Editorial

So, it’s the 12 April. That, surprisingly, gives public libraries enough time to get ready for what we all earnestly hope is the last time we come out of lockdown. Public libraries are in the same class as “non-essential retail” and means we open up more than a month before our colleagues in museums.

In other news, there’s mention of libraries being available for help with the census, some protests against cuts (notably in Lewisham) and a couple of mentions of reducing or getting rid altogether of fines. This was a definite trend before Covid and it will be interesting to see if it continues now.

Changes

• Falkirk – Libraries returned from leisure trust to council.

National news

• CILIP’s Library and Information Supplier Showcase – CILIP. “This brand new virtual event will bring together suppliers for the library and information sector, showcasing their products and services” 25 March.
• If shops can reopen in April, why can’t museums? – Apollo. “‘If libraries, community centres and department stores can open, so should museums and galleries. It feels like ministers are not making the case for culture.’”
• Keir Starmer lashes Brexit trade deal for ‘holding British businesses back’ – Mirror. “Claiming “rural infrastructure and services” have been “eroded and ignored” over 10 years of Tory rule, he said: “The loss of village shops, post offices and pubs has hollowed out many rural communities, and 150 of the 600 libraries closed in England since 2010 were in rural areas.”
• Lockdown: Boris Johnson unveils plan to end England restrictions by 21 June – BBC. “The second step from 12 April would see major parts of the economy permitted to reopen: Non-essential retail opens, hairdressers and some public buildings like libraries”
• New Words – Time To Read North West. “We’ve just announced plans for our first virtual book festival and tickets are available now.” 1 – 26 March.

International news

• Afghanistan – They Built Libraries to Honor Loved Ones, Women Felled by Bombings – New York Times. ” libraries — one in Kabul, the capital, and the other in Daikundi Province — stand as symbols of the progress made toward gender equality and access to education in Afghanistan”
• Canada – Canadian libraries increasingly scrapping late fees to boost access to services – CBC. “Long considered a tool to encourage patrons to return materials on time, in the past few years hundreds of public libraries have decided that late fees do more harm than good by pushing away low-income and disadvantaged readers. In the past few years, nearly 300 libraries across Canada have recently eliminated late fee”.
• Singapore – Hygge – a new space for wellbeing by NTU Library, Singapore – Access. “unique design encourages self-expression, self-reflection and self-care through the experience of calmness and tranquillity. A reading corner was also conceptualised for the space to provide self-care resources including informational guides on practising mindfulness.”
• USA – Libraries Are an Essential Service. Give Librarians the Vaccine Now | Opinion – Newsweek. “Librarians, too, constantly interact with the public; libraries are high-risk workplaces. But the CDC failed to name librarians and library workers specifically in their vaccine guidance.”
  • Where Are We: The Latest on Library Reopening Strategies – Library Journal.”As the pandemic continues, communication among colleagues and the public is the key to success. “

Local news by authority

• Cambridgeshire – Cambridgeshire libraries support independent bookshops hit by Covid pandemic – Peterborough Telegraph. “The mail-order website ‘BookshopUK’ launched last year with the site working to donate profits to bookshops and organisations that support the service through book lists and affiliated websites. Cambridgeshire libraries has become an affiliate of Bookshop and will help promote the site alongside the service’s current reading offer.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – West Cheshire Museums: What does Cheshire mean to you? – In Your Area. “My Cheshire, is a joint project between Cheshire West Libraries and West Cheshire Museums”
• Cornwall – ‘The most Corbusier building in Britain’ listed – Architect’s Journal. “Saltash library was one of a series of five new branch libraries to be built by the council in the 1960s. The others were at St Austell, Newquay, Torpoint, and Helston.”
• Denbighshire – Memory bags designed for people living with dementia are being offered at libraries in Denbighshire – News From Wales. “They contain a collection of books, poems, artefacts and smells designed to stimulate the senses and promote reminiscence and discussion.”
• Dorset – Help available for Dorset residents completing 2021 census – Dorset Echo. “If you’re having trouble completing the form, advisers at Dorset Council’s libraries will be able to help. During lockdown this help is over the telephone, with face to face appointments available if and when Covid rules allow.”
• Falkirk – Membership body criticises council’s decision to take leisure charity back under its control – Third Sector. “Community Leisure UK says it is disappointed after Falkirk Council voted to take Falkirk Community Trust in-house again”
• Fife – Comedian Janey Godley to highlight menopause in OnFife comedy night – Dunfermline Press. “Pause … not Full Stop is one of 16 projects in the UK-wide Engaging Libraries Programme. The initiative enables libraries to interact with their users in new ways while encouraging local communities to engage with research.”
• Leeds – Drag queen hounded with death threats and labelled a paedophile for ‘reading stories to Leeds kids’ – Leeds Live. ““It goes to show that there’s still people in the UK who still harbour these hateful views and its establishments like this teaching people not just children but adults that homophobia, transphobia and racism will not be tolerated.”
• Leicester – Reading Friends connects those who may be feeling isolated in Leicester – In Your Area. “The phone call will be with a befriender from the city council’s libraries service, and will connect readers with up to three others in group conversations. This will give readers the opportunity to talk to each other, share stories, make new friends and have fun.”
• Lewisham – Campaign launched to reverse cut to Lewisham library service – News Shopper. “The council is reviewing the library service to fund cuts of £300,000 to £500,000, £100,000 to £230,000 of which could be made this year.  Part of the cuts includes a hiring freeze as the service’s salary budget makes up 80 per cent of its total budget.   “
  • Lewisham needs libraries more than ever, we can’t have services slashed by up to £500​,000 – Change.org. “the council’s threatened cut will rip the staff along with their skills and knowledge out of the service and dedicated people who’ve spent hard months on test and trace face losing their jobs.”
  • Save Lewisham Libraries statement – 18th February 2021 – Save Lewisham Libraries.
• Norfolk – Norfolk libraries to scrap late fees for children – Eastern Daily Press. “Plans by Norfolk Libraries and Information service to improve children and young people’s reading skills also include universal membership of the county’s e-library through Norfolk’s schools and the introduction of a new ‘1,000 books before school’ reading challenge aimed at under-fives.”
• Northamptonshire – ‘We feel like we have been evicted’: Friends group furious over Northampton library closure – Northampton Chronicle. “Friends of Far Cotton Library has been working since 2019 to run it following Northamptonshire County Council’s decision to shut it. The group was working on a second business plan after its first one was rejected but found the books at The REC Centre were being removed and other tenants ‘are being explored’.”
• North Yorkshire – Library’s book bundle service praised by young readers – North Yorkshire County Council. “Winnie and Valentine Long use the service at Whitby library and rely on it to help with home schooling. In January alone the library issued 201 book bundles to customers.”
• Solihull – Bookworms invited to join in virtual story telling session to combat isolation – Solihull Observer. “Solihull Libraries, The Core Theatre Solihull and Art at the Heart CIC have joined forced to create Solihull Reading Friends – a programme of free events designed to help people connect and combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.”
  • Help for Solihull residents as borough gears up for Census 2021 – Solihull Observer.
• Staffordshire – Hundreds sign petition to block controversial plan to move Burton Library – Staffordshire Live. “More than 500 people have signed a petition opposing £7.3 million proposals to move Burton Library to the town’s market hall. The petition claims there has been a lack of public consultation to the controversial proposal, which could see the town’s library move from Meadowside Drive to the market hall in Market Place, subject to funding.”

