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• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• CILIP Vice President 2012 – Walk You Home.  Lauren Smith, library campaigner (of Save Doncaster Libraries and Voices for the Library) will become vice-president of the professional library association in 2012.  “The library and information profession has seen considerable changes over recent years. CILIP is seeking to better meet the needs of its members, with support for new professionals, an increased emphasis on advocacy and the provision of a significant voice for the profession, to inform policy and legislation. In Defining our professional future, members said that they “want CILIP to become, above all, a visible campaigning body. This means pro-actively advocating the profession to government, opinion leaders, employers and society as a whole, to ensure the professional function and skills are fully understood, appreciated and resourced.”
• Peet accuses politicians of “weasel words” over libraries – BookSeller.   “Peet was speaking at a Publishers Association (PA) and Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) fringe event on the future of libraries at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester yesterday [4th October].” … “(CILIP) chief executive Annie Mauger describe libraries as “a changing service” rather than a “dying service”, and National Literacy Trust c.e.o. Jonathan Douglas call libraries “an all-powerful resource which promotes social mobility”. 
• Keith Mitchell: People love libraries.  That’s why social care cuts are deeper – Guardian.  The Leader of Oxfordshire County Council is angry that the “single area of huge campaigning activity” against the cuts was to do with libraries, blaming “a local lefty with a track record of opposition” who organised other lefties, Greens and “anarchists”, plus newcomers like Kirsty Young.  These people selfishly and ignorantly defended libraries to the detriment of social care. Reading the comments is an essential.

Changes 

Bolton – Five closures – Astley Bridge, Oxford Grove, Heaton, Highfield and Castle Hill – confirmed for 2012.  Heaton will remain as community/children’s centre.  13 FTE staff to go.  Central Library hours extended, including on Sundays.
Doncaster – 14 branches under threat (total revised again due to more information) – 2 closing outright (Carcroft and Denaby) while 12 others (Bawtry, Intake, Warmsworth, Moorends, Rossington, Stainforth, Scawthorpe, Balby, Bessacarr, Edenthorpe, Wheatley and Sprotbrough) will be run by volunteers. 
Hertfordshire – New Barnfield Library (central resources library) – closure to go ahead but with documents moved to another location with reduced opening hours (source – Save New Barnfield Library newsletter). 
Islington – 16 staff to go, opening hours cut, more self-service, share housebound library service with Camden.
Sandwell – Campaign group: Friends of Rowley Libraries (Facebook group). 

Local News

• Bolton – Library closures: the final plan – Bolton News. “Five libraries — Astley Bridge, Oxford Grove, Heaton, Highfield and Castle Hill — will shut next year. The Heaton building will, however, be retained as a community hub and children’s centre; and one new full-time post has been created to man neighbourhood collections.”. Most people will be within two miles of another library and so have been asked to travel “that little bit further”. Campaigner says ” “We understand that despite an overwhelming rejection of its proposals by thousands of petitions and survey forms, Bolton Council intends to press ahead with its short sighted and destructive plans to close a third of our libraries.”
• Long struggle to keep Bolton’s libraries open – Bolton News. Timeline of proposals and public opposition detailed, including the 15,000 name petition.
• Documents on closures, including consultation – Bolton Council.

• Camden – Hampstead sale: well, this is a turn up for the books, Glenda – Ham High.  Heath: “The library is threatened with closure after Camden Council withdrew its funding. The friends group is holding a meeting on October 19 to discuss the library’s future. Perhaps Glenda will lend her support with another surprise appearance?”
• Doncaster – Oy, Mayor Davies: there’s more to working in a library than stamping out books – Save Doncaster Libaries.  “Mayor Davies’ profound contempt for the entire library profession is appalling – his comment on local radio yesterday that it can’t be that hard to stamp out a few books demonstrates his total ignorance. He admits he doesn’t know what librarians do and blames Doncaster’s librarians for the state the libraries are in – even though he knows full well there haven’t actually been any librarians running the service for several years because they were made redundant.”.  Excellent long list of what librarians actually do is then listed.
• Mayor Davies defending cuts to library services –  BBC Radio Sheffield (59:23 and 1:05:32 but items scattered around entire show).  “Top story” on programme, including defending librarians as needing postgraduate qualifications.  
• They were never ever going to listen – Save Doncaster Libraries.  Analysis of the new proposals from Doncaster and of the radio interview with the Mayor, including polite response to him from Phil Bradley of CILIP.

