The major research project Envisioning the library of the future and the ACE response to it, both released today, make clear that the hard times are here to stay and that libraries will either face dramatic change or go under. The research sees no respite for a decade and does not offer any escape other than a dramatic retooling towards an increased reliance on the community and exploring alternative, distinctively entrepreneurial, methods of funding.  As such, it recognises the grim reality of the situation, accepts it and tries to work out possible solutions.

The survey of library experts (in the Delphi report, part of the research) suggests that cuts in funding are likely not to improve for the next ten years so libraries had better not be counting on external rescue from the Government or, indeed, anyone else but themselves.  In addition, traditional usage is falling not just from these cuts but from technological change that means that the old skills (especially anything to do with printed books) mean increasingly less.  The very best libraries are overcoming these problems and seeing growing usage but “too many other” libraries have “reaction times” which are “slow” and are “struggling to keep up”.The priorities are seen as:

1. place the library as the hub of the community
2. make the most of digital technology and creative media
3. ensure that libraries are resilient and sustainable
4. deliver the right skills for those who work in libraries

The solutions are many and various but are united in not having funding behind them, presumably because there is no funding.

• The word “community” is used frequently. Sometimes this appears interchangeable with the word “volunteer”. Indeed, an increasing reliance on volunteers is seen as “a new settlement between local councils and communities”, although how the communities feel about this new settlement is not mentioned. As such, librarians need to work on their community skills, encourage volunteers and make their libraries even more of a centre for their local areas.
• Working with others services is seen as hopeful.  Co-locations are featured heavily, notably with schools. Philanthropy is also mentioned as is charging for services to other providers. For example, it’s noted that libraries are not being paid by anyone for providing employment help.  However, there’s no explanation of how to do this in practice.
• The services offered by libraries, and the buildings themselves, should be designed in consultation with the local community. One of the examples given is a website that includes people being able to design their own library service in Lambeth.
• Library services, and specifically library staff, need to be more entrepreneurial.  There is a very interesting part of the report that lists all these changes in the UK and also the rest of the world.  Interestingly, the very first example is the DOK in the Netherlands that charges for membership: something that is illegal in the UK if a library wants to remain statutory.
• Technology. Volunteers helping people with new equipment is mentioned as are 3D printer events staffed with people from local clubs.  More permanent “Fab Labs” in libraries are quoted approvingly but, sadly, there are none in the UK.  E-books are mentioned but it is noted that there are often only small numbers of titles on offer in this format.

The problem with all of this is that, ironically, it costs money.  In many areas, library services are being cut to the bone and those local staff who could be involved in outreach are tied to the buildings because they’re now on minimal staffing.  Recruiting, training, managing and retaining volunteers takes a lot of time and the report makes clear that staff should be highly trained.  Paid staff are having their training cut and, being it seems (by my observation of the library news) that it takes around ten volunteers to take the place of one full-time paid member of staff, that’s a lot of expensive training.  There are not many e-books in UK libraries because, at least partially, bookfunds have been reduced.  There are no Fab Labs in English libraries because they cost money.

Indeed, although the report goes out of its way to criticise the national focus on cuts in library funding, the entire report is written with the cuts deeply in mind.  Localism is also the master, with the role of central government is barely mentioned.  It’s all up to individual communities, individual library authorities and non/semi-governmental bodies to do the work.  For instance, an “open enabling ICT infrastructure” should be “agreed by local authorities and local services”. So it’s entirely up to the 151 library services to work out a common plan. Some of the initiatives approvingly mentioned are also remarkably small-scale – a library student as an unpaid intern is one of the examples listed as best practice. This can’t be accidental.  Arts Council England have merely observed then reality (that Government believes in local councils doing the work and not doing as little as possible themselves) and have gone with it.

ACE see their role as providing funding opportunities with, naturally, a strong Arts bias.  This is not the most useful thing in this most anti-Arts of times.  Critically it also sees it role as giving best practice and a lot of this report is tied to that.  It’s notable, though, that there’s not a concrete proposal as to how to share best practice other than noting there’s no-one doing it at the moment.  Incidentally, you’ll forgive me I hope at this point for a quick aside: I’m be willing to do it for them if they’d pay me a wage to do so because, frankly, I’m already doing a lot of it anyway – and it’s interesting to note that the consultation was viewed by six times less than Public Libraries News is seen in the same period.

So, in conclusion, if you’re looking for a knight on white charger to help libraries, it’s not going to be ACE.  If you’re looking for better times ahead and your plan is to survive until then, well that’s not going to happen.  Being a spectator is not a survival strategy.  If you’re not close to retirement (and many paid library staff are – but that’s another story) then ACE believes that you should make the change yourself and go Big Society and High Tech with a vengeance, finding the money for yourself because no-one is going to give it to you on a plate.  You may get cheered from the sidelines but don’t expect much more.

Have you got it yet? In the brave new world, each library is a start-up business.  Each library manager an entrepreneur.  Your community is your market. And it’s your fault if you fail.  Forget paper libraries.  Forget jobs for life and public service ethos.  Those days have gone, my friend.  What we’re looking at is community centres with books in, workshops with volunteer help and computer centres. Cope with it or leave. Adapt and survive.

By the way, I don’t entirely disagree with some of this. I cannot stand library staff who are not open to change.  If times change, if communities change then it is the need of the librarian to go with it.  No-one owes us a job.  However, what the report means for any remaining idea of a national public library service is terrifying in its extremes.  Each library is an low-lying island is the underlying philosophy and you’d better build your sea barriers up now because the tide is rising and it’s your fault if you drown.

The reports

• The Arts Council’s response to Envisioning the library of the future

• Envisioning the library of the future Phase 1: a review of innovations in library services by Ipsos MORI and Shared Intelligence
• Envisioning the library of the future Phase 1: Future trends review by Ipsos MORI
• Envisioning the library of the future Phase 1: Delphi enquiry by Ipsos MORI and Shared Intelligence
• Envisioning the library of the future Phases 1 and 2: full report by Ipsos MORI and Shared Intelligence
• Envisioning the library of the future Phase 3: understanding what people value about libraries by Dialogue by Design and Involve
• Envisioning the library of the future Phase 3: online survey by Dialogue by Design
• Envisioning the library of the future Phase 3: understanding what young people value about libraries by Dialogue by Design and Office for Public Management

Responses

• ACE Libraries report launched: Missing in action? – Library Campaign. “This duplicates research that has been done many times before – not least by the Arts Council itself. What’s missing is action. It is heart-breaking that time and money has been wasted in this way. Libraries are closing at an unprecedented rate. Others are hacked to pieces. Desperate communities are trying to take them on to save them – and are getting no help or advice. We are trying to fill the huge gap left by DCMS and Arts Council inaction. Unpaid, in our spare time. If they can’t see this is a crisis – and won’t do anything to help – please can we have their money?”
• Call for political leadership on libraries – CILIP. ““The report shows that people are passionate about having a library in their community,” continued John Dolan, “but with the difficult economic realities faced by local authorities and without stronger political leadership supporting a clear national vision it’s going to be a struggle to deliver consistently high-quality and relevant library services in communities across the country. A postcode lottery is not fair or equitable.”

“Councils know people treasure their libraries and they have been working extremely hard to preserve services as best they can in the face of 33 per cent funding cuts. It’s testament to this commitment and innovation, and to councils’ reluctance to make closures, that only a small percentage of our 4,500 libraries have closed over the past couple of years.  This report confirms the issues many councils are currently grappling with and the solutions and approaches it discusses are already a reality in many libraries. It’s also important to remember the best solutions may vary from area to area, and this is something for councils to work out in consultation with their residents.

As the Culture, Media and Sport Committee reported last year, across the country there’s been a fantastic amount of creativity and ambition to modernise libraries in ways which engage young people, don’t alienate existing users and make the most of diminished budgets. In the last couple of years we have seen libraries opening up in village halls, pubs, shops, churches, day care centres and tourist information centres, as well as linking with health, social care, benefits and job search providers. However, were government to inflict yet more funding cuts on councils, which have already borne the brunt of its austerity measures, some would not be able to continue shielding libraries from cuts which may mean more would be forced to close.” Local Government Association, via email.

• ACE: Libraries should be ‘hub’ of communities – BookSeller. “Arts Council England’s Envisioning the Library of the Future project has concluded that libraries should be at the hub of their communities, but states that libraries can provide greater benefit when they are co-located with other services.”.  Libraries director for ACE says “Asked what he would like to see people take from Envisioning, Ashley said: “I would like everyone who has interest in public libraries to come together around the ideas proposed of what a library is and what it’s for. We spend an awful lot of time debating these things—if we can use the energy to work towards finding solutions I think campaigners would be delighted by that.”.  Comments after the article call it time-wasting, useless “pompous and patronizing waffle”.  The Library Campaign says it’s “hopping mad”. Most point out that there have been many reports over the last decade and none of them have achieved anything.

“The Arts Council England report “The Library of the Future” is a timely articulation of the direction libraries need to take if they are to continue fulfilling their role for their communities. “The recommendations for an open and enabling ICT infrastructure agreed by local authorities and library services together with the need to ensure library staff have the required digital skills are particularly important in light of the Sieghart Review’s report on e-lending. “In light of the successful digital skills development project delivered through collaboration between publishers and librarians, we hope to see The Publishers Association and its members added to the list of those with whom libraries will work in partnership with to take this vision forward”.” Richard Mollet, Chief Executive, The Publishers Association Limited, via email.

• Libraries must remain community hubs despite technological change, report says – Localgov.

“Public libraries matter – they play an important role for communities and help celebrate and promote Britain’s greatest contribution to world civilisation – our language and literature. But libraries need constantly to adapt to keep up with changes in communities. This report offers a thoughtful and timely analysis of issues facing the sector today, and I am happy to endorse the recommendation for a collaborative approach to addressing some of the issues raised. I commend it to everyone who, like me, believes libraries can and should have a positive future ahead.” Ed Vaizey, Culture Minister, via press release.

“I do not believe that I am being unfair to ACE in suggesting that this report tells us nothing that was not known from previous consultancy reports and research studies, including the two year Library Modernisation Review. More significantly, it does not address the critical need for effective leadership and advocacy, highlighted in the past by the All Party Parliamentary Library Group, CMS Select Committees and by ministers and shadow ministers. Frankly, the report is in part rather patronising and wholly platitudinious to those who need and rely upon public libraries. I suggest, it will be a considerable disappointment to many.” Desmond Clarke, via email

““This report is a welcome insight into the value placed on libraries by the public, and the staff who work in them. I am pleased that it shares many of the conclusions found in Labour’s report Libraries: Innovation, Co-location and Partnership. It should be yet another wake up call to David Cameron that more needs to be done to ensure our libraries are sustainable.  Libraries are trusted spaces which are open to all. Their potential is unlimited and across the country local authorities have been looking at innovative ways to save and improve our libraries. Despite this hard work, the latest figures demonstrate that in 2011/12 201 library service points were lost and a further 293 are now under threat. The responsibility for oversight lies firmly at the door of David Cameron and Ed Vaizey and they need to act now.”  In December, Labour launched Libraries: Innovation, Co-location and Partnership. This report also looked at the future sustainability of libraries, and what a future Government should do to support the service.” Dan Jarvis, via press release

“Sigh…  What a load of marketing guff, stating the blindingly obvious – well except (as expected) no mention of whether they would provide any additional funding or reference to the swathes of libraries decimated during the Socialist Utopian Government years / Socialist ruled Councils.  (I’m not saying any Party is perfect on libraries, but I wouldn’t have put my name to this 2^nd hand car-sales brochure if it was in dashing blue either!).  The world of libraries is changing / evolving – come up with concrete suggestions (hey maybe funding?) not flannel.  Could of, should of, would of, dear me…  To those actually doing the graft on the coal-face, more power to you.   Me, I’d have a library Tsar with a commercial background (Tim Coates etc!), focus on numbers and customer experience.  Share this best practice, rejoice in being the thriving hub of communities – this would make local Government appreciate (and pay for) the services we want.  Be spikey, float radical ideas, hey even get it wrong – but get it done.” Justin Tomlinson MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on libraries, via email. on Dan’s statement

• Not really a basis for long term decisions – Question Everything. “Is this really the level of research that we get from government? You would imagine that having librarians involved, people who are supposed to understand data it would be proper robust bit of research like you’d get from a scientific paper. The outsourced part of the study alone cost somewhere between 65k and 85K you can see the tender document here. And yet they spoke to less people that regularly use my local library which is tiny.” … “I would imagine with all the staffing time spent on it by the various staff members, the true cost of this drivel was probably nearer a quarter of a million pounds, yet it has no hard data, offers no solutions to the problems and draws no conclusions on a proper way forward.” … “The giant elephant in the room of community libraries not saving money they seem to be ignoring”
• SCL Welcomes Arts Council’s Envisioning Report – Society of Chief Librarians. Welcomes that ACE recognises the contributions libraries give to society and points out the work the SCL has done itself.  “We welcome the opportunity to form part of a collaboration with the Arts Council and others to lead and deliver on the aspirations of Envisioning.”
• Campaign for the Book newsletter: “Envisioning” the decline of the public library service - Alan Gibbons.  Questions the assumption that the library service will survive, given the current cuts, long enough for the report’s views to become practical: “If we are to develop the libraries of tomorrow we need the libraries of today to provide the bridge. The danger is that, under the woeful, neglectful and cavalier leadership of the DCMS the bridge will collapse and the destination will not be reached.”

