Childhood memories

Editorial

It’s been a difficult week for me. There was the sad news of the passing of my mother on Wednesday followed by the funeral of my father on Friday. Part of the mourning process is remembering the past. There’s a lot that went on but Mum and Dad were always keen on me using the library. There was the mobile library in Newport that visited my primary school (and which I still feel guilt for not returning a book to as we moved to Wiltshire shortly after), the hot pavement over a small bridge leading to Salisbury Library where I discovered with joy the kinderbox full of Asterix and Tintin books.

Returning to South Wales, there were the trips to Newport Central where I watched the librarians with wonder as they zipped their fingers through the multiple tables of Browne Issue tickets with ease. Then, a bit later, when I visited alone as a teenager to rip through the Science Fiction session. I also remember being either treated with suspicion or ignored at another library closer to home but then I guess me being a teenager in a library so close to a Comprehensive School may well have been a stressing experience to the staff at the time. That, and the offhand reply to a query on Economics at a library (“It’s at 330” before the member of staff returned to his chat with a colleague) has always stayed with me as a lesson in how important customer service is. After all, I still remember it 40 years on.

The thing, though, is that public libraries have always been with me throughout my life. My childhood and teen years were very difficult times but I found comfort, even rescue, in the pages provided for free there. I hope future generations will be able to do the same.

Please send any thoughts, comments, news and revisions to me at ianlibrarian at live.co.uk, thank you

Local news by authority

National news

  • Autocar offers one-time fee for libraries – In Publishing. ““We are delighted that this long-term solution for libraries is now available alongside annual subscriptions.”
  • Consultation on the proposed rate per loan for the 2023 to 2024 Public Lending Right scheme year – Gov.uk. “The British Library Board has proposed a rate per loan of 11.76 pence for payments in the 2023 to 2024 scheme year. This is a reduction of 1.93 pence, from 13.69 pence (in 2022/23). This reflects the slightly raised amount of funding available (but the PLR fund remains relatively unchanged), and an increase in the estimated number of loans of books registered for PLR.”
  • Libraries offer us more than just books – Guardian / Letters. “Some 175 years after the Public Libraries Act, libraries remain critical for promoting literacy, particularly among those with less access to books at home. It is a sad reflection of austerity that so many public libraries have closed. The government has much to remedy in the public realm, but should not neglect the importance of the library sector, which, like the NHS, stands as a marker of a society that prioritises the needs of all, irrespective of individual circumstances.”
  • A library without books is like a book without pages – Mercator. “Libraries are meant to make children like books, not hate them. But, in seeking to fulfil this first laudable remit in a rather wrong-headed way, are librarians today all too often doing the precise reverse?” .. “here is an increasing trend in public libraries for staff to be told by managers that they “must ‘free up’ their bookshelves from books so they aren’t cluttered and confusing to library patrons; to achieve this goal, it is proposed that those librarians who can discard the most books are given rewards … at one seminar on the theme of ‘creative libraries’, they were told that they must evolve their institution towards the day when libraries won’t have any books and ‘readers’ will visit the library for very different reasons.” Like what? Just to use the free toilets?”

International news

  • Australia – All aboard with How do you library? – Public Libraries Connect. “We are counting down the days till the launch of the How do you library? campaign. We now have more than 30 councils actively involved in the campaign”
  • USA – The psychology behind the well-being benefits of libraries – Phys Org. “”You walk into a library and find a calm, stable, quiet presence, and patrons reported having an appreciation for that,” Pawelski says. “They also reported having their positive emotions bolstered and that the library is a place of engagement and flow and concentration. They even reported having a sense of stronger relationships.””

Local news by authority

  • Bradford – Photos show Bradford library’s new look after big transformation – Telegraph and Argus. “Eccleshill Library has totally transformed its adults and children’s areas while there’s now meeting rooms, accessible facilities, a new public toilet, and space for events. It hopes to offer people a “world of stories, learning, and culture”. The project was funded by Arts Council England’s Libraries Improvement Fund.”
  • Bristol – City libraries at risk of closure as council grapples with funding crisis – The Week In. “The authority is proposing to slash up to £2.4m from the existing £4.7m that libraries receive a year, although it has not yet said what this will mean. But it is very unlikely that all 27 branches will remain open if councillors approve the plans.” … “The service was previously threatened with swingeing cuts in 2018 and 2022 but on both occasions council leaders dropped the plans amid huge public opposition.” … “It is understood that one of the options rejected in 2022 to cut the libraries budget by £1.5m – less than currently proposed – would have resulted in 14 permanent branch closures.”
  • Buckinghamshire – Bucks Council confirms number of jobs at risk due to library changes – Bucks Herald. “Around 15 full-time equivalent members of staff could be made redundant under a cost-cutting plan the council is calling ‘Library Flex’ agreed by cabinet at a meeting on Thursday (2 January).”
  • Caerphilly – Libraries, leisure centres may shut, residents told – BBC. “Consultants have been hired to develop a “transformation agenda” ” … “Ten libraries in the area are also at risk, and the council appears likely to push ahead despite a clear majority of respondents disagreeing with the proposals. The council said it would like to reduce the number of library sites to a handful of regional “hubs” that will “provide a more sustainable and resilient” service. Those sites have been earmarked for Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Rhymney, Risca and Ystrad Mynach.”
  • Coventry – Digital Spaces comes to Coventry Libraries and Information Service – Coventry Council. “Digital Spaces is an ambitious new programme developed in association with Arts Council England, BFI and The Space. Launching in 2025, this forward-thinking initiative will deliver an array of digital experiences in Libraries. From awe-inspiring VR showcases and hands-on immersive filmmaking masterclasses, to opportunities for creating new digital content.”
  • Croydon – Croydon Central Library: More Than Just Books – This is Local London. “roydon Central Library helps remind us of the importance of physical spaces for learning, connection, and growth by offering something for everyone, whether you’re an avid reader, a curious child, or just someone looking for a quiet spot to relax.”
  • Cumberland – Library to close for £3.3m revamp – BBC. “he revamp is being funded by the government as part of a £19.7m Carlisle Town Deal programme. Designs include a children’s zone, new study spaces and adult learning classrooms. Structural works will also be undertaken, including rewiring, at the site located within The Lanes shopping centre.”
  • Devon – Library to open earlier through colder months – Dawlish Gazette. “Newton Abbot Library will be open from 8am on Thursdays.”
    • Coastal town’s library being moved to save money – BBC. “Seaton Library will close its Queen Street site after 15 years and move to “more affordable premises” at the former Marshlands Day Centre on Harbour Road. Devon County Council said it would be part of a hub with other public services.”
  • Glasgow – Libraries offer warm rooms and free hot drinks amid sub-zero temperatures – STV News. ““All Glasgow Libraries continue to offer refreshments as part of the Welcome Places approach between November 14 and March 31, in line with the end of the winter 2024 to 2025 period. Where required, additional programmed activity aimed at families has been provided at libraries to support the cost-of-living crisis.””
  • Historic Glasgow library goes up for sale – Glasgow Times. “Parkhead Library, