Uncategorized
(Public) Libraries of Things
Apr 3rd
Editorial
Similar to the way that libraries are not just the buildings, libraries should also not just limit themselves to lending books. Over the years, we have read about libraries giving out period products, dog poo bags and Covid tests. Libraries have also been known to lend out a variety of things such as fishing rods, skating shoes and Halloween costumes. Libraries of Things take this concept to the natural conclusion and lend out a whole bunch more. My first note of them comes from 2014 but they have been around a lot longer than that and are a perfect fit for public libraries. After all, public libraries already have a computer system set up for labelling and tracking things for issuing and returning, buildings in local communities and a staff used to public service and being non-profit. So it’s good to see recently a couple of services – Greenwich and Essex – going down this route. I suspect that they are among the first of many. Just like in fact those services who are going fines-free, with yet another, South Lanarkshire, joining those ranks this week.
Changes by local authority
- Aberdeenshire – Oldmeldrum Library moves into Libraries HQ
- Bexley – Community group withdraws from Bostall volunteer library.
- Bolton – Little Lever Library moves into new co-location
- North Somerset – Clevedon Library £216k refurbishment, guaranteeing it for ten years.
- South Lanarkshire – Now fines-free
National news
- Engaging the public with research – Libraries Connected. “We’ve developed a new toolkit in collaboration with Carnegie UK to help guide libraries through this process. It draws on evidence collected during the Engaging Libraries programme which ran from 2016-2021. This programme supported public libraries across the UK to develop and deliver public engagement activities.”
“Seven libraries received, I think, £200,000, which brings the total funding through that fund to £1.25 million. We will continue to support public libraries, because we understand the clear role that they play in local communities, in terms of culture and heritage. They also have a wider role to play, and we will be looking to support our public libraries to continue the good work that they are doing.”
Neil Gray, SNP.
Libraries as a statutory service – DCMS. Updated April 1 2022.
- Libraries receive final funding boost for Covid relief – STV. “The sum is the last tranche of awards to be made from the Scottish Government’s £1.25 million Public Library Covid Relief Fund administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council. The fund has supported a total of 30 library community projects since it was set up in October last year. Library services sharing the final funding include South Ayrshire, for its Friendly Faces Cafes to tackle social isolation and Dundee’s Miners, Modellers, and Makers project, which will create eight STEM clubs to improve the “digital divide” – the gap between those who have access to new technology and those who do not.”
- Webinar: Survive and Thrive – Practical Steps You Can Take In Your Library Service – Innovative. “We want local authorities and commissioners to think ‘libraries first’ whenever they need to deliver a service to communities. Experts Isobel Hunter and Susan Wills discuss practical initiatives you can take right now, to make that happen.”
- World Book Night 2022 – British Library. “This event takes place in the British Library Theatre. It will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform.”. See also World Book Night resources.
International news
- Colombia – ‘Legends are to be told’: Colombian library goes beyond books to keep stories alive – Guardian. “Atánquez’s Kankuaka library is more than just a space to house books, it is the centre of the indigenous people’s initiatives to preserve their history and strengthen their identity. A pavilion and mud-brick round houses behind the main building host community gatherings. Youth activities include the petroglyph outings, photography workshops and gatherings with tribal elders.”
- Global – Best Publisher User Experience Award 2022 – Open Athens.
- USA – Georgia mom who was stopped from reading sexually explicit book about slavery called ‘Homegoing’ at school board meeting slams them for ‘intimidating parents into silence’ and says children are battling ‘silent trauma’ after reading the scenes – Daily Mail. Censorship asked for. See also Progressives are resisting rightwing book banning campaigns – and are winning – Guardian.
- Being a Public Librarian Can Be Dangerous Work, Why Don’t We Acknowledge That? – Electric Lit. “How many times had I been called a bitch that week? Five times? Ten? I knew meeting aggression with aggression rarely ended well, but here I was …”
Local news by authority
- Aberdeen – Aberdeen City Libraries extend opening hours from today – Aberdeen Council. “Following the latest update to Scotland’s Strategic Framework COVID-19 Guidance, Aberdeen City Libraries are extending the opening hours of several libraries from today (Monday 28 March).”
- Aberdeenshire – New location for Oldmeldrum library – Grampian Online. “The public library service in Oldmeldrum will be based at Libraries HQ at the town’s Meldrum Meg Way from Monday, April 4.”
- Bexley – Bexley Council looking for new operators to run village library – News Shopper. “The decision comes after the Bostall Library Community group decided to step down in managing the library on Bourne Road. The new operator could be a charity, community organisation, or a group of local residents with a passion for libraries. The successful group will also receive a support grant from the Council to help them run the library.”
- Bradford – Bradford Libraries launches Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories for children and families in the district – Telegraph and Argus. “The festival will launch at the National Science and Media Museum on Wednesday, 6 April, and young people will have the opportunity to work alongside artists and illustrators and explore new creative processes. It has been organised by ASCEL (The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians) and is supported by Arts Council funding.”
- Wibsey Library to remain closed until June for urgent repair work – Telegraph and Argus. “the Council said it was originally hoped the library would be back open this week, but difficulties in getting hold of contractors at short notice mean it is now not expected to be ready to re-open for around two months.”
- Clackmannanshire – Clackmannanshire librarian named 2022 Bookbug Hero – The National. “Ian Keane, a Bookbug co-ordinator with Clackmannanshire Council, was nominated by colleagues and parents who described the librarian as “a great role model”.” … “earning praise for his engagement with children through books and song. Those who nominated Keane noted how inclusive he made the Bookbug Sessions for wheelchair users, as well as attendees whose first language is not English.”
- Cumbria – Kendal library wants your old toilet frames and commodes – Westmorland Gazette. “Due to supply difficulties, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as a desire to reuse valuable equipment rather than throwing it away, Cumbria County Council’s Waste and Community Equipment Services have joined forces to appeal for people to return equipment such as commodes, toilet frames, bed levers, over-the-bed tables and shower chairs.”
- Devon – Herstory Festival brings communities together through poetry at Exeter Library – Devon Live. “The Herstory Festival brings together poets, activists, librarians, curators and communities on Wednesday March 30. The event is free and can be enjoyed at Exeter library as well as online. Herstory is a partnership between Poet and the City, the British Library, Newcastle Libraries, and Libraries Unlimited.”
- Dundee – Dundee library receives huge covid relief funding boost – Daily Record. “The grant is part of the last tranche of awards to be made from the Scottish Government’s £1.25 million Public Library Covid Relief Fund administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council. The fund has supported a total of 30 library community projects since it was set up in October last year. Library services sharing the final funding also include South Ayrshire for its Friendly Faces Cafes to tackle social isolation.”
- East Lothian – Libraries being temporarily closed due staff absences – East Lothian Courier. ““While COVID-related issues are continuing to present difficulties to council resources and staffing challenges there are different types of staff absence being experienced, as well as some vacancies we are hoping to fill.””
- Edinburgh – Edinburgh libraries calling for local musicians to mark an unforgettable Make Music Day – Edinburgh Live. “Make Music Day, which started 40 years back in France, will once again be held in person this year, after two years of online events forced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Celebrated on June 21, the world-famous day will see libraries across Edinburgh transformed into live performing concert halls, and the organisers are now looking for gifted locals to make the comeback of the event an unforgettable one.”
- Essex – Find Your Active with the Essex Library of Things – Essex Council. Launched September 2021. “The £5,000 additional funding from Find Your Active sees new items — including basketball hoops, football kits and more — added to the current Essex Library of Things stock. The new equipment will help families across the county to get active and encourage healthy living across Essex communities. The Essex Library of Things also helps to reduce waste by encouraging residents to borrow, return and share items, instead of purchasing products.Residents can borrow items free of charge from Chelmsford, Witham, Great Parndon (Harlow), Clacton-On-Sea and Laindon Libraries, as well as the mobile library service.”
- Hertfordshire – From comic arts masterclasses to magical, interactive, fairy tale retellings – discover the many activities taking place in Hertfordshire libraries over the Easter holidays – Hertfordshire Council.
- Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries – what’s on for April 2022, including exhibitions, local history and book quizzes – Brixton Buzz.
- Lincolnshire – Stamford Library will reopen following roof repairs – Stamford Mercury. “”The pitched roof replacement was the first phase of repairs to the library building, and over the coming months further work will take place on the site’s flat roof, windows and stone frontage. Thankfully, these works can go ahead without closing the building and should be completed later this year.””
- Neath Port Talbot – First look inside the new swimming pool and leisure centre being built in Neath – Wales Online. “”This project will deliver leisure, wellbeing, shopping, learning and childcare facilities for the town centre featuring a swimming pool, gym, health suite, retail space and a modern library.””
- The Welsh town still blighted by brawling women and street drinking but desperate to embrace change and fulfil its potential – Wales Online. ““The leisure centre and the library will be good for the town, but we thought it was going to be a shopping centre, that’s what we need here.””
- North Somerset – Clevedon Library transformation project – North Somerset Council. “North Somerset library servicehas been awarded a grant of £215,900 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, delivered by Arts Council England, for building improvements at Clevedon Library. North Somerset Council is providing additional in-kind support and other funding, and the project is supported by Clevedon Town Council. The project funding safeguards the future of Clevedon Library for the next ten years.” … “Clevedon Library will close in June and reopen in the autumn”
- North Yorkshire – Ripon library offers much more than just books to loan – North Yorkshire County Council. Children’s library to be refurbished. Volunteers wanted.
- Better eBooks service at North Yorkshire libraries – York Press. Borrowbox.
- Leading judge Baroness Hale supports Bedale Library – Darlington and Stockton Times. “Friends of Bedale Library chair Susan Perkins thanked Lady Hale for taking the time to attend the event and talk about her interesting life and unusual cases. Sixty our people attended, along with several new members. Raffle prizes were donated by local businesses. The raffle raised £226, which will be match funded by Barclays Bank to make £452. “
- Let a pair of slippers from the library help you stay on your feet – Gazette and Herald. “Malton library will hold a Slipper Social in April at which older people can pick up free anti-slip slippers. The slippers have rubber soles and are wide fitting to make it easier for people with restricted mobility to get them on and off. They also have a good Velcro fastener so they will not slip off.”
- Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories in North Yorkshire libraries – North Yorkshire County Council. “During April and May, the county’s public library service will take part in a regional festival called Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories. It’s a celebration of children’s book illustration, comic and visual art and will be delivered through a series of events and workshops.”
- Nottingham – Book lovers have the chance to stock up on reading matter thanks to Nottingham City Libraries | Hucknall Dispatch – Dispatch. Big book sale due to Central moving to smaller space.
- Fears young people ‘left behind’ in Aspley where library and children’s centres could close – Nottingham Post. “All three of which have “low usage” at a high cost, the authority has said. And the plans, if they go ahead, are expected to save £233,000. But the proposals have triggered staunch objection from protestors and campaigners alike who have gathered outside the council’s Loxley House HQ calling for the authority to reverse its intentions.”
- Pembrokeshire – It’s time to return any overdue library books – Tenby Observer. “During the pandemic, Pembrokeshire Libraries have not been charging overdue fines but from today, April 1, 2022, the charges have been reinstated. Overdue books will be charged at 15p per book, per day for adult customers (10p per book, per day for concessions) up to a maximum of £5 per item. There is no overdue charge for Children’s books borrowed on a Child’s Library card.”
- Renfrewshire – BorrowBox: New e-book app available from Renfrewshire Libraries – Gazette.
- South Lanarkshire – Library fines in South Lanarkshire cancelled by leisure authority – Daily Record. “The cancellation of fines will begin tomorrow and apply at all libraries, and this includes existing fines. South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s general manager, Kay Morrison, said: We hope people will see this as an opportunity to reconnect with their library.”
“With the cost of living crisis impacting on so many people’s finances, we recognise another cost, although small, is the last thing that anyone needs.”
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s general manager, Kay Morrison
- Stockport – Hopping mad fun at Stockport libraries this Easter – Stockport Council.
- Swindon – Swindon Central Library to host fundraising concert for Ukraine – This is Wiltshire.
- Warrington – Warrington Museum and Library To Relaunch After £360k Renovation – Broadway World. “The maintenance work has focused on the repair of the Grade II-listed building’s roof but there will also be some new things to look out for such as an update of the collections in the local history gallery, a bespoke mural in the archives search room and three new exhibitions.”
An actual new library, plus almost all good news
Mar 27th
Editorial
It’s pretty much all good news in the “Changes by local authority” section this week, with the star being an absolutely new I-kid-you-not not-a-relocation-or-colocation library in Milton Keynes. Not many of those come around. Well, apart from the 200 reported by CIPFA a few weeks ago, and I am sure they will tell us exactly where those are shortly. Then we have a very impressive £550k (plus some extra stuff) to spruce up Leeds and a Library of Things (I’ve always wanted one of those myself) in Greenwich. Then we have Sheffield become the latest library service to become fines-free. Extended opening is happening in Bedford, albeit by staff-less technology and there’s another new library, again albeit a volunteer one, in Llanteg. So it’s pretty much all positive, apart from continuing rumblings in Nottingham to keep us mildly depressed.
Changes by local authority
- Bedford – LibraryPlus added to Kempston and Putnoe Libraries.
- Greenwich – Woolwich Library opens Library of Things.
- Leeds – £550k improvement to Central Library
- Milton Keynes – New library (not a relocation) opens in Netherfield.
- Pembrokeshire – Llanteg opens volunteer library.
- Sheffield – Now fines-free.
National news
- Bolinda launches exclusive audio collaboration with HarperCollins UK – BookSeller. “HarperCollins’ frontlist authors will now be available exclusively from Bolinda and BorrowBox, an e-book and digital audiobook download platform for public libraries. “
- CILIP to deliver specialist skills and knowledge training for GLL public library staff – CILIP. “CILIP and GLL are delighted to announce they are working together in 2022 to provide a bespoke training programme to GLL library staff, with CILIP delivering ten training sessions. There will be a training session per month between March and December 2022. The majority of the sessions will be delivered as online live, interactive events. Training sessions are being offered to staff across the five GLL library authorities and are proving very popular”
- Libraries and Social Media – Refresh and Re-Energise Your Approach – British Library. Webinar, Thursday 28 April 1am to 12 noon.
- Libraries are put on the map as part of StoryTrails ‘Summer of Stories’ campaign – Reading Agency. “15 library authorities across the UK and Northern Ireland will host StoryTrails as part of the summer tour and will receive an investment package of £150,000 to support with Covid recovery. The library staff will receive bespoke immersive training from the STEAM organisations partnering on the project including StoryFutures Academy.”
- Market Overviews – Local Government Library Technology. Top three public library LMS are provided by SirsiDynix (74 library services), Civica (51) and ESS (31).
- Shared Prosperity Fund – The role of libraries in successful bids – Libraries Connected. Thursday 24 March, 1pm. Webinar. “This webinar is for library service leaders to hear about the fund, understand the process and – critically – how they can position their library services as a core part of the local investment plan.”
- Summer Reading Challenge to focus on science and innovation – BookSeller. “In a partnership with the Science Museum Group, the 2022 challenge theme is “gadgeteers” and aims to inspire children to see the science and innovation behind everyday objects. The aim is to show that reading and science are for everyone.”
International news
- Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s libraries go into blackout: ‘It is painful to see the distance between people and books grow – The Conversation. “The Taliban have not announced their policy regarding books, but the memories of what happened to libraries and reading culture in the mid-‘90s, when they first came to power, still serve. Though Charmaghz has resumed its operations, and our library in Mazar-i-Sharif is still open, the recovery of the reading culture and book industry seems a distant dream. Sitting in the once-buzzing library by himself, Ehsas tells me that books are like lights. With no one coming to the library and opening the books, “the lights are off.””
- Norway – Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attends library conference – Royal Central. “over 500 participants who work in the library industry have gathered in Oslo for a series of lectures, debates and seminars. Topics include the library’s role in a variety of areas, including diversity and knowledge dissemination.”
- USA – Libraries and the Contested Terrain of “Neutrality” – Scholarly Kitchen. “The reality, in other words, is neither that the library is “never neutral” nor that it is “always neutral.” Our world is much more complicated than that. It would be more accurate to say that “the library sometimes and in some contexts must not be neutral, and in others absolutely must be neutral — and sometimes, it’s hard to say what we mean by ‘neutral’ and sometimes it’s hard to say whether ‘neutrality’ is the right or the wrong stance.””
- Publishing Giants Are Fighting Libraries on E-Books – Sludge. ““It’s unconscionable that trade organizations that purport to support artists and creators are spending so many resources fighting librarians who are simply trying to get better access to resources for their communities”
Local news by authority
- Bedford – LibraryPlus is coming to Kempston and Putnoe Libraries – Bedford Council. “LibraryPlus is being extended to Kempston and Putnoe libraries from Tuesday 19 April, bringing with it an increase in overall opening hours and providing a more flexible, convenient service for customers. LibraryPlus has been running successfully at Bedford Central, Bromham and Wootton libraries since 2017, with over 12,000 residents signing up to the service.”
- Bracknell Forest – South East Ukulele project launches collab with Bracknell Libraries – Bracknell News. “As part of this collaboration, Bracknell libraries have set up a ‘ukes to loan’ scheme which will come with instructions, a help guide and a tuner for novice ukulele players.”
“The libraries improvement fund has support for Bradford’s libraries, so that they can improve their offer. Bradford is also one of 15 UK-wide locations that StoryTrails, one of UNBOXED’s commissions, will visit this year.”
Nigel Huddleston, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on Bradford City of Culture Bid.
- Bury – Bury community groups invited to make use of libraries for events and meetings – Bury Times. “Arrangements are now in place for rooms to be rented in the evenings and weekends, with groups allowed to let themselves in. Rooms can be hired at all four borough libraries during library opening hours and at other times by arrangement.”
- Cumbria – Person banned from Ulverston library for ‘grossly inappropriate’ behaviour – Westmorland Gazette. Freedom of information request lists antisocial issues at library.
- Dundee – At Home Library Service “a lifeline” for mobility-impaired Dundonians – Courier. “Despite life gradually getting “back to normal” for the majority of society, many of the elderly and clinically vulnerable still feel too anxious to go out. For them, the deliveries of their favourite titles and a chat on the doorstep with the At Home Library workers is one of the highlights of their week.”
- Glasgow – New chapter for Glasgow’s Woodside Library as it reopens after renovation – Glasgow Evening Times. “As Woodside Library prepares to re-open on Monday after a £2.3m refurbishment, librarian Clare has been digging deep into the city archives and trawling the shelves of the Mitchell for fascinating facts about the 117-year-old building.”
- Greenwich – Woolwich Library of Things – Facebook. “After demand from local residents, we’ve partnered with GLL/Better and Royal Borough of Greenwich council to bring Library of Things to Woolwich! Once open, you will be able to affordably borrow everything from Carpet Cleaners, Pressure Washers, Sewing Machines to Drills, Circular Saws, Projectors, Hedge Trimmers, Ice-Cream Makers and much more. We’ll be announcing pre-booking very soon – so sign up for our newsletter here to keep updated and why not have a sneak preview at what’s available at our open locations :
https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/woolwich“ - Inverclyde – Free library IT sessions continue – Inverclyde Council. “Bring IT On” sessions for beginners.
- Kirklees – Award-winning literary festival returns to Huddersfield – Kirklees Together. “The events will be held virtually, and at several venues in Huddersfield. The festival is designed to bring communities together and celebrate diversity.” Libraries will host some events.
- Leeds – Leeds Central Library receives £500k funding boost – Leeds Council. Libraries Improvement Fund – “The Arts Council England funding will be supplemented by £300,000 from Leeds City Council, bringing the total investment to more than £550,000. The funding will allow the existing music library to be upgraded to provide access to recording equipment, software and instruments for aspiring musicians to practise and perform in a dedicated performance space. In addition, the funding will provide the opportunity to redesign and refurbish the current children’s and lending library rooms, providing updated, attractive and inviting spaces where people can read, socialise, study and relax in the city centre.” … “In a second boost, Leeds Libraries has also received £98,000 to lead a pilot project for the national Ask for a Book initiative which will provide an online service delivering tailored reading recommendations for library users. The suggested titles can then be collected for free from a local library. The Ask for a Book project will be delivered in partnership with creative company Opening the Book and 17 library authorities across the country and has received funding through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants.”
- Milton Keynes – Brand new library to open in one of Milton Keynes’ most deprived areas – MK Citizen. “A new library is to open in Farthing Grove on Netherfield next week. Called Woughton Library and serving what is one of MK’s most deprived areas, it will also be used as a community meeting place.” .. “Woughton Community Council worked with MK Council to provide the library, with the council contributing £80,000 towards the project.”
“Whilst libraries have been forced to close around the country, we’ve been working hard to ensure that we invest in and protect our libraries.”
Councillor Zoe Nolan, Cabinet member for Children and Families
- Newcastle – Work underway to decarbonise schools, libraries and public buildings – City Life. Several libraries.
- Nottingham – Letter: Keep your hands off our precious libraries – Hucknall Dispatch. “Once seen as an important part of the fabric and culture of society, they are now expendable pieces of public spending. They’re something that councils who cannot manage their finances properly, and get told off by the Government, think they can sacrifice to make ends meet. Not in Nottingham, I say”
- “It is taking away the last community facility we have left”: Aspley residents on threat of library closure – Notts TV. “Judy Milner, 75, has been a regular for 35 years. She remembers arriving in Aspley as a new mum. It was Aspley Library where she found companionship, meeting other new mums, some of whom she still is in contact with today. “They might think a library is just books, but it is not”
- Nottingham City Libraries holding an indoor book sale at Nottingham Central Library – West Bridgford Wire. “As Nottingham City Council libraries transition to the new Central Library site, it is time to remove some old and excess stock to make space for newer items. Last week the library was open to primary school groups for a sale preview and the opportunity to boost school libraries …”
- Oldham – Digital Festival – Oldham Council. Virtual reality, digital storytelling, coding.
- Poet Laureate Simon Armitage is coming to Oldham this week – how to get tickets – Oldham Times. “Poet Laureate Simon Armitage embarks on a new leg of his 10-year tour of the UK’s libraries and Oldham is on the list. He will be at Chadderton Library and Wellbeing Centre on Thursday at 2pm to explore themes of place and home with readings from his poems and the stories behind them.”
- Pembrokeshire – Llanteg opens community libraries in village hall and phone box – Western Telegraph. “In a new chapter for Llanteg, a book swap has been created in a disused phone box, while a community library lounge has opened in its own room in the village hall. The tandem schemes have developed with support from the Co-operative Community Fund and Milford Haven Port Authority as well as local donations.”
- Powys – Machynlleth Library to host community open day – Wales 247. “As part of the open day, which will be accompanied by music on the lawn, there will be stalls from partner organisations in the community – PAVO, CAMAD and Mid Wales Advice Centre. There will also be children’s activities and exhibitions …”
- Salford – £82,500 investment in Salford library – Salford Council. Libraries Improvement Fund: “Height Library, in King Street, Irlams o’ th’ Height will see new flexible meeting, events and exhibition areas created, along with a fully accessible toilet. Improvements will be made to the exterior of the library and the entrance will be adapted to make it suitable for independent use by community groups and partners. Timescales for the building work are now being drawn up.”.
- Sheffield – Sheffield Council scraps library fines for late books – The Star. “Sheffield Council has scrapped all fines for late items just a few months after Sheffield Cathedral received a book believed to be more than 300 years overdue.”
- Shropshire – Shropshire: Library changes won’t mean redundancies, council says – Advertizer. “The authority’s cabinet has approved a new draft library strategy setting out a planned overhaul of the service over the next five years, which will now be subject to public consultation. It includes reviews of all 21 buildings and the mobile library, and could see some libraries co-located with other council services in order to save money. One of the proposed changes is the roll-out of self-service machines, estimated to reduce face-to-face transactions by a third, while the opening hours of each library is to be tailored to best meet the needs of their communities.”. “Cost savings” … “It is also looking at reducing its current £178,000 annual subsidy to the county’s eight community-run libraries”
- Slough – Senior Slough councillors approve to keep libraries open – Slough Observer. “Following a 12-week consultation, cabinet members agreed at a meeting to keep all four library buildings with reduced opening and staffing hours rather than close the Langley and Cippenham libraries. This will deliver a saving of £400,000 to the 2022/23 budget.”
- Somerset – Shepton Mallet couple create picture book about library campaign – Somerset County Gazette. “Rob and Helen Heaton’s have finished writing The Town that Saved its Library and given local children to chance to illustrate the book about the campaign to protect the library’s place in the town centre.” … ““We feel that the story of the Shepton Mallet library is a special and important one, and we want the legacy of the people and community that fought so hard to keep it open and in the Market Place to be remembered by the coming generations.” “
- Stockport – An innovative, new project run by libraries across Greater Manchester aims to give Stockport entrepreneurs a boost – Stockport Council. “‘Build a Business in GM Libraries’ is a new scheme that will be led by Manchester City Council but delivered across the region. Part–funded by the European Union, the scheme received £1.3 million from ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) funding to help make the project a reality. The exciting business-focused scheme will run until June 2023, with workshops having already begun in local libraries across Greater Manchester. The workshops will be running in eight Greater Manchester districts: Bolton; Bury; Oldham; Manchester; Salford; Stockport; Tameside; Trafford.”
- West Lothian – West Lothian shows the love for local libraries – Falkirk Herald. ““We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who braved the abysmal weather to visit us. Whether you took part in one of the many activities, attended an event, checked out the lovely displays, or just popped in for a cuppa and chat, we really loved seeing you all and appreciate your support.”
- West Sussex – Overdue and reserving charges to be reintroduced at West Sussex libraries – West Sussex Council. “Overdue fees and charges for reserving items were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. With services and opening times now returned to normal, it’s now easier to collect and return items.”
- Wigan – New library! Wigan libraries (England) – NAPLE Sister Libraries. “The purpose of the Wigan libraries is to exchange of ideas and expertise, promotion of multiculturalism and multilingualism, Staff interchange.”
- Wrexham – Foodbank collection at Rhos Library – Leader Live.
Concrete improvements
Mar 20th
Editorial
Some more information has come out quickly with more details on what the successful councils are doing with Libraries Improvement Funding. It’s good to see physical stuff being built and improved upon by the money, with the hope that more will be coming soon, fingers crossed. The details mean that this is a very positive edition of Public Libraries News. Apart from Croydon, which has started with its cut of 21% in opening hours. Finally it’s nice to see Dermot O’Leary calling libraries “hugely important” and there’s a really nice story from the USA about how libraries are seen as safe spaces.
Changes by library authority
- Sandwell – Bleakhouse; Brandhall; Cradley Heath; Great Barr; Great Bridge; Hill Top; Langley; Oakham; Rounds Green, Stone Cross and Thimblemill to have Open+
- Shropshire – Cuts expected.
National news
- CILIP Conference + Expo 2022 – CILIP. Liverpool, Thursday 7 July. “The theme for 2022 is “Libraries, Information and Knowledge for Sustainability” and we want to leverage the collective wisdom of our sector to explore the role of information, evidence and literacy as a truly effective and joined-up response to Climate Change.”
- Gambling inquest, Libraries, Power of Attorney – BBC Radio Four You and Yours. “Years of council cuts have taken a terrible toll on libraries. Hundreds have closed or been handed over to voluntary groups and many continue to face an uncertain future. But one national library organisation has said the system used to measure the performance and popularity of libraries is not “fit for purpose” and should be replaced. Our reporter, Bob Walker goes to Nottingham where a number of libraries are under threat.”.
- Service Development Webinar: Bridging the Digital Gap – Libraries Connected. Monday 3 April, 12.30. “This webinar will introduce how the Good Things Foundation can support the work of libraries to bridge the digital divide.”
International news
- Australia – Libraries: Its Time to ReEngage your Community – Jane Cowell. “While our core key performance indicators of visits, loans and attendance at events are improving, for a lot of libraries this has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. Our funding levels, our efficiency measures and our impact are all measured by these indicators amd whil it is true that the pandemic is the reason, it cannot be used as an excuse for much longer or our funding will be reduced. ” so The Return Yourself to the Library campaign ; self-serve Click and Collect hubs over the pandemic in community centres; Outreach programming; reconnect with lapsed readers.
- New Zealand – ‘Nothing was stolen’: New Zealanders carry on borrowing from closed, unstaffed library – Guardian. “A library staff member at Christchurch city council said 380 people came into the building that Sunday morning. “Our self-issue machines automatically started up and 147 books were issued by customers. No book-theft alarms went off, and at this stage nothing has been reported missing, nor have we spotted any damage.””
- Russia – What the Ukrainian and Russian library associations have said – Librarycase. Russian Library Association on the situation: “Let us remember that libraries have always been and remain the most important institutions regardless of public views and the current political conjuncture. We try to do everything to collect and preserve our common values – our collections, our cultural heritage, the very code of information that we must pass on to the next generations. Our readers need us …”
- USA – Idaho Republicans push bill that would fine and jail librarians for certain books – Salon. Censorship in the Land of the Free.
- People are sharing heartwarming stories of libraries being safe spaces and it’s so wholesome – Upworthy. “The public library is one of the greatest inventions humankind has ever imagined and actually made happen. Libraries are perfect in concept and exceptional in practice. The idea that we ought to plop a building full of books to borrow wherever groups of people live is beautiful in its simplicity and the fact that we’ve actually succeeded in doing it is somewhat miraculous …”
Local news by authority
- Bolton – Little Lever Library relocates to new £5 million hub – Bolton News. “Once fully open, Little Lever Health Centre and Library will also host a number of GP practices and health services. The £5m project, which was funded by Bolton Council and the NHS, was completed in December 2021 and has been undergoing interior fitting ready for staff and public use.”
- Bradford – £200,000 boost to Bradford’s libraries – Telegraph and Argus. Libraries Improvement Fund money: ” a £250,000 project to make adaptations to Council owned library buildings to make them more flexible and usable for community and partner use for a wide range of information and advice sessions, activities and meetings to take place, including outside of normal library opening times.”
- Brighton – Brighton-based charity to open new library cafe – The Argus. “Team Domenica’s newest cafe at Jubilee Library in Brighton will serve a variety of delicious breakfasts, lunches and cakes, as well as the charity’s speciality coffee, roasted and packaged in Kemp Town. The charity’s cafes provide work-based training for young people with learning disabilities to support them with the skills and confidence they need to find employment and reach their full potential”
- Bristol – Bristol Central Library set to be transformed by modernisation plans – Bristol 247. Libraries Improvement Fund: “The “significant” improvements to the Grade I listed building by College Green include the refurbishment of the study tables, adding energy efficient lighting and sockets.”
- Cambridgeshire – Cambridgeshire libraries to receive £260,000 in funding – Fenland Citizen. “EverySpace is centred around adaptable, co-managed spaces that enable the community to connect, share, create and discover. It follows the ‘kit-of-parts’ model, capturing the flexibility and inventiveness of a pop-up within a defined architectural system. Enhanced wayfinding draws you in, with adaptable ceiling infrastructure providing moveable power, data and lighting. Multi-functional cabinets, moveable partitions and folding tables and chairs enable diverse configurations and a hi-spec, portable tech suite provides loanable tablets, mini-PCs and a wheeled touchscreen media wall. Accessible, dementia-friendly and autism-friendly design is at the heart of the project, making the spaces inclusive to all users.”
- Central Bedfordshire – Consultation on plans to enhance Biggleswade Library launches – Biggleswade Today. “A consultation on plans to enhance Biggleswade Library to include a new children’s centre and registration service has launched. Central Bedfordshire Council is proposing a major makeover of the library, saying it want to provide “a modern, attractive facility and community hub for residents”. There would be improvements to existing library services, new modern learning facilities and complementary services introduced.” …”the proposal would see a Children’s Centre, Registration Service and a satellite office for council staff co-located within the library building.”
- Croydon – New timetable for Croydon’s libraries – Croydon Council. “Croydon’s 13 libraries will launch a new timetable next month, with all buildings to remain open and council-owned, following resident feedback from two rounds of public consultation held last year. The new timetable takes into account the way residents currently use libraries and ensures that at least one library in the north, south and central parts of the borough is open and staff available each day (Monday to Saturday). Most libraries will be open two fewer days per week, except Central Library which will be open five days per week. This is in line with the public consultation, where the majority of respondents supported a council-run service with a 21% reduction in opening hours across libraries, rather than outsourcing or a mixture of a council-run / community-run approach.”
- Devon – Seaton Library closes for a face lift – Devon Live. “As part of the makeover, a new Business and IP Centre (BIPC) is being installed to help give a boost to local businesses.
- Devon libraries ditch CDs and DVDs in favour of more books – Devon Live. “The 54 libraries and four mobile libraries currently stock 13,616 music CDs and 25,886 film DVDs. But last year borrowing dropped by 25% to 13,083 compared to 17,369 in 2020. This follows a staggering 70% decrease in DVD issues since 2019, and 80-90% decrease in CD issues. In contrast, eBook borrowing rocketed by 85% in 2020.”
- Dorset – Children in west Dorset bring characters to life for World Book Day – Dorset Echo.
- Essex – Library scheme to help literacy – Yellow Advertiser. “Every library in Essex will have a designated space to help literacy levels by the end of June, as part of its new plan to reshape the service in the county. The draft council plan details how Essex County Council intends to transform the library service over the next four years – including at its cornerstone how to help children and adults improve their reading in new literacy corners. The authority has also pledged to develop a planned programme of building improvements that will consider upgrade and cosmetic improvements and to develop its mobile library offer to support service outreach and community engagement. And a new online library platform will see a “more user-friendly interface, and enhanced functionality such as online bookings for special events and activities”.”
- Dermot O’Leary stresses need for libraries after Colchester visit – Maldon Standard. ““But not every kid can afford a book, so libraries are hugely important, and they are up there with hospitals as far as I am concerned.” Dermot’s supportive comments come just over two years after Essex County Council performed a U-turn on their controversial plans to axe libraries in the area.”
- Flintshire – Flintshire public libraries celebrate wellbeing in national programme of events – The Leader.
- Gloucestershire – First look at new £250k digital learning space planned for Cheltenham – Punchline Gloucester. Libraries Improvement Fund: “the building in Oakley will offer the latest digital technology for all ages, with free facilities, training and support to help with literacy and learning skills.”
- Official launch of Innovation Lab at Gloucester Library – News Anyway. “The lab at Gloucester Library, funded by local enterprise partnership GFirst LEP, is the second to open in the county, offering the latest digital design equipment and technical expertise available to boost skills and support employment.”
- Inverclyde – Hearing aid batteries available at libraries – Greenock Telegraph. “The council has teamed up with Inverclyde Royal’s audiology service to give local patients the option on their doorstep.”
- Milton Keynes – Stony Stratford Library set yo re-open after redevelopment work – Citiblog. “The project has been a partnership between Stony Stratford Town Council and Milton Keynes Council which contributed £100,000 towards the work. Local organisations including Friends of Stony Stratford Library (FOSSL) and Community Foundation have also supported with the installation of a kitchen on the first floor. The two-storey building, which is owned by the Town Council, has undergone a range of changes …”
- Newcastle – Join the hunt for lost library books! Overdue books Amnesty – Newcastle Council. “Newcastle Libraries are holding an amnesty for overdue books up until 31 May. You can return your overdue books and you’ll not have to pay any existing overdue fines. And you can renew your library membership at the same time – win win”
- North Yorkshire – Harrogate library to benefit from extensive improvement work – Harrogate News. “The project includes redecoration, the replacement of energy-efficient lighting and remedial damp works.”
- Northallerton library set to turn a new leaf – York Press. “The new space will include a large tree where children can sit and read, plus decorative tree panels above new shelving on the walls. There will be new brightly coloured seating and shelving to complement the green carpet. The library will also benefit from £3,000 of new reading material including picture books, board books and audio books, as well as popular junior fiction and non-fiction titles.”
- Scarborough library receives £200,000 Arts Council funding – North Yorkshire County Council. Libraries Improvement Fund: “The ground floor will be reconfigured to create a safe place for families and a bright, attractive space for children to allow a wide range of activities and events to take place with quieter areas for relaxation, study as well as space to meet up with friends. There will also be upgrades to its well-used private meeting rooms.”
- Nottingham – Books and other items at discount prices – Nottingham City Libraries. “As we make the transition to the new Central Library site, it is time to remove some of our older stock to make space for newer items. As such we are having a book sale, offering lots of items at discount prices.”
- Pressure mounts on Nottingham City Council over plans to close 3 ‘incredibly important’ libraries – Nottingham Post. Campaign group and protests.
- Nottinghamshire – Letter: No need for any scaremongering in debate over future of town library – Hucknall Despatch. Councillor accuses another of scaremongering and says no library will close.
- New community hubs with libraries planned in Burton Joyce and Woodthorpe – Gedling Eye. Libraries Improvement Fund: “New community hubs with vibrant libraries at their centre are to be created in Burton Joyce and Woodthorpe.” Nottinghamshire County Council has partnered with Inspire to create the hubs after being awarded a grant of £170,000 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, delivered by Arts Council England. The villages’ current libraries spaces will be reimagined and re-configured to create more flexible library and community spaces.”
- Oldham – Oldham Libraries help residents bridge the digital divide – Oldham Council. “residents can get eight hours of free support to help them become more digital savvy.”
- Oxfordshire – Grove Library celebrates turning 50 with nostalgic trip to 1972 – Herald Series. “On March 14, Grove Library will be marking 50 years by going back to 1972 with a nostalgic display of 70s memorabilia, including some of the bestselling books of 1972, fashion, pictures and film. Staff, volunteers and councillors will be marking the occasion with a small birthday celebration – including cake – at 2pm.”
- Portsmouth – Free Covid tests set to continue for Portsmouth residents – BBC. “Collection points are expected be set up at libraries and community centres and would be monitored through an online database.”
- Sandwell – Sandwell libraries to extend opening hours thanks to new technology following funding boost – Express and Star. Libraries Improvement Fund: “On Monday Thimblemill Library in Smethwick launches the pilot of Library+ technology – a new way for libraries to maintain and extend opening hours.”