“I know I am in Switzerland. But has ACE gone mad? This report in a better version has been written time and again,for heavens sake this ACE has gone into a big hole. What did this pointless report cost? And was it worth the effort? It is worse than sad. It is totally disheartening. WHO now will champion public libraries at the top level?” Frances Kirton, LIS-PUB-LIBS.

The idea of Keith Richards once being an avid public library user is a wonderful one and is even better because it’s true. Another wonderful thing is a new library, and there are a couple in the news today.  You can get married at the one in Derbyshire due to it being co-located with a Registrars.  The other one, just announced, is in Bradford and is going to happen only because the existing building has serious asbestos problems.  More information on cuts are coming out from Sefton (where 40 staff could go) and Southend (where there may soon be only three professionally qualified librarians for the whole borough).

News

• Blind eye - BookSeller / Desmond Clarke. Unimpressed with the lack of intervention by the DCMS.  “Is there any evidence that those in the DCMS lose a wink of sleep about library closures in seriously deprived areas?  They sat on the sidelines as Gloucestershire, Somerset and Surrey residents sought and won their own judicial reviews.”
• Children’s author Philip Ardagh talks bushy beards and writing tips – Parentdish. “Libraries are a social service and about much more than books. Nowadays there are so many forms which can only be filled in on-line, and librarians are happy to help you fill them out. For some people the library is their only source of Internet access; for children who live in a noisy, unsupportive household it might be the only place they can get their homework done. As for the books themselves, reading for pleasure opens just as many doors as education does. A good librarian is inspirational. They really know their onions. Which is useful, if you need some onions.”

• Creation, consumption, and the library – Sense and Reference.  Interesting thoughts on 3D printers and libraries.
• Development of a new quality framework for Welsh public libraries – Sell 2 Wales. “to develop a new quality framework for public libraries in Wales. The framework will enable the Minister for Culture and Sport to discharge his responsibilities under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act as well as support the development of public library services in Wales.”
• Making Room for Innovation – Library Journal (USA). “Two library service prototyping spaces, in two very different places, have a remarkable amount in common. Nate Hill runs and operates the 4th Floor in Chattanooga, a large public library loft space operating as a flexible community makerspace and event space.”
• Paperless public libraries switch to digital – BBC.  Long article including comments from Alan Gibbons and mention of the cuts to UK public libraries. “the world’s first completely paperless public library is scheduled to open this summer in Bexar County, Texas, in the United States … It will have 100 e-readers on loan, and dozens of screens where the public will be able to browse, study, and learn digital skills. However it’s likely most users will access BiblioTech’s initial holding of 10,000 digital titles from the comfort of their homes, way out in the Texas hinterland … San Antonio’s book-rich public libraries will be unaffected by the project. Bexar County, by contrast, never had a public library service.”

“This sets it apart from earlier bookless library experiments at Newport Beach, California, and Tucson, Arizona – which both reverted to offering real as well as e-books, by public demand.” … “It’s clear that bookless libraries are not a cheaper option for cash strapped colleges and local authorities”

• Welsh Librarian of the Year announced – CILIP. “Bethan (pictured right), a Chartered Member of CILIP, through partnership working has contributed to the highest participation rates at primary school level in the annual Summer Reading Challenge, developed and maintained a highly effective Writing Squads programme for children and supported Denbighshire in achieving highest average reading age for school leavers in Wales, as judged by Estyn – the Schools Inspectorate.”

Changes

• Bradford - £1m new City Library due to old library having asbestos.  Money to be raised by saving on rents/maintenance.
• Derbyshire - New £2.4m Ashbourne library: co-located with day centre, exhibition space, a registrar’s office and ceremony room and office facilities for council officials.
• Sefton - 40 staff (16 to 19 FTE) may be made redundant. £400k p.a. cut.  Campaign group; The Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Library Group.
• Slough – Britwell Library / Community Centre (March 2013). Community centre including library, opened by the Queen.
• Southend - No non-management staff are qualified librarians.  Plans in place to further reduce this number from 7 to 3.

Local news

• Bradford – New library to be built in Bradford city centre - Telegraph and Argus. “A new library in Bradford city centre is to be created after it was discovered that the existing Central Library is no longer fit for purpose [Asbestos means it would take until end 2014 to fix - Ed.]. The Bradford Council decision, which the Telegraph & Argus can exclusively reveal today, brings to an end nearly two years of uncertainty after the Central Library was deemed a fire risk by health and safety experts in October 2011.” … “the new facility will occupy the present Bradford 1 Gallery building and a large unit next to it in City Park. It will open in December, complete with 60,000 books, 40 computers for public use, study space and Wi-Fi.” … “The project will cost £9 million in total, of which £8m will be spent on the Central Library building to make it safe and convert it to offices and conference space for Council workers.”.  Money to be saved from rents and maintenance costs.
• Bradford – New chapter for library services – Telegraph and Argus (leading article). “The issues with the Central Library in Bradford have dragged on for far too long now, and having such an integral part of the city centre’s provision out of action is just not acceptable. So it is to be cautiously welcomed that the Council has decided to take affirmative action, even if this means that the old building, branded a fire risk and not fit for purpose back in October 2011, will no longer serve as the city’s main library. A cautious welcome, because essentially the library service is to be relocated to empty units in the City Park, and these are going to be smaller facilities than the present site. The Council must ensure that no drop in service comes with a move to smaller premises.”
• Brent – Council agree to work with campaigners in Kensal Rise Library battle – Brent and Kilburn Times. “During the meeting the council conceded they had made mistakes in their previous running of the libraries but insisted they were keen to work with the community going forward. Margaret Bailey, director of the Friends of Kensal Rise, told the Times: “There was a feeling that they regretted what happened previously and want to build a relationship which we are grateful for.”
• Bromley – Libraries partner with RNIB to make reading more accessible - News Shopper. “Charity RNIB is partnering with public libraries to provide a range of sessions including an introduction to the Talking Book Service, uncovering the accessible features of ebooks and an interactive archaeological talk from Bromley Museum curator Marie-Louise Kerr.”
• Derbyshire – Thumbs-up for the town’s new library building – Ashbourne News Telegraph. “The £2.4 million project by Derbyshire County Council has replaced the former library in Cokayne Avenue with a bigger facility that gives users more space and expands the facility. Also housed in the modern building, which occupies the site of the former health centre in Compton, is a day centre, exhibition space, a registrar’s office and ceremony room and office facilities for council officials.”
• Ealing – Agrees to ‘contract out’ provision – Ealing Today. “If the plans are approved, JL Integrated Services a not-for-profit trust within John Laing plc will run library services in Ealing and Harrow for five years. The council will continue to consider approaches from community groups interested in volunteering to run some local libraries. Brent’s libraries are not included in the contract.”

“Ealing Council will retain control of all decisions regarding the services including setting the opening hours and deciding what books to buy. The new contractors will have to meet a number of strict criteria and targets to make sure they provide a high standard of service.”

• Ealing – Privatisation of Ealing Libraries (with an update) – Stop the privatisation of public libraries. Unison statement: “We are concerned that there has been no public consultation with Library users about how their service should be run. We fail to understand the indecent haste with which Ealing Council is happy to off-load a much loved service to the private sector. We fear that the public service ethos that has served the people of Ealing and their Library Service over many years will be replaced by the rapacious demands of the market place and the balance sheet. “

“Why is the Labour council in Ealing in such a hurry? Ealing Council has been vocal in it’s support of the campaign against privatisation in the NHS. It would therefore be a contradiction for them to support the privatisation of its Library Service.“

• Ealing – Private company set to run Ealing libraries - Ealing Gazette. “Carolyn Brown of HCF Library Action said she had hoped for an increase in hours, at least back to the rate before cuts last year. She added: “Hanwell Library is closed three days a week and on lunchtimes. Anyone working in Hanwell can only change their books on Saturday. Before we had one evening open until 8pm. John Laing run libraries in Hounslow where all of them have at least one late evening.”
• Hertfordshire – Just the ticket for new library users – Hertfordshire Council. Libraries raise profile of services such as e-books and online by prize draw with the prize of an e-reader.
• Hull – Library closure delayed to finalise takeover bid – This is Hull and East Riding.  Campaign group given more time to work out how to take over Anlaby Park library with volunteers. “The Friends of Anlaby Park Library have quickly become a force to be reckoned with and have worked hard to find a way to try to keep the library open themselves. High-profile supporters have included Hull-born actress Maureen Lipman, who used the library regularly as a child.
• Kent – Keith Richards welcomed back to Dartford Library – despite ‘owing £3,000 in fines’ - News Shopper.  “The Rolling Stones star racked up the fines dating back 50 years, according to a national newspaper. At 15p a day – plus late fees – it was thought the 69-year-old could be landed with a bill for around £3,000.” See Keith Richards faces £3,000 fine for overdue library books - Mirror.

“It was the only place where I would willingly obey the laws, like silence. It was somewhere I could find out about things I was interested in.” Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones

“We are really delighted that Keith Richards has said how useful the library was for him in his youth, and if he would like to come and visit and help us spread the word about what a great service this is, he would more than compensate us for the books he didn’t return.” Cath Anley, Kent

• Manchester – ‘No easy decisions’: Future of six Manchester libraries still uncertain as council give campaigners June deadline – Mancunian Matters. “The council’s original plan was to shut all six libraries and replace them with smaller outreach facilities to help save £500,000 over two years. But a consultation last week answered by more than 1,000 people showed that 60% of those who took part were opposed to the closures.”
• Manchester – Sir Richard Leese: Radical change is the way to balance books – Manchester Evening News. “he ongoing battle over government cuts produced stormy scenes centred on proposals for some of our libraries.”

“As we saw and heard last week, libraries have a fantastic amount of community support, have generated strong campaigns, even though they are actually being protected more than other council services.  It is also the case that at the end of this budget process we will still have excellent and accessible library and leisure services, certainly compared to most other towns and cities”

• Oxfordshire – Volunteer or conscript? - Dumb Librarian. “The OCC Cabinet that rubber stamped this foregone conclusion on the future library service were probably so far removed from the reality of what can and cannot be achieved that volunteering was not given a second thought. Of course people will do it – but will they? There is enough information in the public domain to clearly indicate that there will not be enough volunteer support. If this is the stark reality, what happens next?”
• Sefton – Merseyside library cull could lead to 40 staff redundancies – Liverpool Echo. “Campaigners The Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Library Group has put forward an alternative proposal to Sefton council to avert closing the three Southport libraries.  It says £140,000 savings can be made by cutting opening hours at the three libraries from 30 to 24 hours a week, and by using volunteers to support paid library staff.”
• Southend – Read all about it - Stand up for Southend Libraries. Responds to Council comments about library review.  “all non-management professional Librarian posts have been deleted including all the children’s librarians”.  Professional staffing will be further cut from 7 to 3.
• Staffordshire – Solar panels on libraries save county council over £350,000 – Burton Mail. “panels fitted to two East Staffordshire libraries will help save around £350,000 over the next 10 years, it has been revealed. The scheme is on track to cut over £10,000 from Staffordshire County Council’s electricity bills each year, with a further £26,000 to be gained from the Government’s Feed in Tariffs.”