“This week will see the third Smallprint Book Festival for children run by our library service. It is timed to coincide with World Book Day each year. So far it has proved very popular and this year it is totally digital, running from 4-6 March. We have an absolutely fantastic programme thanks to our enterprising Readers’ Services Team and talented and tuneful Community Library Officers. All the events will be promoted through our social media channels, where it looks fantastic. The team are trialling one school event which isn’t on this programme, working with local author Laura Fyfe to run a creative writing workshop with Cambusbarron Primary, P6 & P7. They are doing this as a Google Meet on Thursday 4^th March and hope that it will give them a format to use for further events with schools.” Stirling – Smallprint Book Festival – via email. See festival webpage here.

• Suffolk – Suffolk libraries host meet the authors online book festival – East Anglian Daily Times. “This digital event, running between Monday March 15 and Sunday March 21, will incorporate Suffolk Libraries Day – Suffolk Libraries’ annual fundraising event will be taking place on Saturday March 20.”
• Thurrock – Thurrock Libraries reopen for order and collect service and essential computer use – Your Thurrock. “
  • Thurrock – Thurrock Libraries reopen for order and collect service and essential computer use – Your Thurrock. “The libraries in Grays, Belhus, Aveley, Blackshots, Tilbury, East Tilbury, Corringham and Chadwell St Mary will operate under reduced hours and have measures in place to keep residents and staff safe.”
• Wandsworth – Wandsworth Libraries launches ‘A Chance To Talk’ to combat loneliness – SW Londoner. ““I’ve also received a flurry of emails from people who have seen the posters and wanted to say they think it’s a lovely initiative. It’s nice that the community has been super responsive, even if the programme isn’t right for them.””
• West Berkshire – West Berkshire ‘wee libraries’ bring village cheer in tough times – Newbury Today.
• York – York libraries offer help with census forms – The Press. “Explore staff and CVS volunteers have been getting special training, ready to help anyone who has difficulty filling in the forms, Fiona said”

Editorial

First, Covid news. A couple of councils are opening up for click and collect after weeks of being entirely closed and Bristol libraries are offering “surge testing”. Also, the Reading Agency funding for library services to help with loneliness.

But the big story, obviously, is a librarian or two objecting to the use “little library” being used about a free book-swap outside a house, which was covered by the BBC, the Mail and the London Evening Standard. This was, of course, on Twitter, where massive fights can start instantly and things can be taken out of proportion. It’s worth noting too that far worse insults were thrown at the librarians in return, who were expressing their point of view, without being personal about it.

OK, Here comes the paragraph I have worried about writing but needs to be said. I have been a coward for not saying it before …

I know this is a really unpopular opinion amongst some librarians but, personally, I think we lost the monopolistic use of the word “library” decades ago, if indeed we ever had it. The unfortunate book-lover did not claim to have a public library in her garden and I suspect people can tell the difference between a glorified bird-box and, say, an actual building. I also think that such enterprises are not contributing to closing libraries and even the most extreme councillor does not genuinely (even if it seems so officially) believe they can a proper replacement. The real threat to libraries would be budget cuts.

That last paragraph is going to get me absolutely vilified by some. So be it. Some have already told me there is something wrong with me and that, at this difficult time, some librarians are feeling threatened. This is true of course. But, really, public libraries are bigger than this. We provide a hugely beneficial service with limited resources and we need to pick our fights. And such as we have should not be with book-lovers trying to share their passion with others.

Single Digital Presence

“A guest-written editorial that featured in last week’s Public Libraries News contained a number of misrepresentations relating to the Single Digital Presence project. We are grateful for the opportunity to correct them. In depicting the project merely as a succession of research reports the article failed to convey that the report we published in June 2019 was just one element of a much broader programme. This has included designing prototypes for both a new national presence and for improved local library web-pages, testing these prototypes with existing and potential users, and also a continued and wide-ranging engagement with our close stakeholders throughout the library sector.

Last week’s article also referred to the project as a ‘digital library’. Although a part of our work is focused on improving public library users’ access to digital material, this does not involve the creation of a digital library for public libraries. Instead, our ambition is to improve access to information and services about public libraries, and to make it easier for users to engage with public libraries at the local level, both physically and digitally.

Finally, the figure the article quoted for the cost of the project was inaccurate: £1 million is more than double the amount of money that has supported our work to this point. In addition, the project has been undertaken by a team at the British Library since February 2018, and so we have been working on this for three years – not six years, as the article suggests. We welcome the opportunity to set the record straight, and will be posting further updates on our findings later this spring.”

Statement from the British Library

National news

• Bristol book lover suffers abuse over ‘little library’ – BBC. “A book lover who set-up a ‘little library’ for the community to enjoy, found herself subject to a stream of “nasty” and “vicious” online comments.”
• Future of Libraries – Aspen UK. Webinar 24 February 5pm. Panel include Nick Poole, Ayub Khan, Dr Jenny Peachey.
• CWA Dagger in the library – Crime Writers Association. Deadline to vote is 26 February. “The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by a crime writer that users of libraries particularly admire. Only librarians can nominate authors for the award. It is one of the most prestigious crime writing awards in the UK”
• Librarians troll book lover who built ‘swap box’ outside home in lockdown – Metro.
• Public Libraries 2020: Netloan Customer Survey Results – Lorensbergs. “The 2020 public library survey results from netloan highlight the vital work libraries have undertaken throughout the pandemic. Wherever possible, libraries have offered access to public PCs and printers, allowing users to stay connected to critical online services and information.”
• Read, Talk, Share: The UK charity putting books at the heart of its new mental health campaign – Evening Standard. “Enabled by a £3.5 million award by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, the initiative is aimed at combatting loneliness and promoting wellbeing through bibliotherapy, working closely with local libraries to reach struggling communities.”
• Vigilante librarians troll woman who built book ‘swap box’ outside her home during lockdown because they claim it could lead to more closures and job losses – Mail Online. “This included claims from some it would enable Covid to spread, as well as criticism from librarians, with the husband of one telling her ‘it does not replace the knowledge and help that a librarian brings to people’. He added that many librarians have lost jobs as a result of schemes like hers and have since been replaced  by well meaning volunteers or not at all’.” … “Olivia was called ‘stupid’ and ‘misguided’ and slammed for having ‘no real understanding of the role of libraries’. She was also accused of doing ‘such a middle class thing’ and told the books would spread Covid. One troll said: ‘So, take home a used book and maybe take home the virus that kills your mother.'”

International news

• Global – IFLA’s Section on Children and Young Adults’ “Safer Internet Day” Survey – IFLA. “The annual Safer Internet Day is now celebrated in approximately 170 countries worldwide. The campaign calls upon all stakeholders to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially for children and young people. This survey is for librarians and/or related staff who serve children and young adults, or those who supervise those who do.”

Local news by authority

• Bracknell Forest – Bracknell Forest Council library service wins £14,000 funding to tackle isolation and loneliness – In Your Area. “The Reading Agency, the Arts Council of England, and its book supplier Bolinda have awarded Bracknell Forest Council’s library service £14,000 of funding in a bid to tackle isolation and loneliness.”
• Bradford – Boosting your health by reading: district libraries service backs new campaign – Keighley News. Reading Friends: “Adults will meet via Zoom, but there will also be a postal element for people unable to access the project digitally – or who aren’t confident with the technology. Reading materials will be posted out and participants can reply by post or chat over the phone.”
• Bristol – Libraries transformed into surge testing sites to combat Bristol ‘Variant of Concern’ – ITV News. “Eight libraries in Bristol and South Gloucestershire have been transformed overnight to accommodate surge testing for coronavirus, as NERVTAG classes the strain detected in Bristol a ‘Variant of Concern’.”
  • Covid-19 surge testing kits available from libraries – BBC.
• Camden – Camden libraries join national initiative to tackle loneliness during winter – Camden Council. “Camden Council libraries in partnership with Age UK Camden are hosting a series of online reading events to help tackle loneliness and support mental health during the pandemic this winter.”
• Cardiff – Plans for Rhiwbina Library to become community hub – Wales 247. “Cardiff Council is carrying out an engagement exercise on proposals to refurbish the library building and create the newest facility in the city’s network of community hubs. The aim will be to deliver more Council and partner organisation services there, based on the theme of wellbeing.”
• Edinburgh – Librarian records bookbug video on nightshift driving an Edinburgh gritter – Edinburgh News. “When she is not leading on learning development at Edinburgh’s Moredun library the 29-year-old is also serving her local community as an emergency seasonal worker for the council.” … “Ms Leake knew she couldn’t make it to the live session of bookbug on Tuesday morning due to working the nightshift beat this week…” so “She recorded a version of ‘wheels on the bus’ with lyrics about gritters while her NT74 spreader vehicle flashed in the background.”
  • Read all about it: Edinburgh libraries scoop top digital award for newspaper downloads – Edinburgh News. “Pressreader, a digital platform where people can read newspapers and magazines online, awarded Edinburgh Libraries with the Most Newspapers Read in 2020 Worldwide accolade after 2,155 unique titles were read by its members last year, beating off competition from 100 other organisations.”
• Eilean Siar – New library vans are named by island youngsters – Stornoway Gazette. “Naturally it was a very tough decision for the judges going through all the amazing names sent in, but the names finally decided upon were ‘Lexy’ for the Lewis and Harris Mobile, and ‘Lachaidh’ for the Uist and Benbecula Mobile.”
• Hull – Why the tireless efforts of HC&L is a breath of fresh air for us all – Hull Life. “”The library service has been brilliant and done a lot of online work including virtual tours of the museums,” says Coun Brabazon”
• Flintshire – Aura Libraries Flintshire: Join in the Big Welsh Rhymetime online – The Leader. “The Big Welsh Rhyme Time, organised by Book Trust Cymru, is aimed at children aged 0-7, takes place this year between Monday, February 8 and Friday, February 12.”
• Herefordshire – Library reopens for click and collect services – Hereford Times.
• Lancashire – Lancashire County Council reminds residents not to make a special journey to return library books – Blog Preston. “Library staff are finding that many people are visiting their local library unnecessarily, unaware that they will face no penalty for holding onto any books they’ve borrowed for now.”
• Moray – Moray libraries to offer tech support online – Grampian Online. “The support could boost confidence with the basics: emailing, searching the internet safely, online shopping, accessing services, or connecting with family and friends virtually.”
• North Yorkshire – Libraries take part in project to provide IT – Gazette and Herald. “People and organisations who want to donate are asked to take their devices to their nearest participating local library where an appropriate drop-off point will be clearly marked.”
  • Library events for children are online this half-term – Harrogate News. “From model-making to poetry classes, the library service is offering events on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nycclibraries.”
• Redbridge – Rapid Covid testing – Vision. “Rapid COVID-19 Testing is now available for residents at this library.”
• Somerset – Ten activities for half-term during lockdown – County Gazette. “If your children are bookworms or love to listen to stories, they can listen to some of their favourites read by Somerset Library staff.”
• South Gloucestershire – Collect and Drop surge testing service launches in South Gloucestershire – Gazette Series. “The second phase of additional community testing began today with the introduction of ‘Collect and Drop’ sites, situated within five libraries across Bristol and three libraries in South Gloucestershire. The first phase of this one-off testing began on Sunday, following an announcement from the Department for Health and Social Care that Bristol and South Gloucestershire will be providing additional community testing for COVID-19.”
• South Lanarkshire – Burnbank faces ‘double whammy’ of losing library and family centre in South Lanarkshire Council’s savings proposals – Daily Record. “Plans to close Burnbank Library and relocate the nearby family centre have been included in South Lanarkshire Council’s savings proposals.”
• Suffolk – Libraries are set to reopen as use of their online services doubles – Ipswich Star. Click and collect restarting.
• Thurrock – Plans to stop loneliness with conversations through reading in Thurrock – Thurrock Gazette. “Reading Friends launches in Thurrock on Wednesday 3 February to reconnect adults, including readers and non-readers, with others and make new friends.”
• Wandsworth – Valentine’s Day offers and activities: spread some local love – SW Londoner. “Wandsworth Libraries are offering mystery bundles so you can have a blind date with a book”.

Editorial

Two cuts announced this week. The first is in the wealthy (and apparently obsessed with the word “royal”) borough of Windsor and Maidenhead which is looking to close four branches. The reasoning for this appears to be as much ideological as for any other reason. The second is in Warrington – actually announced in early January but missed here – where the leisure trust Livewire’s income is suffering due to lockdowns and is looking for redundancies. Elsewhere, there’s a few co-locations. So, not yet the tsunami of cuts that has been widely feared. Let’s hope the wave never comes.

Changes by local authority

• Blaenau Gwent – Existing Abertillery library to be closed. New library will be transfered to community group in co-location.
• Sheffield – Woodhouse Library to be sold, library to be co-located.
• Suffolk – Babergh Library becomes co-located.
• Warrington – Cuts, including redundancies, expected.
• Windsor and Maidenhead – £290k cut: Boyn Grove, Old Windsor, Datchet, and Sunninghill libraries under threat, consultation.

