actively avoid this one, which will sadly be the most energetic he hasbeen in relation to public libraries during his whole time in office. The link to the letter is here.
“The Last Chapter?” headline incidentally has nothing to do with Ed Vaizey. Well, not today, anyway. It is to do with Alan Yentob’s BBC1 documentary on ebooks.
414 libraries (323 buildings and 91 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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
- Campaigners urge Vaizey: “It’s time to act” – BookSeller. “The letter, posted on the site of Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries has already been endorsed by Campaign for the Book; Surrey Libraries Action Movemen; Hertfordshire group We ♥ Libraries; The Friends of the Isle of Wight Library Service; campaigners in Brent; and authors including Jamila Gavin.”. Amazing list of supporters on this site.
“Next year I’m planning a John O’Groats to Land’s End libraries tour. It’s an attempt to celebrate libraries, which in many areas are currently suffering cuts and closures. Along with thousands of other campaigners, I see these as being a threat to the whole population and, in particular, to the children who are the adult readers of the future.” Julia Donaldson, Radio Times 17-30 December
Imagine: Books the last chapter? – BBC One. Alan Yentob pronounces the printed word dead and looks at the ways ebooks will change things forever. While not entirely pro digital, there is a strong feeling that the battle is over, which will comes as a shock to the majority of the nation that still uses printed books. Libraries have two moments – one at the beginning where a Norfolk mobile library assistant comments that one person [out of how many? – Ed.] asked about how to access ebooks and then was not seen again. The second comment is half way through when a publisher comments that without bookshops and without libraries there won’t be a chance for serendipity. The dominance of Amazon, Google and Apple in books is also described. There is then an interview with a “digital librarian” who is aiming to digitise all books but to also keep a printed copy just in case. This comment (from the wonderful Gloucestership open letter) is from a Norfolk mobile library user:
“I live in the middle of nowhere in Norfolk, and the library van which visits the village once every three weeks is a very welcome sight in a place that has no shops, no public transport, and only cows for company! Reading enriches people’s lives, and libraries have for so long offered a wonderful avenue for the imaginations of readers of all ages and persuasions. Any closure of this service is a sad step towards a society where people are no longer informed, enlightened or even entertained by the wonder of books and the other services that libraries offer.”
- Libraries we love calendar – Lulu. Pictures of beautiful libraries and quotes for librarians.
- Private company to run Osceola County libraries – My Fox Orlando (USA). “The county will pay Library Systems and Services, L.L.C. [LSSI] $24 million over the next five years, but those in favor of outsourcing management of the libraries say the move will end up saving the county $6 million over the same time period.”
Changes
Blaenau Gwent – 2 mobile libraries under threat.
Hertfordshire – School Library Service to be closed Spring 2012 to save £41,000 p.a.. 12 staff will be made redundant.
Oxfordshire – 16 libraries (to be half-staffed by volunteers) will no longer be considered statutory.
Local News
- Bath and Northeast Somerset – Local libraries: have your say today – This is Somerset. “The Council is running a public consultation with library users, communities, businesses and town and parish councils to gauge opinions on proposals for how the service could be delivered in light of reductions in government funding.”
- Blaenau Gwent – To decide fate of mobile libraries – South Wales Argus. “A report which went before the local authority’s education and leisure scrutiny committee last week said the home delivery service caters for 196 housebound and visually impaired customers and is highly regarded by users. However, the mobile library – which serves communities more than two miles away from a library building and visits 36 stops a week – has falling visitor and loan numbers.”
- Brent – Legal fees double for Brent library closures – London Evening Standard. “Campaigners said they were “shocked” after the bill for defending the closures increased from £70,500 in September to £150,000. Another £258,000 has been spent on sacking staff and redundancy payments.”
- Cornwall – Users consulted on Cornwall’s performing arts library – BBC. “In 2010, Cornwall Library Service was told the department would have to find savings of up to £1.5m. One of its supporters, David Frost, who runs the St Mewan Sinfonia string orchestra, has described the library as being central to Cornwall’s cultural life.”
- Gloucestershire – Campaigners’ outrage at leader’s meeting noshow – Stroud News and Journal. “Campaigner Johanna Anderson, of the Friends, said that GCC’s plan to reveal its new set of proposals in January ‘seemed very rushed.’ She also said the Friends had worked hard to organise the public meeting at a neutral venue and with a neutral chairman. We cannot understand why a meeting to be held only a month before this date could be deemed as ‘premature’,” she said.”
- Mr Vaizey, you know you did nothing, now what? – FoGL. “Following our vindication at the High Court, we at Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries are very angry that, even when there were concerns shared between officers within the MLA and DCMS and even after we had set out time and again the clear inadequacy of Gloucestershire County Council’s Library cuts, Ed Vaizey did nothing. Ed Vaizey and Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt failed in their duty to superintend the county council and allowed it to continue with “unlawful” library cuts. We have written to Mr Vaizey asking him why and asking him to act now”. Long letter detailing situation so far and lack of action by DCMS.
- Hertfordshire – School library support service axed in Hertfordshire – Welwyn Hatfield Times. “Currently, nearly half of all county primary schools and a third of secondary schools have an annual subscription. Many more are signed to a pay-as-you-use service. On Wednesday, the council’s libraries cabinet panel voted 8-3 to scrap the service – estimated to lose £41,000 next year. Its recommendation is due to be rubberstamped by the cabinet on Monday.”