 “What’s the training required to have a book out and stamp it and take it back the following week?  Things are made mysterious … libraries haven’t been altogether successful these last few years” says Mayor Davies. (1:14) 

• BBC Radio Sheffield on library cuts – libraries discussed again after Mayor’s comments.  Leader of Labour group defends the role of libraries and the need for paid library workers.
• Can Bawtry and other libraries be successfully run by the community? – Bawtry.org.
• Islington – Bad news from Islington – Alan Gibbons.    16 members of staff (10%) to be lost, more self-service, opening hours to be cut (possibly down to three days per week) except in two largest libraries.  Housebound library service to be merged with Camden.  “There are also ominous noises about how a ‘library can be set-up anywhere’ and the renting of space within library buildings, if not the buildings themselves being sold off eventually.” … “It seems quite obvious, that for political reasons, the council has decided not to close any branches outright. Instead the Service will be fragmented by ‘spreading the pain around’”
• Sandwell – New group launched to give Rowley’s libraries a boost – Halesowen News.  Friends of Rowley Libraries formed, uniting Friends from Cradley Heath, Blackheath and Oakham. Friends groups aiming to improve libraries and stave off worst effects of the cuts, complementary to the main service.  “Elan Homes have donated £250 to the group and they have already organised the repainting of Oakham Library through the community payback scheme and we are hoping to raise funds so the inside of Cradley Heath Library will be painted.”
• Surrey – Update on plans for Surrey libraries – Information Twist.   Summary of cuts proposed.  “Following this, on Saturday morning library campaigners held a number of events at libraries in Surrey that would be affected by the decisions. In the afternoon, a rally was held outside Woking Library. The aim being to highlight and challenge the changes being made to Surrey Libraries. Campaigners also collected petition signatures, for both the local campaign & the W.I. national campaign. A number of people spoke at the rally: Alan Gibbons sent a message of support, UNISON spoke about the cuts, campaigners talked about Surrey’s plans and their concerns and, as a representative for Voices For The Library, I highlighted the value of public libraries by reading out quotes/comments from library users throughout the country”.
• Westminster – Council to share senior management roles – Westminster Chronicle.  “There will also be one director of adult services, one director of libraries and combined environmental services across the three boroughs.” of Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea [Making it possibly the longest job title in the history of libraries?].  50% cut in senior and middle managers, 50% cut in overheads attached to frontline services.

“We anticipate some councils will still need to address the requirement for ongoing efficiencies in the remainder of the spending review period.”. Some councils have not yet made the deep cuts made essential by Central Government.  They will need to so soon.

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• Amazon’s grip tightens on the entire book-publishing chain – CNN Money.  “Teicher doesn’t think that Amazon truly has a monopoly, but he warns “it’s moving in that direction.” Dominique Raccah, CEO of independent Chicago-area publisher Sourcebooks, agrees that Amazon “could be” a monopoly already. Amazon’s move into publishing “was completely expected,” she says.”
• Campaign for the Book Newsletter – Alan Gibbons.   Less libraries closing than feared, but this masks a push towards volunteers doing the job due to council blackmail.  Opening hour and bookfund cuts make situation worse. National Libraries Day 4/2/12 shaping up to be big – with special events, libraries opening longer that day, etc.  School libraries also under threat.  “We have had some success in mounting resistance to the philistine assault on libraries. We will have to redouble our efforts if we are to emerge from this period with a public library service and a network of school libraries worth the name. If we fail the consequences for literacy in this country will be dire.”.  School library visits also discussed.
• Doubts grow, not economy, under UK austerity drive – Boston Globe (USA).  First line is “Manchester, England—Jobs have been lost, libraries shuttered, sailors sacked and street lights dimmed — Britain is beginning to taste the bitter medicine David Cameron warned was necessary to fix its wounded economy. It’s left some wondering: Is the remedy worse than the symptoms?” … Professor says “From almost day one they had an austerity plan, but they had no plan for growth”.

“At the age of 17, [Kurt Cobain] ran away from his mother’s house, and practically lived in the local library for the whole of one bitterly cold winter. He’d hang out there, reading books by authors like Salinger and Tolstoy, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Lauren’s Van Der Post, waiting until his friends arrived home from school so he could bum macaroni cheese off them.” ijclark’s mind dump

• Libraries judicial review concludes today – This is the West Country.   “Jan Simpson-Scott, of Watchet Library Friends, said: “We have every confidence in our barrister and with the people of Watchet behind us, we firmly believe that we’ve done the best we could.”
• Public library service is in really really deep water – Good Library Blog.  The publishing industry are increasingly seeing public libraries as unimportant/irrelevant.  This has been shown by the failure to come to an agreement over e-book lending.  As printed books decline, libraries will lose their reason.  Something needs doing quickly to ensure that this does not happen.

• What are the opportunities that exist in all the dramatic change that is happening for libraries? – This Week in Libraries.  Chris Batt of UCL School of Information Studies and “Digital Futures” speaks, on videocam.
• Will everyone read digitally soon? – Alan Gibbons.  Library campaigner has bought an ebook and likes it – better print, more choice of book.   “… but one thing is certain, however we read, we continue to do a lot of it in libraries and we ditch them at our peril. That is especially true for the young and the elderly.”

Changes

Worcestershire – Worcester Public Library rare books sold off (£200,000 plus): sale now restarted since suspension due to public outcry in April (Souce: Historic Libraries Bulletin, not currently available online).

Local News

• Norfolk – Library hours change in Norfolk – KLFM.  8000 people responded to proposal to cut opening hours by an average 10% among libraries.  Change in hours starts on Monday. “The County Council has always resolved that none of its 47 libraries would close as part of its cost savings measures, made necessary by a reduction in government grants and rising cost pressures. The idea to reduce libraries’ opening hours as a way of helping to make the savings of £1.49 million expected of the library service over three years came out of Norfolk’s Big Conversation, the council’s consultation on prioritising its services in order to find savings.”
• Nottinghamshire – Apprentice scheme at County Council – Eastwood and Kimberley Advertiser.  “A scheme creating 25 apprenticeships over the next year for teenagers aged 16 to 18 is being launched by Nottinghamshire County Council. The posts will be in a variety of services including catering, libraries and human resources and will offer apprentices 40 weeks paid work experience to achieve an NVQ.”
• Somerset – Watchet Library News – Watchet Library Friends (via Alan Gibbons).   Watchet Library was due to have been closed by now but legal injunction is still in force keeping it open until decision of court is revealed, which may be “months” away.  Further fundraising still needed to raise £9000 that Legal Services Commission has insisted on, although independent review said that only £3500 was needed.
• Surrey – Actor Brian Blessed joins Surrey library campaign – BBC.   “A spokesman for the campaign group said: “Brian turned up to lend his support to the campaign to save both Bagshot library and its librarians and he stayed for an hour, during which he read stories to the children present in the library.”.  Council has said that it will decide to close any libraries that are not volunteer-run by December, although saying its aim is to keep all open.
• New Haw Library Community Partnership – NatWest Community Force.  Appeal for votes for gaining grant.  “In the long-term, we are confident that our project can be self-financing. However, we need to fund what are essentially set-up costs. In particular, there are the legal fees that will ensure our project is properly constituted and can be registered as a charity. In this intial phase, we also want to maintain regular contact with the 150+ volunteers who have come forward to offer their help.”. 

• Library campaigners stage demonstrations – BBC.   “Campaigners, who have continued their fight, urged people to bring “voice, banners, flags and friends” to the protests at the weekend. They were organising activities including card-making, painting, drawing and book-reading in support of local libraries and librarians, and were due to hold a rally outside Woking library…”
• Torfaen – Pontypool library opens after makeover – Free Press.   Funded by Welsh Assembly.  “There is a more open layout on the ground floor, and the basement, which had previously only been accessible to staff, has been brought into public use as a computer suite and community meeting room. The library now has a disabled lift to the basement level.”
• West Sussex – Self-service at town library – County Times.   “The Bookstart Bear and children from Arunside School will be the first to use the new terminals when the library in Lower Tanbridge Lane opens its doors once again on Monday October 3.”
• Worcestershire – Sale of Rare Books from Worcester Public Library – Historic Libraries Forum bulletin (not yet available online).  Old books are being sold via auction due to lack of space in new joint university/public library “The Hive” due to open in 2012.  Private company had suspended sales due to public outcry in April but has now restarted.  Items sold include Holinshed’s Chronicles 1587 and a 1522 Comoedia of Plautus.  Council admits it does not have the expertise to decide what to keep and what is most valuable and has asked anyone interested to help in disposal “to ensure that no item is sold in error”. “The sale of a complete set of The Gentleman’s Magazine in September was defended on the grounds of its digital availability, but the database cited covers only the first 20 years.”

• The volunteer-run libraries are non-statutory so it does not matter if they fail.
• That the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act should not be enforced, due to the internet.
• Everyone can use a bus.

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• Amazon’s Kindle price punking – Mike Cane’s xBlog.  Cheapest kindles come with compulsory advertising, it costs $30 more to buy one without ads.  “If Amazon is giving you a $30 break like that, how much more are they making over that $30? You’re no longer a reader. You’re a product they’re selling to others!”
• Are libraries being saved? – Infoism – “What has effectively happened is that council’s have ‘offered’ libraries to the local community to run. This is not a sustainable (let alone effective) solution. As has recently been reported, the number of people volunteering has declined in the past year.”.  Worries that volunteer-run libraries are not sustainable or comparable to council-run branches. “Yes, they may be saved from closure for now, but saved in a way that will only postpone the inevitable. The battle is far from over, it has only just begun.”
• Campaigners halt NHS service transfer to social enterprise – Civil Society.   Glos NHS Trust may face legal action to stop it transferring staff to a community interest company.  Campaigners protest that no competitive tendering had taken place.
• Key library service judicial reviews under way – Voices for the Library. “Even though there are differences in the challenges raised, the common ground is that claimants and campaigners all want to ensure that legal duties to provide a library service aren’t ignored; and that they want their local council’s to listen to the opinions of local residents and communities… The people they represent… The users of the library services they are destroying.”
• Library cutbacks law suit commences in High Court – This is Somerset.  “Injunctions obtained by Public Interest Lawyers, a company specialising in matters of constitutional significance affecting large numbers of people, have prevented the councils from going ahead with their plans. The injunctions say the councils have breached their legal obligations by failing to adhere to the statutory requirements of the Libraries and Museums Act, not consulting residents properly and not taking their views into consideration.”  … “”Whatever the ‘Big Society’ is, it should not be a fig leaf for excessive and ill-conceived cuts or the surrendering of cherished public services.”
• Day three of court hearing – FoGL.   The defence “argued that the library network which will remain in place was adequate to comply with the 1964 Act, and as the proposed community libraries did not form part of this statutory provision it didn’t really matter if they failed”, questioned if the Act was still relevant and that everyone can use a bus. Judgement delayed for a month or two. 
• Let the battle of ideas commence – Independent.   “Voters who notice the closure of libraries or Sure Start centres recognise the benefits of an active state and see no equivalent institution’s appearing in Cameron’s Big Society.”
• Thousands of seven-year-olds struggle with homework – Guardian.   “The new statistics reveal that after three years of schooling many children can read only the easiest words, such as “cat” or “dog”, and do the very simplest sums.”.  Poorer kids get poorer results.
• Visitors soar as borough invests £4m in libraries – London Evening Standard.  Hillingdon sees 50% increase in visitors, including a doubling of members at one upgraded branch.  Councillor says “”Almost on a daily basis there are reports of library closures but we’re showing there is another way. Hillingdon has taken radical and innovative steps to keep costs down while increasing what’s on offer. These figures demonstrate just how important people think our libraries are.”.  A cafe in one library has made £30,000 profit which then goes back to the service. Southwark Council described stunning new £14m library at Canada Water, due to open in November. 

Changes

Hampshire – £492 k cut (on top of £2.5m already cut since 2009) – Proposed 7.5% cut to opening hours.  2 libraries – Stanmore and North Baddesley – under threat.  Council has put £48m into its reserves.
North Yorkshire – All 8 under threat will be run by volunteers, with books and training supplied by council.   Cuts in paid staff in all libraries, cuts in opening hours unless volunteers step in.  Small town libraries will see cuts in hours of up to 30%. 
Nottinghamshire – £1 charge for each e-book. 