- Shropshire – Shropshire libraries to be reviewed to ‘maximise potential’ – Shropshire Star. “In a statement the council said all locations would be “reviewed to maximise their potential”. It said they will also consider opportunities for co-location, where they could share space within other community services. Changes as part of the plans include the introduction of “self-service kiosks”.”
- Staffordshire – Staffordshire libraries to celebrate Shakespeare Week – In Your Area. “The theme for this year’s celebration is movement and dance, using sport, dance and leisure in Shakespeare’s time. “
- Stoke on Trent – Still time to take part in Stoke-on-Trent Libraries Consultation – Stoke Council. “The strategy showcases how library services in the city are transforming to ensure they meet the needs of local communities – whilst building on the existing offer for members with a particular emphasis on digital services.”
- Torbay – Local author convention lands at Paignton Library – Torbay Weekly. “Paignton Library is hosting their first Local Author Convention to promote and support books written by authors from Torbay and Devon. “
- West Sussex – Poster campaign: 21 reasons why Worthing should have a public library – Sussex Express. “A poster detailing 21 reasons why Worthing should have a public library, dating back to an 1892 campaign, seems almost as relevant today as it did 130 years ago.”
- Wirral – Funding means technology boost for Birkenhead Central Library – Wirral Globe. Libraries Improvement Fund: “A programme of works will reconfigure and refit the current IT suite based at the library into a modern flexible digital hub, investing in internal upgrading and digital infrastructure to substantially improve the service’s offer, whilst providing a multi-purpose community space to learn, connect and work.”. Wifi to be improved.
The Libraries Slight Improvement Fund
Mar 13th
Editorial
The winners of Libraries Improvement Fund grants have been announced, with 25 services sharing £5 million. The largest grant is £495k (Sandwell) and the smallest is £62k (Reading). Before we get too excited by this government largesse, it’s worth remembering the £5 million fund is less than a third that given to museums at the same time, a sector with fewer visitors and buildings. To put it into more perspective. one private subscription library, Leeds, announced extra funding more than twice that of the largest LIF receiver in the same week. And just one building, a new combined library/museum in Wakefield, will cost more than three times than the entire national award. So, it’s a nice thing, it’s good one could apply for building improvements, and well done to the library services involved but the scale fo the funding is just plain woefully inadequate given the challenges to the sector, which is often most obvious in its buildings. So, I hope the sector becomes like Oliver, and asks for more. Substantially more. And if we get it, well, that would be a Twist indeed.
In other news, Blackpool has continued being fines-free for another year, reporting that it has seen no increase in the amount of unreturned or late items. I understand Libraries Connected is researching the fines-free model as well and seeing how/if other services can go down that route. It seems that the whole pro-fines argument has shifted in the last ten years from “Fines are needed as otherwise we will lose stuff” to “We’d like to get rid of fines but we need the income from them” as the main reason why many library services have not gone down that route. The strength of that argument (and the weakness in library budgets it shows) will be tested in many more services soon, as the number of services going fines-free continues to grow.
Changes by local authority
- North Yorkshire – Knaresborough library to have building society co-located into it.
- Staffordshire – Burton demolition plan cancelled.
- Wakefield – £16m new library/museum/cafe
National news
- £48 million to safeguard nation’s critical cultural heritage – Gov.uk. £5 million for libraries: “The Libraries Improvement Fund is helping to transform library services in England by helping them upgrade their buildings and digital infrastructure so they can respond to the changing ways people use them. Twenty-five library services are being supported in this round of funding, including Sandwell Library and Information Service in the West Midlands (£495,000) and Sheffield Libraries (£340,000).”
- Over £6m in new funding granted to Yorkshire museums and libraries – here’s where – Yorkshire Post. “Almost £150,000 will support Barnsley Council to redevelop Dodworth Library to allow more flexible use of the space and improve access for users.” … “Sheffield will also receive £340,000 to pay for library upgrade work, with Leeds receiving £267,000 and Bradford and Scarborough £200,000 each.”
- Cultural Investment Fund: Data – Arts Council England. “This includes £24 million through round two of the Cultural Development Fund to help regenerate communities through improved growth and productivity. The Museums Estate and Development Fund is awarding £18 million to help museums improve their infrastructure and carry out urgent maintenance works. We’re also investing £5 million in 25 library services to upgrade their buildings and technology, through the Libraries Improvement Fund.”
Table from Cultural Investment Fund: Data | Arts Council England
- 600 public buildings in Wales levelled up with full fibre broadband – Gov.uk. “Site Coordinator at Milford Haven Library Tracy Collins said: “ A lot of members of the public come in to use the computers for job searches. People used to say that the internet was very slow, especially when they were downloading documents and we would have to say sorry but there was nothing we could do about it. It’s been great so far, this is a big step forward.””
- CILIP ILIG Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 and CILIP President Talk – CILIP. Zoom, Wednesday 11 May, 3-4pm.
- Clarivate to Cease all Commercial Activity in Russia – Clarivate.
- Dozens of library closures across Scotland blamed on SNP ‘underfunding’ local councils – Daily Record. “A total of 83 community facilities shut their doors permanently in the period covering 2009 to 2020. There are now fears the impact of the coronavirus pandemic could force cash-strapped councils to close even more cultural facilities. Official figures show the number of libraries nationwide has dropped from 627 to 544 despite total visitor numbers increasing over the last decade.” … “the Improvement Service’s Local Government Benchmarking Framework Report shows that numbers of library visits have increased by 41% between 2010-11 to 2019-20.”
- Invitation to Tender – Digital Leadership for Libraries – CILIP. “The tender is to develop 5 open-access e-learning modules. These modules are intended to create engagement and expose learners to the ideas.”
- Scotland libaries: One in eight Scottish libraries permanently closed since 2010, figures reveal – Scotsman. “Over the same period, spending on public libraries plummeted by 30 per cent, despite the fact that yearly visitor numbers to libraries increased by over 40 per cent.”
International news
- India – Rethinking Librarianship with a human touch: experiences of an Indian library professional at IFLA – CILIP. Zoom, 27 April, 1pm.
- Ukraine – CILIP extends free membership to Ukrainian librarians displaced by the Russian invasion – CILIP. “Any Ukrainian information professional who has sought or is seeking refuge in the UK from 1 January 2022 is now eligible for free CILIP membership with access to the support and benefits of this professional community.”
- Ukraine’s libraries are offering bomb shelters, camouflage classes and, yes, books – NPR. “”Refugee reception points, hostels and logistics points are organized here,” she said. “Camouflage nets for the military are also woven here. Home care courses are held here. Books are collected here to be transferred to libraries in neighboring countries that receive Ukrainian refugees.””
Local news by authority
- Barnsley – Our Futures Now book begins its tour around Barnsley Libraries – News Anyway. “The book celebrates the stories that come straight from the heart of real people, many of who live in Barnsley and are passionate about our borough. From stories based on the resilience shown during the pandemic to fictional or very personal narratives, each story looks at the future of our borough with ambition and optimism. Our Futures Now will travel across the borough, allowing everyone to see it and get inspired on the doorstep of their local community. Each month, the hand-made version of the book will be staying at a different library. “
- Blackpool – Blackpool library fines scrapped for another year– The Gazette. Move is to ensure people have equality and free access. No increase in lost/late books reported.
- Bradford – A Special Message from the Lord Mayor of Bradford – Bradford and District Local Studies. Mayor congratulating Bradford libraries for being open for 150 years.
- Denbighshire – Denbighshire libraries to celebrate wellbeing in programme of events – The Free Press. “Nicola Pitman, chair of the Society of Chief Librarians Cymru and library lead, who has been working in partnership with The Reading Agency on the campaign: “We hope that these national Winter of Wellbeing author events will encourage and attract the young people of Wales to our libraries, to read and engage with all the activities and entertainment inside.”
- Devon – Much loved library shuts for refurbishment – Devon Live. Holsworthy: “The frontage of the library, which was built in the 1970s, is being replaced, and new flooring is being installed throughout.”
- Edinburgh – Temporary library to open at The Fort in Leith – Edinburgh Reporter. “This temporary arrangement will continue until the Covid testing facility moves out of Leith Library.”
- Fife – Limited access to library in Fife town sparks growing concern – Fife Today. “the library at Waid Academy in Anstruther is only open for browsing for three-and-a-quarter hours each week as Fife Council do not want members of the public mixing with school pupils.”
- Glasgow – Susan Deighan becomes new Glasgow Life Chief Executive – Glasgow Evening Times. in-house appointment, libraries not mentioned at all in article.
- Halton – TV’s Konnie Huq to host family events in our libraries – News Anyway. “Children’s writer and presenter, Konnie Huq, to host family events on science, the environment and coding at Halton’s Libraries as part of British Science Week – and both events are already full”
- Kirklees – Dewsbury Library space takes on a new look as work is completed – Kirklees Together. “We have now completed works in the area around Dewsbury Library to brighten up the important pedestrian gateway into the town centre.”
- Leeds – Leeds Library set to expand for first time in 143 years as part of new £1.2 million investment – Yorkshire Evening Post. This is the private subscription library and not the public library.
- Northamptonshire – Raunds library saved from closure as education trust steps in – Northants Telegraph. ” building owners North Northants Council (NNC) has entered into a partnership, brokered between an ‘experienced and established’ academy trust and Raunds Community Library Trust.”
- Name revealed for Kettering’s £3.9m ‘cultural gem’ complex – Northants Telegraph. “It’s now been revealed that the complex will be called Cornerstone – reflecting how the old parts of the library and gallery buildings will connect as well as the site’s corner position within Kettering town centre”
- Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland libraries offered a virtual lifeline during pandemic: ‘We do see ourselves as community hubs’ – Belfast Telegraph. ““It certainly has taken off, especially during lockdown obviously whenever libraries were closed,” says Michael Lynn, Service Development Manager for Libraries NI of digital borrowing. “The number of eBooks we loaned during that period certainly did jump a huge amount. The year before Covid, 2019-2020 we had about 500,000 eBook loans. In 2020-2021, it jumped up to over 920,000 …”
- North Lanarkshire – North Lanarkshire Libraries team up with mental health charity to provide drop-in events – Daily Record. “supporting local charity ‘You Are My Sunshine’ by providing them space to operate from at Newarthill Library.The charity will be based there on Monday and Wednesday evenings “
- North Yorkshire – Building society set to open in Knaresborough library – York Press. ““The offer of financial services promises to increase footfall into Knaresborough library and encourage new visitors through the doors. We look forward to seeing its grand opening in the summer.””
- Nottinghamshire – Concerns as Nottinghamshire libraries use falls 300,000 visits short of target – Newark Advertiser. “Nottinghamshire County Council papers show the authority’s library network missed one target by almost 300,000 visits — but the chairman of the council’s communities committee said recovery won’t happen overnight. From October to December 2021, there were 283,682 visits to county libraries against a target of 575,000.” … “new targets have been set for April to December 2022 to include website visits and home delivery as this “better reflects the performance of the service and how users engage with it following the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions and wider cultural shifts in user habits”.”
- Oxfordshire – Grove Library marks its 50th birthday – Oxfordshire County Council. “To mark the occasion, the library is going back to 1972 with a nostalgic display of 70s memorabilia, including some of the bestselling books of 1972, fashion, pictures and film. Staff, volunteers and councillors will be marking the occasion with a small birthday celebration – including cake …”
- Portsmouth – ‘Forgotten’ Portsmouth library book rediscovered over 60 years overdue – Portsmouth City Council. “concerns about the fines the original borrower received but was delighted to hear that Portsmouth City Council has scrapped all overdue library fines to help encourage residents to return to the library.”
- Staffordshire – Controversial plan to move Burton Library into Market Hall now appears dead in the water – Staffordshire Live. “Controversial proposals to move Burton Library to the town’s historic Market Hall now appear to have been completely scrapped. Library bosses have today confirmed the service will stay put – days after councillors voted against the move, which would have meant the market hall’s closure and traders being kicked out. And it now looks likely cash set aside to move the library will be spent on delivering the Town Fund project to turn the area between High Street and the Washlands into a tourist hotspot of bars and cafes.”
- Suffolk – Victorian-era toilet discovered in Suffolk library during refurbishment – EADT. “”Unfortunately – or perhaps, fortunately – the bucket was missing but I managed to find one on eBay that fitted perfectly underneath,” Allan Hampson, who restored the loo, said.”
- Pose on a Victorian toilet, music and more set for Suffolk Libraries Day – Ipswich Star. “Suffolk Libraries, the charity that runs the county’s library service is gearing up for its third annual countywide fundraising event which began this week with a book festival. “
- The Suffolk women helping others build their dream business – EADT. “We Are Radikl’s joint venture with Suffolk Libraries is a free six-week programme that helps and encourages local women to successfully start, sustain and scale their own businesses – while also providing a route to funding opportunities. “
- Wakefield – Wakefield’s new library and museum set to open at ex-BHS site – BBC. “A derelict city centre shop is set to be transformed into a new £16m home for Wakefield’s library. The closed BHS unit on Kirkgate, opposite Wakefield Cathedral, is to be turned into a city centre hub with a museum and cafe, council bosses said. The proposed development was originally dropped by Wakefield Council last year. But, following a change of mind, work on the site was due to start soon and should be completed within the next two years, according to the authority.”
Ukrainian librarians, CIPFA “unfit for purpose” and the Wirral
Mar 6th
Editorial
The big global news is of course the Ukraine and I am sure all of our best wishes go out to those affected by Putin’s aggression there. If any of you are on Putin’s side, it may be worthwhile re-evaluating your information gathering skills. Massive respect to the Ukrainian librarians who are doing their best under the most difficult of circumstances and, particularly, to the conference organisers who promised they’ll get it running after they’ve vanquished their invaders.
Less important globally but still fairly stunning was the announcement by Libraries Connected that they no longer consider CIPFA fit for purpose. It’s one thing when everyone says it privately or it’s in the editorial of a blog but for the national public library body to come out in the open and say you’re rubbish … well, that’s humiliatingly bad. One hopes that things will now change. Worst case is the lame duck keeps on producing highly expensive, outdated and increasingly irrelevant reports because the minister does not care enough to change the process. Or that libraries fail to come up with a viable alternative. Now that would be humiliating. But not for CIPFA.
Finally, it’s so sad to see Wirral once again in the news about service cuts. They’re the ones that were most connected with cuts to libraries before austerity, with the 2009 report by Sue Charteris into proposed closures leading to the authority withdrawing their plans. Those were different times and its probable there’s no Sue Charteris on the horizon this time, sadly.
Changes by local authority
- Hampshire – £715k upgrade of Winchester Discovery Centre. Building now part of Trust but library services still run by council.
- Herefordshire – Central Library may move to new Maylord site.
- Slough – Opening hours will be reduced rather than libraries closed.
- Wiltshire – Salisbury Library may move into City Hall.
- Wirral – Confirmed nine libraries will close or pass to volunteers.
National news
- Accessible book giveaways and sustainability to feature at World Book Day celebrations – BookSeller.
- Diversity Beyond the Bookshelf – Engaging library and school communities – National Literacy Trust. Webinar, 4pm, 25 May. “Look at the wider role of schools and libraries in supporting diversity outside of their collections through community empowerment. Explore a range of community engagement case studies. Provide opportunity for your to share your own ideas and experiences with the group.”
- Libraries make big noise to entice children back – Times. Partial paywall. “Libraries Aloud is designed to encourage families to head to the library and have fun reading out loud. From today there will be a series of free interactive “read-out-loud-alongs” across the country.” see also ‘Libraries Aloud’: Beano campaign encourages children to read more on World Book Day – Glasgow Times, not behind paywall.
- Libraries of Sanctuary – CILIPS. Webinar, 11-12, 11 March. “Join CILIPS for this unique Online Learning event on 11th March, 11-12, during which we’ll learn more about Libraries of Sanctuary, the vital value of the contribution they make, and how your own library service can get involved in becoming a Library of Sanctuary. We’re delighted to be joined by Ashley Beckett and Gün Orgun from City of Sanctuary, John Vincent, coordinator of The Network and author of Facet‘s upcoming book Libraries and Sanctuary: supporting refugees and other new arrivals, and Dylan Fotoohi, a founding member of Refugees 4 Justice in Glasgow.”
- One in 4 children has never been to public library – Daily Express. “A survey by children’s comic Beano found 26 per cent had yet to visit – despite four in five parents (84 per cent) wanting their youngsters to go more often.” … “While three-quarters have not visited in over a year, more than half of children (55 per cent) were put off because they mistakenly believe they have to be quiet.”
We recognise the vital part that books, reading and public libraries play in the lives of so many people, and the pleasure they bring to people of all ages.
DCMS is supporting World Book Day through organisations that are in receipt of public funds provided by the department. Arts Council England provided funding of £94,360 to World Book Day in January 2021, to deliver a multi-year project – ‘Growing reading for pleasure for children & young people 2021-2022’. The project finishes in August 2022 and includes support for this year’s World Book Day event on 3 March.
In addition, Libraries Connected (the sector support organisation for libraries) has been encouraging public libraries to take part in the celebrations, to order publicity materials and to sign up and promote the £1 books. Libraries Connected is also highlighting World Book Day through its social media channels, website and other publicity, as will DCMS.
Nigel Huddleston, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Reading group needs help after Repair Shop man’s documentary – BBC. “Read Easy, which gives free one-to-one coaching, said more people had been coming forward for help following a recent BBC documentary featuring Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades.”
- Statement of solidarity with librarians, archivists and information professionals in Ukraine – CILIP. “The library, archive and information professional community in the UK will work with our colleagues around the world to offer whatever support and solidarity we can to our professional colleagues in Ukraine.”
- Why CIPFA libraries data is no longer fit for purpose – Libraries Connected. “The CIPFA library data released in February tells us more about the data systems and structures for libraries than libraries themselves. … the CIPFA libraries report is no longer fit for purpose because it is: Too late. The figures for year one of the pandemic came out at the end of year two; Disconnected from the sector … CIPFA collect annual figures and publish them around nine months later (or 11 months in this case). The financial figures are essentially the same as those we presented 15 months ago with a larger sample. This doesn’t help libraries.”
International news
- Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s libraries are shutting down – Elliot Lake Today. “The Taliban takeover last August hit Afghanistan’s reading culture and book industry especially hard. Libraries such as Khushal Baba Ketabtun, with its highly fertile and engaging environment, went quiet. The number of book stores is rapidly shrinking, and publishers and printing houses are in a deep economic crisis, with some already closed.”
- China – Shanghai promotes community libraries – Big News Network. “131 community libraries are in use in Shanghai, and more than 20 others are under construction. “
- Ukraine – Address of the Presidium of the Ukrainian Library Association to the Library Community of Ukraine dated February 23, 2022 – ULA. “Libraries are a strategic weapon of the state in the hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation for many years. The relevance of libraries in overcoming the challenges facing people, the community and society in Ukraine has become apparent during the last eight years of Russian aggression. Today, when we face the threat of an open war with Russia, you and I, Librarians, are aware of our importance and our responsibility”
- Lost for words: protecting libraries and archives in Ukraine – Nick Poole – Scotsman. “I know from my exchanges with colleagues in Ukraine that other than the threat to themselves and their families, they fear one thing above all – that Putin’s real agenda isn’t occupation or some historical re-connection, but erasure. The erasure of the Ukrainian people, their culture, their literature and language. Erasure of the idea of Ukraine as a free and democratic sovereign nation.”