- Decision taken after Tory Hertfordshire county councillors forecast £50,000 deficit – Review. “The move by the Conservative-dominated committee was attacked by Liberal Democrat opposition councillors who said the council should be encouraging children to have more access to books, not less.”. Council responds ” “It is just plain wrong and misleading there won’t be the loss of any school books or the closure of any school libraries.”
- Lewisham – Visits and lending plummet at Lewisham community libraries – News Shopper. “Sir Ian Mills from Age Exchange, who claimed visits had risen in November, said: “We’re determined to get the figures up. “We’ve very much in transition. It’s the beginning of what’s going to be an [council] investment which will see us have at least as good a library as we’ve had before.”” … Eco Computers says “”People should be judging us a year after we’ve taken over. Let’s look at the figures in March.”
- Northamptonshire – County Council publish four-year budget – Evening Telegraph. “…it is asking the people of Northamptonshire to come forward and volunteer to help deliver some of the council’s key services to save taxpayers money and to take advantage of opportunities the council provides to help people help themselves.”… “To help us bring costs down for example we need volunteers to help at libraries and to help at country parks.”
- Huge savings must be made as Northamptonshire County Council faces financial black hole – Northampton Chronicle. “The county council has left library services alone for the time being although savings of £290,000 will need to be made by April 2013 to avoid possible further cuts.”
- Northants needs you: Local Deal needs volunteers – About My Area. ““Within this budget itself there are lines which specifically throw a spotlight on this need – most noticeably the work going on in libraries – but the need for volunteers and people getting involved in services is not always just shown in budget lines, it runs across so much of our organisation. “So whether its volunteering to work within your local library, whether its donating to help run extra services at these community hubs, whether its looking to use the grit bins in your communities to help grit your local paths or whether its simply to make sure you pay to park at our country parks – this work is vital to keep our county going through this very difficult time.”
- Oxfordshire – Library groups seek legal advice – Oxford Mail. “Save Oxfordshire Libraries chairman Judith Wardle told the Oxford Mail: “There will be a number of Friends groups that will say ‘no way’ to volunteering. Of all the responses to the consultation, there was not a single Friends group that thinks it could do it.” Library campaigners said they would ask lawyers to examine whether the council’s consultation and methodology of determining which libraries provide the statutory “comprehensive and efficient service” were legal.”
“Libraries are things of the past, as are those people who keep harking on about them. Libraries, free school milk, high street shops, cheques, postal orders, seaside postcards; they all belong in a bygone age. It’s sad but it’s a fact.”
- Scrutiny and democracy – Question Everything. “Only at the end of the consultation process did they start using the phrases “statutory” and “non-statutory” libraries. They made no mention of this to the people being asked to consult on the proposal. People would have been up in arms if they realised that the position of the council was they weren’t obliged under their interpretation of the act to provide these rural libraries. What we are left with a fudge that I don’t believe saves any money. I am going to be forced to volunteer my time knowing that the “savings” are not savings at all and the money they have made from cutting the staffing to our library will going into the cost of the self service machines, volunteer coordinator and training the volunteers.”
“I actually cried when I got a lift from the train station. I am 5.10, 14 1/2 stone and from the North and I cried. I have my own personal reasons for loving libraries, I might write a post on it one day. They really have no idea about what libraries are for.”
- Volunteers to keep Oxfordshire libraries open – BBC. “Judith Wardle, chair of Save Oxfordshire Libraries, said: “They haven’t really addressed the fact that so many groups around the county said they could not find the volunteers that would be needed. We are concerned they weren’t willing to put into place some kind of contingency plan.”
- Suffolk – Final decision expected on Suffolk library plans – EDP. “A meeting of the county council is expected to endorse the cabinet’s decision to set up an industrial and provident society (IPS) to take over the running of the library service and its 44 libraries.” … “Mrs Terry said the council accepted that it would take some time for people to understand the new way of operating and get to grips with the idea of more local control.”
- Trafford – Responses to our open letter – HOOT Library. Several politicians, including MPs and councillors, respond to Trafford’s proposals of replacing library staff with volunteers.
- Worcestershire – Future of Catshill Library to be discussed by Worcestershire County Council – Birmingham Mail. “Councillors will be discussing the progress of the county-wide library service review so far and a recommendation will be made to consult on the future of nine libraries included in the first phase”… “If backed by Cabinet, discussions will take place with the parish council and Catshill Middle School on a proposal that could see a refurbished library and services collection relocated to the school and managed by Bromsgrove Library as part of the County’s Libraries and Learning Service.”
We cannot imagine a fair, just world for all without public access to libraries”
Dec 12th
412 libraries (323 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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
- Machias supervisor says, library’s cats have to go – Neighbour to Neighbour News. “According to library personnel present, programs involving cats began in a library near Syracuse. The idea expanded and libraries are using cats as part of their learning and enrichment programs. They conveyed their disappointment to the board, and attempted to figure out a way to continue to keep their cats.”
- National Libraries Day logo unveiled – BookSeller. “Librarians are being encouraged to put on author talks or workshops showcasing what the library offers, while library users are urged to get all their friends and family members to join on the day, and involve themselves in locally organised activities. Everyone is being encouraged to find ways to express what libraries and librarians mean to them, whether by tweeting, making cards or producing videos or songs.”