National news

• The changing world of public libraries in the pandemic – University of Strathclyde. “The prevalence of lending digital books, which had already been increasing for a number of years, has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left them as the only option for many library members during periods of lockdown. The study will examine changes in information behaviour, issues around the potential emergence of a ‘digital divide’ and concerns over privacy.”
• Coaching yourself through the times we’re in – British Library. Friday 4 February webinar. “Overall this session will help you stay clear, calm, centred, energised, organised and resourceful and be best placed to survive and thrive personally and professionally in the days, weeks and year ahead and in our emerging new world.”
• Library computers to play important role in economic recovery – Lorensbergs. “The latest netloan public library survey results predict library PCs will play a significant role in the UK’s economic recovery. 80% of library services rate the People’s Network of computers as essential for supporting jobseeking. From the 80 library authorities that participated, over 90% had provided PCs in the second half of 2020. It offers a lifeline to jobseekers, benefit claimants, and many others without other means to get online as the pandemic continues.”
• LUSH Libraries Unleash Such Happiness – Eventbrite. Thursday 4 March. “Our inaugural conference welcomes representatives from Libraries Friends groups from all over the country. The event provides a treasure trove of ideas for activities, fundraising and community elevation. We are delighted to welcome keynote speakers Lemn Sissay, poet and performer, and Ron Finley, guerilla gardener as well as Chanje Kunde who will be performing a specially commissioned piece to uplift us all.12 thought-provoking workshops, spaces to share practical suggestions and ask questions. A place to listen. A place to be heard. A place to be inspired. Join us and bring some oomph to your Friends group.”
• Mozfest bursaries for libraries – Libraries Connected. “MozFest is a seven-day celebration for, by, and about people who love the internet, showcasing world-changing ideas and technology through exhibitions, talks and interactive sessions. This year’s festival will be held virtually from the 8 – 19 March and we are delighted to announce that we are offering a number of bursaries to public library staff who would like to attend.”
• National Library of Wales: Ministers accused of ‘lack of political will’ – BBC. “Thirty jobs are at risk at the library in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, and services are expected to be cut significantly. The source added: “It isn’t a lack of money, it’s a lack of political will.” The Welsh Government said it was “looking at every option” to protect jobs.”
• Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – NAG. “NAG are pleased to announce that their Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant will run again for 2021.   This grant, launched in 2019, aims to enable public libraries to take forward an innovative project, which may have already had a pilot phase, and develop it further.  We have doubled the grant pot to £10,000 this year and we are open to either making two smaller awards or supporting one large project depending upon the strength of applications.”
• World Book Day Book Club – World Book Day. “We’re thrilled to bring you news of our brand new World Book Day Book Club. Talking about books together makes them more fun, memorable and magic. From March, tune into YouTube and read with us. We’ll share our favourite monthly read, talk to authors and more. Join in at home, in school & in libraries”
  • For Libraries – World Book Day. “Have a look at our Libraries Tool Kit for ideas and resources to help you make World Book Day happen in 2021. World Book Day will work more closely with libraries this year than ever before. We hope to get every library authority involved in this major reading event.”

International news

• Argentina – Libraries on the margins – Medium / Edward Civallaro. “Libraries that operate on the margins are countless in Latin America. Those spaces have become (sometimes unwittingly or without realizing it, others fully aware of it) into havens that allow resistance, activism, struggle, solidarity, and even militancy: militancy for social and environmental justice, for equality, for inclusion, for memory, for one’s own and others’ rights…”
• Australia – Library Map Part 1 – Library Flanneur. Map of all Australian libraries with details, including on if they fine, included.
• Germany – The Berlin State Library’s priceless treasures – MSN. Pictures. “Soon, people will once again be able to browse to their heart’s content in the spacious reading room, which architect HG Merz designed in a bright orange color. The institution is a historical research and reference library, with little of the holdings digitized. So, if you want to do research, you have to physically visit the site.”
• Iraq – Artist Edmund de Waal Donates 2,000 Books to Iraqi Library Decimated by ISIS – Hyperallergic. “The University of Mosul (UoM) once held one of the largest libraries in West Asia, housing over a million books and rare historical materials, including a Quran from the ninth century and periodicals dating back to 1700 BCE. After Islamic State forces captured the city in 2014, much of its invaluable collection turned to ashes. Militants of the terrorist group burned down the building and its contents in what UNESCO described as “one of the most devastating acts of destruction of library collections in human history.””
• USA – Designing for the Future — The Post-Pandemic Library – Medium / Ditto Press. “In the midst of ongoing turmoil, libraries must still plan for the future. For some, this means reorganizing and reopening. Others must prepare for renovations or new construction in the face of grave uncertainties. Nobody knows — or can know — what the patron of 2022 wants. Will our struggles today will lead us to greater comity or further division? These questions remain unsettled. Essential services still move forward, however. Scheduled renovations must be planned. New libraries cannot wait for society to settle before they are built.” Multiple ideas.