Local News

• Bolton – Airport windfall gives council £725k to spend – Bolton News.  “Bolton Council has received a £1 million windfall from Manchester Airport — £725,000 more than it was expecting.”.  Council says too early to confirm what it will use money for but “local Tory chief John Walsh said the money could be used to save the town’s five underthreat libraries.”.  It would cost £400k to keep open the five threatened libraries.
• Calderdale – Come clean over the library, urges Linda – Halifax Courier.  MP Linda Riordan says ““Calderdale Council must be clearer – it owes it to the 16,000-plus people who signed a petition two years ago calling for the buildings to stay put.” Fears that Primark want to bulldoze Halifax library site.
• Get rid of “non-jobs” to keep our libraries – Halifax Courier.    “In the context of the Council’s entire budget £150,000 is a relatively small amount and, where there is a will, a way could be found to make short term savings and protect the libraries budget until this review of future provision has been undertaken. The Taxpayers Alliance revealed this week that the Council employs a Regional Reputation Manager within a Marketing & Communications Team that will cost £216,800 next year. Perhaps removing non-jobs like this would be an easy way to start.”
• Cambridgeshire – Emerging library vision agreed – Cambridgeshire Council.  “Members agreed that plans for a Charitable Trust should no longer go forward due to recent changes in Government guidance in how councils could now benefit from national Non Domestic Rates.”.  Reliance instead on sharing buildings (post office, doctors, etc) with other services and using volunteers.  “Borrowing ideas from the commercial sector the council will also look at different sized libraries to suit community needs.”
• Essex – Library idea has a certain ring to it – Saffron Walden Weekly News.  Yet another library in a phonebox article.
• Fife – Library and museum to get refurb, 86 years on – Fife Today.  Kirkcaldy Library.  New cafe.
• Hampshire – Library cuts “devastating” say UNISON – Alan Gibbons.  “Hampshire UNISON have slammed County Council proposals to make further cuts to Hampshire’s Libraries as a public consultation on reduced opening hours and possible closures begins this week. It is proposed that opening hours across the county are cut by a massive 7.5%. Around a third of Hampshire’s 53 libraries are likely to see a full morning or afternoon closure imposed if the cuts go ahead. Stanmore and North Baddesley libraries have been slated for closure unless volunteers come forward to maintain services.”
• North Yorkshire – To keep all its libraries – Northern Echo.   “All eight libraries which were set to be shelved in North Yorkshire following Government cutbacks are likely to be kept open by volunteers. North Yorkshire County Council said it has received proposals and business plans from community groups, including a number of promising ideas from residents in Great Ayton and Masham.” 
• Community libraries may not now close – Harrogate News.   “It would be wrong to give any guarantees at this stage, but the proposals and business plans we have received from community groups are all extremely promising, and we will do all we can to assist to turn them into reality.”.  Andrew Jones MP says “Community libraries are not just about books but offer a wide range of other services such as after school clubs and mother and toddler groups which would be a great loss to local people. It is important that, alongside book lending, these other services are preserved wherever possible and I will be pressing the County Council to ensure that these are included in any package that comes forward.”
• Public support lends libraries a lifeline – Yorkshire Post. “Every library in North Yorkshire is set to be spared the axe following a huge groundswell of public support.” 
• Oxfordshire – Opponents remain unconvinced over libraries shake-up – This is Oxfordshire.   “The author [Philip Pullman] whose impassioned plea to save libraries sparked the public outcry in Oxfordshire has warned that volunteers cannot replace professionals.”.  Said volunteer-run libraries are “a sort of solution”.  … ““You cannot go on relying on volunteers to do professional work. There seems to be a rather disparaging view of librarians that all they do is tidy the shelves and stamp the books. It is far more than that, it requires pretty stringent professional training.”.  Watlington campaigners say branch would need 70 volunteers to stay open.
• Nottinghamshire – Notts libraries to charge for e-book loans – BookSeller.   £1 per book loan via PayPal.  SCL defends move.  “It is 18 months since the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that it would not be illegal for libraries to charge for e-books under the current law. At the time Martin Palmer, principal officer for libraries, at Essex, warned it contradicted the ethos of public libraries to charge for books. He said: “It’s basically reading and we don’t charge for reading. I don’t see why e-books should be any different to print books.”
• Portsmouth – Reference book cash to be cut in Portsmouth library shake-up – News.   Reference bookfund cut from £50k to £30k.  Saved money will go on fiction books.  “It says the move is being made partly because of a change in the way people search for information – often by using the internet.” but “But what about people who don’t have the internet at home, so aren’t familiar with it to use it at libraries?”.  Cuts in large print, talking books, DVDs and magazines too – with money being moved over to adult and children’s fiction.
• Surrey – Molesey library community partnership plans scrapped – Elmbridge Today.  “Surrey County Council’s decision-making cabinet has agreed to scrap plans for volunteers to take over the day-to-day running of Molesey library, in The Forum.” … Lib Dem opposition councillor said support for Big Society libraries was almost invisible, “The plans are being pushed through to save face in front of massive public opposition,”
• Join the protests! – Save our services in Surrey.   “Members of the Surrey Library Action Movement, who have brought together library users and campaigners, trade unionists and students to save Surrey’s libraries from being turned into “volunteer-run” services, were lobbying the Cabinet to urge them to reconsider their proposals and start a meaningful consultation with the community over the future of Surrey’s library service.”… “On October 1st, library activists across the county will be staging actions at local libraries, and converging on Woking Library at 2pm for a rally.”
• “This is not volunteering, it’s blackmail!” – i-volunteer.   “Lee Godfrey, SLAM’s Press Ofifcer told us “If a Council threatens to close your library unless a lot of people “volunteer”, then people are being forced to give their time for free, being told they must “volunteer” with a gun to their heads. This is not volunteering, it is blackmail: taking advantage of people’s desire to nurture and protect their local community, and not wanting to lose one of the key hubs of their communities.” … “”Volunteers come and go, due to life circumstances, and it is not possible to guarantee that volunteers will always be able to fully cover library opening and all of the jobs necessary to keep a library fully functioning. Over time, the service will diminish to such a degree that these libraries will eventually be closed. And this will be one more nail in the coffin of so many villages and local communities.”