“Occupy your library December 15th 2011December 15th is the two-month anniversary of the start of the global occupy movement. We started by occupying spaces to build communities. Now it’s time to occupy everywhere, and we ask you to join us.We cannot imagine a fair, just world for all without public access to libraries. A right to free education can only be ensured by a society where access to information is free for all. Occupy Wall Street lost its library. They were robbed of their books and their space. We are outraged by their loss. We know how much it meant to the movement. And we do not accept the spending cuts that are threatening our public libraries in the UK. We want to reach out and link up across the nation, to join the Library Campaign in solidarity and common struggle – and we ask you to join us to make our voices heard in unison.
Occupy your library December 15th. And call for everyone in the community to do the same. Hold an assembly, discuss, talk to passers-by, invite the local newspaper… Do whatever feels appropriate. Let’s make our voices heard together, and flood the nation with actions for a social change. OccupyLSX can help with information about what we are doing, and will have a booklet on our website http://www.occupylondon.org.uk/ very soon.”
Changes
- Camden – 12/12/11 official recommendations to council are: Belsize Library to be given to “The Winch” (to house library/cafe/nursery/room hire/work space), Chalk Farm to be given to Primrose Hill Community Association dependent on securing £1.2 million for trust fund, Heath Library to be given to Keats Community Library Phoenix Group as library with child/young people/literacy focus. Council funding will be (first year) £192k given to groups taking over 3 libraries plus £150k for legal/financial advice for volunteers.
- Westminster – Plans to allow residents/businesses to manage libraries.
Local News
- Birmingham – Big City Read launched – Reading Groups. “The Birmingham Big City Read was launched this week by S J Watson. Libraries in Birmingham are giving out 1000 copies of his novel Before I Go To Sleep to members of the public and to reading groups with the message to read it, review it and pass it on!”.
- Brent – Fight to stop page turning on historic London library – Yahoo!. Kensal Rise: “Signs attached to the walls proclaim “Save our library” and “Let us run our library” and volunteers have even organised a temporary “pop-up” library next door to try to fill the gap, using books donated by local residents.”. Amazing photograph of library bedecked in protest banners. [Originally from AFP]
- Where did the Ward Working money go? – Preston Library Campaign. “In an era of cuts to libraries, disabled services and nurseries (to name a few), the council chose not to cut a whopping £800,000 Ward Working Fund, apparently designed to improve local areas. Just half of this could save all 6 local libraries, which more than 83% of the borough want kept open. Half of this Fund is actually spent on just admin, leaving around £20,000 per ward to be spent on essentials like flowerbeds and noticeboards.”
- Willesden Green get another £500,000 as our libraries close – Preston Library Campaign. “With Willesden Green library centre costing MORE than all 6 closed libraries put together, we all know where Ann John’s priorities lie. On top of the £550,000+ it spends on Willesden Green each year (which they will continue to spend even when it closes for redevelopment next spring), it turns out that Willesden Green alone will benefit from a £500,000 award from Boris Johnson’s Outer London Fund. As we lose libraries, nurseries and essential day centres for the disabled, Brent will spend this on an art installation in Willesden Green before Christmas.”
“I have books in my possession and I cannot get to the Town Hall or Kingsbury Libraries so easily. The Town Hall library is a 48 minute return walk. This figure does not include time in the library. I could use a bus which will cost me £2.60 return on an Oyster Card. I also have a back problem which limits the amount I can carry. The same journey time, carriage problems and transport costs apply to Kingsbury Plus Library. Now that we are Preston Library Minus, can you please advise me about returning my books and how your closures have improved the library service for me.” Now we are Preston Library Minus – Preston Library Campaign.
- Camden – Future use of libraries – Camden Council. “A report has been published recommending the future use of Belsize, Chalk Farm and Heath library buildings. As part of the library savings programme to meet the required savings of £1.6 million to the service, it was agreed by Cabinet that three libraries would be identified for alternative delivery or community use. Belsize, Chalk Farm and Heath libraries will no longer be Camden public libraries from April 2012.”
- Croydon/Lambeth – More negotiation needed to save “much loved” Upper Norwood Library – Guardian series. “Both councils fund the Upper Norwood Joint Library (UNJL) but while Lambeth claim Croydon want to end their association, Croydon has accused Lambeth of not meeting its obligations over the library. Last week, Lambeth rejected three options for the future of the library submitted by Croydon, which it said would ultimately mean the closure of the library.” … “Lambeth is suggesting for both councils hand over control, and potentially ownership, of the building to local community and library-user groups.”
- Gloucestershire – Joint open letter to Ed Vaizey from library user groups – FoGL. “Following the recent High Court ruling, and announcement of the select committee enquiry, it has been suggested that library user groups send a joint, open letter to the secretary of state Ed Vaizey MP, whose inaction on library cuts and closures is an ongoing cause for concern. We have penned a letter below. If your library user group would like to be included amongst the signatories, please leave the name of your group (how you would like it to appear on the letter) as a comment on this blog post before Monday 19th December. We will then add all the signatures and send the letter to Ed Vaizey. Please spread the word so as many groups as possible around the country can add their names.”