News

• Gove faces backlash after South West London libraries insist children are reading ‘proper’ books – SW Londoner.  Mr Gove worried teenagers are reading Twilight rather than Middlemarch.  Librarians see no major problem in Twilight: ““If a series becomes popular, such as Twilight and Harry Potter, there is a trend amongst young people to read that particular genre. We also find that there is a lot of crossover between young people reading adult books and vice versa,”
• Has the school library a future in the digital age? – Cambridge News. On the face of it, libraries are facing extinction as they are no longer needed for storage and distribution in a world where students have iPads.  However, “It is my belief that the library has the capacity to enjoy its own renaissance. Because of the digital revolution it is no longer just about the printed book. As a space, it is about inspiring young people.”
• Sumter may privatize library operations – Daily Commercial (USA). “fear services will go down and fees will go up. Members of the group and other residents packed the room during a regular commission meeting Tuesday in Bushnell, some holding colorful protest signs. “If something isn’t broke, why would you fix it,” said Sue Azia, a Village of Carolina resident. David Starnes, a Lake Panasoffkee resident, said he didn’t trust a for-profit company stepping in. “Privatization is closely associated with outsourcing and both have the potential of not only reducing the quality of services contracted, but also the loss of your publicly mandated control … Private enterprise is subject to influence” See also petition.

Local news

• Aberdeen – Donside: Labour candidate challenged on libraries – SNP. “An Aberdeen City Council report from September 2012 instructed council officers to “consult on the proposed two community library models, reduction of opening hours and options for closure of smaller least used libraries and report back to this committee.”
• Essex – New Library for Springfield – About My Area. “The project has been made possible by a partnership between Essex County Council and Springfield Parish Council and strong support for a local library from the community.”
• Liverpool – And yet…thoughts on the opening of the new Liverpool Central Library – Alan Gibbons.  “The three-year renovation cost a cool £55 million. The result is stunning. From the dazzling atrium to the glorious Hornby Room, from the legendary Picton Room to the state of the art décor, it amounts to a new wonder of Merseyside. I remember the worn, tired giant I used to visit and it is glorious to see it rising from the shabby decline into which it had fallen. And yet…and yet… There is a sub-plot to this apparent success story. Half of Liverpool’s branch libraries are set for closure.”

International comparisons are dangerous but I have often been impressed by the provision in US libraries.  Now I know how.  There are 9,000 of them and they are funded with around $10bn.  We have 4265 libraries (at the last official count) and fund them with, at current exchange rates, around $1.5bn.  So a UK library has, on average, 3.87 times less funding than the average US one.  That’s a massive difference and suggests something more than simply that their individual libraries may be bigger.  Another difference is that the US population is 5 times bigger than ours with 6.6 times the funding.  On average then, their public library system is 1.3 times better funded by head of population.  Of course, they have nearly half of the number of libraries per head as well: 1 library per 14686 in the UK, 1 library per 34877 in the US.  This last difference is presumably because of the far wider geographical spread over there. So, on average we have over twice as many libraries per head but they’re each funded nearly 4 times worse than the average US one. Remember that if ever you wonder why US libraries are doing better than British ones at the moment.  If anyone else wants to do comparative figure for other countries, by the way, this website looks good for getting the number of people per library, although the all-important budget per country appears more elusive.

Moving away from the global picture, Essex have opened their first new library in 25 years but, in a sign of how times may have changed since the last one, it is being staffed by volunteers from the start, with paid staff in support.

News

• 2013 Library RFID Survey - “This year’s survey attempts to capture information about all aspects of RFID use in the library – from accessions to smartphones. The survey is primarily being promoted in Europe, the USA, Australia and New Zealand but everyone is welcome to participate – the only requirements are that you are using some form of RFID in your library – self-service, access control, intelligent shelving etc. and that you are responsible for managing your RFID solutions.”
• Bookbuster - DOKLab (Netherlands). “At the request of ‘Kopgroep Bibliotheken’ (a Dutch library) we developed a multitouch application to promote reading among primary school children. In a customized library bus, students from more than 20 primary schools can borrow books and be inspired to read new books. The ground floor of the bus is equipped with books and the library asked us to come up with an idea for the multitouch table that would be placed on the top floor of the bus to promote reading.”
• Community Centered: 23 Reasons Why Your Library Is the Most Important Place in Town – Public Libraries Online.  Very useful article for arguing library’s importance as community centres in five ways: “(1) libraries as community builders, (2) libraries as community centers for diverse populations, (3) libraries as centers for the arts, (4) libraries as universities, and (5) libraries as champions of youth”

“Former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, a strong supporter of libraries as community builders, addressed librarians saying, “Unless you are out there changing neighborhoods, you are not completing the work you are to do.”² Strengthening neighborhoods and championing the cultural lives of communities are big responsibilities. We think librarians are up to the challenge.”

• Could you be a ‘Voice for the Library’? – Storify. “ree Library Voices is a ‘Rotation Curation’ project, presenting a new voice each week. @VoicesLibrary is a sister account of @ukpling. Could you be our next ‘Voice for the Library’? The story so far…”
• Experiences of one jobseeker in using Universal Jobmatch: a worrying sign for Universal Credit? – Infoism. Scary look at what Universal Jobmatch implies. “You go to a library, and make use of the facilities there…if you have a library…and if they have public computers…and if you can get time on them…and if you can input the information needed within that time…and if you have the computer skills to be able to understand what’s being asked of you by the forms, and how to respond appropriately.”.  The comments are vital to read – make sure you don’t set your CVs to “private” for instance.
• Free Library launches “Check Us Out” ads: Slideshow – Philadelphia Business Journal (USA). Excellent publicity posters.
• Is It Time to Rebuild & Retool Public Libraries and Make ”TechShops”? – Make. “At one time the library was “the living internet” — you went there to look up something hard to find, to do research — now it’s all at our fingertips through search engines, Wikipedia, and the web.”

“If the only public space where 3D printers, laser cutters, and learning electronics happens is in fee/memberships-based spaces (TechShops, hackerspaces), that will leave out a segment of the population, who will never have access..” … “I think many of these things could be helped by the re-tooling of one of our greatest resources, the public library. It wouldn’t be easy, but that’s the point — it would be a challenge and worth doing.”

• Let’s hear it for neighbourhood groups: Conservative party launch of the Big Society – Neighbourhoods Blog.  Notes from the 2010 Conservative launch of the Big Society. “On page 5 of the document you can read the powers and rights that will be assigned to neighbourhood groups. The list begins: ‘Neighbourhoods will be able to bid to take over the running of community amenities, such as parks and libraries that are under threat’. Threat from where? Understandably, this will be widely read as ‘funding for parks and libraries is not gonna be great, but we’ll support voluntary action to run them: and if it runs into the sand after a while, that’s the community’s decision.’”
• Looking a Trojan horse in the mouth – Question Everything. LGA responds about it failing to make clear in national press release that libraries were statutory. “I would like to clarify that the LGA fully understands that the 1964 Act confers a statutory duty on councils to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service, and it is regrettable that the language used in our press release was open to misinterpretation on this point. The sentiment we were trying to get across is that individual libraries in-and-of-themselves can be closed without the associated council breaching it statutory duty, as found by recent judicial reviews into the issue of library closures.”
• Sumter may privatize library operations – Stop the privatisation of public libraries.  “Osceola officials [who had passed on their system to LSSI - Ed.] have seen some savings, but not as much as they thought they were going to get“
• Sunnyvale and Mountain View Public Libraries Get 3D Printers – Yahoo News (USA). “It was Star Wars Day at the Mountain View Public Library on May 4, and the library demonstrated its newest asset as it successfully built “Star Wars” characters in MakerBot’s signature green to the amazement of participants. Mountain View library services manager Paul Sims is holding a 3D Open House in mid-June, when the library will further embrace the maker culture with talks, activities, and demos.”

They Work For You : 15th May
Public Libraries – Electronic Publishing | PLR on e-books and audiobooks

Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the recommendations of the Independent Review of E-lending in Public Libraries in England, published in March 2013, when lending rights will be extended to (a) e-books and audiobooks lent on library premises and (b) e-books lent remotely.

• Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 15 May 2013, c223W

Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative) holding answer 15 May 2013. “The Government response to William Sieghart’s review of e-lending in public libraries in England was published on 27 March 2013 and sets out the Government’s position in terms of extending public lending right (PLR) to audiobooks and ebooks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-independent-review-of-e-lending-in-public-libraries-in-england Any proposal for the potential extension of PLR will be communicated in due course, following full consideration of this matter.

• Web-connected libraries for Africa: the dream of digital knowledge for all – Guardian. “with an initial funding of $50,000 from Kickstarter, library startup Librii is building its first “eHub” prototype: a shipping container filled with computers, printers and training materials, connected to a simple, low-cost study centre, which will let visitors access information, print books and other materials and, crucially, contribute back to the project and the web at large. Once the prototype is complete and tested, a partnership with the University of Ghana and Librarians Without Borders is intended to start shipping the embryonic libraries to Africa,”
• What is going on with New York’s public libraries? – Librarian.net (USA).  Damning graph shows big increase in use (visits and issues) at New York libraries but funding reduced.
• Why Public Libraries Are A Better Investment Than Gold – ABC (Australia). 6 minute interview detailing the return on investment of public libraries in Australia.

Changes

• Essex - Springfield Library (first new library in 25 years in Essex) opens with volunteers staffing it from the start, with paid staff support.
• Stockton - £400k cut to libraries budget.  Westbury Street library to be moved to Riverbank Centre 250 metres away.  Other libraries to be co-located with other council services.  Final decision on June 12th.

Local news

• Barnet – Tottenham MP David Lammy visits Friern Barnet Library to discuss his book Out of the Ashes – This is Local London. ““I hope the Labour group takes Barnet back in the next election. We need a more compassionate Barnet, one that is close to the people – as this library shows.  It is very good the library is still here, it’s wonderful that it is so active and there were so many people engaged and asking questions. They deserve answers, and I put some of them in my book.””
• Coventry – Central Library reopens after £130,000 makeover – Coventry Telegraph. “The building, in Smithford Way, city centre, has been given a refurbishment for the first time since it opened in 1986. Improvements included all areas being re-painted and re-carpeted as well as the popular children’s library being enhanced.”.  [Some great photos - Ed.]
• Ealing – Shared services are key to saving borough millions, insists Ealing – This is local London. “Millions of pounds may be saved by awarding contracts for shared delivery of library and leisure services in Ealing. A meeting this Tuesday will recommend awarding contracts to private companies in a joint venture between Ealing, Harrow and Brent.” … “Early ideas include shared leisure and library card schemes, with aligned pricing and discounts, shared management and shared back-office teams.” … “John Laing are one of 10 companies listed as possible library service providers as they already run libraries and other services in Hounslow.”

“Contracts for managing up to 25 libraries are available for five-years including an optional five-year extension, reportedly worth £90,000-£100,000 for 10 years.”

• Essex – First Essex library in 25 years opens in Springfield, Chelmsford – BBC News (cached). “Springfield Library has been built as an extension to the local parish council building in St Augustine’s Way, in the north of the city. Essex County Council said the service would be run by volunteers, with the help of its libraries staff.”
• Herefordshire – Cuts are to be discussed - Ledbury Reporter. “The Unison union said a funding cut – believed to be around 75 per cent – would “almost certainly” see Hereford central library the only one in the county to survive. An online petition against the cuts has attracted 3,000 [5,400 as of checking now - Ed.] signatures. The council has neither confirmed nor denied the figures, issuing a statement saying that any alternatives to present provision are “only at the proposal stage”.”
• Herefordshire – Campaigners protest against Herefordshire Council cuts – BBC. “More than 60 people have held a protest against plans by Herefordshire Council to cut budgets and jobs.” … “more than 1,000 people had signed a petition against the cuts in the two hours the protest lasted.”.