“I am in full support of Surrey Libraries Action Movement and their Love Your Libraries Campaign. Libraries need trained librarians just as schools need trained teachers and hospitals need trained doctors. Volunteers may have a role to play, but to staff a library exclusively with volunteers is not the way forward.” Surrey – Children’s author [Julia Donaldson] adds voice to Surrey library row – Get Surrey.  

• Waltham Forest – Library closures decision “must be postponed” – Guardian series.   “Cabinet is due to rubberstamp a shake-up of the library service on October 11, which would see facilities in south Chingford and Harrow Green in Leytonstone shut down to save £1 million.”.  4000 petition to save Harrow Green.  “A scrutiny panel recently reported that cabinet was given insufficient information on visitor numbers and alternative proposals when it agreed to the closures.”

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

432 libraries (346 buildings and 86 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 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

“The Committee will be holding an evidence session with the [DCMS] in the autumn and the matter of libraries will most likely be on the agenda, although there are no immediate plans to conduct an inquiry.” House of Commons Culture Media and Sport Committee, (reply to an email seen by PLN).

• Public must occupy “at risk” sites – Press Association. “The public should occupy libraries and hospitals if they are closed because of the Government’s spending cuts, a union leader has suggested. Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB, said he agreed with taking non-violent action in response to the “vicious” austerity measures which were hitting communities across the country.”

• Reads and Read-Nots – National Literacy Trust.  “New National Literacy Trust research* of 18,141 children reveals a polarised nation of young readers with 1 in 6 reporting that they don’t read a single book in a month, while 1 in 10 say they read more than 10 books in a month.”
• 2 in 10 young people said that they had never received a book as a present, while 1 in 10
  has never been to a bookshop or a library.
• A greater proportion of those who agree with the statements that they have never been
  given a book as a present, that they have never been to a bookshop or library read below
  the expected level for their age compared with those who disagree with those
  statements.
• 7.4% have never been to a library [on the other hand, that is a whopping 92.6% who have]
• “I have never been to a library” – agree  7.4%(white) 16.3% (mixed) 6.5% (Asian)  6.6% (Black) – [Shows libraries are used by over 80% of children of all races]

• We respond to CLG consultation on Draft National Planning Policy Framework – Arts Council England.  Response is largely critical of the proposed new planning rules. “We do not believe that the framework correctly identifies the needs and requirements of local places and local plans.” – uses Derby libraries as an example.  ““The town centre policies will enable communities to encourage retail, business and leisure development in the right locations and protect the vitality and viability of town centres – No.” – uses The Cube in Corby as an example. 
• “We should celebrate cultural excellence” – Public Service.   Shadow Culture Secretary Ivan Lewis at the Labour Party conference.  Speech mentions libraries but just once – “Conference, in just over a year Jeremy Hunt, has gone from rising star to the long list of wannabe former potential Prime Ministers. This Tory-led Government have decimated our world-leading school sports system, launched a concerted attack on public investment in the arts, threatened many libraries and are marginalising creativity in our education system. At a time when jobs and growth should be a top priority their VAT increase is bad for tourism, and delayed broadband roll out, bad for business.”