- Oxfordshire – £1m library cuts set for approval – Henley Standard. Long article looking into proposals to cut staffing but up to half and replace with volunteers. Many, pessimistic, quotes from campaigners. “Ros Varnes, who chairs the Friends of Sonning Common Library, said: “We’re very disappointed. It’s not what we asked for. We said from the outset that the only fair way of dealing with this was to spread the cuts across the county’s library service, not single out ones for more cuts than others. We don’t think the council has really thought it through but they seem to be patting themselves on the back. “
- Trafford – Campaigners to fight council plans to replace librarians with volunteers – Manchester Evening News. “Now 23 community leaders – representing scores of different voluntary groups – have teamed up and sent an open letter to all councillors calling on them to scrap their ‘unpopular’ plans for the facility in Old Trafford. They have vowed not to co-operate with any move that would see paid roles scrapped and replaced by volunteers at the library. Among the signatures are ex-Inspiral Carpets frontman Tom Hingley, Joe Malaika from Trafford Peace Week and Barbara Bleeker of Trafford Volunteer Centre, currently up for a local volunteer of the year award.”
- Warwickshire – A survey ends into Warwickshire library opening hours – BBC. “By the end of the third week of consultation, 4,667 people had completed and returned a survey, according to the Council.”
- Westminster – Council to draft “civic contracts” for benefit recipients – Guardian. “Unemployed people will have to prove they are actively volunteering in the community in order to qualify for certain welfare benefits and social housing under “civic contract” proposals drawn up by a Conservative local authority.”…”A series of big society-style “urban citizenship” proposals outlined in the document would give residents and local businesses the power to take over the running and management of public parks, libraries and streets, to create “strong unified neighbourhoods where civic responsibility prevails”.”
I like libraries, love libraries
Dec 11th
412 libraries (323 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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
- Allan Bennett warns over tuition fees – BBC. “Lawnswood School dedicated its library to the writer after he emerged as a vocal campaigner against public library cuts.”…”Plans to shut local libraries were “wrong and very short-sighted”, Bennett said, adding: “We’re impoverishing young people.”
- I Like Libraries – @Ilikelibraries, Twitter. “Here to raise money to save libraries in the near future, the first project will emerge in January,anyone wanting money to save libraries please contact me!”
- Love Libraries – “Love Libraries is an independent website dedicated to supporting and promoting the exciting things going on in UK Libraries. From book groups and advice sessions to performing arts and live gigs: there is much to be enthused about. We Love Libraries, and we’re pretty sure you do to.”. Website is affiliated to “Get it Loud in Libraries“.
- Mayor of London to recruit “library champions” to boost library services – Government Business. “£100,000 is being invested to develop the Team London ‘Love Libraries’ scheme, which will see people recruited over the next six months to help provide a range of library based activities in at least ten boroughs. This includes supporting Londoners of all ages with reading and literacy, helping to set up reading groups and people to get online, including for help with job searches, skills and education.”
- Rex Libris – “Follow the story of Rex Libris, the tough-as-nails Head Librarian at Middleton Public Library, and his unending struggle against the forces of darkness. Wearing his distinctive, super-thick bottle glasses and armed with an arsenal of powerful weapons, he strikes fear into recalcitrant borrowers, and can take on virtually any foe, from loitering zombies to fleeing alien warlords who refuse to pay their late fees…”. [Only one copy left for Christmas presents]
- Warner Brothers to delay release of popular DVDs to libraries – Cleveland (USA). “Warner Home Video recently announced it will no longer distribute theatrical released movies to public libraries or home video rental stores until 28 days after the movies have been on sale in retail stores.”
- We need libraries (new version) – One Man And His Beard. The previous library campaigning song from the man who will be releasing a new song, “We Need Libraries” for National Libraries Day.
Changes
Peterborough – Audiobooks on MP3 to be available at two branches.
Local News
- Brighton and Hove – Festive shutdown at libraries – Argus. “A spokesman for the local authority said the libraries always close during this period with all staff on holiday between Christmas and New Year. But some residents have asked why the public service is not available during the holidays when other council- run libraries in Sussex are.”
- Doncaster – Parish council in bid to take over threatened library – Doncaster Free Press. Edenthorpe parish council may aid in taking over its library, soon to have its funding withdrawn from the council. However, ““We have contacted DMBC about issues such if we would be expected to provide computers and pay licences for the use of equipment and the council has never come up with answers – and we just can’t go into things blind. We also can’t go the community asking for money without knowing what the true costings are.””
- Oxfordshire – Hope on horizon for village library – Thame Gazette. Chinnoor Library to be staffed 2/3 by paid staff, 1/3 by volunteers. ““We have come up with a model which would still see all 43 libraries remain open and, if the proposal is approved, it would be up to the community in some areas to come forward and assist in the future with the staffing of some libraries. “We are certainly a million miles away from where we were 12 months ago, when we were proposing to cease funding 20 libraries.”
- Peterborough – Audiobook service to start in libraries – Evening Telegraph. “…enthusiasts will soon be able to download a wide selection of audiobooks from Stanground and Woodston libraries.A new audiobook service is being set up by library managers Vivacity Peterborough in the coming weeks.”
Looking forward to what?