Local news by authority
- Carmarthenshire – Carmarthenshire’s first automated library opens – South Wales Guardian. Newcastle Emlyn: “The library, which is located within the Foyer of the Cawdor Hall Building, is the first of its kind in the county to offer its members state of the art interactive technology at the scan of a library card.”
- Derbyshire – More than a dozen Derbyshire libraries at risk of closure – Derby Telegraph. ““Closures on a significant scale could help realise some of the required savings, however, it would enable the service to directly align its available resources with existing levels of use and need. “It could result in a patchy and uneven distribution of libraries across Derbyshire.” … “The council asked groups to come forward, but so far only one library – in Woodville, South Derbyshire – has been passed over and only five more have retained expressions of interest and/or business cases.” … “This leaves 14 libraries in limbo.”
- ‘No libraries will close on my watch’ says Derbyshire County Council leader – Quest Media Network. That is, he will try to get groups to run them instead of the council.
- Hackney – Hackney schools have their say on the future of the borough’s Libraries – Hackney Council. “The winning entries from a borough-wide schools competition to reimagine and design Hackney Libraries for 2025 are now on display in libraries across the borough. In October, Hackney schools were invited to create a poem or artwork to share their ideas on what Hackney’s Libraries could look like in the future. As part of Hackney Council’s wider Library services review, the aim of the competition was to offer local schools – their teachers and pupils – an opportunity to have their say on how Hackney’s Libraries can be improved, and help inform Hackney’s Library services strategy for 2022.”
- Hampshire – Winchester Discovery Centre closes for seven weeks – Hampshire Chronicle. “major refurbishment of a Winchester hub is underway and from today (January 1) it will fully close for seven weeks. Winchester Discovery Centre will benefit from a £715,000 investment with2011 upgraded library facilities and improved gallery spaces, alongside enhancements to the café, toilets and lift. This follows a decision to develop a new cultural hub at the Discovery Centre through the creation of a partnership between Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Cultural Trust.”
- Hartlepool – Hartlepool libraries get a revamp as new high-tech system is installed – Hartlepool Mail. First new system for 20 years, ” features a website where people can search for titles and reserve a copy for collection.”
- Herefordshire – New Hereford museum and library ever closer to reality – Gloucestershire Live. “The council is sold on Maylord Orchards as the library’s location, having spent some £4.5 million on purchasing the leasehold interest and a section of additional freehold, having retained the freehold of much of the four-acre site since it was developed in the late 1980s. Acquiring the site allowed the council to take full control and decide the future for the precinct.” … “The feasibility report for the £3 million library move says making the new museum happen hinges on Maylord Orchards.”
- Highland – Celebrate World Book Day with a visit to your local library – John O’Groats Journal.
- Kirklees – Writing a new chapter on inclusion this World Book Day – Kirklees Together. “Kirklees Libraries are running a library card competition for World Book Day. Young people aged 11 years old or younger from across Kirklees are encouraged to draw a main character from a list of selected books. The winner will have their design used on library cards across Kirklees.”
- Leicester – Jobseeking help in libraries extended – Leicester Council. “Leicester Jobcentre Plus and Leicester City Council are working in partnership to place specialist work coaches in seven city libraries, with the launch of a work coach in Braunstone’s Brite Centre from 25 February. Work coaches offer help finding jobs, training and support for people who might be facing multiple barriers to employment. “
- Newcastle – New chapter for Newcastle libraries as late fines abolished – Newcastle Council. “Now, Newcastle City Council has announced the move will made permanent from April 1. It is hoped that removing late fines will encourage more people to use library services. Cllr Irim Ali, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for Community Services and Public Engagement, said: “Libraries are for everyone and we want to do all we can to get people to use them.”
- Newport – All Newport’s libraries return to pre-Covid-19 opening hours – South Wales Argus. “Face masks will still need to be worn by anyone aged 11-years-old and above, but all other restrictions have been lifted. Books will be available to borrow with no quarantine period, and computer slots can be booked for up to two hours.”
- Nottingham – Protest against Nottingham library closure proposals takes place next week – West Bridgford Wire. “On Monday 7 March from 1:30pm a protest will take place in Old Market Square, outside the full meeting of Nottingham City Council. Demonstrators will call for Nottingham City Council to halt its proposals to close libraries in Basford, Radford-Lenton and Aspley, and furthermore for these services to be more adequately funded. The protest is being organised by local campaign group Fight Racism Fight Imperialism”
- Oxfordshire – Award-winning novelist Claire Fuller returns to her childhood library in Chinnor – Oxfordshire Council. ” Award-winning novelist Claire, who was born in Chinnor, visited the library to give an interview to local media. In celebration of her visit, the library put on displays showcasing her work and pieces of memorabilia dating back from when she was a member of the library as a child.”
- Renfrewshire – Cancer help service in Renfrewshire libraries restarts after Covid restrictions ease – Glasgow Evening Times.
- Sefton – Sefton’ Libraries celebrating World Book Day – My Sefton. “Suzanne from Debutots is visiting several libraries, taking groups of children on a magical visit through Story Land where they will meet a range of characters from children’s literature, including Goldilocks.”
- Slough – Plans to close Slough libraries could be scrapped – Slough and South Bucks Observer. “Over 2,500 people responded where shutting down the Langley and Cippenham buildings was deeply unpopular. The most popular option was to reduce the hours the libraries are opened and staffed.” … “they will not recommend to cabinet to close the two buildings but to slash library opening hours. It is not yet known what the proposed hours will be.”
- Staffordshire – Staffordshire libraries to celebrate World Book Day with specially commissioned poem – A Little Bit Of Stone. “To help celebrate the day and encourage a love of reading, 15-year-old Erin Gascoigne-Jones has put pen to paper in her latest poem entitled ‘I have lived a thousand lives’.”
- Stockport – Staff training at Stockport libraries means a temporary closure on two days in March – Stockport Council.
- Warrington – Library records reveal Warrington’s most popular books – Warrington Guardian. “A Freedom of Information Act request submitted to Warrington Borough Council has revealed the top ten borrowed books from the town’s libraries over the past six years.”
- Number of unreturned library books rises tenfold in a year – Warrington Guardian. “In 2020, due to the impact of the pandemic which forced the closure of libraries, only 942 books issued had not been returned on time. However, in 2021, this soared to 9,964, according to data released following a Freedom of Information Act request submitted to Warrington Borough Council.” … “The new book amnesty means that borrowers can return overdue books to any library in the town without fear of fees – no matter how long they have been on loan for.”
- Western Isles – Support our Libraries: It would be great if we did not have to justify our existence – Kathleen Milne – Scotsman. “In the Western Isles, the challenge is to build up our branch libraries to provide an equitable service to all communities across all the islands. We must also reach out in innovative ways to create more partnership opportunities with communities. We are working to develop a small library presence in Eriskay . There is so much to be done, and so much libraries can do.”
- West Sussex – Boost your wellbeing this month at West Sussex Libraries – West Sussex Council.
- Wiltshire – Council leader suggests City Hall as new library spot – Salisbury Journal. “Discussing the future of the library, council leader Richard Clewer said it needs to be rehomed as “it is not useable in a place that needs to be redeveloped”. He suggested the City Hall, currently a Covid-19 vaccination clinic, could become the location of a new library. He has assured this will not replace the venue as a performing arts hub, but instead could be a service within the venue, adding to the ‘cultural quarter’ offering.”
- Wirral – Crunch meeting could be ‘death knell’ for leisure centres and libraries – Liverpool Echo. Nine libraries under threat.
- Wirral Council cuts: Libraries and golf courses could close – BBC. “local groups can bid to take over the facilities as part of a community asset transfer scheme. Council leader Janette Williamson described the step as a “lifeline”. Labour and Conservative councillors voted to pass the budget by 52 votes to 11 with the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and Independent councillor Jo Bird opposing the plans.” … “The nine libraries earmarked for closure will shut down on 1 November unless a bid is agreed.”
- Wirral Council votes to cut leisure centres, libraries, golf courses and more – Liverpool Echo. “Woodchurch Leisure Centre, nine libraries, two golf courses and more are at risk after a crunch Wirral Council meeting tonight.”
- Wolverhampton – Tettenhall Library will close on Thursday for electrical work – Express and Star.
Rivals
Feb 27th
Editorial
I don’t know the places in questions and I could be off but it looks to me like there’s some rivalry between Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The former is Labour-run and aiming to close libraries amidst protest while the latter, run by Conservatives/Independents is making very loud noises about not closing libraries. Hmm. Over 120 miles to the south, Slough asked about closing libraries in a consultation and got a resounding slap in the face.
Away from cuts, it’s interesting to see that even in February 2022, there are still libraries closed due to Covid. although reopening fast. In more positive news, it’s good to see World Book Day coming around again and libraries are already publicising their actions for the Jubilee in some services.
A couple of my editorials recently on library statistics – the laughable Cipfa article (remember the 200 new libraries gem?) in the Guardian and the difficulty of actually having a reliable count of how many libraries there are open and closed has gathered a lot of responses public and private. I am pleased to say that the leading light in trying to improve the situation, Dave Rowe, has agreed to write a short article below on the current state of play and what could be done about it. His expertise and confidence on the subject make me very envious.
Libraries Hacked on public library statistics
Public library data across the UK is in a bad state. We’ve seen evidence of this in the recent press release from CIPFA, where ‘provisional’ information about libraries in lockdown was 2-year-old data. That data that will only ever be made available to corporate subscribers.
We don’t know how many libraries and mobile libraries there are, let alone where they’re located or their opening times. In some cases, this isn’t even on library service websites. The decades-old responsibility to pay authors through Public Lending Right (PLR) is hampered by poor sector data. PLR sampling relies on CIPFA loans totals, but the previous financial year is used. With the huge impact of lockdowns, this will mean the recent PLR annual figures would have been wildly inaccurate, as will the next ones.
The library sector needs to own this problem, working alongside the public to ensure data is made ‘public-first’ as open data. Data that needs to be maintained, such as library branches, should always be kept up to date, and data that is new, like loans counts, should be published as frequently as possible.
Can we maintain a list of library branches and their current opening hours? Can we work with library vendors to make loans data available publicly, not on an annual basis, but every night? My recent post on the ‘Library Data Blog’ (https://blog.librarydata.uk/library-data-authentication/) details work towards a system to allow all library services to at least keep existing data up to date.
But it doesn’t matter which systems are used, as long as services appreciate the damage caused by this problem and are willing to address it. We need more talk on this. A data community around public library data that involves the public, library staff, vendors, as well as all those with any interest in the sector, could improve this situation. If you’d like to talk about that contact info@librarieshacked.org
Dave has been running Libraries Hacked (https://www.librarieshacked.org/) since 2014. It is a community project to promote open data in libraries and create digital prototypes from that data.
Dave Rowe, Libraries Hacked
National news
- Armitage launches next leg of 10-year UK library tour – BookSeller. “Each spring this decade, Armitage will give readings across the UK, from the flagship libraries of the big cities to smaller libraries serving rural and remote communities. His first tour last year took in libraries in towns whose names started with the letters ’A’ and ’B’ This spring’s ’C’ to ’D’ Libraries Tour, which will run from 24th March to 1st April, launches in Chadderton Library, Oldham, one of the UK’s first Libraries of Sanctuary, and will be followed by visits to Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), Clevedon, Colyton, Chatham and Clydebank..”
- Books2Door donates 18,000 titles for World Book Day – BookSeller. “The company, which was founded by Sweet Cherry Publishing m.d. Abdul Thadha, will be partnering organisations including the Children’s Literacy Charity, Alder Hey Children’s Charity and several primary schools and regional libraries to distribute the books. Sweet Cherry Publishing will provide the books.”
- Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network awarded £315,400 National Lottery funding – Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network. “The grant, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will be used to employ a full time Network Manager and two part time Regional Co-ordinators to implement a business plan that will create a network of community hubs based around community libraries developed organically with local leadership, to fit local needs and that can deliver transformational and long term change to civic life with local communities as the bedrock.”
- Michael Rosen to encourage reading and rhyming with babies and toddlers as BookTrust’s latest Writer in Residence – Book Trust.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support the Summer Reading Challenge in 2022 to ensure that children have access to reading materials over the summer holidays; and, in particular, how they will support children in areas where reading is uncommon.
Lord Bassam
The Government recognises the vital part reading and public libraries play in the lives of so many people, and the pleasure they bring to people of all ages. The Reading Agency, with funding from the Government via Arts Council England, will deliver the Summer Reading Challenge, in 2022, in partnership with public libraries. The theme this year celebrates science and innovation, as well as the key role of the imagination in both reading and the sciences.
Almost all library authorities in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies will take part in the Summer Reading Challenge in 2022. This includes 27 authorities who will adopt an extended cross-authority approach to delivering the Summer Reading Challenge this year (an increase from 11 in the first year). This involves local authorities working with strategic partners in education, children’s services, and public health to widen reach and engagement for children living in areas of disadvantage through schools, early years provision, and other community settings.
The Reading Agency anticipates the Challenge in 2022 has the potential to reach one million children. This will include those in urban locations, particularly in the Midlands and North of England, large counties with fairly large rural communities, as well as coastal communities and the first pilot authorities in Scotland.
Lord Parkinson
- Pandemic accelerates number of libraries dropping fines – BookSeller. “Isobel Hunter, chief executive at Libraries Connected, said the move to remove fines in UK libraries began to pick up speed in 2018 and was “accelerated” by lockdown when almost all libraries temporarily suspended fines while buildings were closed or had limited services. However, dropping fines puts more strain on finances. She told The Bookseller: “Libraries Connected believes that the removal of fines is a positive move for libraries. One service found that over half of people with outstanding charges were living in areas of high need and so the absence of fines is an important way to ensure that the people who most need access to books and reading are not put off by the threat of fines. However, many libraries face an increasingly challenging budget situation where fines are a key part of their income, so their removal requires a greater appreciation from budget holders of the benefits this would bring. CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals, agreed …”
- Stephen Lawrence Day – Resources for libraries.
- Survive and Thrive-Practical Steps You Can Take In Your Library Service – III. 23 March, 6pm, webinar. “Securing investment in frontline library services requires urgent radical and practical steps by heads of service and managers. We want local authorities and commissioners to think ‘libraries first’ whenever they need to deliver a service to communities. Experts Isobel Hunter and Susan Wills will discuss ideas for practical initiatives you can take right now, to make that happen in your authority. “
- An update on the Single Digital Presence Project – British Library. “Since the funding announcement, we have been laying the groundwork for the development of the digital platform. This has included developing a roadmap, establishing governance and team structures, refining earlier research and continuing to consult with a range of stakeholders. Brand development, a content strategy and the technical build are three core building blocks and we plan to develop these with a core multidisciplinary project team to keep testing and developing in partnership with the sector and external advisors. After a competitive process, we have appointed FCB Inferno who will be leading the development of a national brand to encapsulate the value and values of libraries.”
International news
- Australia – From clay tablets to the digital age: The remarkable history of public libraries – ABC News. “”I am less worried about the future than many futurologists. Every development like radio, then cinema, then television was accompanied by a great deal of doomsaying [around the role of books and libraries] … But in fact, [these new inventions] found a sort of synergy with books,””
- Iraq – ‘A symbol of new beginning’: Mosul’s university library reopens – Guardian. “The university library said the slogan written on the wall by its entrance, “The Word ‘Impossible’ Does Not Exist In Our Dictionary”, was “a symbol of triumph of humanitarianism, civilisation and peace over terrorism”.”
- USA – Court Blocks Maryland’s Library E-book Law – Publishers Weekly. Legal fight to require publishers to offer eBook titles to public libraries takes another turn.
- Save libraries, save the world – The Real News Network. ” Emily Drabinski, who is running to be president of the American Library Association, argues in her campaign platform, “Decades of disinvestment in public institutions coupled with deep inequalities at the core of our profession have left our libraries without the resources necessary to advance our common mission of providing access to information in all its forms to everyone in our communities”
Local news by authority
- Aberdeenshire – New Distance Aware scheme supported by Aberdeenshire Council – Grampian Online. “Free lanyards and badges featuring the Distance Aware shield are available from all Aberdeenshire libraries that are currently open to the public, as well as those offering the “click and collect” service.”
- Blackburn With Darwen – Quiet please! Life at Blackburn Library in the Fifties – Lancashire Telegraph. “You have to admit this is a wonderfully atmospheric photograph. Taken in the 1950s it shows part of Blackburn Library complete with its heavy wooden shelving and books catalogued precisely. In the foreground is the desk operated by library staff. “
- Bradford – Bradford Libraries Service celebrates 150th anniversary – Telegraph and Argus. Brief history. “When it first opened in June 1872, Bradford Public Library enabled people from all walks of life and of all ages to access information and education freely for the first time.”
- Cornwall – Library launches flower project to help people through grief – Tavistock Times Gazette. “Okehampton Library is working alongside art charity Honeyscribe on a project to support people going through loss and grief. The project is part of Libraries Unlimited Finding Connection Through Loss.”
- Derbyshire – Derbyshire libraries face closure or restricted hours – BBC News. “A number of Derbyshire libraries could shut or only open a day a week and not get new books, it has been revealed. Four years ago, the county council unveiled plans to pass 20 branches to community or voluntary groups in a bid to save £1.6m. But only one has been taken on, with five others with some interest, leaving 14 facing an uncertain future. The council meeting heard the library service would need to “review all aspects of current service provisions” … “One library – in Woodville, South Derbyshire – has been passed over and only five more – Old Whittington, Wingerworth, Melbourne, Tideswell and Etwall – have retained expressions of interest and/or business cases. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the meeting also heard council staff could currently only handle one library transfer at a time and the council “has had difficulties” with the process. Michelle Parker, the council’s library service development manager, said: “It is difficult to say how long it will take (to transfer 20 libraries).”
- Dudley – Union renews real Living Wage campaign for Dudley library staff – Express and Star. “Union Unison claims pay has not kept up with inflation since Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), a London-based social enterprise, took over the running of the library service in Dudley in 2017. The union alleges that library staff are at least 12 per cent worse off as a result. They are encouraging Dudley residents, library users, and local councillors to ask GLL to raise its wages to at least £9.90 an hour for all employees without the need for a change of employment contract.” … “Unison claimed that in the most recent medium-term financial strategy submitted to the council’s cabinet on December 15, Dudley Council has made £930,000 in “additional payments” to library services over the next three years as part of a “contract inflation”. Yet in the same report, the Conservative-led authority has tabled £360,000 worth of savings by 2025/26 for “efficiencies resulting from new libraries service [and] contract”.” …”The council paid GLL £3.9 million to deliver the first of its five-year contract, before dropping to £3.7m a year for the remainder of the contract. This, according to the trade union, has saved the council £1.3 million on previous in-house costs.” … “It is disappointing that despite numerous meetings with Unison representatives in recent months, they are still making a number of incorrect claims, suggesting that the GLL contracts being offered to staff are inferior to legacy council contracts and that GLL will not be paying the real Living Wage to all staff, regardless of contract type. To be clear, as an organisation it has always been our intention to become an accredited Living Wage employer.”
