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Some looks at the future, some worrying but others wonderful, today from different sources. Let’s get the bad news over with first.  Ken Chad argues that ebooks are a greater threat to public libraries than the current cuts whereas Tim Coates stresses in the Telegraph that, on the contrary, ebooks could be great for libraries if only publishers stopped restricting them.  Mick Fortune expresses concern about the changing of the role of library self-service machines from being devices for the library to being devices for paying council tax etc; and wonders if libraries will get their money back. The, admittedly more distant, good news is that Maker Spaces could be the saviour and there’s a whole new website just gone online looking at how public libraries can get on board.

Back to the here and now, a judge has given the squatters at Friern Barnet Library three more months and, in a weird mirror image of what is happening to its counterpart in London, the Glasgow Women’s Library is moving to a new home.  Finally, and perhaps weirdly to many librarians, Hampshire records that its loaning of magazines has been a success.

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News

• Alexandria burning; or, the future of libraries, and everything else – Library Journal (USA). “This article is more a plea for respecting the old forms, rather than merely trashing it in heedless favor of the new. Libraries can provide a sanctuary, a place of repose and meaning outside the silicon buzz of contemporary life. ” … “While libraries unquestionably need to stay up with current trends—providing Wi-Fi access and downloadable ebooks—they can also cater to the needs of those who are less eager to embrace the new gizmos of the moment.”. Suggests dividing libraries into loud/tech areas and quieter/traditional areas.

“In our haste to make friends and be “relevant,” the library world sometimes neglects those it leaves behind. The authors believe there needs to be a balance—even if it comes to segregation of the friendliest sort—between the new and old, and libraries are best positioned to straddle both these worlds, a place of robots and fireside rugs.”

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“New powers that benefit communities now that the ‘right to bid’ provisions contained within the localism act are in force (more on all the rights on the My Community Rights website). They enable communities to nominate ‘assets of community value’ in their local area – land and buildings which provide a social benefit. The local authority is required to formally and publicly list these properties. If one of these properties subsequently comes up for sale, the local community will be able to ask for a ‘moratorium’ – a pause – of up to six months to raise the funds to bid to buy it. The list of properties could include an eclectic range of sites – the recreation ground; the last pub in the village; the library; or, even, the local theatre.” New Start

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• Dobrovolníci v knihovnách – Informace pro knihovny (Czech Republic). The page is on how volunteers can be used in Czech libraries and their pros & cons.  It looks like (via Google Translate) that the Czechs are seeing it as entirely supplementary to paid staff and that replacement is not being considered. More >

News

• A Londres, des squatteurs rouvrent les portes d’une bibliotheque condamnee– Le Monde / M Blogs (France).  Reports on squatters taking over Friern Barnet Library and on the current parlous state of English public libraries.

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