Dec 10th
Comment
Public Libraries News gained its 200,000th view at some point this morning. This was over, roughly, one year. Thanks to everyone for their interest, not of course in this blog, but in public libraries. It’s been a traumatic year. Let’s hope that this blog gets less “hits” next year, because one suspects that that would mean that things are getting better for public libraries … and that’s important not just for them but for the health of the whole country.
412 libraries (323 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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.
- About the concept -Cycling for Libraries. “a politically and economically independent international unconference and a bicycle tour. Cycling for libraries is an independent event, not organized by any existing formal organization. It is made possible by a sovereign, international network of library enthusiasts.”
- Alan Bennett: Playwright returns to Leeds school – Yorkshire Evening Post. “Armley-born playwright Alan Bennett dropped in at Lawnswood School, in Otley Road, Lawnswood, to unveil a plaque that named their library after him. The History Boys writer spoke of his delight at the honour, while re-iterating his statement on the closing of public libraries as being “child abuse”. The 77-year-old told the YEP: “I am happy and very glad to be able to do this particularly at a time when libraries are under threat. “They read books in different ways now and I still read proper books, I don’t read Kindle because aesthetically I prefer it. It doesn’t matter how you read as long as you do read.”
- Best-selling write Julia Donaldson on her bid to get children reading – Daily Record. “The 63-year-old remembers visiting her local library and being inspired by the books she picked up. Now, as Children’s Laureate, she’s campaigning hard to make sure future generations are still able to visit libraries, which face closure in the face of spending cuts. “They’re especially important for children and their use of libraries has gone up over the last five or six years,” she said.”
- Get it Loud in Libraries – Music and libraries do go together. “Get It Loud In Libraries is a unique award winning project – it is the Love Libraries Award 2007 winner-designed to give people, especially young people who love music, a damn good time in a library; libraries across Lancashire if you are someone who cares for the small details.”. Around four music events per month in (mainly) Lancashire and London.
- Philip Pullman tackles cavalier councils – Bexley Times. Summary of the author’s library campaign to date. “I am a citizen as well as a writer, I hope I’d be speaking out whatever job I had,” he says. “What I do for a living gives me a bit of a name so people notice when I speak, but I feel I should do it as a citizen rather than as a writer.”
Changes
Derby – £1.28m library in Chaddesdem building work to start June 2012.
Trafford – Campaign group: Hands Off Old Trafford Library (H.O.O.T. Library, @hootlibrary, Facebook).
Local News
- Brent – Saturday 10th Carols at Cricklewood Library – Save Kensal Rise Library. “Wrap up warm and join us at our celebration of the season and of our library. Just turn up on Saturday outside the library – we will be singing a few carols led by Sonja – launching a free ‘pop-up’ library in the space outside the library – decorating our campaign Christmas Tree with children’s drawings. Includes the launch of Cricklewood ‘pop-up’ library, children’s drawings, seasonal drinks – non-alcoholic punch and other soft drinks available.”
- Croydon / Lambeth – Deal over library not ruled out – This is Croydon. “Sara Bashford, the council’s cabinet for culture and sport, told Monday’s council meeting: “If they come back with a suggestion that is workable we will look at it.”. Both sides continue to blame the other for the impending closure of one of the most efficiently run libraries in London.
- Derby – Building date for new £1.28m library – This is Derbyshire. “Work to build a replacement library in Chaddesden will start in June next year. Derby City Council’s planning committee approved plans for the long-awaited library in May. After several consultations, the authority decided to site the £1.28 million building next to the bowls green in Chaddesden Park.
- Gloucestershire – Have your say on new library service scheme – This is Glos. “Members of the authority’s cabinet will meet to confirm the details of the draft library plans on January 20. If they agree, a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposals will start soon after. Exact dates and details will be publicised closer to the time, but the consultation is expected to last six weeks.”
- County Council Cabinet snubs libraries meeting – FoGL via Alan Gibbons. “The email also stated that draft plans are being drawn up now and that the GCC Cabinet will meet to confirm them on 20th January. This seems very rushed, especially given the holiday period. We cannot understand why a meeting to be held only a month before this date could be deemed as “premature”. We feel that Gloucestershire County Council is once again failing to engage with library users and we are extremely concerned, as it was this failure to listen to our concerns about their previous plans that led the Courts to declare them unlawful with a bill of £100,000 for tax payers.”
- Suffolk – Beccles library officer helps thwart internet scam – Norwich Evening News. “Inquiry officer at the Blyburgate-based library, Nicky Bedwell, helped to stop the website cloning scam after being alerted to it by regular user Hugh Blowers, after he tried to access his friend’s Yorkshire holiday let website.”
- Surrey – New Surrey County Council leader: ‘We must be strong enough to see when we have gone wrong‘ – This is Surrey Today. “But while many predicted the decision to scrap county-wide proposals for on-street town centre parking charges, few foresaw the decision to reinstate professional part-time workers at libraries threatened with closure.”… “Cllr Hodge added he was aware of what he saw as a vocal minority in the public gallery when “unpopular” decisions were made, but he did not set too much store by them. He added: “You’ve got to accept there are times when people are not happy with a decision you’ve made. “When there was a reaction from the public gallery about libraries, my reaction was those people had a passion and a right to their point of view.”