- East Riding – Boditrax coming to five East Riding libraries in groundbreaking scheme – East Riding of Yorkshire. “Boditrax units give a personalised path to better health and wellbeing. Participants are encouraged to come back for consultations over 12 weeks to review their progress. This service, the first of its kind for libraries in the UK, is free for East Riding Libraries members. Membership is free – to join, sign up for membership online, or visit any East Riding Library.”
- Edinburgh – Election candidates supporting the city’s libraries – Edinburgh Reporter. “Labour candidates gathered outside Leith Library on Saturday to show their support for the library service, saying it is one of the most popular services councils provide. “
- Council announces that three city libraries will reopen soon – Edinburgh Reporter. “The libraries at Oxgangs, Leith and Newington will be returned to their original role as libraries after significant work is carried out to them. Sighthill Library will remain a testing centre for now. The council points out that there is an alternative just up the road at Wester Hailes, but Leith Library will move to Fort Community Centre temporarily as previously advised and will open in mid-March.”
- Fife – OnFife Libraries celebrating a quarter of a century of World Book Day – Fife Today.
- Inverclyde – Chatty Cafe project at library is a hit – Greenock Telegraph. “Inverclyde Libraries’ Chatty Cafés started in 2018 to bring people together to learn new skills, share hints and tips. And generally get together for a cup of tea and a blether – all of the things that can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. There are now five cafes brewing up in libraries across Inverclyde.”
- Leeds – Library exhibition reveals haunting collection of news cuttings and supernatural stories – News Anyway. “Spine-tingling ghost stories and supernatural newspaper cuttings from the 1900s have resurfaced as part of a national news exhibition launching at Leeds Central Library on 24 February. The collection of horrifying headlines will feature as part of ‘Breaking the News’, a fascinating look at the evolution of news and the media over the centuries.”. From British Library Living Knowledge Network.
- Newport – The Newport library that inspired a huge Welsh rock hit – South Wales Argus. “A Design For Life” by the Manic Street Preachers – “Sitting uniquely between the terraced houses on Temple Street, the former Pill Library is one of Newport’s most historic buildings, dating back to 1889. A stone’s throw from Commercial Road, this beautiful piece of Victorian architecture spent more than a century serving Pill’s working-class community.”
- North Yorkshire – Theatre and teddy bears at North Yorkshire libraries – The Press. “Theatre performances, a teddy bears picnic and story times are among the activities on offer during Under 5s Week at North Yorkshire libraries. From February 28 to March 5, the county’s library service is hosting free events aimed at encouraging preschoolers to develop a love of books.”
- Libraries gift free books to mark World Book Day – North Yorkshire County Council. “In partnership with the National Literacy Trust, the county’s library service is offering a free book from a special World Book Day selection to children and young people who hold a free library membership.”
- Praise for the volunteers who bring the books – North Yorkshire County Council. “Around 1,200 people benefit from the service, which sees volunteers deliver books to people who are unable to visit their nearest library, either on a temporary or permanent basis.”
- Northern Ireland – Travel books ‘flying off’ library shelves for post-Covid holidays – Belfast Telegraph. “Librarians say overseas guides are the big page-turners since libraries re-opened to the public, as Ireland Reads Day encourages adults and children across the country to ‘squeeze in a read’. The national wellness initiative by Libraries Ireland and Healthy Ireland has so far seen the public pledge well over 200,000 minutes of reading.”
- Nottingham – Protestors’ plea to Nottingham City Council to keep libraries open in proposals to save £28m – Nottingham Post. “Protestors gathered outside the entrance to Nottingham City Council’s Loxley House headquarters to plead with them to not close three libraries as part of proposals to save money. The local authority has identified Basford, Radford Lenton and Aspley libraries as facilities which “have low usage and high cost”.” Save Nottingham Libraries now has a Facebook Group and Action Network page.
- Sale of Angel Row Library, Nottingham – Nottingham Council. “The property has been marketed on the open market and” a preferred purchaser has been selected with whom there have been negotiations. Final terms have now been agreed and the next stage is to proceed to exchange of contracts and this is supported by the property department.”
- Nottinghamshire – Our new café is opening at Mansfield Central Library – Inspire Culture. “After a complete refurbishment and selection process, local catering company Mrs B’s will be moving in and taking over the café space at the library. Mrs B’s will be offering hot drinks, snacks and light refreshments to library customers and members of the local community, and will offer catering services to both external customers and those who hire the library‘s meeting, theatre and conference spaces. “
- County library network pledge given by council – BBC. “The county council had been asked about the 60 libraries after figures showed at one stage they attracted just 20% of their target numbers. But the authority said it would not close any – while cautioning that some sites could be moved to save cash. It was hoped with Covid restrictions easing, footfall and income would recover, it added.”
- Inspire Celebrates Library Lover’s Month with a Pop-Up Library at IKEA Nottingham – Inspire Culture. “From 14 – 18 February we transformed one of the children’s bedroom sets into a library, complete with children’s fiction and non-fiction books, library membership forms, information about our services, stuffed toys, craft activities and a story time area. Customers followed a trail of pages from IKEA’s bestselling book which finished inside our library.”
- We are striving to make Nottinghamshire’s libraries the best in the country – Nottinghamshire County Council. “… our investment in recent years in new libraries, new mobile libraries, and IT infrastructure to ensure our long-running commitment to maintain the network and offer the best service for our communities across the whole of Nottinghamshire.In the past 12 years we have seen new library buildings opened in Worksop, West Bridgford, Collingham, Misterton and Cotgrave, with much of the remaining libraries across the county undergoing refurbishment. The creation of Inspire – which manages the library service on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council – to deliver our libraries, culture and learning services has been a great success in offering a range of events, exhibitions, activities, and courses.”
- Peterborough – Peterborough libraries designated as safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse – Peterborough Telegraph. “Each library in the city will allow access to a private room and a phone line for people who need to make a phone call to access support.”
- Sheffield – A new centre opens at Library @ the Lightbox to support local entrepreneurs, inventors, and small businesses – News Anyway. “The hub centre was first opened in Sheffield Central Library in 2015. Within the first three years, it helped create almost 400 businesses, 320 additional jobs and generated £2.8m gross added value for the region. “
- Slough – Slough residents disapprove library closures – Slough and South Berks Observer. “The two proposed options to close the libraries received a ‘low approval’ from residents and users where about 15 per cent agreed to this idea. The most popular option at 81 per cent was to keep all buildings but slash opening hours, staffing hours, and reduce space. 74 per cent agreed to slash opening and staff hours at Cippenham and Langley libraries and reduce staffed hours at the Curve and Britwell. About half of respondents approved the idea to reduce spending on hard copies and eResources. Over 700 respondents commented on the survey. 38 per cent said they go to the library to ‘combat loneliness’ and that the buildings are a ‘valuable community asset’ that builds on social inclusion and cohesion.”
- Warwickshire – Warwickshire’s libraries offer support to get pupils back on track after pandemic disruption – Stratford Observer. “In collaboration with Warwickshire Libraries, the SLS provides a subscription-based service to support primary and secondary schools across Warwickshire and help create lifelong readers and learners.”
- Libraries seek residents’ royal memories to celebrate Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Rugby Observer. “Forms are available at county libraries to share memories [of the Queen] and photographs can be taken of people with their medal or other memorabilia.”
- Westminster – Westminster City Council update on Mayfair and other libraries – City of Westminster. “There have been reports that the Council plans to close Mayfair Library. This not the case. The lease is due for renewal in the Autumn and the process for extension is already underway. Mayfair Library serves a large geographic area in the heart of Westminster and is not under threat of closure.”
- Wiltshire – Wiltshire libraries celebrate a decade of volunteers – Andover Advertiser. “Since September 2011, Wiltshire’s Community Library Volunteers have operated all the opening hours in nine of the council’s smallest libraries and supported staff by providing extra volunteer sessions at six slightly larger libraries, ensuring these services remain available for local people to use and enjoy. Over the 10 years, the library volunteers have collectively given 163,679 hours of their time.”
- Windsor and Maidenhead – Maidenhead’s Big Read to begin on Tuesday – Maidenhead Advertiser. “The theme for this year’s event is ‘Ocean Alive’, and will feature author talks, storytelling and reading together at the library. There will also be an ‘Undersea Bus’ storytelling on wheels event in the Once Upon A Bus parked nearby on the High Street.” … “This is supported by a 10m life-size orca positioned right in the middle of the library.”. Campaign managed by volunteers.
An open and shut case?
Feb 20th
Editorial
I often see estimates of the numbers of libraries closed since 2010 or some other date. They are often represented as accurate, factual or official, which causes me to have a wry smile or slight headache depending on my mood. This is because such figures are only ever estimates. Everyone with at least some awareness of the situation knows that the most official provider of statistics for public libraries, CIPFA, is riddled with problems. This is not least because that august charging-the-public-for-year-old-plus-data body relies on councils for its figures and such councils often – can’t think why – downplay the number of closures.
In addition, there is the problem of defining what a closure is. A council can pass on its library service to a town council which keeps it open or even increases hours. Is that a closure? What if it passes it on to unpaid volunteers but with a member of paid staff visiting per week? What if it’s just volunteers but the council still owns the building? What if it keeps that staff and the building but doesn’t buy new books? What if the total opening hours increases, due to library-card-recognition door sensors but has almost no staff? What if the library stays open, still run by the council but is reduced to 10% of its former size due to other services being brought in to the space? Does that represent .9 of a closure? The correct answer therefore you will get depends on the definition you have, or someone else has, or a mere guess or a hotch-potch collection from various sources. It cannot be seen as the correct answer.
The public, and therefore the media, love clear facts but there is often no such thing. I gave up trying to count such closures when I realised this. Even adding up media reports, as I did for years, depends on such things being reported and noticed. And always there is the problem of definitions. Until there is a clearly accepted definition – and I suspect there never will be – in addition to a universal information gathering source – and, again, I suspect that there never will be one of those either – then please treat any airy claims of a “x number of closures” or such like with the suspicion it deserves. A far more accurate figure is the amount of council expenditure on libraries per year. But, again, I could write a whole essay on the problems with that. The number of libraries open and closed, you see, is never an open or shut case.
Changes by local authority
- Neath Port Talbot – Now fines-free
- North Tyneside – Tynemouth Library to be demolished to be replaced by a “modern hub”.
- Sheffield – Cuts expected.
- Somerset – Wellington Library to stay open with £900k refurbishment rather than close
Wirral – Greasby and Rock Ferry Libraries no longer under threat of closure: libraries cut of £800k reduced by £162k.
National news
- Access Lab 2022 – OpenAthens. “Access Lab is the place where you can discuss challenges and solutions around end user discovery and access to digital content and services. Our 2022 event is online and will provide the opportunity to hear about industry developments, real life case studies and topical panel discussions.”
- The Guardian view on libraries: bring back borrowers – Guardian / Editorial. “Access to the knowledge and literary art (poetry, fiction, drama) in a library is precious, priceless – and particularly valuable to young minds and people of any age with an interest in education.”
“Books can be treasured possessions, but there is also something special about a copy that arrives in your hands having passed through those of others – and that will go on being passed between strangers who share your curiosity.”
- Nominate for the Dagger in the Library – CWA. “Eligible authors have published six or more crime books over a period of 10 years or more and have never won the Diamond Dagger. The list of eligible authors who libraries can nominate is selected by the Dagger in the Library judges each year.”
International news
- Australia – Online Storytimes – Online Storytime. “Online Storytime is a way to bring storytelling to families with young children missing out on storytimes during COVID-19 lockdowns or living at a distance from their nearest library. They are a way to keep connected with library communities and to participate in these fun, educational activities in a time-flexible way. Introduced during the lockdowns in 2021, for some libraries and families, Online Storytime has become a regular programming fixture.”
- Iraq – Culture’s victory over Isis: How teams of historians are working to restore Mosul’s libraries and museums – I.
- Ireland – Don’t turn the page on lockdown reading habits, plead librarians – Sunday Times. Partial paywall. “Irish libraries have partnered with publishers, booksellers and authors in a campaign to encourage people to “squeeze in a read” this month. Librarians across the country have contributed to the list of ten recommended books, in a campaign that culminates in Ireland Reads Day on Friday.”
- USA – How non-librarians imagine a librarian’s typical workday – McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. “Wake up and put on knit cardigan, slacks, and sensible shoes. Feed my cat, Mr. Foibles. Have tea and English muffin while I read Shakespeare and listen to symphonies.” [Pretty much sums it up for me – Ed.]
- Public Libraries Adapt to the 21st Century … and Uphold Democracy – Seven Days Vermont. “From a largely expanded inventory of items on loan to community-minded programming and resources to librarians engaged in defending democracy’s promise of equal access to information, “The public library is now in transition …”
Local news by authority
- Bath and North East Somerset – Campaigners fearing “decimation” of Bath library offered personal assurance – Somerset Live. “A senior councillor has given her personal guarantee that Bath Central Library and council services will not merge while she has any influence. The reassurance comes after plans emerged to relocate “some information services” into the Podium in a £126,000 funding cut that campaigners warned would “decimate our wonderful library provision”.”
- Devon – Library launches flower project to help people through grief – Okehampton Today. ACE funded.
- Devon parents can weigh babies at the library – Devon Live. “Parents and carers will be able to weigh their babies in local libraries across Devon thanks to a new partnership between Libraries Unlimited and Devon Public Health Nursing.”
- Edinburgh – Edinburgh libraries used as Covid test centres to be handed back within six weeks – Edinburgh Evening News. “Four city libraries which are being used as Covid test centres are to be returned to their normal purpose after the Scottish Government agreed to a request from the council.”
- Glasgow – Eight more Glasgow libraries to return to pre-pandemic opening times – Glasgow Live. “From February 14, a total of 13 libraries across the city will be back open on a full-time basis. It comes after months of protests over the closures by local groups.”
- Kent – Breaking the News exhibition at Kent libraries – Kent County Council. “Breaking the News is brought to Kent Libraries by the British Library Living Knowledge Network. It is inspired by an exhibition at the British Library, which houses the UK’s biggest news collection dating back to the 1500s.”
- Lancashire – Lancashire Cabinet to consider fresh vision for libraries and museums – In Your Area. “The Library and Museum Strategies 2022-25 will set out a vision for how these vital services will evolve over the coming years.” … ” For libraries, there is a focus on making the most of the deep connections which libraries have with their local communities to not only provide a point of access for cultural activity but support people with the information and skills they need throughout their life.”
- Leeds – Leeds Lit festival 2022 with famous children‘s authors coming to city – Leeds Live.
- Manchester – Manchester Libraries update report – Manclibraries Blog. “The report describes how the library service continues to have had a positive impact on people’s lives over the last couple of years – in fact more so than ever during the pandemic – and lays out how we continue to do so in the future.”
- Northamptonshire – Binned Burton Latimer prize-winning posters help spread anti-litter message – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “The designs had been so eye-catching that library supporter and Burton Town councillor Adrian Watts had them made into signs for display on lampposts around the town.” [The building is owned by the Town Council and they employ a library manager and two assistants]
- Council searching for group to take over management of a Northampton community library as it is yet to reopen – Northampton Chronicle. “Volunteers from Friends of St James Library and Goodwill Solutions were proposed to run the library. However, the facility has not yet reopened since the pandemic forced closure in 2020. Now West Northamptonshire Council is appealing to the community to seek new expressions of interest to take over the running of the library as a ‘community managed library,’ under an agreed service level agreement.”
- North Tyneside – North Tyneside residents’ fury at library demolition plans – Chronicle Live.”This is a disgrace”.That was one outraged resident’s opinion on plans to flatten Tynemouth Library to build another in its place.The current building at Front Street has served the community for more than 70 years. Plans to rebuild the library were revealed by North Tyneside Council in February 2020 with the aim of turning it into a modern hub for the community.”
- Oldham – Budding entrepreneurs urged to book in at Oldham Library – Oldham Council. “The local authority is taking part in a new and innovative project run by libraries across Greater Manchester – and want residents to get involved and develop their business ideas. ‘Build a Business in GM Libraries’ is a new scheme part funded by the European Union”
- Rhondda Cynon Taf – Major refurbishment works at Treorchy library – Wales 247. “Major refurbishment and redesign works have been completed at Treorchy Library as part of a joint £150,000 investment by the Council and Welsh Government to improve the facilities for users and the local community.”
- St Helens – Man tears down library shelves after being asked to ‘turn down music’ – Liverpool Echo. ““A person was approached by staff to turn down the volume of their music. The person took exception to this and decided to practically wreck the library by tipping over lots of book racks. “Luckily nobody was injured but I hope the staff that had to deal with such a horrendous situation are not too shaken. We were informed that the police were already involved and let’s hope this mindless act is brought to justice.””
- Sheffield – Libraries will be reviewed as Sheffield Council struggles with budget cuts – The Star. “The authority will need to use reserves to cover a £14m budget shortfall and is increasing council tax by the maximum three per cent. But finance chiefs say that will only balance the books for this year and services, including libraries, will need to be reviewed.” … “Libraries is an example of something we did in the past, where we moved some libraries to be volunteer-led. “There’s still an investment from the council in doing that but it’s a lower investment and is a way of continuing to provide those services to communities that are at a lower cost to the council tax payer”
- Somerset – Temporary closure of Burnham-On-Sea library extended for ongoing upgrade work – Burnham on Sea.com. “Work to upgrade Burnham-On-Sea library is set to take longer than originally expected and its temporary closure has been extended, Somerset County Council has announced this week. The libray will remain closed for an extra week to allow the decarbonisation work to be completed.”
- Somerset library to be saved and refurbished – BBC. “One of Somerset’s libraries will be saved with £900,000 of investment over the next 18 months. Somerset County Council had looked at relocating Wellington Library, but has now decided to refurbish the existing site on Fore Street.”
- Stoke – Stoke on Trent Libraries host ‘Same, Same…But Different’ theatre performances – Stoke on Trent Council. “The last 2 years have been such an incredibly difficult time for children, so it seems extremely poignant to be bringing this high-class performance to the doorsteps of communities in England at this time”
- Suffolk – Storm Eunice: Live updates on all Suffolk closures – East Anglian Daily Times. “All library services in the county have been closed due to the effects of Storm Eunice. The mobile libraries will also not be running, and there will be no home library service deliveries due to the red weather warning issued this morning”
- Warwickshire – Help Warwickshire Libraries in celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Warwickshire County Council. If you have a connection/ever met royalty then “Warwickshire Library Service would love to hear from you. Forms are available at your local library for you to share your memories and photographs can be taken of you with your medal or other memorabilia. “
- Warwickshire Libraries are open this half-term with plenty of great children’s activities including Adventures in Storytelling – Warwickshire County Council. “The fun activities range from interactive ‘Adventures in Storytelling’ and getting hands on in Lego Club, to enjoying reading through the Book Bears scheme and taking part in Stories and Dragons sessions”
- Westminster – Statement on libraries from Cllr Timothy Barnes, Cabinet Member for Young People and Learning – Westminster Council. “The suggestion that any decision has been taken to close any library to save money is simply wrong. Whilst an internal report for officers has made comments on library buildings in relation to accessibility, carbon emissions and our ambition to work smarter, no recommendations or suggestions have been put to councillors for any decisions. The Council invests more money in its libraries per resident than any other council in the country and we understand they are highly valued by residents. That’s why we are building two new library facilities in the north of Westminster, at Seymour and Church Street, and have planned a refurbishment of Paddington Library, too.”