 Changes

• Camden – Chalk Farm Library: council withdrawing funding (£138k) in March 2012, Friends of Chalk Farm Library raising funds to run library as community enterprise. 
• North Yorkshire – Save Great Ayton Library campaign group.
• Sandwell – Library workers “working to rule” over pay cuts and volunteers taking over paid work. 
• Suffolk – Libraries may be run an industrial provident society.  
• Surrey – Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haw, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Virginia Water, and Warlingham will close unless run by volunteers, confirmed by council 27.9.11. 

Local News

• Cambridgeshire – Library service backs down over “barbarous” fees plan – Cambridge News. “Notices went up in Cambridgeshire libraries saying the service intended to bring in charges of 50p per book, with plans to extend this to children from October 15. But the head of the service, Christine May, has now revealed that the idea has been scrapped. The move follows an outburst by a senior Cambridge University academic, who described the proposed fees as “unspeakable”.”
• Look East – BBC, 9 mins to 9.40
• Camden – Campaigners launch £1m Chalk Farm Library plea – London Evening Standard.   Campaigners say “the sum will protect the library long-term. Camden council is axing the £138,000 a year it gives in March, after a services review.” … “Playwright Alan Bennett, a local resident and a fierce critic of the closures, said: “There is a lot of good feeling but it’s not directed. But I would say it was a good first meeting.” The council has backed the plan and offered transitional funding to help the takeover.”.  Campaigner says ” “A community enterprise is the only way we are going to retain that community space.”
• Durham – Henry Witham’s Hall faces up to a new era – Teesdale Mercury.  “The future of Barnard Castle’s library looks more secure after plans for significant investment were announced. Durham County Council is expected to turn part of the library building, off Hall Street, into a base for council staff and services.The move forms part of the forthcoming revamp of The Witham Hall. Chris Clark, chairman of the Witham Trustees, said it would mean the library building would be extended. “The council is planning to provide a lot more council facilities from there and it also means that there will be an enhanced library for the town,” said Mr Clark.”

• Gloucestershire and Somerset – Battle to save Gloucestershire libraries hits the High Court – This is Gloucestershire.    “In a dramatic opening day at the High Court in Birmingham this morning, a legal team fighting on behalf of pro-library campaigners in the county urged the cuts to be scrapped.” … “”The duty to provide library services is owed to all those who live in the area and unless they succeed in this challenge, many libraries face closure. This is a challenge brought in the public interest not a narrow private challenge.” …”All of the libraries earmarked for closure must remain open until the conclusion of the hearing, which is expected on Thusday. Judge Justice McKenna is expected to make his ruling then.”.  Interesting comments.
• Court Hearing begins – FoGL.  Summarises media reports so far.   “Helen Mountfield QC particularly focussed on explaining equality duties, the meaning of the public libraries act and the duty to consult. Tomorrow she will be presenting the case against Gloucestershire County Council in relation to the context she gave today. Following this GCC will be delivering their points of defence. It was very interesting to observe  and very refreshing to at last be able to properly examine and scrutinise the county councils plans in an unbiased arena. Day two of the hearing will commence tomorrow morning at 10:30 am.”

• Libraries across the county including Lechlade, Tetbury, and Bourton-on-the-Water face closure – Wilts and Glos Standard.  “Last November GCC announced plans to cut library services by 43 per cent as part of its bid to save £108million over the next four years.” … ““We believe that the courts will agree with us that a ‘comprehensive library service’ must mean access to a library with the full range of services including broadband access as well as books for the whole community,””

“If, say, you have to walk three miles to a library it’s particularly disadvantageous to pre-school children, it’s particularly disadvantageous to disabled people,” she told the high court sitting in Birmingham. She argued that the authorities had failed in their duty to guard against indirect discrimination. They had also failed, she said, to carry out a thorough consultation with local communities.”  Helen Mountfield QC