Local news by authority

• Bexley – Plans to strip back Bexley’s library services approved – This is Local London. “Among the proposals approved are reduced opening times, a closed-day once a week, reduced staff, fewer events, less funding for community libraries and greater reliance on self-service. The move comes as Bexley Council battles with a major financial black hole in its budget, currently projected as £1.4m, increasing to more than £13 by 2024/25.”
• Blaenau Gwent – Former Abertillery chapel to become library hub – South Wales Argus. “The county borough council’s executive committee approved plans to hand over the Trinity Chapel and the current Abertillery Library building on Castle Street to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust as part of a community asset transfer.”
• Carmarthenshire – Large rise in researching family history in Carmarthenshire – Tivyside Advertiser. “Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 155,000 searches have been recorded by Carmarthenshire libraries of library members taking advantage of free access to Ancestry.com from home. That is an increase of 220 per cent compared to the previous year, and more than any other libraries in Wales.”
• Cheshire East – Transport consultation extended due to lack of responses – Alderley Edge.com. “Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Local transport delivery plans are substantial and important documents and, with our libraries closed due to coronavirus and people being directed to stay at home whenever possible, we have decided to extend the consultation period.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – Council Marks Holocaust Memorial Day – About my Area. “libraries are holding a virtual Coffee and Chat for Holocaust Memorial Day event online”
• Cornwall – Cornwall Library Service thousands sign up since lockdown – The Packet. “When the first lockdown came into force in March 2020 the library service saw a 104% increase in e-book downloads compared to the previous month and a 39% increase in e-audio downloads. In October the number of free newspaper and magazine downloads reached 60,000 – a 100% rise compared to February.”
• Croydon – Campaign to save Croydon libraries as five set to be axed – London News Online. “A petition, ‘Save Croydon Libraries’, has now gathered more than 1,000 signatures and calls on the council to keep all libraries open. As part of cost-cutting measures amid a financial crisis, the council wants to close Bradmore Green, Shirley, Sanderstead, South Norwood and Broad Green libraries. Consultation is currently open on the plans which runs until March 7.”
• Cumbria – Here’s how you can get involved in Make Music Day 2021 – The Mail. “At the meet-up, attendees will find out about what Make Music Day is and the different ways they can be involved. They will hear from co-hosts Cumbria Libraries and Liverpool Libraries about their own creative and music-related activities and how they’ve been involved in previous Make Music Days.”
• Dorset – Lyme Regis Library staff still serving the community – Lyme Online. “library staff members Lorraine and Jo are still able to work in the building and offer their customers access to books through the order and collect service. “
• East Riding – East Riding Leisure and East Riding Libraries offering mind and body health advice for residents – Free Press. “Hints, advice and information to support mental and physical health will be shared across their social media channels @ERLeisure and @ERLibraries, signposting to various free resources.”
• Essex – Essex County Council library budgets criticised by SOLE – Epping Forest Guardian. “Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE) condemned the amount of funding announced for the county’s library services in its planned budget for 2021/22. Essex’s original library services budget for 2020/21 was £12.521 million however, due to what the county council has labelled a “one-off expenditure”, that figure eventually rose to £13.185 million. The proposed budget for this year (2021/22) stands at £12.285 million – a figure SOLE has blasted for being £900,000 below last year’s actual spend.”
  • Essex libraries announce move to new library management system – In Your Area. “Last summer Essex and Thurrock Libraries shared the exciting news that they will be joining The Library Consortium (TLC)* and upgrading their library management system (LMS). Over the past few months, they have been working with TLC and SirsiDynix (the supplier of the new LMS) to prepare for these changes.”
• Flintshire – Aura Libraries Flintshire: exclusive National Storytelling Week event – The Leader. “We are delighted to announce local Storyteller Fiona Collins will be joining in with our celebrations by sharing videos with us and taking part in an exclusive event.”
• Hertfordshire – Hertfordshire Library Service awarded £49,999 for arts project – Hertfordshire Council. “The grant will be used to build on the successful ACE backed project My Story, which launched in 2019 and took true stories from Hertfordshire residents and interpreted them in art forms for the whole community to enjoy.”
• Leicester – Online sessions for National Storytelling Week – Pukaar News. ” The city council’s libraries service will be using the Zoom online meeting app to bring these stories into homes across Leicester for free and require no form of library membership to take part. “
• Norfolk – Number of bans from libraries doubles in 2020 – despite lengthy closures – Eastern Daily Press. “Last year, 39 people were banned from entering libraries across the county after breaking the rules.”
• Sheffield – Sheffield library goes up for sale – and it could be turned into new homes – The Star. “Woodhouse library is due to be rehoused in a new £500,000 community hub on nearby Sheffield Road which will also include rooms for local events, meetings and more.”
• Solihull – Borough libraries to remain closed to residents in lockdown – Solihull Observer. “Solihull Council carried out a review of library services and looked at the number of cases of coronavirus in the borough and has decided to keep the doors shut to the public. It also ruled out the option of reviving a click and collect service for now. The Home Library Service, where books are delivered to residents will continue to operate,”
• Southampton – Woolston library will not reopen until Monday – Southern Daily Echo. Unspecified staff shortages was reason.
• Suffolk – Babergh moves its customer centre into Sudbury library from April this year – Sudbury Mercury. “Council staff will be available for face-to-face visits, two days a week. Library staff will offer support throughout the week, helping customers with urgent council enquiries.”
• Warrington – LiveWire start redundancy consultations following “crippling” £3.2m loss in income – Warrington Worldwide. “LiveWire has started redundancy consultations wth some staff due to a “crippling” drop of more than £3m income since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The not-for-profit community interest company, which operates leisure centres and libraries on behalf of Warrington Borough Council is now looking at redundancies alongside other cost-cutting measures”
  • Trade union disappointed but not surprised over LiveWire redundancies – Warrington Guardian. “: “Unison is incredibly disappointed, but not surprised, that LiveWire are making vital public service workers redundant. We have repeatedly warned Warrington Council that LiveWire is not a satisfactory organisation to provide local leisure services.”
• West Dunbartonshire – Children in West Dunbartonshire learning remotely – Daily Record. “Campus @WDC draws on the experience of teachers within the authority and other council resources including the libraries service to provide a one-stop shop for parents and pupils from nursery aged right through to S3.”
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Lead Windsor & Maidenhead councillors consider closing multiple libraries – Royal Borough Observer. “As part of the council needing to make essential savings and for cabinet to deliver their transformation strategy – which would supposedly help build a ‘community centric borough of opportunity and innovation’ – leading Conservative councillors agreed to engage with the public and stakeholders over the possible library closures. The four libraries in danger of shutting down are Boyn Grove, Old Windsor, Datchet, and Sunninghill.”
• Worcestershire – Web sessions on offer to help businesses bounce back – Worcester Observer. “libraries will be hosting special webinars to help local small businesses recover from the pandemic. The initiative, known as ‘Reset Restart’, is aimed at helping small businesses adapt and change with the times.”

Editorial

A couple of things to talk about this week. The first is that this is the busiest week for a long while in terms of changes to budget, and all of it is bad. Croydon, Leeds and Lewisham are looking at some serious cuts. It’s nothing we’ve not seen before but this is the first time such cuts have been announcing while at the same time library workers are being described as “Key/critical workers” by the minister of state for Digital and Culture.

Secondly, and I know I have been here before but nothing has changed, I would like to flag the general frustration at the continuing lack of a “single digital presence”, or national public library website. This is made especially obvious today by the announcement that an academy is being paid to offer a free e-book to every child in the country. Well, that should have been through public libraries. And we could have done it a whole lot better (just the one e-book at a time? Good grief) but inertia, atomisation and a general lack of urgency from the DCMS on down has led to the current and continuing no-show.

This was embarrassing and obvious at the start of lockdown in March and is doubly so now, almost a year on. The British Library are currently finishing off a (hopefully) final research project on the subject and I hope then that it all hits the ground running. Because this lack of a site is a humiliation for the whole public library sector. And it needs to be addressed. Now.

Changes by local authority

• Calderdale – Shelf volunteer library building may be sold off by council.
• Croydon – 5 libraries (Bradmore Green, Shirley, Sanderstead, South Norwood and Broad Green) to close, consultation from 14 January to 5 March.
• Hampshire – £40k from council for volunteer libraries. Odiham, Horndean, Lea on Solent and Elson to become volunteer.
• Leeds – £1.5m cut including staffing and opening hours.
• Lewisham – £350k-£500k cut expected.

National news

• Downloading a new normal: Privacy, exclusion, and information behaviour in public library digital services use during COVID – New Normal. “This project explores the ‘digital turn’ brought about by COVID, the experience of the compelled move from analogue to digital in public libraries, from multiple perspectives :– (1) Organisational and sectoral issues (2) Ethical issues (3) User information behaviour issues”
• Libraries are part of the Covid frontline – and they need our help – Penguin. “I was pulled (not literally, as we must keep two metres apart from our colleagues at all times) aside and warned that I had been caught breaching our Covid safety rules, putting myself and others at risk and potentially earning me a formal disciplinary or worse. I had allowed a member of the public to place their mobile phone in my gloved hand. I tried to explain that the library user in question had asked me to print off a series of photographs for them; the user was severely dyslexic, and our print system can be difficult for even the most IT-savvy of users.”

• Lockdown made our library better – BookSeller. “I have seen so many library services just disappear due to lockdown, both in France and England, and I am so proud of what we achieved. Even if not everything worked out the way we wanted to, whether it was in terms of attendance or technical problems, we always managed to find a solution and to take something from everything we did, either a new skill, a new way to work together or a new tool to develop in future projects. I think the best side of all that is that we are already thinking about the future and creating hybrid events, both digital and physical, and new ways to interact with our customers in the future. “

“So we have learnt and enjoyed a great deal from delivering services and engaging with the community in 2020 and very much looking forward to innovation in 2021. It was a difficult year for everybody but in terms of my job, I absolutely had a brilliant year, developed events and projects I never thought I would have time to work on, and it was really good to have this space to innovate and try new things.”