- Trafford – Looking forward to what? The threat to Old Trafford Library – Hands off Old Trafford Library (H.O.O.T. Library). Group objects to council plans for volunteer-run library as (a) in area of multiple deprivation, (b) library staff are friends and neighbours and should not be replaced, (c) not viable or sustainable, (d) choice of Old Trafford for this is arbitrary and unfair.
“Old Trafford has a magnificent tradition of volunteering and community activism. Resident volunteers in this neighbourhood have established many innovative and successful voluntary projects, and we are rightly proud of our countless achievements. However we are also quite clear about the role and purpose of the community and voluntary sector in Old Trafford: it is to complement and enhance the work of statutory services, to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities in our local area. Our role is definitely not to enable employers to make our friends, colleagues and neighbours redundant and replace them with unpaid volunteers.”
It’s not just the books, it’s the place
Dec 9th
412 libraries (323 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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
- Alan Bennett on libraries – Radio Five Live. His school library has been renamed the “Alan Bennett Library”. “A library shouldn’t be intimidating. It should be inviting and tempt you to read. …. ”
“Q: What do you make of the current situation?
“Alan Bennett: Well, I think the authorities – and it’s not particularly a political matter although it obviously stems from the policies of the government but in not quite a political way – I think they have been taken aback by the reaction of people and the affection that people have for libraries and the fact that they have such a place in the community – and it is in the community. Cities, towns tend to say “oh well we built this wonderful new central library and so we are doing out bit for libraries but that’s not the point. A library should be local. It’s a place where particularly the young should be able to go because it’s a place where they won’t be interrupted or there won’t be other people coming in. People don’t believe that there are poor children now but there are and they need libraries for a place to go and read. It’s not just the books, it’s the place.”
- House of Lords (Hansard) – They Work For You. “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to improve access to libraries in the light of research by the National Literacy Trust published on 1 December about low levels of book ownership by children.” – Answers (a) Summer Reading Challenge [this is actually nothing to do with the Government, rather it is entirely funded by local authorities subscribing to it – but the Government still l takes credit for it twice in the answers], (b) ACE libraries development initiative [£200k in total.max £20k per project]. Government does not know how many libraries closed this year [they don’t know about this page]
“My Lords, my noble friend has a very good point. Recycling books, especially the low-cost books that one can now get on Amazon, is a great help to public libraries [Huh? Ed.]. However, people do not go to public libraries just for books. Libraries offer a way of life, encouraging reading in every way and providing solace for some people who may not have it at home.”
- National Libraries Day – Twibbon. “National Libraries Day on February 4th will be a nationwide celebration of libraries, library users, librarians & library staff in all sectors.”. All information currently known on National Libraries Day is here.
Changes
Cumbria – Fox and Hounds Pub (Ennerdale) will have 100 council-supplied books, hoping others will be donated.
Doncaster – Carcroft and Denaby Libraries to close before Christmas.
Gloucestershire – Library proposals to be announced 20/1/12.
Herefordshire – Libraries may be run by a Trust or other external body.
Redbridge – £500k to be spent on self-service in order to be able to cut staff at Ilford Central Library to help meet budget cut of £620k by 2014.
Local News
- Caerphilly – Risca Palace cinema reopens as library and Caerphilly Council offices – BBC. “The authority will run a library, customer services, a youth space, meeting rooms and more at the premises as part of an ongoing drive to regenerate Risca…. Allan Pritchard, leader of Caerphilly council, hailed the new library and council offices as the “best of breed”.”
- Cumbria – Ales of the unexpected as pub opens library – Copeland Community Fund. “Volunteers will also be offering an out-reach library service, as well as IT sessions each Tuesday at the pub, to help members use the library’s online catalogues. Peter Maher, project manager, said: “Our emphasis is to try and return community services, and the library is a small step. Reading is important and a library is a great community resource. Ours is an interesting model!’’ “
- Doncaster – Libraries to close for final time – Thorne and District Gazette. “A proposal to axe over half of the borough’s 26 libraries in the borough was announced by the council after it was revealed several of the sites had a dwindling number of customers. The move has led to several protests across those areas affected including a campaign group called Save Doncaster Libraries being formed.”
“Library users across the county are extremely disappointed to learn that Council Leader Mark Hawthorne, and indeed the whole of GCC administration, have declined an invite to an open public meeting on the 14th of December to discuss the future of our libraries. Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries members have worked hard to organize the meeting and found an an independent chair, in an independent venue in the hope that bridges could be built and that open, transparent dialogue could be started. Not a single representative from the library service or the cabinet will be attending. They say a meeting is “premature”. We would argue that is a year too late. If they had engaged with us and listened to us in the first place a costly court case would have been avoided. Are GCC really going to make the same mistakes again? We fear so.” Gloucestershire – Statement – FoGL.“Further to my previous email, Gloucestershire County Council’s new library proposals are due to be announced 20th January. This is clearly very rushed. (especially when you take into consideration the holiday period). We find it astonishing that the Council deems meeting with us just over a month before this date to be “premature”. Chris White of the LGA said that people should engage with their County Councilors. Well, we have tried time and again. Now what? ” FoGL.
- Herefordshire – Libraries’ future on the agenda – Ledbury Reporter. Libraries may become part of a Trust.