- Wirral – Five crucial things we learnt from Wirral Council’s big cuts meeting – Liverpool Echo. “Cllr Tom Anderson, leader of the Conservative group, had his plan to keep Greasby Library open accepted. … Labour’s Yvonne Nolan added a plan to keep Rock Ferry Library open to Cllr Anderson’s amendment, something the committee agreed to. This will see Wirral Council save £162,000 less than the original £800,000 it had expected to save year-on-year from cutting the library service.”
Laugh until you cry: the Guardian on CIPFA
Feb 13th
Editorial
The summary of the most recent CIPFA statistics in the Guardian is so dead-pan it’s almost a comedic gem. Some of the findings are so obvious as to be hilarious – hey kids, library usage reduced when buildings were locked up; volunteer hours reduced, presumably because not enough of them broke in; librarians numbers stayed almost the same – that would be because they were all furloughed, then. The absolute gem though is that CIPFA reports there are 200 more libraries open than the year before. One more joke too, although more tragic than funny: the report, released normally only from 9 months after the time it reports on took place, has this time been released eleven months late this time. So, on current trends, libraries will have to wait until some time in 2023 to find out the national state of play as of now. Which is a big shame, because I personally can’t wait to see how many more hundred new libraries have opened in 2021/2. To be fair, this is not all CIPFA’s fault – returns from library services are patchy and late – but it does show that the current system of collating and reporting statistics needs to change. That is what no less a body as Libraries Connected says in their reaction to the report and what we can hope takes place.
In other reading, I also loved a book sent to me called “An English Library Journey” about someone who tries to join every library service in England. It’s sometimes eccentric in what it says about each service, and covers about a decade, but it does represent a kind of Secret Shopper report not just on each location but also how things appear to a member of the public nationally. The main messages I take from it is how atomised the national library service is and how difficult some services seem to think it’s necessary to make joining a library, which must be putting off quite a significant proportion of people who walk in through their doors.
In other news, Manchester has announced it is going fines-free, adding it’s prestigious weight to a movement that now has at least 27 library services in the UK.
Changes by local authority
- Bath and North East Somerset – £126k proposed cut
- Gwynedd – £900k Pwllheli Library refurbishment.
- Manchester – Fines-free from April
An English Library Journey by John Bevis
“Over the past decade, I’ve been using libraries all over the country as “offices” where I can go and write. Finding that becoming a member gave me the use of library computers, I got into the habit of joining libraries wherever I went. By the end of ten years, I had a card for every library authority in England (and some in other countries, too). Along the way, with a growing curiosity about the public library system, I took notes on what I saw in and out of libraries, eavesdropped on conversations, admired library architecture, and witnessed countless people of many demographics using libraries for an amazing diversity of needs. These observations make up much of my new book, An English Library Journey.
I joined my first library, coincidentally, in the week of the 2010 general election that gave us austerity. Over the years, I’ve despaired on arriving at libraries that are no longer there, or are closed because they only open 12 hours per week, are understaffed or over-reliant on volunteers, or are on some profit-extracting privatisation mission. But despite the desperate remedies, my abiding impression is of good service, goodwill and enthusiasm. Now, more than ever, I believe libraries are an essential part of our toolbox for a better future.”
John Bevis
National news
- How to Start a Board Game Collection – National Acquisitions Group. Tuesday 1 March, 10.30am. Webinar. ” In this webinar we’ll hear from Andrew and Patrick about how they started their successful programme in Newcastle upon Tyne which loans a wide range of games. They will cover how to choose stock, including revealing their most popular items, and how to resolve some of the issues you might encounter.”
- Libraries hold the key to boosting our towns – Times, pay-walled. Liz Jolly of the British Library writes ” I have long seen the benefits of libraries in our communities. But since joining the British Library in 2018, responsible for our mission to support innovation and economic growth across the UK, I’ve been surprised by how far the roots of these benefits can spread …”
- Library use plummeted in 2021, but e-visits showed 18% rise during lockdown – Guardian. CIPFA have released April 2020 to March 21 library statistics in February 2022. Libraries closed for long times during this period.. “a drop of 72%, as Covid-19 restrictions shut branches for much of the 12-month period. The closures also led to a major decline in the number of books borrowed by readers, with 72.9m books issued by libraries last year, down 56% from 165.9m in 2020″. Web visits up 18% ” total income of libraries decreased by nearly £20m to £56.6m … Librarian numbers remained relatively static, falling by 85 over the period”. Volunteer hours reduced sharply, for obvious reasons. “One unexpected spark of good news in the Cipfa figures was the report that the number of library branches in the UK increased to 3,842 in 2021. The growth, from 3,662 branches recorded in the year to March 2020”
- Number of libraries rose in 2021 as visits plummeted, disputed figures show – BookSeller. “”It’s worth noting that the reduced levels of income we’ve seen have occurred despite increases in specific grant funding. Without this additional grant funding, we would have expected to see lines of income even lower. The fiscal reality that libraries are facing is bleak.” … ““We don’t know anything about the loans of e-books or any digital material. We don’t know how much the library service was used for events or by children. We don’t know how much was spent on either print books or e-books. Nor do we know how many councils completed the CIPFA form—which is an ongoing concern.”
- Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – National Acquisitions Group. “£5,000 available for a project from a NAG Member library. This grant, launched in 2019, aims to enable public libraries to explore a project without requiring a lengthy application process and with the flexibility to cover a range of circumstances. “
- A sense of community is more vital than ever – Guardian / Letters. “Julian Coman’s article quotes a list, from the Labour’s Covenant pamphlet, of the places we need to invest in “where people from different backgrounds, meet talk, argue and laugh” (Politicians may have forgotten about ‘community’, but British people haven’t, 7 February). While the list is commendable, public libraries are a surprising omission. Many people once saw them as the heart of the communities they served. They provide all the facilities that Coman outlines, but like the BBC they also inform, educate and entertain.”
- Single Digital Presence Head of Delivery – British Library. “To lead the beta phase of a new service proposition for public library users, introducing a new national platform and investing in local websites to transform the reach and impact of public libraries. “… “We are now looking for a team leader to direct and lead the team to develop the next phase of the project, drawing on recommendations from the R&D phase and user research. “
- UXLIBSVI – “The 6th annual international User Experience in Libraries conference, or UXLibsVI, for library staff interested in exploring and responding to the needs and behaviours of their users,”. 6-8 June, Newcastle Under Lyme. [One hopes that having names in code is not part of the recommended user experience – Ed.]
- Why libraries are so keen on apprenticeships and the Kickstart scheme – DCMS Libraries. “In a competitive jobs market it is hard to attract multi-talented and ambitious people – and relying on traditional recruitment channels won’t help to broaden the intake. Apprenticeships can reach out deeper into communities – attracting people keen to develop skills and advance their careers, including those who would never have imagined working in a library. Many apprentices find once they start work in the library, they get the bug and want to build a library career.”
International news
- USA – Generous furries help save at-risk libraries cut off by mayor over gay books – Pink News. “A library system that was denied funding unless it removed LGBT+ books from shelves has raised vital cash with help of the furry community.”
- Libraries are more popular than ever and library workers don’t earn liveable wages: the state of US Public Libraries – Book Riot. “an expansive view of the state of U.S. public libraries since 1992 Among some of the key findings are that in-person library usage is down while the popularity of library use — thanks to digital access — is at its highest. Libraries rely less on government funding than they ever have before and, perhaps as a result, pay their workers less than a livable wage.”
- We Are Not Okay: Library Worker Trauma Before and During COVID-19 and What Happens After – Youtube. Recorded webinar. Resources here.
Local news by authority
- Bath and North East Somerset – Council accused of u-turn on promise to protect Bath library – Somerset Live. “While in opposition, Liberal Democrats slammed the previous Conservative administration’s multi-million-pound plans to merge the Podium hub and the One Stop Shop. But the Friends of Bath Library fear an unwanted sequel after proposals emerged to cut £126,000 from Bath and North East Somerset Council ’s libraries budget over the next two years.”
- Bolton – New libraries scheme to boost Bolton businesses – Bolton Council. “‘Build a Business in GM Libraries’ is a new scheme running across Greater Manchester and part funded by the European Union with £1.3 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The programme will offer advice, tailored support and guidance to local business owners and their teams through a series of workshops delivered at libraries”
- Bradford – Wibsey Library temporarily closed due to condition of floor – Telegraph and Argus. “The floor in the library will be replaced and the library will be closed for five weeks.”
- Cambridgeshire – Carer award goes to county library service – Hunts Post.
- Coventry – A new coat of paint for Foleshill Library – Coventry Council. “Foleshill Library is being painted from Monday 14 February to Friday 11 March 2022. The Library will be open for everyone to use whilst the painters do their work but some things will be in different places.”
- East Riding – Reading Well for Children scheme to support children’s health and wellbeing in the region – East Riding of Yorkshire Council. “A team from Caring Together was impressed with the work done by the libraries, including having a dedicated carers champion, the amount of staff staff attending the charity’s awareness sessions and their promotion of national and local carers campaigns, all of which have had an impact on carers and the people they look after.”
- Edinburgh – Mobile library will visit Oxgangs every Monday evening from 5pm – service begins today – Edinburgh Reporter. “As a way of replacing the library at Oxgangs which continues to be used as a Covid-19 test centre, the council will use the mobile library service.”
- Edinburgh council performs partial u-turn in row over libraries closed to provide Covid test centres – Edinburgh News. “Council chiefs under fire over the prolonged closure of Oxgangs library have performed a partial u-turn and agreed to provide a mobile library twice a week as a stop-gap measure.”
- Essex – Saffron Walden superhero celebration for Love Your Library day – Saffron Walden Reporter.
- Gloucestershire – Go greener with Gloucestershire Libraries – News Anyway. “All libraries in the county now stock a Greener Together collection of books providing information on how to reduce your carbon footprint, along with a wide range of other useful advice on topics including growing your own vegetables and recycling.”
- Gwynedd – Library set to reopen on Monday – Cambrian News. “With a major investment of over £900,000 to update and upgrade both the library and cinema and theatre facilities, staff at the new-look Neuadd Dwyfor look forward to welcoming the public back into the much-loved building.”
- Kirklees – Birkby and Fartown Library is a big hit with the local community – Kirklees Together. “Six months have passed since the official opening the £799K community library in Birkby and Fartown. It’s fair to say, the team of staff and volunteers have barely stopped, and the community has taken the library to their hearts. Since opening in the summer of 2021, the team has welcomed almost 550 new members and issued over 12,000 books”
- Lancashire – Lower entry fees to Lancashire’s museums and plans to put libraries “at the heart” of delivering services – Lancashire Post. “Within Lancashire’s libraries, people with a physical impairment and those who are deaf or hard of hearing will be included in the list of groups who are exempt from charges for borrowing audio-visual materials. That concession is already on offer to the visually impaired and people with dyslexia or a learning disability. Meanwhile, care leavers under the age of 25 will no longer have to pay for the late return of library books, an exemption which currently applies only to people under 18 and to any books borrowed from mobile libraries. Charges for craft activities in libraries will be scrapped in order to “provide equal opportunity for all to take part”, while the reservation charge of 75p for CDs will also be removed.”
- Leeds – Save the Date! Leeds Libraries to launch Leeds Lit Fest 2022 with a day of free events for families and children – Leeds Council. “Leeds Lit Fest will launch at Leeds Central Library on Saturday 26 February, with a full day of free events for families and children. Hear from amazing authors, have a go at crafting, enjoy captivating storytelling sessions and listen to writers in conversation. With events for pre-school children all the way up to young adults, it’s the perfect way to round off the spring half term break.”
- Liverpool – New role for Alicia – Liverpool Express. “Culture Liverpool’s Alicia Smith is taking on a new challenge, after being promoted to Interim Divisional Manager for Arts, Heritage, Libraries and Participation.” … “On the top of Alicia’s to-do list is a bid for a peer review of the service, through the Local Government Association and Arts Council England. An application was submitted last week. Alicia said: “If it goes forward, we’ll be throwing the doors of our libraries wide open to a small team of experts, who will provide challenge, share learning and help us to improve the service even further.””
- Manchester – ‘Unique’ Didsbury Library to get a makeover and close for over a month – Manchester Evening News. “While the decorating takes place, the library will be shut from Monday February 14 until Monday March 28. The changes will include new carpets throughout, a fresh coat of paint and new furniture, including a revamp of the children’s library.”
- Crime Festival – Library Live.
- Overdue library fines to be scrapped – Manclibraries Blog. “From the 1 April 2022 adults will no longer need to pay fines if they return their books later than the due date. If books are never returned, lost book charges will still apply. The decision is part of a bid to encourage more people to use their local libraries, borrow books and enjoy reading – both books and e-books. Children and over sixties already do not pay fines on overdue books. By abolishing fines the council aim to reduce inequalities that exist around libraries and eliminate the worry about being fined.”
- Northeast Lincolnshire – Grimsby Library set to reopen on Thursday 10th February following repair work – NE Lincs Council. “The site was closed to public and staff as a precaution following a routine asbestos management inspection”
- North Yorkshire – North Yorkshire’s home library service continues to supply bookworms with reading material – Scarborough News. 1200 use the service. “In collaboration with Warwickshire Libraries, the SLS supports primary and secondary schools across Warwickshire by offering a subscription-based service at great value to help create lifelong readers and learners in students.”
- Post office and library in Yorkshire Dales town of Hawes at risk of closing unless locals buy the petrol station – Yorkshire Post. “”We have around 15 months left on our lease and if the petrol station is then sold to a private owner, that puts our other services – the post office, library and bus – in serious jeopardy. Our profits go towards funding the others. It was actually the pension fund who suggested we buy it and they’ve given us a six-month moratorium to raise the investment.”
- Peterborough – Budget: Libraries may stay open – but “something else” must be removed – Peterborough Matters. “Regarding the savings to the library system, the proposal looks to remodel and modernise the library service so that it can cost less.“But we already have a library service that is only staffed for fifteen hours a week so if the plan is to remodel it and modernise it, can I ask what that would entail? Cllr Steve Allen replied saying: “We’re doing a complete overview of the library service – that could include the closure of some libraries, it could include the repurposing and commercialising of some libraries, it could involve staff changes. “Cllr Howard and myself are doing an in-depth study of the libraries and indeed, we’re referring to each ward councillor as we visit the library in their ward.”
- Half-term family fun in Peterborough at the museum, libraries and Flag Fen – Peterborough Today. “Families with young children can hear stories about pirates, get creative by drawing a treasure map, design their own pirate flag, make an eye patch to wear and hunt for hidden treasure.”
- Shetlands – Shetland Library – Matter Port. Interior Google Maps style photo walk through of the library.
- Suffolk – Tribute to library manager who leaves behind ‘fantastic legacy’ – Ipswich Star. “David Cook became Broomhill Library manager in 2015 but for more than a decade was dedicated to improving and increasing services at Suffolk Libraries. Colleagues called Mr Cook “warm, generous and calm” and passionate about making the library a friendly and welcoming space. He died last week after two years of fighting illness. “
- ‘Incredibly exciting’ library on site of former middle school opens – East Anglian Daily Times. “The project was funded by Mid Suffolk District Council, with the new library providing a bigger space for events and activities, as well as bookable meeting rooms.”
- Warrington – LiveWire libraries giving free books away on Valentine’s Day – Warrington Guardian. “The book giveaways will be offered on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to one per customer. They will be either from the romance, thriller, mystery or anthology genres and have a teaser description on the front in the style of a dating advert. The books are free and for people to keep, they don’t need to be checked out or returned to the library.”
- Warwickshire – Warwickshire Schools Libraries Service offers support to education settings to get children and young people back on track with learning this year – Warwickshire County Council
- Keep on reading with Warwickshire Libraries – Rugby Observer. “This year younger children also have the opportunity to get involved in the free Warwickshire Book Bears scheme. Children under five collect a stamp every time they visit the library, and after six stamps they earn a certificate.”
- Wokingham – Wokingham Libraries hosts online events for youngsters later this month – Wokingham Today. “Two creative writing groups and virtual a storytime will be both taking place online.”
- Wolverhampton – Most city libraries back to full open hours but retirement village branch remains closed – Express and Star. “Only Collingwood Library remains closed as it is within the Broadway Gardens retirement village in Bushbury and work is ongoing to ensure it can open safely.”
- York – New Explore library and Reading Cafe for York – letter – The Press. Council portfolio holder says “I’m proud that, at a time when library services across the country are being cut, the council is investing to produce world-class facilities that will make a real difference in our communities.”
The only big public library trend of 2021
Feb 6th
Editorial
I normally produce a review of the year, with the major trends of the year around Christmas time. Well, there was only one major thing happening in 2021, as there was in 2020, and it is the same reason why there was no Christmas PLN post this year. Covid. It has impacted and influenced everything libraries do in a way I cannot believe has been done before in my lifetime, with the possible and arguable exceptions of the digital revolution and austerity. The virus has led to a dramatic decrease in physical library visits, not least because initially buildings were locked up, but then due to limited services and concerns over infection. It has also seen a big increase in digital usage, although not to the same extent.
What will be the most important trend of 2022 will be whether libraries recover their physical usage,a nd to what extent. It may not be talked about much but it’s the elephant in the room. It’s known that at least some library users have found alternative sources than libraries or that they have developed different habits. There is little more disruptive than lockdowns and so expecting usage to come back to the way it was before would anyway be a foolish thing to do. It’s worth noting too that some libraries are reporting usage almost back up to normal already while others are still way down so, as in anything with UK public libraries, the picture is mixed.
Given this change in usage, I would expect most sectors to go all-out with publicity and promotion to remind people that we are once again open to business. Due to the fractured nature of the public library sector, though, and a long-term absence of major national publicity or promotional campaigns, it would be an optimist who would expect such a thing from UK libraries. There is simply no budget, residual skills or serious expectation. Irish libraries can do it, it seems, but not us. There is a hook that we can place such publicity on this year – the long-awaited launch of the Single Digital Presence – and much brilliant that can be said about public libraries, now as ever. But until I am pleasantly surprised. public libraries will be as devoid of effective national publicity as they have been for several decades. After all, lack of marketing and promotional budgets have been a long term trend for public libraries our entire lives, no matter I suspect how old you are. Covid is a newcomer in comparison. And the slow publicity asphyxiation of the sector is having a huge impact, possibly as impactful long-term as the virus is short and medium term.
Changes by local authority
- Dudley – Extra two hours opening in nine libraries per week.
National news
- Support our Libraries: More than half of adults believe digital services are ‘no substitute’ for traditional libraries study finds – Scotsman. “The survey, conducted by the University of Strathclyde partnered with YouGov, found that 57 per of adults disagreed that digital alternatives were suitable replacements for traditional services, while 22 per cent believed they were. It also found that while the number of people using digital library services increased by 11 per cent in 2020 – 2021, from pre-pandemic levels, they still amounted to only a fifth of all library users.”