• Herefordshire – Save Our Libraries & Museums High Town Rally 18th May 2013 – Youtube.
• Herefordshire – Green councillor Felicity Norman sees red over cabinet meeting cancellation – Hereford Times. “Felicity Norman, Member for Leominster North, condemned the decision to defer the debate to full council next Friday, saying members coming in for the meeting had not been told of the decision and only heard when they arrived. A large crowd of protesters, including Unison members, were also unaware of the change of plan.” … “Coun Norman sided with the Its Our County group and one Independent in refusing to support the budget the council passed in February and since found to be flawed. The resulting shortfall of around £8.4m has to be met by a new budget plan that puts services from public toilets to libraries and museums in the shadow of the axe.”
• Liverpool – Central Library cathedral of knowledge – ItsLiverpool. “if the old Liverpool Central Library could (charitably) be described as ‘municipal practical’, it’s butterfly reincarnation is nothing short of magnificent. In fact, it’s now so heart-gladdeningly splendid, I can easily imagine it becoming a tourist attraction in its own right alongside its William Brown Street neighbours.”

“We’re a proud city with a proud history. And while life may have its ups and downs at the moment, this new incarnation of our landmark library is yet another thing to be proud of.”

• Oxfordshire – As soon as you can say “non disclosure agreement” – Dumb Librarian. “We have career public servants directly engaged in the outreach programme to Community Libraries and their supporters. Some profess an active interest in “Change Management” which usually translates into getting as much as possible for the absolute minimum cost. Complex legal agreements are in the pipeline for any support group working with their local library to provide volunteer. How they will know whether an agreement is safe to sign is highly questionable.” … “we appear to have no net financial gain to the County, a net loss in terms of professional library staff, and support groups dedicating countless hours of unpaid time to fill the gaps.”
• Staffordshire – Libraries to make a noise for the blind – Burton Mail. “Staffordshire County Council is marking ‘Make a Noise in Libraries Fortnight’ by reminding residents just what the county’s libraries have to offer blind and partially sighted people. The event is an annual campaign to bring public libraries and blind and partially sighted people together to improve access to books and information”
• Stockton - Row over future of Stockton borough libraries - Darlington and Stockton Times. Councillors fear closures will be like “closing an accident and emergency unit”.
• Wirral – Easy reading for Wirral teenagers - Wirral Globe. “girls combined an evening of culture and pampering when local hairstylists and nail technicians attended to their whims at Bromborough Library. On a more serious note at the “Lipstick Library” successful teenage author Luisa Plaja was invited to promote her new book Diary of a Mall Girl.” … “Local businesses The Beau-Tea Rooms, Red, White and Beauty, Matalan and Caroline & Co provided their services and competition prizes to support the event.”.

In local news, the decision on the stark cuts proposed for Herefordshire have been delayed until full council on 24th May.  In the few days since the news of the cuts have become public, nearly 5000 people have signed the online petition against it and a paper petition is being started.  Also locally, Dorset have opened the £2m refurbished Christchurch Library while Cheshire East have decided to move towards a volunteer-staffed library for the first time.

News

• Children turn away from books in favour of reading electronically – Independent.  National Literacy Trust survey covered: “34, 910 children between the ages of eight and 16.”Children are spending more time time reading on computers or other electronic devices than on books, magazines and comics for the first time, according to a study out today.” … “research also shows  those who read print as nearly twice as likely to be above average readers as children who read electronically (26 per cent as opposed to 15.5 per cent).  In addition, those who only read on screen are  four times less likely to say they enjoy reading (12 per cent compared with 51 per cent).” See also Children’s on-screen reading overtakes reading in print – National Literacy Trust.
• Cuts hit poor women hardest: shame on our government – Guardian. “the majority of single parents, carers, part-time and public-sector workers and very old persons are women, which means they’re either on a low wage and/or benefits, and when they need legal aid, a refuge from domestic violence, family planning, a nice warm library, Sure Start, clothes, transport, heating, a decent home and food, they now can’t have any, or can’t afford enough.”
• Emergent digital services in public libraries: a domain study – Emerald. “This paper aims to explore the emergence of digital services in the public library domain via an extensive study of the websites of all Scottish public library services. … This is the first national study of Scottish public library websites and its findings should be of value as a result.”
• Failing to Read Well The Role of Public Libraries in Adult Literacy, Immigrant Community Building, and Free Access to Learning – Public Libraries Online. Look at adult literacy classes in US for immigrants. “As a government institution with a strong commitment to free access of information, libraries have been able to continue to provide library services, including literacy services to adult learners and their families. Due to extensive budget cuts, these educational gains are being threatened.”
• Incredible Hulk statue to transform image of US library – Guardian. Reports on the Northlake hulk crowdfunding project recently featured in Public Libraries News,  Some interesting comments both supporting the idea and attacking it for dumbing down.
• Library’s Future Is Not an Open Book – Wall Street Journal (USA). Long article looking at the changing face of public libraries in the USA and especially the large showpiece city ones.  However, even use of the computers is declining … so what to do with the space?
• Mobilemeet – CILIP. 14th September. “The Public and Mobile Libraries Group are back with another September slot for this year’s meeting of the best and brightest library vehicles from around the UK. Mobilemeet will feature presentations and an opportunity for discussion of some of the most significant issues facing mobile library services, aimed at the widest possible range of delegates from Members, Middle Library Service Managers to Mobile Library Drivers and Assistants.  This year we are focusing on “Good News Stories”.  These include: new vehicles, rebranding or changing the role of mobiles through partnership working, mobile community hubs, front door to council services and specialisation of services.
• No Need to Apologize to Your Librarian – Eleventh Stack. “When I tell people what I do for a living, and then they realize that I serve the public, sometimes I get a twisted face of pity coming at me. “.  Lists the common apologies heard in a lovely positive way.

• Public Libraries and First Responders: Partners in Emergency Response – NNLMSCR (USA).
• Seven million Brits have ‘never used the internet’ - BBC. “7.1 million remain offline, with the elderly and disabled still the least likely to be connected.”.  Figure down 1 million since 2012.  Also “”Sixteen million adults don’t have the basic online skills to confidently take advantage of digital tools.”
• Vote to halt cuts to library opening – Herald (Eire). Dublin “councillors have passed an emergency motion seeking to overturn a decision made by council officials to restrict some library opening times by up to 17 hours a week … The proposed cut in opening hours is due to staffing shortages caused by the public sector recruitment moratorium and the retirement of library workers”

Changes

• Cheshire East - Hurdsfield to be volunteer-staffed in 2014 and given to Peaks and Plains Housing Trust, Weston Library to be closed.
• Dorset - Christchurch Library opens after £2m upgrade.
• Waltham Forest - £5m for Chingford, Leyton, Leytonstone and Walthamstow converting them to “Library Plus” to include libraries taking on “birth registrations, children’s centre activities and adult learning courses, as well as possibly including police meetings”

Local news

• Birmingham - Public Appeal to stop the privatisation of the Library of Birmingham – Communities against the cuts. “We write as individuals and organisations coming from the Labour movement of this city, past and present, who have deposited collections in the City’s archives. We note that where ever privatisation takes place it leads to poorer public services and worsening conditions of employment for workers. As the Cabinet papers make plain this ‘commissioning to the market’ ‘will provide a good opportunity to reduce costs of staffing’.  Libraries are a quintessential public service open to the benefit of all. Archives are a gift of history to future generations. When we deposited our archives we did not anticipate that they would potentially become a source of profit to a private company. This is a betrayal and corruption of our gift to the future.”
• Brent – Councillor who oversaw library closures fails to make selection shortlist – Brent and Kilburn Times. “A source has revealed to the Times that Cllr James Powney has failed to make the shortlist to stand as a Labour candidate for the Kensal Green Ward.”.  Libraries cuts mentioned as a prominent reason.
• Cheshire East – Campaigners celebrate as Hurdsfield library saved from axe – Macclesfield Express. “Hurdsfield to be volunteer-staffed in 2014 and given to Peaks and Plains Housing Trust, Weston Library to be closed.” … “The trust already owns the rest of the building, which houses its offices and a hairdressers. It plans to renovate the building to merge the library into more of a community hub, with a range of activities and book swaps. The current, council-paid librarian will remain for a year but then volunteers will run the library.”
• Dorset – Christchurch Library and Learning Centre reopens after £2 million upgrade – This is Dorset. “Christchurch Library and Learning Centre has re-opened after a £2 million redevelopment. After almost a year of renovations and building work, visitors can enjoy 60 per cent more space to facilities.” … “”There is also the financial benefit that the relocation of the adult education centre will save £50,000 a year.”

“We want this library to be a community hub, somewhere that all residents can make use of, whether it’s for books, study space, the free use of computers or to hold community meetings and events.”

• Ealing – Library and Leisure Services to be Contracted Out – Ealing Today. “John Laing Ltd. will take over the running of the library service. They already run the libraries in Hounslow and Harrow and the latter borough would act as the client on behalf of London Borough of Ealing in what would be a shared contract.” … “Ealing Unison has called for a lobby of the Council meeting from 6.30pm on the 21st May. They claim there has been no proper consultation”

“The Council believe that the new contracts will help them meet their annual savings targets of £250,000 per annum for leisure and £233,000 for libraries. There is no definite indication that the new contract will involve library closures although the report to be presented to the Council on the proposals states, “officers have continued to explore alternative delivery models for all static libraries in an effort to continue to provide a comprehensive library service that achieves value for money.”

• Herefordshire – Council postpones cuts decision – BBC. “Council leader John Jarvis said the matter would now be heard by full council on 24 May. Expecting a decision, about 80 members of the Unison union gathered outside the council’s Brockington HQ.” … “More than 4,000 people have signed a petition against possible closures of museums and libraries in the county.”.  Council leader says 4000 people need to come up with ideas about how they can save services themselves. 80% Unison members vote in favour of strike on issue.
• Herefordshire – Library News - Private Eye. “In one of the most drastic library service cutbacks threatened so far, rural Herefordshire may lose all bar one of its public libraries. All that’s been officially revealed is a plan in a council agenda paper to more than halve the county’s £3m culture and leisure services budget.  It says: “The full range of options will be explored from community led delivery to income generation opportunities and selective closures, service reductions and reduced opening hours.”However, library staff have already been briefed that their budget will drop to just £250,000 in the next two years.  Only Hereford City library is safe, they were told, unless a mysterious “someone else” steps up to take on the 10 branches in the market towns and villages.  Despite Herefordshire having one of England’s most rural and widely dispersed populations, the mobile library service was scrapped two years ago.”
• Herefordshire – Protesters gather outside council headquarters despite vital meeting being called off - Hereford Times. “Protestors against the cuts gathered at Brockington as planned. Even Book Start Bear was there”
• Herefordshire – Council meeting deferral came following feedback from ‘councillors, the public and reviewing public petitions’ – Ledbury Reporter. Just. Read. The. Comments.
• Herefordshire – Libraries in the firing line of Herefordshire Council cuts – Ledbury Reporter. “The very future for culture in the county is at stake tomorrow as Herefordshire Council’s cabinet decides whether or not to back savage cuts that leave libraries and museums out on a limb. But those at the sharp end are fighting back rallied by an unprecedented show of support.”
• Herefordshire – Library threatened with closure – Ross Gazette. “The Minister for the Arts opened it with much fanfare in March 1988, holding it up as a beacon of council excellence. Fast forward 25 years and after countless – and costly – consultations, pay reviews, job evaluations, and restructuring, Ross Library is at crisis point.”

“We knew it was going to be hard but this is a domesday scenario. It is fundamentally, morally and ideologically wrong. It is like Dr Beeching for local government. People talk wistfully about the return of trains. Well, they may be talking like that about libraries. Once they are gone they are gone and there is no going back.”

• Herefordshire – Paul Rogers Blog: Libraries and Museums should be saved- Hereford Times. “if any of libraries situated in the market towns and villages go, what is the alternative for service-users, especially the elderly and less able who are traditionally avid library visitors?”
• Manchester – Twist in the tale as Manchester library protesters win reprieve – Manchester Evening News. “Campaigners packed out Manchester town hall for a two hour debate in which councillors agreed an extension to the planned closure date of June 29.”… “many Labour councillors also attacked their own party’s plan – dubbing a report drawn up by officers as ‘disappointing’ and ‘patronising’. Campaigners said it failed to reflect the strength of public opinion, adding that hundreds of objection letters had not been fully considered.”