- Redbridge – £500,000 revamp will mean five-month closure for library – Ilford Recorder. Ilford Central Library: “Redbridge Council’s cabinet on Tuesday committed to spending that will replace staff with self-service kiosks to help meet a budget cut of £620,000 by 2014.Most of the four-floor Clements Road building will close on January 14 until after the Queen’s Jubilee Wedding celebrations in May, with a “skeleton” lending service”
“These community libraries hardly seem like libraries at all”
Dec 8th
Comment
Reports are coming in that Somerset will keep open all the libraries, including mobile libraries, that it had intended to close before it lost the court case. It is notable that the Council has said that it will not reduce the cuts that need to be made. This is going to be challenging for its library service – £1.35m over four years is a lot – but at least it will be done with due regard to local communities and, let’s not forget, the law.
More figures from Lewisham shed more light on the success or otherwise of it’s libraries withdrawn from council control. Even it’s own council report accepts that the move has had “a negative impact on performance”. The figures show that while visitors are recovering after a plummet at the time of changeover, the borrowing of books is bumping along the bottom at around a loss of two-thirds. This despite the council giving one organisation £230,000 for the running of one branch. It looks awfully like that these places (three of whom are now run by Eco Computer Systems, one by Age UK and the last by what appears to be a very brave and motivated bunch of volunteers blackmailed into it) are becoming more community/recycling centres than libraries. There may be other (hardly less worrying) reasons for this – such as insufficiently trained volunteers and one library apparently only currently open in a basement while refurbishment goes on – but, however one plays it, it is hardly a glowing testimonial for the Big Society.
[First sentence changed slightly due to comment]
412 libraries (323 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries are 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.
- Write about your views on public libraries to the Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport. Email cmsev@parliament.uk with “library closures” in subject line. Emails stand more chance of being effective if they give your views on (1) “what constitutes a comprehensive and efficient library service for the 21st Century“, (2) to what extent library closures are compatible with the law and the Charteris Report, (3) the impact closures have on communities and (4) the effectiveness of the secretary of state’s powers of intervention. Deadline: 12th January 2012. NB full details on how to submit your views are here. More guidance on giving written and verbal evidence is here.
- Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
- Email Justin Tomlinson MP for Swindon about your concerns. He is the chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group for libraries to be launched in December.
News
- Hey girl, I like the library too – Tumblr (USA). Pictures of Ryan Gosling saying pro-library chat-up lines inc. “Hey girl, sorry to bother you, but can you tell me classification number for love at first sight?”, “Hey girl, I’ve never had an overdue fine, you know that, don’t you girl?”, “Hey girl, I forgot my library card, if I gave you my phone number, could you look me up?”.
- Illuminating libraries – Linda Cracknell. “My latest radio play ‘The Lamp’ goes out on BBC Radio Four on 14th December, and has special status as ‘Play Of The Week’ which means that it will also be available as a podcast from Friday 16th for seven days. It was recorded on location at Perthshire’s charming Library of Innerpeffray at the beginning of November…”
- Kenya camel library – BBC. Eight amazing pictures of camels, indeed, carrying library books, with commentary. “The Camel Mobile Library was set up by the government-owned Kenya National Library Service to improve literacy rates in the north-east. Ships of the desert are the best way to travel in the Garissa area, some 400km from the capital, Nairobi.”
- Two-thirds “fail new primary phonics reading check” – BBC. “The test-run of a new primary school reading check suggests two-thirds of pupils are likely to fail it when it is introduced in England next year. Government statistics show just 32% of the six-year-olds in 300 schools who took the test last summer passed it.”
- Why do people rally to save libraries but not museums – Open Objects. Fascinating piece with lots of answers inc (1) libraries are seen as more under threat, (2) reading is personal and interactive, museums are passive and instructive (3) people regularly visit libraries, (4) higher staff/public interaction, (5) “libraries have takeaway”, (6) libraries are more used than museums, (7) libraries are part of a person’s identity, libraries are “ours”, (8) impact of library closing has far deeper impact on a community than a museum closing, (9) library free gathering places for all.
- Why library closures are a catastrophe – Times (Caitlin Moran), behind paywall. “A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival. They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination. On a cold, rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen instead. A human with a brain and a heart and a desire to be uplifted, rather than a customer with a credit card and an inchoate “need” for “stuff”.”
Changes –
Devon – Opening of replacement St Thomas Library (Exeter) delayed until at least Feb 2012 as original building to be used as shops. Totnes Library to be relocated to larger building.
Hertfordshire – Petition to save School Library Service.
Redbridge – Libraries part of Vision Trust since May 2011. £16,000 from Council (not Trust) for safety improvements at Wanstead and Woodford Green.
Somerset – 11 branches and 4 mobiles are now safe from closure, following court case. £1.35m cut in libraries over four years is still, however, in force.
Telford & Wrekin – Dawley library to keep its opening hours due to £3200 p.a. contribution for two years from parish council.
Local News
- Brent – Council library fight sum doubles in three months – Harrow Observer. “The authority’s legal costs have rocketed from £70,532 in September to more than £150,000, after it took on the Brent SOS library campaign group all the way to the Court of Appeal. The figures have been uncovered by Sagar Shah, 31, who is setting up his own watch dog organisation called Brent Watch.”