International news
- Australia – Four years ago, Rabiha’s family fled Afghanistan. This is how she made Melbourne her home – ABC. “”I learned English by reading children’s books, working my way up to novels and became confident as I practised talking to people,” she says.Rabiha also found a new sense of belonging among the pages. “The library was full of all kinds of people and there were so many kinds of books from all over the world in so many languages,” Rabiha says.”
- USA – Book bans turn libraries into latest battlegrounds in America’s culture wars – I. Burning books that don’t agree with viewpoint of a council member one of the suggestions put forward. 330 challenges against books in school libraries in 2 months, six times more than normal. Also, some want any books that may conceivably cause discomfort for their children to come with warnings.
- Boy sneaks home-made comic into library and becomes national sensation – Independent. “Dillon Helbig, a second grader who created his “Crismis” (Christmas) comic at home last month, admitted to his parents at the end of December that he had left his work in the Ada Community Library in Boise, southwest Idaho. His parents phoned the library to ask for the comic book to be returned but as The New York Times reported on Monday, were informed that it had become a hit – with a waiting list of four years.”
- New Model Library: Plan for positive change in the midst of challenges – OCLC Next. “the COVID-19 pandemic is a singular, global upheaval that affects everyone who works at and uses libraries.”
Local news by authority
- Ceredigion – Ceredigion libraries to resume public use of computers – Wales 247. Have to book in advance. “We will continue to ensure that the use of the library and the public computers will be as safe as possible, which will include wearing a face mask, maintaining social distancing and hand sanitising on arrival.”
“Coseley, Cradley, Gornal, Kingswinford, Long Lane, Lye, Netherton, Sedgley and Wordsley libraries will now open Monday & Thursday 10am – 5pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm. That’s an extra two hours per library per week”
Dudley – Email from GLL
- Edinburgh – Edinburgh council to write to UK and Scottish governments, saying libraries used as Covid test centres must be handed back now – Edinburgh Evening News. “Deputy council leader Cammy Day has formally asked the city’s top official to tell the UK and Scottish governments that the four Edinburgh libraries currently operating as Covid test centres must be handed back for use as libraries with immediate effect.” … “Normal services have been suspended at Leith, Oxgangs, Sighthill and Newington libraries while the buildings are used to offer PCR tests to people with symptoms of the virus. Residents in Oxgangs last week called for their library – one of the busiest in the city – to reopen as soon as possible. It has been shut for nearly two years, first due to lockdown, then repairs and now because it is a test centre.”
- Edinburgh council to spend £400,000 to replace outdated software in public libraries – Software Testing News. “… the city libraries were still using Microsoft Windows 7 as it has continued to receive extended support for it. However, the operating system will stop being available after July 2022 and the computers are getting too old to be compatible with later versions of the OS.”
- Highlands – Old laptops and PCs can now be handed in to more than a dozen High Life Highland libraries in a bid to give more children access to technology – Inverness Courier. “High Life Highland (HLH) libraries are accepting donations having teamed up with Wick-based Budding Engineers to create the scheme. The company hopes to give young people access to digital technology and encourage interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects.”
- Lancashire – Lancashire County Council to explore ‘fresh vision’ for libraries and museums – Blog Preston. “Lancashire councillors will assess the role of museums and libraries in county cultural life at a cabinet meeting this February. Councillors will consider approving a ‘fresh vision’ for two distinct library and museum strategies at the county council’s next cabinet meeting on Thursday 3 February. The Library and Museum Strategies 2022-25 set out how the services will evolve over the coming years to inspire learning, keep people healthy and connected, and preserve the county’s diverse heritage.”
- Leeds – Leeds Libraries: where to borrow books near me – and how to get a library card for free – Yorkshire Evening Post. “They do not charge fines for the late return of books, however items not returned will be treated as lost and charges may apply to replace them.”
- Liverpool – Liverpool libraries to reopen fully in April – Liverpool Echo. “Liverpool Council officials said they are “quite confident” that as authority services continue to recover from the impact of Covid-19, services at libraries across the city will be at full strength by Spring.” … “Workforce planning has ensured a number of younger staff are due to come on stream to mitigate the older workforce that has stepped away since 2020.” [Seriously, that is how it is worded – Ed.] … “Full IT suites and meeting rooms being made available to users from April will be subject to Liverpool Council’s protocols around Covid-19”
- Norfolk – It’s Time to Talk about mental health – Norfolk County Council. “Norfolk Libraries support the Read My Mind project – a series of podcasts that encourage men who are experiencing depression or low mood levels to take part in social reading activities”
- Libraries to inspire next generation of tech gurus in West Norfolk – Lynn News. “DigiFest 2022 will give children aged four to 14 the chance to get hands-on with fun digital tech from Tuesday, February 1”
- Northamptonshire – Raunds library offering packed events programme despite threat of closure – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “A full programme of events have been put in place for the community, including half-term activities for children taking place from Monday, February 14. The fate of the library will be decided by the members of Raunds Town Council in their roles as the Raunds Library Working Party.”
- North Yorkshire – Libraries boost young people’s wellbeing with self-care toolkits – North Yorkshire County Council. “There are 50 toolkits available to borrow which include books from the Reading Well Shelf Help collection, colouring, journaling and origami, fidget toys and information on support organisations. The toolkits, funded by Libraries Connected Yorkshire & Humber, are free to borrow and request from any North Yorkshire library aimed at individuals or groups aged from 11 to 25.”
- Nottingham – Give us your views on proposed changes to Nottingham City Libraries – My Nottingham News. “Launching on Monday 31 January, the consultation recommends a number of changes to buildings and ways of working, including the closure of three libraries that have some of the lowest usage and highest costs – and that have better, more modern facilities located nearby.”
- Peterborough – Opinion: ‘Time to re-think Peterborough’s unfair Council Tax’ – Peterborough Today. “Children’s services and adult social care are going to be hit and our much-valued library services are under threat. We know that libraries are vital for encouraging children from less wealthy backgrounds to read and expand their horizons.”
- Portsmouth – New website helps residents to rediscover libraries – Portsmouth City Council. “The new website also has information on upcoming courses, details on the range of reading groups across the city and events for both children and adults, including all the details of Portsmouth Bookfest 2022. There is even a section listing special offers for library card holders, such as 20% discount with Hovertravel.”
- Redbridge – Step into a story at Redbridge Libraries for National Storytelling Week – Yellow Advertiser. “While libraries across the country have had to close their doors due to government funding cuts, we are so proud to not only have kept the doors of Redbridge’s 12 libraries open, but also invested in and upgraded them.”
- Warrington – LiveWire libraries hosting Harry Potter events – Warrington Guardian. “An online quiz is being held as an annual celebration of all things related to The Boy Who Lived.” Plus craft events.
One way or another
Jan 30th
Editorial
First off, my apologies. First the run up to Christmas then three weeks of a nasty attack of the Covids and then, yes, being a dame in a pantomime has kept me from updating Public Libraries News. This webpage takes time to do and that is a thing that has been of short supply recently. Of course, on the bright side, this means you get a bumper edition now of over a month’s lot of news. And it’s not all of it. I’ll check social media next time and add some more.
There’s good news from Cornwall, which has gone fines-free, and from York. which has announced millions of pounds of investment. Both services have been experimental in approach in the past, with Cornwall experimenting with devolving libraries to parish/town councils and York being a trust. Bad news, though,with the Wirral – a decade ago a byword for library cuts – being afflicted again.
But the big story is ongoing. Will users return to libraries now that Covid has become endemic and slightly less feared? Sadly, the days of hoping it will go entirely seem to have vanished. This New Year will answer that question, one way or another.
Changes by authority
- Bradford – Baildon Library likely to move into former social club.
- Cambridgeshire – Histon Library reopens after £112k seven-month refurbishment.
- Cornwall – Now fines-free.
- East Sussex – East Sussex – Peacehaven Library to close and move into colocation.
- Nottingham – £233k cut: Basford, Radford Lenton and Aspley libraries to be closed.
- Peterborough – Significant cut to libraries proposed.
- Stockport – Four more libraries to be become staffless.
- Stoke on Trent – £280k cut: reduction in paid staff and hours, more volunteers.
- Trafford – Timperley Library reopens after seven years.
- Wirral – Up to 11 of 24 libraries to close completely, with a further 5 staffless.
- York – £7.7m extra for new co-located and enlarged Clifton, Haxby/Wigginton new library, investment in Acomb.
National news
- Arts Council England launches Green Libraries programme – BookSeller. “ACE awarded £163,000 to the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) to get the scheme off the ground. CILIP will be supported in delivering the programme by the British Library, public library membership organisation Libraries Connected and environmental charity Julie’s Bicycle. The project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of library assets including physical and digital content, buildings and vehicles, and to enable libraries to help their users engage with environmental issues, and position libraries at the heart of local environmental programmes.”
- ACE partners with Digital Schoolhouse for library learning programme – BookSeller. “ACE provided £75,000 of funding to the Digital Schoolhouse programme, which uses play-based learning to bring the computing curriculum to life in primary schools. The new funding will expand the scheme to libraries based in Birmingham, Leeds, Stoke on Trent and London, enabling local communities to benefit from its learning activities. “
- Alan Hopkinson (IFLA) Award – CILIP. “This Award enables a CILIP member in their early career (full criteria below) to experience the IFLA Congress. The Award covers the whole cost of the IFLA conference fee.”
- Authors, Booksellers and Libraries: Economic Recovery – Question – House of Lords. “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to support the economic recovery and growth of authors, booksellers, and libraries, in England after the pandemic.” The Earl of Clancarty has also written this article: Libraries and bookshops are a vital part of the community – protecting them from closure is crucial for levelling up – Politics Home. “Writers, booksellers, libraries, and publishers are part of an important creative ecosystem that also includes local schools and colleges. Despite the growth of online reading, books are an indispensable aid in improving and maintaining literacy.”
- Axiell announces agreement to acquire Infor Library & Information Solutions business and expand global presence – Axiell. “The acquisition accelerates the availability of cloud technology to libraries and schools enabling them to, at their pace, join the community of customers, which work with Axiell’s sustainable and digital-first cloud-based library services platform”
- BookTrust Storytime crowns best new book for sharing with young children – Love Reading 4 Kids. “Through BookTrust Storytime, the charity has been working in close partnership with libraries and local authorities to pilot new ways to support families with young children – especially those who are disadvantaged – engage with their local public library, helping kick-start their reading journey, so that sharing stories become a regular and long-lasting part of family life. The winner is The Whales on the Bus written by Katrina Charman and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.”
- Duchess of Cornwall leaves copies of her favourite books inside phone box – In Entertainment. “Camilla’s widespread on-line e book membership, the Studying Room, has been planting publications by advisable authors in telephone bins across the nation to encourage folks to learn, and she or he lent a hand in Scotland.” see also Community library: a light in the darkness – Vivia Shukla, Newstead Wood – This is Local London.
- English Library Journey – Eye Books. By John Bevis, £14.99. “In a ten-year mission criss-crossing the country – from Solihull to Slough, from Cleveland to Cornwall – he enrols at libraries of all shapes and sizes: monuments to Art Deco or Brutalism; a converted corset factory; one even shaped like a pork pie.”
- Focus – CILIP. International Libraries group newsletter, with articles on attending international library conferences.
- Information Literacy Award – LILAC. “The CILIP Information Literacy Group and the Information School at the University of Sheffield are proud to offer an award for achievement in the field of information literacy (IL). IL “is the ability to think critically and make balanced judgements about any information we find and use. It empowers us as citizens to reach and express informed views and to engage fully in society”.”
- Jay Blades on learning to read aged 51: ‘I’ve gone right back to basics like at primary school’ – Independent. “Contact your local library, or go online, to find free literacy materials and support in your area.”
- Letters: Lend your vote to councillors with the humanity to save our precious libraries – Herald Scotland. “There are too many who rely on their local library as a sanctuary from the daily grind of living, and access to books will have an effect on the attainment gap. In the coming council elections, I hope we choose councillors with the humanity to save these endangered spaces from cuts and closures.”
- Libraries sector in the New Year Honours list – DCMS. OBE for Ann Cleeves, MBE for Karen Napier of the Reading Agency, David Smith of the Community Managed Libraries Network, BEMs for chief of Barking and Dagenham Zoinul Abidin, Lesley Davies of Sefton, Stewart Parson of Get It Loud In Libraries, chief of Sheffield Nick Partridge, David Rowe of Libraries Hacked, Nina Simon chief of Redbridge Schools Libraries Service, Darren Smart of Kent, Krystal Vittles of Suffolk, Fiona Williams chief of York Explore, Andrew Wright of Kirklees. Louise Smith of DCMS given OBE for work in culture.
- Library Letters – “Each letter is addressed to the Minister who had responsibility for libraries in their portfolio at the time the library mentioned in the letter closed permanently. Each letter begins ‘This is just to let you know’ and names the library, where it is located and the date it closed permanently.”
- Library projects in the north and north-east secure share of £400,000 funding – Press and Journal. “More than 30 libraries in Scotland received support to help create and deliver new projects to generate interest in reading. The aim is to get more people involved in reading and covering topics like tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development.”
- Library users facing ‘two tier system’ with growing trend for eBooks pricing readers out of latest releases – I. “The demand for borrowing digital books is growing, with an 80 per cent year-on-year increase, according to Libraries Connected, which represents public library services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But providing them comes at a significantly higher cost for libraries compared to physical books. While eBooks make up 13 per cent of all lending, they take up a quarter of the entire budget.”
- London Libraries launch new pan-London creative reading and writing programme – SW Londoner. “The programme will take place across every London Borough and the City of London to offer 33 free online creative writing workshops and engage London’s diverse communities by telling their stories.”
- Public libraries lend digital books, as demand for e-books grow – Star. “This new enthusiasm for electronic books has been keeping the digital lending service, OverDrive particularly busy. The company found that librarians allowed readers around the world to borrow 506 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines in 2021. This figure is a significant increase (16%) on the previous year”
- Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – National Acquisitions Group. “NAG are pleased to announce that their Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant will run again for 2022 with £5,000 available for a project from a NAG Member library.”
- Regaining Footfall: Reflections from our netloan library user groups – Lorensbergs. “We heard how there are multiple challenges to returning users to the library while local restrictions and staff shortages persist. But for those libraries finding ways to stage new initiatives and events, results have been encouraging with a good response amongst targeted demographics of users. An extensive list of these initiatives and programmes as compiled from these discussions is available to read here.”
- Support our Libraries: Libraries were never just about books – Nick Poole – Scotsman. “If you haven’t been down to your local library recently, you’d be forgiven for missing the quiet revolution that’s been going on between the stacks. Libraries have been busy, transforming themselves into bustling hives of activity, online access, meet-ups, reading, creativity and conversation (and yes, the odd quiet space for book lovers too).”
- Welsh Government announce extra cash support for indie cinemas, museums, libraries and arts groups – Business Live. £5.2m. “The purpose of this fund is to support organisations that are in genuine difficulty – at risk of closure or where jobs will be lost – unless further support is provided. “
- World Book Day invites everyone to its 25th birthday celebrations – FE News. “The charity World Book Day turns 25 on Thursday 3rd March 2022 and is inviting everyone to its party celebrating the past, present and future of children’s reading.” … “McDonald’s is extending its existing partnership with World Book Day” … Harry Potter competition too.
International news
- Australia – Imaginations run wild at library pop-up for kids – Mirage News. “The library will feature 1200 brand new books and interactive kits, and will host a range of family-friendly activities in the coming months designed to engage and excite young bookworms. The pop-up is the third in the series, joining a food-themed library in the Queen Victoria Market precinct and an Express Book Bar for city workers at 240 Little Collins Street.”
- USA – Why your local library might be hiring a social worker – NPR. “Instead, McGraw answers queries about the workings of the Department of Child Services. Or she helps connect patrons with mental health resources. Sometimes she helps someone find a warm place to stay for the night. McGraw is the library’s first full-time social worker — one of about a dozen employed by libraries across the Midwest.”
- Christian mayor ‘is refusing to hand over $110K in city-approved funds to Mississippi county libraries until they remove all books featuring ‘homosexual materials’ because they ‘go against his beliefs’ – Daily Mail. More petty censorship from the Land of the Free.
- Parent-friendly workspace in public library goes viral on Twitter: ‘This is a game-changer … – Independent. Need to register to read article. Photo shows computer with small cubicle for child next to it.
- Public libraries aren’t essential services – Book Riot. “Libraries provide something unavailable in too many areas across America: a safe place to be, a warm place to be, and a place that serves as one of the few in the country where you aren’t asked to partake in capitalism to simply be within them. This is a tremendous privilege and responsibility to undertake in non-emergency times, but in times of catastrophe, it’s amplified. That amplification shines a light into not just the cracks in the library’s foundation, but the complete holes in the larger structure of government and social safety nets.”
Local news by authority
- Aberdeen – Aberdeen City Libraries launches new health information service to support wellbeing – Aberdeen City Council. “Based within the Information Centre of Central Library but working across the city’s network of community libraries, Health Information Plus will direct customers to advice on everything from nutrition to exercise.”
- Aberdeenshire – ‘I’ve read the same books twice during the pandemic’: Calls for Aberdeenshire Council to reinstate mobile libraries – Press and Journal. “Alison Forbes was an avid user of the council’s mobile library, which toured the region and stopped in her village of Torphins on Wednesdays. When it last visited in 2020, she picked up two books including Alistair Urquhart’s The Forgotten Highlander. But as the pandemic took hold, the service was put on hold – with the vans eventually taken over by the NHS for track and trace clinics.”
- Bolton – Bolton Library and Museum shut for one day for transformation of Le Mans Crescent – Bolton News.
- Borders – Covid restrictions now apply to gyms, libraries and museums – Border Telegraph. “a one-metre physical distancing requirement until 16 January.”
- Bradford – Baildon’s library service is likely to move into former social club building – Telegraph and Argus. “There has been uncertainty about the library’s future ever since the Council announced that Ian Clough Hall, the building that hosts the vital local service, would be sold on.”
- Little Free Libraries will be popping up across Bradford – Telegraph and Argus.
- Cambridgeshire – Revamped Histon library opens its doors – Cambridge Independent. “The building, which closed in May 2020, was reopened on Thursday, January 20, after being enhanced by the county council to provide a more modern library experience. The council has invested £112,000 into furniture and facilities to complement the new School Hill development”
- Cornwall – Make visiting your library a New Year’s resolution as late return charges scrapped – Cornish Times. “While still encouraging you to renew online or return books on time, most of Cornwall Library Service’s libraries will now no longer charge fees if you have to return items late. It is the first time the move has come in and is aimed at attracting more library users. Cornwall Council portfolio holder for neighbourhoods Carol Mould, said: “Overdue charges disproportionately affect those who can least afford them.”
- Coventry – The Lounge Society to perform live at the Central Library – Coventry City Council. Get It Loud In Libraries.
- City cartoonist donates books to schools and libraries – Coventry Council.
- Cumbria – Cumbrian libraries announce 64 Million Artists January challenge – The Mail. “The January Challenge is 31 days long activity of quick and free creative challenges to kickstart the year, ran by 64 Million Artists.”