• Library closure councils ‘neglecting the vulnerable’ – Guardian.  “The case is being watched closely as it could be the first time a judgment is handed down in a legal challenge to library closures under the coalition.” … “The councils have appealed for volunteers to come forward to run certain libraries, an idea FoGL has condemned as “unfair and misguided”. It predicts that a further seven libraries will close in Gloucestershire for want of partners to help co-fund the services. In both counties, many remaining libraries will have reduced stock, staff and opening hours.” … “”We weren’t ever listened to so it’s good that the politics is out of it now and it’s being scrutinised according to the law,” said Johanna Anderson, founder of Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries (FoGL) and one of a dozen campaigners who had travelled to Birmingham for the hearing.”
• Library closures challenge begins in High Court – BBC.   “Somerset County Council wants to withdraw funding for 11 libraries while Gloucestershire County Council wants to close 10 in a bid to save money.”…”Solicitor Danny Kerry said the case was “very significant” and “could set a precedent that counties all round the UK will pay attention to. The reason the spotlight is on Gloucestershire and Somerset is because they have cut deeper than virtually all other councils,” he said. “They’ve cut faster, and they’ve started off from a much worse position.”
• Lewisham – Pseudo libraries in 21st Century Lewisham –  Pat and Peter Richardson.  Examination of the state of play in the five “withdrawn” libraries with concerns over opening hours, bookstock, viability. £59k self-service machines installed when few books, volunteers cannot take money for reservations.   Reference library also under threat “Can it be true that a most senior Library Manager actually went into the Reference library and in front of staff produced his mobile phone and said that was the future for information?” … “As we leave Grove Park two volunteer staff stand outside puffing away on quick fags.”
• North Yorkshire – Save Great Ayton Library –  “Despite best efforts Great Ayton Library’s future is still not secure. Review the presentation to summarize ‘events’ so far and then complete & return the Opinion Survey.

“Our library plays a vital part in the development of each and every child who uses it’s fantastic children’s section in the village, I visit the library each week on a Tuesday with my two sons who both immerse themselves in the joy of picture books, of which we have an excellent collection.  The children’s library inspires our children to enjoy, join in and learn and alongside the personal touches the staff bring to the experience makes this priceless.  Please help save our library for this and future generations”  Comment on Great Ayton Library website.

• Nottingham – Many crafts, many cultures in Nottingham City libraries – Nottingham Council. “”These free events give citizens of all ages the chance to try something new in our libraries and explore a variety of art and crafts forms through our ever popular Positive Images programme. ”  
• St Helens – Library set for hi-tech transformation – St Helens Star.   “Thatto Heath library will shut from noon on Saturday (October 1) and is unlikely to reopen until next year, says St Helens Council. Extensive work will see the installation of a wi-fi network, 29 PCs (including 12 Apple Macs), special children’s laptops and three plasma screens” plus more books and adult learning room.
• Sandwell – Blackheath and Oldbury’s new libraries proving popular with bookworms – Halesowen News.  “Record numbers of people visited the two purpose built new libraries over the summer with book borrowing and computer usage increasing.”.  Joining figures up 400 and 1000%.  ““Our aim is to safeguard and improve our library service at a time of Government cuts and these two libraries show the benefits of sharing facilities, wherever that is possible and appropriate to the needs of local communities.”.  However, “Last month library assistants, furious about reorganisation of staff pay grading, announced they would work to rule and stop advising people on how to complete job application forms, stop giving advice on reading materials, stop giving advice to groups of users and reading groups, stop outreach work at schools and organising events and stop providing guidance to people on how to use computer software The council is currently holding a public consultation about changes to the libraries in Sandwell and a report outlining proposals is expected to go to the cabinet shortly.”
• Suffolk – Libraries update – James Hargrave’s Blog.   “The Council shared some of their thinking and plans that will be in the final November cabinet paper and as expected the independent social enterprise model looks to the favored option. But somewhat unexpectedly an “industrial provident society” where each local library is a Member and has a vote to elect the Board is proposed model. This looks interesting and very like the Umbrella Trust model I have been working on for the Academies.” … “I think what we are all realizing is that true localism takes time and is far from easy. But we are taking the first steps.”
• Surrey – Library campaigner vow to fight on – Get Surrey.   “Libraries in Surrey will have to be run by volunteers or face the prospect of closure. Members of Surrey County Council’s cabinet ratified their controversial plans to create community-run libraries in 10 locations on Tuesday (September 27), at a lively meeting at County Hall.” … “The decision by the cabinet today is an absolute disgrace. They have totally ignored the wishes of Surrey residents. They are clearly intent on closing smaller libraries all of which are much valued by their communities.”
• Wandsworth – Concern raised over library service plan in Wandsworth – Guardian series.  “”Although the Labour Group is happy to support an exploration of new ways to cut costs from our library system, it’s vital that any outsourcing does not lead to an erosion of services, or any further reductions to library opening hours or supplies of books.” She said any change must “protect the low-cost access to computers and the internet, as well as maintain up to date stocks of books for both children and adults. It’s also crucial that we continue to preserve spaces for people to work, read and study”.  Suggested plans discussions should be opened with other boroughs, not just Croydon.