“We understand that the community really value and are passionate about their libraries and that they want to be involved in moving the process forward to ensure the retention of a library service in each of their communities.  A one-size-fits-all model will not work, which is why we reiterated our commitment at committee to work with each community and other partners to bring forward specific proposals for each of the six libraries affected.”

• Sefton – Mum urges council to rethink Carnegie Library closure – Crosby Herald. “A Crosby mum, whose ten children all learnt to read at the Carnegie Library, has urged Sefton Council to rethink its closure plans. Sam Garner, 47, said her children, who range in age from 25 to five, have all benefited from the library on College Road.”
• Sefton – Campaign group submits business plan to save Southport’s libraries – Southport Visiter. “Members of the recently- formed Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Library Group have launched a business plan to keep Southport’s libraries open.” … “The ABCLG has now put together a plan to save £140,000 and keep Southport’s three libraries open. The savings would be achieved by reducing the opening hours of Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown libraries from 30 to 24 hours a week, and by using volunteers to support the paid library staff.”
• South Ayrshire – Furious woman hits out at Ayr library – Ayrshire Post. “officious staff refused to let her share a computer with her elderly mum and sister – claiming it breached health and safety rules. They insisted that the trio stump up £15 each to sit at three separate machines to research their family history.” … “South Ayrshire Council insist the £15 fee does not go to them, but is payable to a service called the Digital Imaging of the Genealogical Records of Scotland’s People (DIGROS), which charges for its use.”
• Southend – Library services “will be improved” - Echo. If volunteers step in. “there are no closure plans, as long as the public or community groups do their bit to keep some of them open.” … “The “amalgamation” of Thorpedene and Friars libraries will improve them, the council says, as the two existing buildings are not fit for purpose and are close to each other anyway.”

“In some areas if people don’t want to safeguard them it will be very difficult, it would perhaps suggest that they don’t want their libraries as much as we thought.”

• Southend – Petition to save Southend libraries – Echo. “275 people signed a petition to save Southend’s branch libraries at a lively information event outside Westcliff Library. A steady stream of people stopped to hear about Southend Council’s proposals which could see some branch libraries closed unless community groups step in to run them.” … “In total more than 500 people have signed the petition, which is organised by Unison.”

“Their reasons for needing the branch were different – students did homework there, unemployed people who searched for jobs on its computers and pensioners who would be unable to travel to the new Forum library being built in the town centre or a proposed “hub” library in Leigh or Eastwood. They immediately signed the petition …”

• Sunderland – Concern over Sunderland library closure plans – Sunderland Echo. “Sunderland City Council bosses insist the response has been one of the largest they have ever seen. However, a scrutiny committee report highlighted concerns that current library users, who it claims are predominantly older people, “may have been less engaged in the consultation than non-users … While the report accepts hard copies of the consultation document were placed in libraries, there is concern that Wearside library staff did not encourage visitors to complete the form.”.  95% of the 2700 consulted say they or their family were library members.
• Tri-borough – I’ve seen the future; David Ruse and the Tri-borough experiment! – Stop the privatisation of public libraries. “budget of £16m, 360FTE staff and 21 sites. He then went on to say that 10 senior management posts had been cut to 4, the stock team had been reduced and that there was only 1 children’s specialist in the service”.  Volunteers “not substituting but assisting” … “paid staff are shared between the boroughs under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972, David said that they had looked at TUPEing staff over to Westminster, the lead borough, and ‘salary harmonisation’ but use Section 113 instead. All this had led to savings of £1.237m.”.  Self-service had led to job cuts but was not detrimental to the service.  Rosy view not shared by unison stewards. “Sharper procurement” next in line to save money.
• Waltham Forest – Anger as smaller libraries miss out on £5 million investment in Waltham Forest - Guardian series. “Library users have slammed Waltham Forest Council’s multi-million pound investment in four libraries as smaller facilities miss out on the funding. The council is spending £5 million turning four libraries in Chingford, Leyton, Leytonstone and Walthamstow into ‘Library Plus’ centres, offering a range of services in addition to lending books and having computers. However, not a penny of it will go to the borough’s smaller libraries.”

“It really does stink. When we’re talking about £5 million and it’s going to just a few libraries, that’s pretty outrageous. The investment won’t be that good for the people in the borough who can’t travel to these ones. People looking for jobs might not have the money to reach them and it would be hard on the elderly.”

I saw a great project a couple of days ago from a small town called Northlake (30,000 residents) near Chicago which shows how imagination and the internet can be used together in order to, at next to no cost, publicise a library and raise funds for it.  The plan, you see, is to purchase a nine-foot-tall statue of the Incredible Hulk for the library.  That, I think, would be reason enough but that is actually only the “hook” to get funding for a lot of new technology for the place.  Technology that will spectacularly position the library at the forefront of provision for its area. Why the Hulk? Well, the branch itself prides itself on its graphic novel collection (it was 2,300 but it’s even bigger now – someone saw the publicity and donated 1,000 more) but also, I think, it’s the sheer incongruousness of the concept that’s the winner.  It’s relevance to the UK is that it shows clearly what can be done with no resources.  Even if they don’t get their Hulk statue, Northlake has gained more publicity than ever before, probably revolutionised its image and gets to keep whatever money has been raised, which already runs to a couple of thousand dollars.

I hope after reading the words of Tom Mukite, a trustee of the library, who is intimately involved with the project, that you will agree with the Ron Marz, known for his work on Silver Surfer and Green Lantern,  that “Every library should have a hulk”

“Bring the Hulk”: the actual statue

What first gave you the idea for this project?

I’m a trustee now for the library but at the time back in August I was helping the librarian who takes care of our graphic novel collection with coming up with ideas of how to really call attention to our collection. Then one night someone tweeted out a link to a Hulk statue. I figured I’d have no room for him in my home but he would be great for getting people’s attention at the library.

What are its aims?

We have a few aims for the project. Obviously if we hit our goal we’d be able to get a ton of technology that the library would never ever be able to afford. As well as give our graphic novels a huge shot to the arm. Currently our budget has been cut due to foreclosures so we’re not getting as many funds that the library would normally get so this is the only way we have currently to be able to afford anything we’re trying to get. The aim for the Hulk statue is to inspire everyone to read more. We see him as the fun side of the library with Bruce Banner you have the slightly nerdy doctor that would represent the current views of libraries as a place to study. The Hulk is the fun side of Bruce Banner that we feel really represents the fun side of the library that people may not have discovered. Some of these things like our graphic novel collection, cooking classes, games, dvds. These are things that a lot of people who may have stopped going to libraries after they finished school might not know that we have. Furthermore, the Hulk should inspire reluctant readers that might not want to even be in the library to pick up a Hulk graphic novel or another one. What kid would not become curious about the giant Hulk standing in the middle of the library?

“Currently our budget has been cut due to foreclosures so we’re not getting as many funds that the library would normally get so this is the only way we have currently to be able to afford anything we’re trying to get.”

Would you be happy if it failed in its target but still raised publicity for the library?

The great thing about indiegogo is that if we fail to bring in the full goal we’ll still get the money that we raised minus Indiegogo’s fees and the cost of the perks. We are thrilled with the publicity we’re getting but we really want to hit our goal and maybe pass it by. Like I said earlier this is the only way for us to add to the budget for technology or even the graphic novels.

Have Marvel given permission?  How deeply did you need to go into the legal side?

We are actually purchasing the statue which is fully licensed. We tried to contact Marvel’s legal people but they never rresponded. Mark Waid the current writer of the Indestructible Hulk series loved the project and even donated copies of the first collection with his scripts that we’re using as a perk. Once we launched the campaign we heard from a couple employees of Marvel that liked it. We aren’t selling anything with the Hulk on so we’re avoiding any problems.

I see you’re using a crowdfunding site.  How easy is it to use and do you have any tips for any librarians out there wanting to do likewise? 

We’re using Indiegogo but our project video does mention Kickstarter. This is because it was set to be on Kickstarter but they denied us. That was the most difficult part of the project so far. However with moving to Indiegogo we actually lucked out since the site allows you to collect money even if you don’t reach your goals. This if we unfortunately fail, will help make it not be a total waste as we’ll be able to at least buy more graphic novels or whatever portion of the project we can afford. As far as setting up the campaign itself the hardest thing to do is figuring out the perks or incentives. We managed to get a lot of help from the comic and local community. You don’t want to set yourself up where a bulk of your money is going to the perks. The most expensive perks we have for ourselves are the random packages of comics that we have to purchase and mail.

“the hardest thing to do is figuring out the perks or incentives”

“Don’t do it by yourself”

99% of crowdfunding is marketing so make sure you are comfortable with it. As libraries we generally think we don’t have to market ourselves but when you do a crowdfunding campaign you have around a month to raise all the money you can get used to asking people to donate or share the project even if you feel bad about it. Most people will not mind and will enjoy helping their friends.

How much staff time did the project cost?  Do you have a marketing/publicity officer that is behind it?

• Bring the Hulk to the Northlake Public Library – Indiegogo.
• Bringing the Hulk to the Northlake Public Library – I love libraries.
• Help the Northlake Public Library Get a 9-foot Hulk Statue – Chicago Now
• Hulk Statue For Library: Northlake, Illinois Crowdfunding Scheme Has Big Goals – Huffington Post
• Northlake library hopes online Hulk campaign will bring in the green - Franklin Park Herald-Journal.
• Suburban Library Seeking Incredible Hulk Statue – CBS Chicago.
• You Can Help This Library Buy a 9-Foot-Tall Hulk Statue – Geekosystem. “the Indiegogo campaign is seeking more than just the statue. They also want to add a lab where patrons can create their own comics, and are even looking to install a 3D printer. They basically want to become the geekiest library in the country, and we think that’s worth celebrating.”

News

• Culture is what separates us from the rest of the living world – New Statesman / AC Grayling. Culture, including libraries (specifically mentioned) gives us a lot: “I focus on the good side of culture because that is what differentiates us, and gives us our best reasons for being hopeful that we can master the destructive sides of our nature, and make life and the world something that is ever closer to utopia.”

• Contribution of Australian Public Libraries - Research shows 31,000 jobs traceable to libraries, with $2.90 benefit for every $1 spent.
• Ebooks in public libraries…ssshhhhhh – Good Library Blog.  Short post from Tim Coates pointing out e-books are good for readers.
• Innovation, Inspiration and Creativity Conference: Using Positive Disruption to improve libraries – I2C2. “We’re pleased to announce a new, exciting conference to be held 6th/7th March 2014, Manchester (UK). Innovation, Inspiration and Creativity Conference: Using Positive Disruption to improve libraries. We want to bring together a bunch of people next year for a two day conference of inspiring each other to innovate and be more creative in our libraries. There will be talks, workshops, fun and games galore. We’ll talk to each other about successes and challenges, thinking about how we can use what we learn from one another to improve libraries.”
• Millions spent to revive council libraries – Brisbane Times (Australia).  “Brisbane’s council libraries will receive $33.2 million [£21.5m and it is slightly larger than Birmingham - Ed.] worth of new books and magazines just a few months after a report showed a massive slump in library visitors.”,  However, floods and other problems blamed for this with a claim that there has been an increase in visitors”.
• ‘Nightmare scenario’ as Welsh councils fear violent cuts to services after Treasury spending review – Wales Online. Cuts to Welsh budgets may mean the days of “small scale savings” are over and there will be large cuts, with “non statutory” libraries mentioned three times as potential targets.  The LGA statement saying that 90% of budgets for libraries etc may be cut in England is repeated.
• Random House and Foyles triumph at Bookseller Industry Awards – BookSeller. “The Library of the Year title was scooped by two joint winners based at opposite ends of the country ­ Devon Libraries and Dundee Library Service. Judges praised Devon libraries for the huge range of services it offered beyond books and managing to shrug off budget cuts to increase visitor numbers and loan figures. Dundee Library services launched an impressive digital participation programme.”