- Derbyshire – Revealed: The winner of Derbyshire poetry competition – Quest Media. “The competition was launched by the libraries service to celebrate National Poetry Day in October. “
- Applying to run a community managed library – Derbyshire County Council.
- Council still looking for community groups to take over libraries – Quest Media. “In other areas of Derbyshire, one library has been transferred over and work is ongoing to transfer a further five, but groups are still needed to come forward for the rest – including the four in the High Peak. “
- Dorset – Have your say on the future of Dorset libraries – Dorset Echo. Consultation.
- Dorset libraries to benefit from faster internet speeds – Dorset Echo. “Fourteen libraries all have full fibre installed right into the premises, giving staff and users speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second, or one gigabit thanks to £200,000 of government funding.”
- East Lothian – Phased reopening of libraries and community centres confirmed – East Lothian Courier. “East Lothian Council will begin a phased opening of community facilities from January 31 following the easing of some coronavirus restrictions.”
- SLIC Award 2021 – SLIC. “East Lothian Council Library Services has won the inaugural SLIC Award for a sustained, imaginative, and ambitious response to the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic.”
- East Riding – Harry Potter Book night returns to East Riding Libraries for a magical 25th Anniversary extravaganza – East Riding Council.
- North Bridlington Library will host East Riding Libraries Poetry Competition awards ceremony tomorrow – Scraborough News.
- East Sussex – ‘Temporary’ relocation of Peacehaven Library granted permission – Sussex Express. “On Wednesday (December 15), East Sussex County Council’s planning committee approved proposals which would allow the facility to move out of its current home in the Meridian Centre and into The Joff, a nearby youth centre. The committee heard the proposals (which would see the library move into a significantly smaller space) came as the result of plans to redevelop the Meridian Centre, which would require the library to move elsewhere. The proposals had proven to be contentious among local residents, who argued the relocation would harm both the library and the youth centre”
“We suffered some heavy cuts in East Sussex in 2018, losing 7 libraries and a mobile. Peacehaven and Telscombe is one of the parts of the county with a growing population, lots of new housing, yet no longer deserves a full library service.”
Email received
- Stop ESCC from moving Peacehaven and Telscombe Library into a cupboard – Change. ” The planned move is budgeted to cost £165,000 – a third of the annual libraries budget for the whole of East Sussex – money which would be much better spent on identifying and constructing a new library elsewhere in the local area. The redevelopment of the Meridian Centre where the library is located has yet to be agreed – so why the speed of decision?”
- Edinburgh – Mystery book sculptures to be auctioned in Edinburgh – BBC. “In the book Gifted, published in 2012, the sculptor wrote that at the heart of the project was “a woman, who had been a girl, whose life would have been less rich had she been unable to wander freely into libraries, art galleries and museums. A woman who, now all grown, still wants access to these places and yes, wants them for her children…”.”
- Essex – Libraries webinar consultations being held online today – Saffron Walden Reporter. “The county council’s Draft Library Plan, which was launched in November, now commits to keeping all 74 libraries open, with investment in training and development for library staff.”
- Library campaigners call for extension to consultation – Times New Express. “Campaigners are demanding an extension to a public consultation about plans to overhaul library services because they say people have not had enough time.” … “He said councils like Dorset are undergoing library changes and have provided the public with “months to respond”. The survey is available online and paper copies are in libraries but cannot be taken out on loan”
- Thousands respond to Draft Library Plan Survey – Essex Council. “The data in the surveys will now be analysed by an external organisation and feedback received will help develop the final plan. It is expected that the final plan will be adopted in the Spring.”
- Fife – Fife authors rule as kingdom’s libraries reveal their 5 most borrowed books of 2021 – Courier.
- Appeal for donations as Fife launches new music lending library – Fife Today. “The cultural trust is looking to launch the lending library this spring, and has issued an appeal for donations of any unused or unwanted instruments – everything from recorders to guitars”
- Glasgow- Covid staffing issues have led to the prolonged closure of five Glasgow libraries – Glasgow World. “The city’s Maryhill, Whiteinch, Couper Institute and Gallery of Modern Art libraries are still closed, and Barmulloch Library is being used as a vaccination centre.”
- Knightswood Library in Glasgow will be closed this weekend due to staff shortages – Glasgow Evening Times.
- Three Glasgow libraries to receive government funding – Glasgow Evening Times. “Promoting sustainability is integral to our Net Zero ambitions to tackle climate change and our public libraries are an important focal point for conversations and taking action. “And as part of our wider approach to creating anti-racist environments in school, it is great to see school libraries engaging our young people on the importance of belonging, inclusion and social justice.””
- Gloucestershire – Stroud Library set to get a digital innovation ‘lab’ – Stroud News and Journal. “Equipment available includes virtual reality headsets, 3D modelling and printing, as well as a digital design studio, with experienced lab technicians on hand to advise, train and inspire”
- Greenwich – Greenwich Council under fire after library sale to church group with controversial LGBTQ+ views – My London. “The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) bought the library for £1.8m in 2019. Reports from earlier this week revealed more details behind the sale, which has also been met with criticism as not being good value for money. But there has also been concern about the Christian church’s LGBT+ views, with reports that Nigeria-based pastor and General Overseer of RCCG Enoch Adeboye has previously called homosexuality “evil”.”
- Gwynedd – Gwynedd Council libraries to help offer youngsters a ‘Winter of Wellbeing’ – North Wales Chronicle. “The Welsh Government’s ‘Winter of Wellbeing’ scheme is offering children and young people help to feel better heading in to 2022. As part of the scheme, Gwynedd Library Service, in conjunction with The Reading Agency and Welsh Public Libraries, aims to raise awareness of what reading can do to lift the mood of young people, while connecting families, friends and communities across Wales.”
- Harrow – Harrow libraries will be shut amid staff Covid outbreak – Harrow Times. “Several libraries around the Harrow area will be closed between Christmas and New Year after a number of staff tested positive for Covid-19. Harrow Council confirmed Kenton, Roxeth and Stanmore libraries will not open as planned on Wednesday (December 27) due to staff shortages. “
- Lancashire – Lancashire’s libraries: How Covid has impacted the way they are used and how they operate – Lancashire Post. ” bouncing back after being dramatically affected by Covid restrictions, and is evolving to meet the demands of the 21st century, providing services you might not be aware of.”
- Lancashire library reopens after three-month project to make it greener – Gazette. “set to cut the library’s Co2 emissions by eight tonnes per year, and include new solar panels, an air source heat pump and replacement of traditional lighting with LEDs. The library’s layout has also been refreshed.”
- Leicester – Knighton library gets £75,000 facelift – Leicester City Council. “New flooring, energy-efficient LED lights, a new reception area and free-standing shelving units are among the changes made to the library, in Clarendon Park Road, as part of the council’s Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme. There are also new public computer work stations, plus desk space for customers to plug in their own devices.”
- Liverpool – Retirement and sickness holding back Liverpool libraries – Liverpool Echo. “Retirement, reduced hours requests and sickness has impacted Liverpool Council’s ability to provide a full library service.”
- Manchester – 1921 Census is now available for free at Manchester Central Library – Manchester City Council. “Manchester Central Library is one of only two places in the country where people can receive this service for free. Elsewhere it costs £2.50 for every record transcript and £3.50 for every original record image. “
- Norfolk – The top 10 most borrowed books from Norfolk’s libraries revealed – EDP 24. “Novels featuring Elly Griffiths’s character Ruth Galloway – The Lantern Men and The Stone Circle – were the most borrowed books from Norfolk County Council’s library service in 2021.”
- Northamptonshire – Another Northants library at risk of closure – NN Journal. “Raunds library in East Northamptonshire could face closure as early as March if the town council doesn’t step in to save it. The loss would be felt hard by the people of Raunds who would need to travel to other towns for a library service, and the groups and local organisations who use the building would need to find new venues. ” … “If the town council doesn’t agree to take on the lease to the building from NNC, the volunteers who have put so much time and effort into keeping the community facility open fear they could close their doors for the final time.”
- Closure deadline looms for Raunds Community Library as town councillors look at finances – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “Before the meeting even got to the apologies, a member of the public shouted at councillors that they needed to save the library resulting in the chairman, mayor of Raunds Sylvia Hughes, to temporarily suspend proceedings.” … “”We all recognise the value of the library. It is the residents who would have to pay for it. All we want to do is to work out whether the people of Raunds should pay for the library.””
- Wellingborough and Rushden Read Easy volunteers ready to help – for free – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “Lessons are free, friendly, at a readers’ own pace, with no group pressure for two half hours each week, usually in Wellingborough or Rushden library but we do use other suitable places.”
- North Ayrshire – Library uncertainty continues – six weeks on from doors suddenly closing – Largs and Millport Weekly News. “Services in Fairlie and Skelmorlie have been closed altogether while West Kilbride’s has only been able to provide a click and collect service. Libraries in Largs and Millport are due to re-open on January 6 – with no date yet fixed for the reopening of the others.”
- North East Lincolnshire – Grimsby Central Library to reopen in January – North East Lincolnshire Council. “Grimsby Central Library temporarily closed in November as a precaution following a routine asbestos management inspection.”
- North Lanarkshire – North Lanarkshire libraries launch 2022 Read Well NL Challenge – Daily Record. “encouraging locals to read for just six minutes per day to help improve their wellbeing.”
- North Lincolnshire – Literacy packs boost children’s reading and writing skills – North Lincs Council. “Through the much-loved Imagination Library scheme, which is funded by North Lincolnshire Council, a phenomenal 740,000 free books have been delivered to the area’s 0-5-year-olds.”
- North Yorkshire – Call to Recycle Old Laptops and Computers in North Yorkshire – This is the Coast. “Reboot North Yorkshire is a collaborative project led by the County Council, involving a wide range of partners across the county – including libraries, schools, businesses, charities and volunteers.”
- Nottingham – 3 libraries proposed to close as wait continues for central library to open in Nottingham – Nottingham Post. “Nottingham City Council is proposing to close three public libraries as part of plans to save £233,000. The authority is proposing to close Basford Library in Vernon Road, the Radford Lenton Library in Lenton Boulevard and Aspley Library in Nuthall Road. Under the plan, Aspley Library would close to the public and become what is described as a “distribution point” providing services such as a home library and mobile/outreach services. The plans have been drawn up at a time when the city’s main central library remains closed, because its multi-million-pound replacement, part of the new Broadmarsh Car Park and bus station complex, is unfinished.”
- ‘It’s wrong’: Regulars blast Nottingham City Council plan to close library – Nottingham Post.
- Sherwood mixed-use development gets underway – East Midlands Business Link. “The scheme will bring in a flagship Sainsburys, and a new Sherwood library (50% larger than the previous library) as well as a mixture of housing from one to four beds.”
- Oxfordshire – Improving libraries – Henley Standard. Consultation.
- Have your say on Oxfordshire library and heritage services – Banbury Guardian. “The consultation, which goes live on Monday 24 January, is seeking to gauge public opinion of the new strategy, which sets out how services will be delivered in the years up to 2027.””
- Using libraries and heritage services to help people in Oxfordshire connect, create, learn and grow – Banbury Guardian.
- Perth and Kinross – Book borrowing plummets amid Covid – but how have libraries remained a vital part of communities? – Courier. 461k issues in 2019/20, 66k in 20/21 but rise in digital.
- Peterborough – Budget Phase two: Cuts to libraries, rise in council tax – and no Christmas lights? – Peterborough Matters. “Remodelling the library service to reduce the running costs, including investment in a mobile library service, and a reduction in budget for the museum and Flag Fen which will see the operating models for both venues change. They forecast to make a saving of £1.1m. “
- Sefton – Sefton librarian Lesley named among New Years Honours – My Sefton. “Lesley Davies, a hugely popular staff member at Crosby Library and community champion of the public library service, has rightly been recognised in the honours for her years of dedication and commitment to her role.”
- Somerset – Burnham-On-Sea Library to temporarily close for six weeks for major upgrade work – Burnham on Sea .com. ““Somerset Libraries have been fortunate to receive government funding to undertake some decarbonisation work at Burnham Library.” “This will mean that unfortunately Burnham library is closed for six weeks. There could be wider building works being undertaken outside of this time period but customers should not be unduly effected by this.””
- Fines and charges amnesty at libraries across Somerset – County Gazette. “To encourage more people to reconnect with library services and support communities as they start to recover from the impact of the pandemic, Somerset Libraries is going fines and charges free from January 21 until March 31.”
- Southend – Popular reading challenge returns to Southend libraries – Southend on Sea Council. “Participants are invited to choose six reads and to share their thoughts via their own personal reading diary, earning a certificate upon completion.”
- St Helens – Join the St Helens Library Service reading challenge – Reporter. “All you have to do is visit your nearest library and pick a reading challenge card, then each month find a book that fits in to that category. January 2022 will have a theme of ‘new beginnings’ – with reading challenge participants asked to read a book from a debut author.”
- Stockport – Stockport library plan hits snag amid political wrangling – Place North West. “Following a tense meeting last night, a decision on whether to go ahead with the relocation of the town’s library services will be made by full council next week after a handful of opposition councillors intervened. Under plans signed off by Stockport Council’s Labour-run cabinet in December, the town’s library services would be moved from Central Library on Wellington Road to the proposed £14.5m Stockroom development at Merseyway. “
- Central Library to host workshops for Stockport’s budding entrepreneurs – Marketing Stockport. “The town centre library will host the workshops as part of the Build a Business in GM Libraries scheme, which will see libraries across Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs provide targeted support for local residents to set up new businesses. The scheme is funded by a £1.3 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund.”
- Heritage group joins fight against plans to relocate Stockport Central Library from Grade II listed building – Manchester Evening News. “In a letter to the leader and deputy leader of the council, SAVE conservation officer, Ben Oakley, said: “Stockport’s library is not just another old building, but a grade II listed building and cornerstone of its civic heritage which has administered library and other key services to the people of Stockport for over a century. “Central Library is a grade II listed building of national significance, built of the finest materials and boasting craftsmanship reflecting the city’s civic pride.”
- Open+ to be installed in four more Stockport libraries – Stockport Council. “Library opening hours are extended without the need for staff. The new Open+ libraries join the nine existing libraries with facilities available, meaning the majority of Stockport’s libraries will now be open for longer.”
- Stoke on Trent – Have your say on £280k cuts to Stoke-on-Trent’s libraries – Stoke Sentinel. “reduce the number of paid library staff, increase the ‘opportunities’ for volunteers and change opening hours under a new library strategy.”
- Labour councillors hit out at ‘misleading’ claims on library opening hours – Stoke Sentinel. “Councillors have hit out at ‘misleading’ claims that library opening hours will increase – when they will still be below pre-pandemic levels.”
- Libraries and museums stay shut as more staff trained to help collect bins – Stoke Sentinel.
- Stoke-on-Trent to become home to Nintendo-backed ‘digital schoolhouse’ – Stoke Sentinel. “A Stoke-on-Trent library is to become home to a ‘digital schoolhouse’ for children as part of a £75,000 national pilot. The location, which has yet to be revealed, will host creative, play-based activities to get primary pupils interested in the computing curriculum. The scheme’s organisers have been working with Nintendo and the UK games industry to bring some of the digital concepts and resources to life.”
- Surrey – Surrey library’s first floor unused for year as parts for broken lift ‘stuck in Europe’ – Get Surrey. “Guildford Library’s collection is set over three floors but its lift has been broken for some time, the children, families, lifelong learning and culture select committee heard today (December 13).”
- Tameside – Tameside’s libraries and cultural buildings to fully reopen – Quest Media Network. “The Click and Collect only service for the borough’s libraries ends on Tuesday (11 January), while Portland Basin Museum in Ashton and Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge reopen on Wednesday (12 January) at 10am and 1pm respectively. Open+ operating hours will also resume in libraries, with the exception of Droylsden which will be available soon.”
- Trafford – Timperley’s new library finally set to reopen after seven years – Manchester Evening News. “Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council jointly built a new home for the town’s library on Stockport Road in Timperley, but much like the new homes it built next door, the grand opening had been pushed back. Home owners were waiting over a year to move into the flats they purchased from the housing association in 2020. It was understood fire safety sign off delays were to blame. More recently, Timperley’s new library’s opening date was delayed due to a lack of fire extinguishers in the building, on top of ‘considerable’ build delays the project also suffered.”
- Warrington – 11 free things you can get with your Warrington library card – Warrington Guardian. Online resources listed.
- Warwickshire – Warwickshire County Council highlights support for those experiencing loneliness this Christmas – Warwickshire County Council.
- Warwickshire Libraries share their most popular book titles from 2021 and how residents can enjoy reading locally for free – Warwickshire County Council. “Warwickshire Libraries staff also reviewed many great library books to share their personal favourites from 2021, and to provide residents with plenty of inspiration to achieve new reading goals for this year. A full list of these favourite reads can be viewed on the Warwickshire Libraries blog”
- West Lothian – New West Lothian library app to make borrowing easier and safer – Falkirk Herald. CloudLibrary.
- West Sussex – West Sussex Libraries reading challenge comes to the Chichester District – West Sussex County Council. “The theme of each month differs to include genres that readers may have never experienced before, including books that celebrate diversity, a children’s classic, and a book with a local connection.”
- Wirral – Libraries under threat as Wirral Council looks to make cuts – Wirral Globe. “The local authority has put forward three ways it could save money from closing libraries, but ‘Option 3’ is the one being recommended to councillors. This involves closing 11 of Wirral’s 24 libraries, while keeping five of the remaining 13 open but unstaffed, in a so-called ‘self service’ model.”
- Big idea that could save much loved libraries, leisure centres and more – Liverpool Echo. “there is one way these services could be saved which seems to be gaining a hearing among councillors, a way of keeping things open and having groups of local residents run them. In a show of the strength of feeling on the cuts plan, a petition to save Hoylake Library has gained 1,009 signatures on the website change.org at the time of writing.”
- Michael Gove called ‘minister for closing down’ over Wirral Council cuts plan – Liverpool Echo. “In a show of the strength of feeling about the proposals, a petition to save Hoylake Library has gained 1,095 signatures on the website change.org at the time of writing. One of the petitioners, Helen van Marle, said: “This library is vital for the residents of Hoylake. It has been a huge part of this community for as long as I can remember and it still is.”
- More than 700 back campaign to save Hoylake Library – Wirral Globe. “Clare O’Grady’s petition to save Hoylake Library, one of the 11 under threat, read: “Hoylake library is a lifeline for everyone – young and old. “It’s used by the elderly to tackle isolation, and first-time parents who want to meet other families. “It also offers people free education, internet and is one of the only free spaces where people can spend time.””
- Worcestershire – The joy of reading celebrated at Redditch library and across all of Worcestershire – Redditch Standard. “The library building may be under threat of demolition with a move to the Town Hall planned but that hasn’t stopped the borough’s avid book readers making tracks for the much-loved Mercian Square building.”
- Val McDermid novel tops the list of most borrowed books of 2021 – Evesham Journal.
- York – Council set to invest £7.7 million in York’s Libraries – City of York Council. “a new £5 million library learning centre for Clifton, a new permanent library for Haxby and Wigginton, capital investment in the Acomb Library learning centre”. Clifton will be co-located and greatly enlarged.
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