Marion Tessier, Kingston Libraries. 

• Poor families’ living costs have surged during pandemic, UK study finds – Guardian. “Normal coping strategies employed by poorer families – visiting friends and families for occasional meals, or using the library for free internet access, and charity shops for cheap clothes – became harder as a result of household mixing restrictions and the closure of libraries and non-essential retail.”
• Virtual library gives children in England free book access – BBC. “Children in England will be able to access books online free during school closures via a virtual library. Internet classroom Oak National Academy created the library after schools moved to remote learning for the majority of pupils until February half-term.”

International news

• Austria – The living room behind the bookshelves – Designing Libraries. “The building’s curved shape can only be experienced on the inside at the reading spots arranged along the outer walls of the open-access library on the ground and upper floor. A two-storey atrium is cut out of the volume, forming a rectangular space provided natural light by skylights.”
• Global – Over 100 Public Libraries Exceed 1 Million Digital Book Checkouts in 2020 – PR Newswire. ” A record 102 public library systems from around the world empowered readers to borrow over 1 million ebooks and audiobooks from their digital collections in 2020. This represents the most systems ever to reach this milestone through OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform. Contributing factors include increased digital book usage due to the pandemic, elevated interest in social justice titles and BIPOC authors and strong circulation growth for children’s and young adult titles because of remote learning.”
• Netherlands / Norway – Designed to inspire – Designing Libraries. Netherlands: “The library is part of a completely renovated multifunctional centre in the heart of the municipality of Cranendonck, The Netherlands. It has a theatre hall, meeting rooms, spaces for workshops, a sports hall, as well as the library, and is a home to various clubs and associations.”. Norway: “You easily get a cathedral feeling from the light in the large windows in the high, open space. The number of visitors in the library has tripled and lending rates have also increased significantly. The increased number of visitors is partly due to the central location in the local culture house, where the library is located in the middle of Vindafjord’s social and cultural hub.”
• Taiwan – Taiwan’s Tainan celebrates grand opening of main library – Taiwan News. “The library comprises six above-ground floors and two below. It houses about 600,000 books, including 500 for the visually impaired and 16,000 authored during the Japanese colonial era. In addition, the building features a cafe, an independent bookstore, a culinary arts classroom, a co-working space, three public art spaces, and a memorial exhibition that pays tribute to more than 200 deceased notable figures in Tainan. A playground and an outdoor reading area are also under construction.”
• USA – The Surprisingly Complicated History of Conan the Librarian – CBR. Who made the joke first? Nope, it wasn’t Monty Python.
  • Meet the Southern librarians fighting for racial justice and truth-telling – Scalawag. “Most of the librarians I spoke to were of two minds: the vision of what they hope the library to become and what they can achieve right now. “
  • Meredith Anding Jr., member of the ‘Tougaloo Nine,’ dies – Independent. “On March 27, 1961, nine students first visited the Black library requested books they knew were not available. They then visited Jackson Public Library and searched for the books. When they sat down and began to read, the library staff called the police. The students refused to leave. They were arrested and charged with breach of the peace.”
  • ‘Tacky’, ‘tawdry’ and a project of self-aggrandisement: Will anyone want Trump’s presidential library? – Independent. ““It is an opportunity for self-aggrandisement. And he has demonstrated some real narcissistic tendencies,” she says. “So having a museum to himself and his presidency, I imagine would be incredibly attractive to him.””

Local news by authority

• Bury – Bury’s libraries continue to offer lockdown service – Bury Times. Click and collect, PCs.
• Calderdale – Over 1,000 sign Shelf Village Hall and Library petition – Telegraph and Argus. “The council has said a number of buildings, including Shelf Village Hall, which houses its library, will be sold off if public groups cannot take them over, moves agreed by Cabinet as part of its Future Council programme to identify cuts which will need to be made to balance the books over a three year period.”
• Cheshire East – Here are the 15 Cheshire East libraries offering click and collect in lockdown – Cheshire Live.
• Croydon – Survey opens on Croydon’s future libraries service – Your Croydon. 14 January to 7 March. 5 libraries (Bradmore Green, Shirley, Sanderstead, South Norwood and Broad Green) to close.
• Dudley – Good news for Dudley’s library users – Dudley News. Click and collect.
• East Riding – Order and Collect service continues at East Riding libraries during lockdown – Planet Radio. Click and collect, home library service.
  • Threats to kill and intimidation among reasons people were banned from East Yorkshire libraries in 2020 – Hull Live. “A threat to kill a staff member was one of the 20 reasons people were banned from East Riding libraries and leisure centres in 2020.”
• Essex – Essex County Council agrees to match funding for BAME library books – In Your Area. “The chairman of the council’s housing and communities committee, Councillor Kerry Smith, wrote to the county council asking for them to match the £1,000 in funding it had given to purchase new books featuring BAME protagonists for the county’s libraries.”
  • Campaign seeks free products in Uttlesford’s public buildings – Saffron Walden Reporter. ” if approved, the measure would trailblaze for other local authorities to take the same action across England. It would provide free sanitary products in schools, libraries, youth centres and public toilets. “
• Hampshire – Bid to save libraries is given £40k cash boost – Daily Echo. Council giving money to set up volunteer libraries at “Horndean, Lee-on-Solent, Odiham and the Elson area”
  • Closed Odiham Library to re-open as independent community library – In Your Area.
  • North Hampshire library receives cash to go independent – Planet Radio. “Odiham is one of eight Hampshire libraries axed by Hampshire County Council as part of budget savings.”
  • Winter Reading Challenge – Love Andover.
• Inverclyde – Libraries urge customers to make use of delivery service in lockdown – Greenock Telegraph. Click and collect suspended. Home library service.
• Kirklees – Dewsbury librarian surprised with BEM in Queen’s New Year Honours – Dewsbury Reporter. “He is currently the Customer Service Manager at Dewsbury Library and is also the Co-Chair of the Public and Mobile Libraries Group with national library body CILIP.”
• Leeds – Otley and Yeadon residents urged to speak out against cuts to services – Wharfedale Observer. “Leeds City Council is proposing to cut opening hours at libraries and community hubs in the two towns and will also reduce floral planting. The suggested cuts are being put forward as part of the council’s 2021/22 budget savings proposals as it faces a shortfall of £119 million.”
• Lewisham – Lewisham libraries could be cut by £500K – News Shopper. £300k to £500k will be cut. Hiring freeze.
  • Lewisham libraries could offer more services after remodel – News Shopper. “It’s hoped a new model could provide several non-traditional services in libraries, such as legal advice, advice on benefits and taxes, and help with IT skills.  “
  • Community Hub & Library Opening Hours – Leeds Council. £1.5m cut. Staff cuts. Reduce opening hours.
• Shropshire – Shropshire Council bringing cultural sites online as facilities are closed – Border Counties Advertizer. Click and collect.
• Somerset – Burnham-On-Sea Library users reassured over overdue book loans during lockdown – Burnham on Sea. Click and collect, PCs.
• Stoke – Readers rejoice! Stoke-on-Trent libraries offering mystery book bundles during lockdown – Stoke on Trent Live. Click and collect.
• Thurrock – Staff who cannot work from home being urged to get Covid test – Thurrock Gazette. “Thurrock Council is urging all those who are still attending a workplace to get a free COVID-19 test as soon as possible, even if they do not have any symptoms. Testing kits are available at East Tilbury library, Chadwell library and Belhus library. ” … “East Tilbury, Chadwell and Belhus libraries will be open to pick up and drop off tests from 8am to 7pm on weekdays and 9am to 4pm at weekends. These libraries will only be open for this purpose and no library services will be available, such as the return of books or use of computers.”