Changes

• Blackburn with Darwen - £2m upgrade of Blackburn Library starts.

Local news

• Blackburn with Darwen – ‘Back to the future’ refurbishment of Blackburn Library begins - Lancashire Telegraph. £2m upgrade “While the inside continues its transformation to an online information hub as well as store of thousands of books, this week the 1970’s crumbling concrete facade started to be taken off.”
• Brent – New ‘libraries’ councillor says community engagement is at the heart of her priorities – Brent and Kilburn Times. “Cllr Roxanne Mashari ousted Cllr James Powney to become the new lead member for environment and neighbourhoods … The councillor who has taken over the responsibility of the borough’s libraries has hailed the approach to reading rooms in Camden and said “community engagement” in Brent will be at the heart of her priorities.” Brent previously anti volunteer libraries.  Article concentrates on libraries aspect of the job, noting previous councillor’s unpopularity with library campaigners.
• Halton – Residents offered free workshops to learn how to use the internet – Runcorn and Widnes World. “Talk Talk has teamed up with Halton Council to provide experts to show people how to use email, social networking, access multimedia, Word/Excel, understand the internet, shop online, PC basics and safety on the internet.”
• Herefordshire – Hereford at risk of library closures – BookSeller.  Details proposals.  Useful comment: “It’s interesting but, as usual, dispiriting to observe the now routine softening-up process adopted by a council – Bomb the populace mercilessly in the first instance then, once panic has set in, cajole or coerce people into ‘community-led’ delivery of the little that remains:”
• Herefordshire – Library and museums cuts prompts petition - BBC. More than 2000 have signed petition against the proposed cuts. “There are currently 11 council-funded libraries in the county, as well as about half a dozen community libraries set up by volunteers after a mobile service was withdrawn in 2011, as part of council savings.”.  Council is looking towards having more volunteer-run libraries rather than paid ones.
• Isle of Wight – Libraries to host free music gigs – Isle of Wight Radio. “A series of free music gigs will be on offer as part of the Shhh…it’s a library tour. Isle of Wight Council-run libraries will stage the gigs, featuring folk musicians Chris Quinton and Ben Johnson, plus Floella Grace and PhreakAudio.”
• Liverpool – Liverpool’s revamped Central Library is a cathedral of knowledge – Liverpool Echo. Liverpool’s new library due to open this Friday.  “Something for everyone” with historic facade hiding light bright modern space, 100% wifi, cafe, bespoke storage for local history archives given great prominence.

“it’s now so heart-gladdeningly splendid, I can easily imagine it becoming a tourist attraction in its own right alongside its William Brown Street neighbours. Perhaps author Frank Cottrell Boyce summed it up best, and in inimitable Technicolor fashion, when he described setting foot inside the new library as going to visit your grandma to find she’d “turned into Beyonce”.

• Manchester – ‘A slap in the face’: Levenshulme campaigner and Northenden Lib Dem councillor condemn library closures - Mancunian Matters.  Campaigners think council ignored any ideas that were not theirs: “My disappointment is that the report does not seriously recognize any of the proposals or solutions that we have been working on with the library service councillors. “It seems to be a rehash of exactly the same proposals as before, which is close all the libraries and establish collections. It is extremely disappointing to hear that.”

“Northenden Library is more than just a building,” she said. “I do not understand the council’s determination to close six of our valuable local libraries. “Residents feel keenly that the decision-makers are utterly unwilling to listen and that they cannot see beyond the basic structure.”

• Slough – Free online courses launched for library members – Slough and South Bucks Observer.  “more than 350 online courses and 80 foreign language courses free of charge. The Universal Class courses offer learning topics from hobbies, technology, business skills and health.”
• Suffolk – Grabbing the Grabbits! – Suffolk Libraries (press release) “Suffolk Libraries book displays are popular with young readers – “Of the 1690 Grabbit books on display since Easter, there have been 2,000 issued so each book has effectively been borrowed at least once and library staff have reported they have been very popular.”

Shona Bendix, Chair of Suffolk Libraries, said: “I’m thrilled that this idea has been such a success and it was a great idea by our Stock Team. We launched the idea during the school holidays hoping that more young people would have the chance to visit their local library and hopefully it’s an idea we can develop in the future. Libraries have a vital part to play in improving literacy and in encouraging children and young people to read, particularly during school holidays.”

It’s interesting to note that the Scottish side of the librarian professional body CILIP has issued a statement expressing its “deep concern” about cuts in Moray.  These cuts (7 out of 15 may close) are of proportions familiar enough to those in England but may be a worrying harbinger of things to come north of the border.   CILIP (England) itself has long since given up (if it ever started in the first place) producing announcements for each new authority that announces cuts in its own turf, presumably because their frequency would get a bit monotonous.

Speaking of cuts, as I so often do, I should point out the current bete noir of Herefordshire faces an unconfirmed 9 branches being withdrawn, not 10.  The tenth, Peterchurch, is already volunteer run:  a possibility interestingly missing from a 1976 article on library cuts that is otherwise quite eery in its similarities to today.

News

• Children’s Librarians in the Digital Age: Part I: A Call to Action – Digital Media Diet (USA).  Excellent look at the challenge of e-book to children’s libraries; e-reading doubling every two years among kids.
• From the archive, 13 May 1976: Libraries look at economy cuts – Guardian.  Reprints amazing article from 1976 that basically shows how little has changed “Libraries are bearing a heavy share of this year’s local authority spending cuts and for many people provide the most tangible evidence of those cuts” and how about “Many libraries are closing on Saturday afternoons – their busiest time”?  Interesting, though, how the possibility of closures is little discussed and the possibility of volunteers is just not present:

“if the worst came, libraries could be housed in converted warehouses or department stores, or functional square buildings with bare walls and floors and chipboard shelving from floor to ceiling. There would be no wasted space, no browsing areas, coffee bars or exhibition space, with assistants working longer hours and wearing warmer clothes and chiefs handing out books rather than attending management seminars.”

• Library card - “Everybody put your card up, everybody put your library card up …” Melvil Dewey on Youtube.
• There’s no such thing as the wrong sort of book – Independent. “Unfortunately, libraries will be a historical concept as alien to most 17-year-olds as the works of George Eliot by the time Mr Gove’s government has finished with them. A total of 146 libraries were closed from 2010 to 2011, and a further 201 in 2012. The Penguin Classics edition of Middlemarch costs £7.99. The minimum wage for under-18s is £3.68 an hour. Even one of Mr Gove’s fantasy 17-year-olds could do the maths: most teenagers cannot afford to lose themselves in the transcendent works of the English canon. Most are lucky to have the luxury of getting into reading at all.”
• What’s a Library? – Huffington Post. Post from Michael Rosenblum which has raised a lot of anger amongst US librarians (see this response) because it says that (a) technology has replaced the need for libraries and that (b) the writer can afford his own books and internet access anyway so does not need them.  The parallels to Terry Deary’s UK anti-library piece are worrying.

• Who needs libraries? We all do – Massachusetts Libraries youtube video (USA).

Changes

• Aberdeenshire - Stonehaven and Fraserburgh libraries refurbished (carpets, painting, seating etc).
• Herefordshire – 9 libraries under threat (changed from 10 as tenth library, Peterchurch, is already volunteer run and so will presumably not be affected).
• Lincolnshire - 300 books provided for bookswap collection in Bratoft village hall.
• Manchester - 6 libraries to start closing from 29 June (Burnage, Fallowfield, Levenshulme, Miles Platting, New Moston and Northenden) under threat (previusly 5).  Volunteers and other groups to be encouraged to take over, with 7 hours paid staff time each.  £87k previously earmarked for extending hours at surviving branches now to be used to encourage non-council ones.  Levenshulme to move into building with leisure centre in 2015, Huhne to move into leisure centre Jan 2014, Crumpsall to leisure centre in 2013.

Local News

• Aberdeenshire - Extreme makeover for Stonehaven library - Mearns Leader. “Along with the library in Fraserburgh, Stonehaven has been transformed as part of Aberdeenshire Council’s drive to improve the surroundings for library users and staff. Both branches have reopened to the public following work to renovate the interiors over the winter. The work included fitting new carpets, painting walls and the installation of new book shelves, desks and seating areas.”
• Brent – May update - Save Kensal Rise Library. “Still fighting … made of stern stuff”.
• Devon – Top author to visit library – Exmouth Journal. ““I’m not aware of a Booker nominated author ever visiting the library before. Big name authors such as Terry Pratchett have visited in the past, but this is a real coup for the library and the festival.”
• Lincolnshire – New book service for Bratoft and Irby – Skegness Standard. “Lincolnshire county council has provided a collection of 300 library books for the new community library collection, which can be used by all of the community and is available from the Irby and Bratoft Village Hall, Brambleberry Lane, Irby in the Marsh.”
• Manchester – Keep Manchester libraries open or face book boycott, say protesters – Manchester Evening News. “Furious campaigners in Northenden – some of them dressed as book characters –  demonstrated against the plan over the weekend outside their library in Church Road.”
• Manchester – Libraries consultation response – Manchester Council. “Following consideration of consultation responses, it is proposed to continue with plans to withdraw revenue funding for six libraries – Burnage, Fallowfield, Levenshulme, Miles Platting, New Moston and Northenden. Council officers will continue to work with community groups to develop alternative community/outreach library facilities. These would be small book collections with some computer access managed by community groups and partner organisations . Each would be linked to a ‘parent’ Council-run library and receive seven hours per week of staff support from that library” (See this extensive analysis of the consultation data for an alternative view)

“Manchester’s City Library Strategy will have the transformed Central Library at its heart with 14 neighbourhood libraries, supported by community and outreach libraries, to ensure a sustainable library network with a good geographic spread. Some 99.9 per cent of Manchester residents will still be within two miles of a library, 99 per cent within a mile and a half and almost 85 per cent within one mile, excluding any additional outreach provision.”

• Moray – CILIPS releases statement on cuts and closures in Moray – CILIPS.  “The cuts proposed in Moray will be significant and damaging, impacting on the ability of the service to work with partners to deliver key policy goals such as employability, digital participation, lifelong learning and health promotion. CILIPS acknowledges the community-led campaigns which have been launched in support of the library service demonstrating the clear value and impact its loss will have on the lives of Moray residents.”
• Sheffield – Digital by default and the need for libraries – Star. “Department of Work and Pensions offices are calling library services across the country to check what PC and internet provision they offer and urging them to offer hour-long sessions to members of the public who are trying to claim univeral credit. They are doing this knowing that many of these claimants will struggle with both the PCs and the forms. It will fall to library staff to pick this up. Isn’t it bizarre that in Sheffield the council seems to be unaware of this …”

The full scale of the proposed cuts to Herefordshire Libraries are becoming clearer, with the petition against the closures of all but one of them coming up time and time again with testimonies of how important the local branches still are.  There is also some anger at the LGA forgetting that libraries are statutory in their desire to stress how many will close if there continue to be cuts to council budgets.

Set against such cuts, it’s going to be tough for the new Arts Council England (half-time) libraries director, Brian Ashley, to accentuate the positive but it is clear that this is what he plans to do.  I know what he means, to a point: there are indeed many great things happening in libraries, every day, and this needs to be emphasised, No-one, after all, wants to be associated with a declining service, employees and users alike. However, balancing the news of the biggest cuts to library services in history with good news is going to be a challenge for Brian and he will need all the help he can get.  As such, I’ll start him off with this song below (sent to me very kindly today) which lists many good things about libraries while at the same time not failing to mention the bad.  Sing it to the tune of “These are a few of my favourite things” by the way:

Ode to Libraries

1.     Stories and pictures and books on all topics
Novels and poetry, romances and classics
Large books for reference and biographies
These are a few of our favourite things.

2.     CDs of music and drama to borrow
PCs to use for your homework tomorrow
Papers to browse and the best magazines
These are a few of our favourite things.

Chorus:  But when the cuts come and the axe falls
And the libraries close
We’ll simply remember our favourite things
And then we shall be – so sad.

3.     Story time sessions for children and babies
Writing groups, book clubs for folk of all ages
Local history and poetry readings
These are a few of our favourite things.