- Conwy – Council plea for views over future of library service – North Wales Weekly News. “Cllr Geoff Shepherd, town councillor in Llanfairfechan has been behind a 600 name petition to save his local library. Town councillors in the quarry village are confident they have identified a suitable derelict building to move the library into. Ms Jackson said feedback from meetings with councils and community groups would be forwarded to Conwy council cabinet meeting on Tuesday December 13. Representatives from Conwy council agreed to a battle plan over the future of libraries last week. Plans may see libraries in smaller communities moved in to schools or community buildings run by volunteers. They will be open for 15 hours a week and will be given £20,000 towards equipment.
- Darlington – Call for public input as Cockerton Library faces closure – Northern Echo. “Eight councillors from three different wards are asking for public input into what could be the final chapter of a village library. A public meeting will be held for the 10,000 users of Cockerton library to give their views about the potential closure of the facility because of council cuts.”
- Devon – Anger over lack of new library – This is Exeter. St Thomas library delayed as site sold off for shops. “Planning permission was originally granted for a redevelopment of the site, which resulted in the demolition of the old St Thomas library, on the condition that a new library was provided. But Devon County Council and the developers failed to reach agreement over rent charges, and the deal fell through. As reported in the Echo, the county council is looking for a site to build a new, permanent library.”
- Totnes residents asked for their library ideas – This is South Devon. “A public consultation is being launched next week to get views from residents in Totnes about what they would like to see in their new library. Last month Devon County Council announced plans to relocate the library to The Mansion in the town because the current library building is too small and unsuitable for the 21st century service the Council wants to provide.” … “”The Mansion will provide one of the most calm and beautiful locations to site a library, with the top floor giving views to complement the added value of books.”
- Gloucestershire – Meeting to discuss ruling on libraries – This is Glos. “Library campaigners have called a public meeting to discuss the High Court judgement about the county’s service earlier this month.Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries (FOGL) plan to discuss the ruling that stopped Shire Hall’s cuts plan in its tracks.”
- Hertfordshire – Future of Herts School Libraries Service – Hertfordshire County Council Petition. “We think it is too important and too valuable to close and we are concerned about the lack of notice and consultation on this decision. We ask councillors not to ratify it in December but to please take time to explore alternative funding sources and to see if there is a way to keep providing it.”
- Kent – Local reviews for libraries – This is Kent. “It could result in the closure of existing buildings as libraries are forced to share spaces with other agencies such as parish councils. The county council is also exploring the option of handing libraries over to communities to be run by volunteers.”
- Lewisham – Healthier Communities Select Committee – Lewisham Council. “Overall, Libraries’ performance has been disappointing over the past seven months. This is due in part to the extent, and timing of the changes to the Service. Issues and visits have been adversely affected by the Service-wide staff restructuring which took place simultaneously with the implementation of new technologies and working practises. However, there are signs that performance is beginning to improve and the staff team are fully committed to ensuring that it continues to do so.” … “It should be noted that Blackheath reopened last August in temporary accommodation while their new centre is being developed. The work is scheduled for completion in October 2012, when full community library provision will resume.” Charts (below) appear to show that while visitors are recovering, issues are being wiped out – is this the problem with computer system, improperly trained volunteers or a fundamental change from a library into something more similar to a community centre?
“This report updates Members on the progress of the Community Library
Services and details the major service changes that have been
implemented during 2011/12. The programme of change has had a
negative impact on performance, but the Service remains confident that
the next year will see a significant improvement in Service delivery once
the transformation of the Service is fully embedded.”
Services and details the major service changes that have been
implemented during 2011/12. The programme of change has had a
negative impact on performance, but the Service remains confident that
the next year will see a significant improvement in Service delivery once
the transformation of the Service is fully embedded.”
“These community libraries hardly seem like libraries at all” Lewisham campaigner (in email).
- Redbridge – Cash boost for library upgrade – Guardian series. “More than £5,000 will be spent at Wanstead Library and Woodford Green Library improving safety and infrastructure. The money is part of a £130,000 council grant for improvements to open spaces, libraries and recreational facilities across the borough. In total, Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure will spend around £84,000 on parks, around £30,000 on sports and recreation and over £16,000 on libraries.”
- Somerset – Library cuts reversed in Somerset – BookSeller. “Somerset County Council has confirmed it is reversing its library cuts programme following the High Court judgement at judicial review in November that it had breached equalities legislation. According to a press report on local news site Yeovil People, the council has confirmed that plans to cut funding for 11 Somerset libraries have now been halted, while opening hours in 23 libraries, reduced by 20% in recent months, will be reinstated. The mobile library service, reduced from six vehicles to two, is also being reinstated. A council spokesman said: “We accept the [High Court] judgement and are working on reinstating services.” However he added: “The council still needs to consider the future funding of the library service in light of the current financial climate and the fact that all other services are being reviewed over the next 18 months, remembering that we were aiming to save £1.35m over three years.”. Quote Yeovil People article offline at time of checking but including words “The council this week confirmed its plans to cut funding for 11 Somerset libraries have been halted and opening hours in 23 libraries – which had been reduced by 20 per cent in recent months – will be reinstated. The council is also reinstating its mobile library service – which had been reduced from six vehicles to just two.”
- Telford & Wrekin – Council will pay £3,000 to keep Dawley library hours – Shropshire Star. Dawley Parish Council to pay to keep library at 21 hours per week, rather than proposed cut to 16 hours.
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