• Wandsworth – Wandsworth residents amongst London’s biggest bookworms – Wandsworth Times. “the borough’s libraries issued the highest number of books in London for the third year running.” … “To reflect the importance and value of reading services, the Council has pledged to improve libraries in Battersea, Earlsfield, Tooting and York Gardens.”
• West Berkshire – New plans for West Berkshire libraries over lockdown – Newbury Today. Click and collect and home library service.
• Wiltshire – Warminster Library closes today due to Covid – Gazette and Herald. “Following public health guidance the library will close pending a deep clean after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.”
• Worcestershire – Worcestershire’s favourite books of 2020 revealed – The Shuttle.

Editorial

A large number of libraries that have only recently come out of lockdown, in London and the South-East have basically gone straight back into them. The Tier 4 rules allow libraries to be open for digital usage and click-and-collect only so, for 17.7 million people, it means not browsing once more. Also in the South-East, it’s worth mentioning the campaign against library cuts in Croydon, which has been heavily involved in protest recently. Other than that, well, I’d like to wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It has to be better than 2020 hasn’t it?

National news

• CWA Library Initiatives – Shots Mag. “The world-famous CWA Daggers have been synonymous with quality crime writing for more than half a century. Only library staff can nominate authors for the CWA Dagger in the Library. Nominations are open until February 26, 2021 and up to three members of staff from each UK library can nominate.”
• Five-year stats show library service entering ‘rapid decline’, finds Coates – BookSeller. The standard piece from Tim Coates at the end. There is some useful, and sadly depressing, information here.
• Full list of businesses that must close in new Tier 4 and what can stay open – Mirror. Report libraries must close in Tier 4 areas.
• Fun Palaces is growing – and changing – Fun Palaces. “We are sad and excited to announce that co-founders and co-directors Stella Duffy and Sarah-Jane Rawlings are leaving Fun Palaces; Stella at the end of January, Sarah-Jane in late spring/early summer. Kirsty Lothian, our producer since the beginning, will step up as co-director, and in January we will recruit for someone (or someones, as we are all currently part time) to join the HQ team, working alongside our Ambassadors across the country,”
• Library Cuts Are an Affront to Democracy – Byline Times. “It would seem both bizarre and destructive to suggest that because we have done without schools, pubs and theatres during lockdown, that we don’t really need them at all. Yet this was the same logic propounded by Walsall’s council leader, Mike Bird, when he suggested he was considering whether, having done without libraries for so long during the Coronavirus pandemic, it is necessary to reopen them at all. This policy could be dismissed as a one-off act of local cretinism. However …”significantly, the strongest networks of libraries are typically found in countries with the most stable democracies.”
• North Wales GPs, libraries and hospitals to benefit from £8m roll-out of ultrafast broadband – Denbighshire Free Press. “The Local Full Fibre Network Programme will see a total of 350 sites across Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Flintshire and Wrexham switch from copper-based network to high quality gigabit broadband.”
• Preston university scientists bring superheroes to life in book for children’s wards and libraries this Christmas – Lancashire Post. “The seven academics from the University of Central Lancashire have partnered up with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and The Reading Agency to share their new book ‘Unmasked: The Science of Superheroes’, with libraries across the UK and children who are spending the festive season in hospital.” … “Public libraries throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive 7,000 free copies of the book.”
• Tier 4: Stay at Home – Gov.uk. “community centres and halls must close except for a limited number of exempt activities, as set out below. Libraries can also remain open to provide access to IT and digital services – for example for people who do not have it at home – and for click-and-collect services”
• Top Ebooks and Audiobooks from UK Public Library Authorities in 2020 – OverDrive. “Through the first 11 months of 2020, millions of ebooks and audiobooks have been borrowed from public libraries in the UK — a 66% increase from 2019. Ebook issues experienced the highest growth, 74% higher than this time last year. Audiobook issues also increased in 2020, 47% growth year-over-year. “

International news

• Global – A new language for the value and impact of libraries: Design and first findings – Christian Lauersen. “The method we are using builds on a huge British study, Understanding the Value and Impact of Cultural Experiences by The Arts Council England, which we have operationalized into a Danish library context”
• Lithuania – Lithuanian public libraries welcome people with autism – Naple Sister Libraries. “To help manage anxiety, calm down, and relax a special toolkit has been prepared for each of the public libraries. It consists of sensory-tent, tactile, audio, and visual aids. In addition, training for library staff on how to behave and help autistic children in the library have also been organized.”
• USA – Amazon Publishing in Talks to Offer E-books to Public Libraries – Publishers Weekly. “The potential deal would be a breakthrough moment in the library e-book market as Amazon currently does not make its digital content available to libraries. It would also be a major coup for the Digital Public Library of America’s upstart e-book platform and its SimplyE library reading app”
  • Chattanooga library suspends protest leader C-Grimey to investigate burning of conservative books – Times Free Press.
  • New Library Services Started in 2020 – David Lee King. “Lots of fun new services! Here’s my question – why did it have to take a global pandemic for us to start these things? “
  • Ten Stories That Shaped 2020 – LIS News.
  • They Will Kill Your Library, Too – Current Affairs. “The problem with public libraries is that while they are hugely popular, they are also in tension with the prevailing political and economic ideology, which suggests the government should run like a business, cutting costs and measuring the worth of every service by its market price. Libraries offer useless knowledge, the joy of intellectual discovery. “