Chorus:  But when the cuts come and the axe falls
And the libraries close
We’ll simply remember our favourite things
And then we shall be – angry!

Lyrics by Cathy Bream & Making Waves choir. Original by Rodgers & Hammerstein, from The Sound of Music. Version 2  May 2013

News

• ACE’s Ashley: libraries ‘good at adapting’ - BookSeller. “Arts Council England’s new director for libraries has said he would like to “change the debate” on public libraries and see more made of the popularity of the service.”.  With regard to cuts, he days “The role of ACE is really around the development, advocacy, and where we can, investment in the service as a whole, so we do not look to take a stance on individual cases”.  See comments.

“I understand people will be anxious about the context we are currently working in, but at the same time it is important to look to the future and the positive developments libraries are making.” Brian Ashley

“In this case, the enemy or reality, as you wish, is closures at branch level.  Perhaps ACE’s plan is based on central libraries.  I hope not, but, if it is, branches will need a better advocate.  Will Yinnon Ezra assume this role?” Geof Dron (via email).

• BMC’s lost public libraries fight for survival – Times of India.  Another report highlighting the decline of India’s libraries.
• DPLA Welcomes 360,000 Unique Visitors and 1.5 Million API Calls Since It Launched on April 18th - Infodocket (USA). Digital Public Library a success.  “The response to the site has been overwhelmingly positive”.
• Eastell to be next SCL president – BookSeller.  Ciara Eastell of Devon Libraries (shortlisted for Library of the Year Awards 2013) will take over from June 2014 for two years.
• If it were a statutory instrument, it would have to go before the House – Question Everything. Unhappy that the LGA highlights that public libraries will be cut and especially unhappy that they feel that libraries are not statutory. “It is clearly a ploy on their part to use libraries as a battering ram to try and secure a better funding deal during the next spending review.”.  The LGA itself is not statutory and nearly £28m last year. “…how many libraries could be saved by nearly 28 million pounds?”.
• Letter to LGA chairman. Libraries are statutory – Alan Gibbons. Notes that it is not just the LGA that make the mistake and calls upon Sir Merrill Cockell to recognise the legal status of libraries.  “Could the LGA please publicly reiterate that public libraries are a statutory service and require the commensurate protection?”
• LGA and ‘non-statutory’ Public Libraries – Stop the privatisation of public libraries. LGA said in 2010 said libraries were not statutory as well.  These statements get spread by others so that people believe that libraries are not protected by law.
• Most Social Media Friendly State Libraries for 2013 – Library Science List (USA).  Shows most active social media libraries in the USA [The surprising thing for me is how few facebook likes some of these have - my own branch library has more than some of the State libraries on this list and it has only been going since November - Ed.].
• Never reveal your library PIN – Find My Library. Putting your PIN number on your library card means anyone finding your card can completely steal your identity and know what you’re reading.
• On Men, Elevator Speeches, and Market Segments – Illinois Libraries Matter (USA).  Thinking about what libraries offer men in theirs 20s and 30s and the importance of preparing sales pitches.
• Save our public libraries - Care2 Petition site. “Britain’s public library system is once more under threat as a result of central and local governent cuts. Our libraries are one of the “jewels in the crown” of this country, allowing people who cannot afford to buy books access to them. We are able to see books that are out of print. We are able to see rare and valuable books. They are vital for both leisure and scholarship. Yet they are being closed down. Please stop this, and re-open our public libraries and give them a massive boost.”.  5000 signatures already on this new petition: comments are useful to read.
• Vending machines latest library offering from Northland – Trib Live (USA). “Offering off-site kiosks is part of a growing trend of libraries trying harder to reach more people in their communities” … “libraries’ other outreach efforts include virtual branches that allow online users to check out books, place holds, pay fines, download electronic books and book meeting rooms from their home computers” … “Another offering is the cybermobile, which is a mobile library branch, perhaps on a bus, that offers wireless Internet access, computer training and/or digital downloads, she said. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh operates a pop-up library in an Allentown storefront.”

Changes

• Herefordshire - Campaign group – They Are Our Libraries (Facebook group).
• Manchester - Save Burnage Library.
• Northamptonshire - Kettering library £265k refurbishment to entrance, May 2013.

Local news

• Croydon – #Croydon spin on Upper Norwood Library – Save Croydon Libraries Campaign. Council is “disappointed” that “the library’s staff recently chose to reduce opening times” after massive cuts in budget. See Croydon press release “Upper Norwood library moves a step closer“.

• Herefordshire – Leominster Library is set for closure - Youtube.  “It makes me feel very sad” 18 second interview with young lad who uses the library.  “My son Jonathan is very sad to hear that his library might close – he used to love going to bounce and rhyme and storytime. He wrote to Bill Wiggin MP this morning to ask him to help save the libraries.” (Petition site)

“I am a senior citizen without independent transport, living In Leominster. I use the local library regularly borrowing 4-5 books on each visit. I also belong to a book club for seniors and we obtain our books from Leominster library. Many of my neighbours have books delivered as they are unavble to get out. Om every visit I see that the computers are all being well used by both young and old. Pensioners use the library to read the newspapers as the rising cost of a daily newspaper and delivery is proibitive.The library also regularly houses exhibitions of local interest giving a showcase that would otherwise be unavailable. Thursday mornings see the mother and toddler group and local junior schools bring the children in to encourage their literacy skills. It would be a serious loss to the town in so many ways and to me personally, as reading is one of my main hobbies and I cannot afford to buy books all the time.”  Comment on Save Herefordshire Libraries petition.

• Herefordshire – They Are Our Libraries - Facebook campaign group.
• Isles of Scilly – Scilly’s New Library Gets First Public Viewing – Scilly Today. “The old library held around 5,000 titles and that’s set to increase by a further 1,000 says Kirsty. There will also be a study area with work desks. The opening of the library has been delayed by IT problems. They’re moving to a computerised booking system with electronic library cards. It’s operated by Cornwall Council and Kirsty says it’s taking longer to add Scilly to the system than planned.”
• Manchester – ‘We will continue the fight!’ Manchester campaigners vow to save six libraries in line for imminent closure – Mancunian Matters. More than half those consulted agreed to close libraries. “Clare Wall, co-founder of the Northenden Library Action Group (NLAG), says the struggle to save the facilities will carry on for the good of the community, even though 568[out of 1080]  supported cuts.” … “Replacement facilities would see community libraries and small book collections spring up across Manchester as £80million of funding cuts over the next two years take hold. ” … “A refurbished Central Library is expected to reopen in spring 2014 and mean that 99.9% of Manchester residents would be within two miles of such facilities.”
• Manchester – Contemporary Doomsday Book is out! – Save Burnage Library.  Analysis of statistics by Council shows strong bias against smaller libraries and pays lip service to Charteris Report while in fact not using it. For instance, total number of users used rather than percentage of population using libraries.  Long useful analysis. “I am inclined to believe others who say we’ll be subsidising the more affluent areas of the city. I have never ever come across a document from an allegedly professional organisation which has produced a statistical model to fit the conclusion they want. If ever there was one, it is this. I am absolutely disgusted with it!”
• Northamptonshire – Historic Kettering Library reopening - BBC. £265k refurbishment inc. restoring original 1904 parquet flooring. Friends group raised £15k, Council £250k.  Re-enactment of original opening ceremony will occur.
• Staffordshire – Libraries offer online practice citizenship tests - Burton Mail.  Council “has just added GoCitizen.co.uk to its growing list of free internet services available in its 42 libraries across the county”
• Suffolk - Concerns over future of libraries after demand for £130,000 – Ipswich Spy. “At a meeting on April 22nd, Suffolk Libraries IPS told community groups that the budget shortfall would be passed on to them, with specific figures for each library. Mr Jones writes that the “IPS invited all libraries to join its ”club” but unveiled an individual contribution from each library to ensure services are mainained. “The average contribution is £3000 p.a. However there was no explanation at how figures have been arrived at, so as an example Westbourne Library must find £3,250 and County Library Ipswich £9,750. “What is also concerning is that only a third of Suffolk libraries have a friends group (13 out of 44 libraries) so it is unclear how they will find their contribution.”.  Libraries IPS says “We realise the fundraising responsibility may be challenging for some groups and that every library has its own individual circumstances but Suffolk Libraries will do all it can to help to support libraries in building links with the community and raising money over the coming months.”

“to raise £3,000 p.a. through public contributions/fundraising is a full time job. Quite simply, third party funders and the public will not contribute to our cause, or become paying members if they know it is to plug a gap in local government spending.”

• Swindon – Library user is upset over 50p socket fee – Swindon Advertiser.  Council has introduced 50p charge to customers for them to plug in their computers etc.  Introduction of wifi has meant increased usage.  There also appears to be fear of crime linked to people staying in the library to charge their devices.  Regular library user highly unimpressed.  It cost £336 to cover 60 sockets, with staff having to manually unlock them each time.

William Sieghart, leader of the panel of experts who recently produced “An Independent Review of E-lending in Public Libraries in England”, National Poetry Day founder and the brains behind Poetry on Prescription, kindly agreed to do a brief interview for Public Libraries News, which is printed below.  Mr Sieghart will be touring libraries in Kent and Westminster promoting his poetry anthology, Winning Words: Inspiring Poems for Everyday Life.  More details of the tour can be found here.

William Sieghart

What positive results do you think people gain from poetry?

People find a sense of companionship in poetry, they find a complicity with what they feel but don’t necessarily have the language to express themselves. They feel understood when they find a poem that reflects their feelings and by being understood the poem helps them to resolve some of their concerns in life.

Do you use a local library?

Yes I do – I go there with my children and each visit makes my children want to return, which can only be a very good sign.

What do you think are the main selling points of a library?

A library is a safe, secure, quite space away from the busy noisy world where thoughtful reflection and investigation can take place, without the pressures of the outside world.

What do you think is the most challenging problem when it comes to e-lending?

Fear of change.

Is there a particular poem you’d recommend about public libraries?

If you look at the cover of the e-lending review you will see a poem by Ted Hughes called ‘Hear it again’ which has never been published before. It is all about libraries and reflects my passion for them.

News

• Brooklyn Public Library to hold biking fundraiser this weekend – Melville House (USA). “As part of its annual Support the Branches fundraiser efforts, the Brooklyn Public Library is holding a charity bike event this Saturday, called Bike the Branches. A borough-wide celebration of Brooklyn’s cultural heritage, Bike the Branches invites people to tour the various BPL locations and enjoy some entertainment at many of them.”

• Library revolutions - Youtube.  Excellent and amusing take-off of the Matrix which, coincidentally, may help with library tuition.
• Council services face further cuts, warn local leaders – BBC.  LGA warn that non-statutory services could face 90% cut due to cuts in subsidy and increasing social welfare costs.  [It calls libraries non-statutory which is, literally, untrue but shows how libraries are regarded by decision-makers.  The fact libraries are given such prominence in the coverage also perhaps shows the LGA feels that such cuts would be unpopular with the public and thus impactthe most  on politicians- Ed.]

“The LGA says that “almost all of councils’ money would have to be spent on explicit statutory responsibilities like social services, waste collection and concessionary travel, meaning that the money available for all other services, such as libraries, road maintenance and leisure facilities would have been cut by 90%”

• New York Public Library’s newest branch will be housed in a condo-hotel – Book Patrol (USA).  “When it opens in 2015 it will be one of the largest branches of the New York Public Library system. It will  occupy the bottom 3 floors of a “ritzy new condo-hotel” being developed by the Baccarat crystal company”
• Social Media: Libraries Are Posting, but Is Anyone Listening? – Library Journal (USA).  Excellent article on how to use social media – have a plan, use humour and trivia … lots of useful stuff.

Changes

• Herefordshire – 10 out of 11 libraries under threat with possible 75% cut in libraries budget (semi-confirmed only).