Local news by authority

• Bradford – Call for ‘urgent review’ of library’s £420,000 a year annual rent – Telegraph and Argus. “Council has once again been criticised over the £420,000 it pays each year to rent space for City Library, with campaigners saying a better deal could safeguard the District’s libraries for years to come. And one Councillor called for Council bosses to hold an ‘urgent review’ of the facility’s costs.” … “The £420,000 annual rent had been a huge strain on the library budget, but last year the Council revealed that the lease costs had been moved to other Council budget pots, and would no longer weigh down the stretched library budget.”
• Caerphilly – Caerphilly libraries providing free sanitary products – South Wales Argus. “As part of their period dignity initiative, Caerphilly County Borough Council has made packs containing sanitary products available for free at all 18 of its libraries across the borough.”
• Cornwall – Free festive craft bags from Cornwall Council – The Packet. “Cornwall Council’s libraries team want to make sure that younger people don’t miss out this Christmas and are encouraging families to get creative at home. They have produced more than 600 festive craft bags that will be available from local libraries, as well as the council’s two mobile library vans.”
• Croydon – ‘What’s a library mummy?’ – South Norwood campaigners fear kids could grow up not knowing – My London. “Dozens of families came out to support their local library in South Norwood amid fears council cuts could see it closed for good.” … “More than 100 protestors gathered outside Pump House on Saturday, December 5. Libby Hamilton, whose petition to save the library has gained 2,600 signatures, said: “There was one little kid holding a sign saying ‘what’s a library mummy?’ – we really want our children to know what a library is and appreciate it.””
  • Campaigners fight to save Croydon libraries from cuts – Sutton and Croydson Guardian. “Campaigners in Croydon are fighting to save the borough’s libraries from closing after the declaration of a Section 114 notice and “effective” bankruptcy from the council has placed them under serious threat.”
  • Dozens of families come out in support of five Croydon libraries threatened with closure – London News Online. “Children’s author Laura Henry, creator of Jo Jo and Gran Gran on CBeebies, attended the protest. Afterwards, she tweeted: “I lived in South Norwood for 10 years. My sons and I practically lived in this library. “Libraries are the heart of a community and books and reading are super important.””
  • Five Croydon libraries under threat… again! – Library Campaign. “The campaigns for individual libraries combined forces as Save Croydon Libraries campaign to fight the cuts more effectively in the past, and are already networking again. Friends of South Norwood Library has joined with Save Sanderstead Library campaign and there are plans for a campaign for Shirley library too”
  • Save Croydon Libraries Campaign – SOS Library. Petition. “All these libraries merit saving. Some serve deprived or elderly communities. Some give easy access and offer parking as well as being on good transport links. They provide activities for the community, from birth onwards. We have fought to save our libraries before and we need to keep up the fight! Please sign and join the campaign!”
  • Save South Norwood Library – Friends of South Norwood Library. “Croydon Council has said it could soon close South Norwood Library. In a bid to solve a £67 million gap in the budget, the council is making huge cuts across the council and is considering closing five local libraries. This means our current library would be shut down, and our new library would close before it has even opened.”

• Flintshire – Aura Libraries Flintshire: best books of 2020 ranked – The Leader.
• Glasgow – Knightswood library to open to residents next year – Clydebank Post. “Glasgow Life has announced plans to reopen 12 libraries across the city as part of a phased approach to bringing community facilities back into use.”
  • Glasgow Life reveals festive opening hours for all venues – Glasgow Evening Times. “Alongside museums and sports facilities, 11 Glasgow Libraries have re-opened and are operating reduced opening hours.”
• Leicestershire – Library facility could be brought back to village as parish council venture – Leicester Mercury. Council library closed in 2016, volunteer library possibility if funding found.
• Northamptonshire – Christmas not shelved as Father Christmas pops into Earls Barton library – Northampton Chronicle. “Volunteers at Earls Barton Library and Community Centre were delighted that St Nick will take time out of his busy schedule to meet visitors to the Broad Street hub. Cally Palôt-Watts, secretary of Earls Barton Library and Community Centre, said: “In an effort to bring some joy to a, potentially, very lacklustre Christmas in our village, we hosted a visit from Father Christmas on December 13 and [will host another] again on this Sunday, December 20.”
• North Yorkshire – Free Christmas goody bag scheme at North Yorkshire libraries – Gazette and Herald. “North Yorkshire libraries are inviting children aged four to 11 to read four books or borrow a “book bundle” from their local library. In turn, they can collect a free goody bag including stickers and activities, and there’s also a special treat for pre-schoolers in participating libraries.”
  • Support stepped up over Christmas for North Yorkshire residents – Planet Radio. “Libraries are closed between Christmas and New Year. “
• Pembrokeshire – Pembrokeshire library reservations service expanded – Western Telegraph. “Customers can place up to two reservations for books and audiobooks, which are available and in stock at libraries”
• Powys – Elias twins relish reading to win Builth book prize – County Times. ” “We wish to thank the Friends of the Library for donating the £5 book tokens to be spent at Verzon Books in Llandrindod Wells.””
• Rochdale – Rochdale Digital Tech Library goes from strength to strength – Rochdale Online. “The next phase, with support from Public Health and Rochdale Borough Housing funding, is to upscale the Digital Tech Library. By working in partnership with Rochdale Council’s library service, the consortium will be able to expand its offer to reach more people. This includes having some digital devices for loan in the libraries that are currently open across the borough, which will enable people to access free wi-fi and support to get online.”
• South Lanarkshire – Library services reopened in South Lanarkshire – Carluke Gazette. “Libraries across South Lanarkshire have reopened after the area moved from Level 4 of the Covid-19 restrictions to Level 3 on Friday”

“I would like to start by paying tribute to all librarians and other staff working in the public library services across our nation, and of course in my constituency of Stockport. Research tells us that public libraries are a vital part of our social infrastructure. They empower and equalise our communities. They strengthen communities, improve digital inclusion, and help with everything from physical and mental health to cultural engagement, literacy, diversity, inclusion, and of course education. I am incredibly proud of the library staff in my borough of Stockport. They do an important job and are a key part of our community. The Central Library in the heart of my constituency is grade 2 listed, internally and externally, and is one of the original Carnegie-funded libraries, built in 1913. My town has a beautiful heritage and iconic buildings, from the Victorian viaduct, to the Central Library, to the outstanding Underbanks.

Sadly, a combination of covid and years of central Government underfunding have forced many local authorities to close public libraries and reduce the offer available to communities. Of course, public health must come first and foremost, but we must recognise the positive impact that public libraries make on the wellbeing of our constituents. It is evident that we need a fair financial settlement from the Government so that local authorities can continue to support libraries and all public services. I welcome the statement made earlier in the Chamber, but, as ever, the devil is in the detail, and we need to make sure that the funding is made available to all councils rather than to specific shires. I have a record of campaigning against Government austerity policies over the past decade, and this terrible pandemic has highlighted the need to support our local authorities properly.”

Stockport – Navendu Mishra MP

• Stoke on Trent – Christmas gifts and online festive fun at museums and libraries – Stoke on Trent Council. “Stoke-on-Trent’s libraries are running their click, call and collect service. As part of this, the libraries are also creating Christmas book bundles for children – with a range of festive options available for families to borrow. Librarians are also putting on a series of online activities for children and families to help everyone get in the festive spirit, including Christmas story times, craft sessions and sing-along events. These will all be available via Stoke-on-Trent Libraries’ Facebook page …”
• Tower Hamlets – Help shape the future of Tower Hamlets’ library service – Let’s Talk Tower Hamlets. “Until now, Tower Hamlets has kept all its libraries and Idea Stores open in the face of continued government cuts which have seen 778 libraries close nationally since austerity was introduced a decade ago. Continued government changes to council funding and the Covid-19 crisis mean the council has to save £30m by 2024. This is on top of £200m already saved since 2010. You can find out more in our budget consultation. To do this, savings have to be made across the council including reducing the cost of the library service, which is £4.4 million a year. The savings proposed will deliver savings of £1.6 million.”
• Worcestershire – There’s plenty to see and do at Worcestershire libraries this Christmas – Redditch Standard. Free poems: “Libraries in Redditch, Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Worcester are hoping visitors will use the service to reconnect with old friends or to simply let someone know they’re loved.”