Local news

• Angus – Council democracy questioned in Arbroath Library row – Courier. “As councillors prepare to consider a report firmly recommending the transfer of the historic building out of the town common good and into a general fund, other leading figures have joined independent councillor Bob Spink in continuing 
criticism over the handling of the issue. A fresh twist has been Mr Spink’s anger over being denied access to official reports on the library plan, but officials stood by the decision not to release legal counsel’s opinion to the elected member.”
• Cardiff – Panorama journalist and former UK drugs adviser blocked from holding lecture in Cardiff – Wales Online.  Talk on the perils of scientology at Cardiff Central Library cancelled with no explanation other than the library “wouldn’t be able to do it”.  Decision criticised as attack on free speech and over-zealousness both in the article and on Twitter (with Ben Goldacre calling it “truly offensive” and Simon Singh suggesting the council needs auditing).  Clarification by Council is that the decision was not over nature of the talk but about evenings as “despite the fact that Central Library does hold in-house evening events it is not set up as a night time venue, as there are budget implications in terms of staff costs” and they will try to host the event at another time.
• Dorset – Dorchester’s Charles Street development library to open – BBC. “A new library and adult learning centre will open in two months as part of a £60m regeneration project in Dorset.”
• Harrow – Library outsourcing decision delayed due to Labour split – Harrow Observer. “Councillors were meant to meet this evening to discuss whether to hand the day-to-day management of 11 branches to the John Laing Integrated Services in order to save money and improve visitor numbers. However, the cabinet committee meeting was cancelled after the announcement yesterday that nine Labour councillors, including the leader of the council, Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, were splitting to form their own Independent Labour group.”
• Herefordshire – Save Herefordshire’s Libraries petition - 38 Degrees. “We call on Herefordshire Council to oppose the proposed 75% cut to Herefordshire’s Library Service and the subsequent closure of all but one of the county’s libraries. One library can not provide a comprehensive and effecient library service for all persons in the area that want to make use of it, as required by the Public Libraries and Museum’s Act”
• Manchester – Manchester library closures to go ahead – BookSeller.  Council says We will now be working very closely with communities to endeavour to come up with the right alternative library model for each area. Positive discussions are already underway in many areas.”
• Oxfordshire – Angst over listed status led to four-year delay over Headington library access - Oxford Times.  Council “attributed the delay to having to draw up a scheme acceptable to English Heritage, but the government body had never formally objected.”
• Waltham Forest – Books and bobbies at library - Yellow Advertiser. “first drop in- police surgery opened at the beginning of the month. It will run in Leyton Library on a trial period until June 26, and if the response is good it will continue beyond that date.”

Bad news also from Manchester which further confirms closures of six libraries, with £87k to be spent per year to aid volunteers to run alternatives.  Campaigners have noted that all of these closures are all in deprived areas, which raises certain legal concerns, as the quote below demonstrates:

“there would appear to be a prima facie case for intervention – see: (a) reasons given by the Minister (when in Opposition) for pressing the then SoS to intervene in Wirral; (b) the MLA report on Wirral which gave rise to the intervention, and (c) the observations of Sue Charteris on deprived areas and libraries in her report on Wirral” Geof Dron

The results of the local elections have also come under the spotlight.  Campaigners not that the  Isle of Wight has moved to being under no overall control.   Thia may or may not be at least partially due to a sign of the importance the electorate put on public libraries as the previous Conservative administration were prominent in cutting library services despite large public opposition.  Its leader, David Pugh, lost his seat and it was he who gave evidence to the CMS parliamentary Select Committee in favour of his unpopular library policy.  In truth, it’s hard to tell the impact of library cuts on the electorate, as Alan Templeton notes:

“… we do not know if this effect is common to the other high visibility library battles. Until someone does the research, we have to assume that the Isle of Wight result is a one-off, which could be attributed to any number of policy errors.  It is very probable that an administration that is unsympathetic to public libraries is one which is unsympathetic to many services valued by its residents i.e. the council is one which is out-of-touch with the population and has offended a large proportion of its electors – both library users and non-users. However, if all or many of the councils which have been engaged in library battles have suffered similar election reversals, it would be very significant and would suggest an interesting time for several London councils in 2014.” Alan Templeton via email.

News

• Elsevier Foundation Calls for 2013 New Scholars and Innovative Libraries Projects - Elsevier. “Grants will be awarded in December 2013 and provide one, two and three year awards between US$ 5,000 to US$ 50,000 per year for a total of US$ 100,000.”  See this page for more info on Innovative Libraries.
• Libraries to debate open access - BookSeller. “The implications of Open Access for libraries will be debated in Westminster at an event hosted by the Libraries All-Party Parliamentary Group.” … “the debate was needed to flesh out the many questions around how the government’s Open Access policy might impact on libraries and ensure politicians understand the concerns of those employees working on the ground.”

“The public are ahead of us [librarians] and they are dictating what we should do in terms of digital, which is as it should be. In America, the first bookless library has just been opened. If there were no books there would still be libraries, because they support learning and store information.” Annie Mauger, CILIP

• Library as public space - Making cities for people (Denmark). “The library is no longer a house of books, but a framework for learning, for new as well as old knowledge – both in digital and traditional book formats.”

“Libraries as a sector was not to be incorporated in the study because the business models and the ways in which libraries generate spillover effects in the wider economy were deemed to differ to such an extent as to warrant a separate study” Contribution of arts and culture to the national economy - Centre for Economics and Business Research.  The Arts Council response to the paper does not include any mention of libraries.

• Marketing Libraries Is like Marketing Mayonnaise – Library Journal.  Ned Potter on library marketing. [those five words alone should be enough to get you to read the article - Ed.]
• NLT evaluates Reading Stars scheme – BookSeller. “More than half of the pupils taking part in the National Literacy Trust’s Premier League Reading Stars scheme in 2012 made six months’ progress in reading while taking part in the programme, a report from the NLT has said. Seventeen per cent made a whole year’s progress, according to the charity.”
• RNIB hails Kindle app ‘breakthrough’ – BookSeller. “A new Kindle app from Amazon will help blind and partially sighted people to access 1.5m titles. The app works with the in-built magnification and speech functions of iPhones, iPads and some other Apple devices, while also creating an electronic Braille display. Amazon consulted with blind and partially sighted people in the UK to help develop the app, which has previously been impossible due to compatibility issues with Apple’s own accessibility features.”
• Sourcebooks, Overdrive launch pilot to demonstrate the impact of ebook library lending on sales - Paid Content (USA). “Overdrive believe that library lending leads to increased book sales and author recognition. In a two-week trial, they will promote a Sourcebooks ebook on library homepages and see how the promotion affects paid sales and author recognition.”

Changes

• East Sussex – Newhaven to be refurbished and expanded, Seaford new library “640 square metres of public space providing public access computers, meeting rooms, dedicated facilities for children and young people, event space and café”.
• Herefordshire - £1.4m cut from £3m Culture and Leisure budget over three years.  Aim to sustain services “with little or no” council funds / outsourcing / volunteers / cuts.
• Manchester - Confirmed six libraries (Miles Platting, New Moston, Northenden, Levenshulme, Burnage and Fallowfield) will close if council agrees nest week.  £87k to put to supporting volunteer-run libraries.
• North Tyneside - North Shields Central Library to reopen after £2.6m refurbishment (closed since Dec 2011 due to heating problems).
• Windsor and Maidenhead – New library with a sensory room could be built at Boyn Grove Resource Centre

Local news

• Birmingham – Rebutting the Rebuttal: update on the Library of Birmingham privatisation – Communities Against the Cuts. “Outsourcing the running of LoB is remains Cabinet policy.  The Cabinet decided to ‘outsource’ or privatise the running of the Library in December 2012. The Cabinet decision of December 2012 has not been over turned and this remains the policy of the Council. “
• Bolton – Saved Golborne Library ‘thriving’ – Bolton News. 4000 name petition and protests seen as key to keeping library open after closure suggested by council.

“If you lie down people walk all over you, but we stood up and made a fuss”

• Brent – Forthcoming Wembley Library – James Powney’s Blog. Includes eight fixed iPads in children’s area, bigger floor space.
• Bromley – Get involved with Adult Learners’ Week in Bromley – This is Local London. Events inc. “nail art, wood carving and ancestry sessions”
• East Sussex – Tenders invited for Sussex libraries – Argus. 2 refurb contacts going to tender “The new Newhaven Library is a former retail premises in the High Street with 400 square metres of public space- for an expanded library, meeting rooms, dedicated facilities for children and young people along with access to public network computers and learning opportunities for the local community. Seaford Library is a new building under construction with approximately 640 square metres of public space providing public access computers, meeting rooms, dedicated facilities for children and young people, event space and café.”
• Harrow – ‘Council breaking its promise over libraries’ – Harrow Observer. “Harrow Council and Ealing Council’s Labour administrations are proposing to jointly outsource the day-to-day management of their libraries to John Laing Integrated Services, which already oversees Hounslow’s libraries, from September 1.”

“… the council could save £600,000 a year by outsourcing the libraries and the not-for-profit trust would be able to reduce its expenditure through merging payroll and human resources departments, sharing IT systems and, unlike the council, enjoying business rate relief on the library buildings.”

• Herefordshire – Public reports pack - Herefordshire Council.  £1.4m cut from £3m Culture and Leisure budget over three years.  Aim to sustain services “with little or no” council funds / outsourcing / volunteers / cuts.
• Isle of Man – Mobile service helping those who can’t get to local library – Isle of Man Today. “The service was threatened with closure last year, because of funding cuts, but rescued when PokerStars agreed to fund it for three years. Sandra said: ‘They talk about money [the cost of running the service], but you cannot quantify the value in money terms.’ Annual subscription is £15 for adults and £2 for children.”
• Manchester – Six Manchester libraries face axe within weeks despite protests – Manchester Evening News. “Miles Platting, New Moston, Northenden, Levenshulme, Burnage and Fallowfield libraries will shut at the end of next month if a controversial plan is approved next week.” More than half of 1000 respondents against closures but “council officers are recommending bosses push ahead with the plans, saying it is the best way to maintain a sustainable library services.” £87k per year will be put aside to support volunteer run libraries.
• North Tyneside – North Shields Central Library set to re-open its doors – Premier Construction.  Library closed Dec 2011 due to heating problems: “£2.6 million plan to redevelop the library, with Kier North Tyneside being appointed as the main contractor. Inside the revamped library there will be new furnishings and interior fittings, self-service library points, better access to the local studies section, refreshment facilities, community meeting rooms, new lift, improved disabled access plus an automated cash payment kiosk. In addition to the new fixtures and fittings a host of council services will also be moved into the library. Some of the improvements have come about as the result of a survey of library users conducted before the Northumberland Square building was shut.” … “The council hopes that the new state-of-the-art library and a range of Council customer services available inside will attract more people to the town.”
• Southend – Webb joins battle for Southend libraries – BookSeller. “Rights People’s Alex Webb is among those battling to save libraries around Southend with a campaign against cutbacks. SOS Leigh Library is fighting to save Leigh-on-Sea library from cuts by Southend Borough Council”
• Southend – Dementia Advocacy Surgeries at Southend Libraries – Southend on Sea Council. “Lucy White, Advocacy Manager for Alzheimer’s Society said “The team felt strongly that local libraries would be the best venue for these events, as they are often at the heart of the local community and offer an accessible and calm environment. We hope that by offering these sessions we will open up the service to members of the community that may not otherwise have made contact with us”.
• Suffolk - Libraries support organ donations – Bury Free Press. “Suffolk Libraries Mental Health and Wellbeing Service has organised the displays to help encourage more people to join the register or to find out more.”
• Surrey – Libraries to hold “decluttering” workshop in Redhill - Life. “The workshop facilitators, Cherry Rudge and Lynda Wylie, are members of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers UK, and tickets are priced £10″
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Plans for new library and sensory room to be discussed – Maidenhead Advertiser. “council report due before the panel says: “The extension of services will increase public awareness of the site and its purpose, as it will become a site for community use as well as a specialist facility for adult service users. “Residents will be able to use the library and café, attend activities and view museum displays within the lobby area of the library.” A new sensory garden would be created leading out from the sensory room.”
• Worcestershire – Public consultation on library has begun – Cotswold Journal. “Options include the relocation of the library and replacing it with a mobile service and the community setting up a group to manage the service. If the plans for a community- led library, which have been approved by Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet, go ahead, the building would be leased to Broadway Parish Council, which would have the option to buy it when funds become available.”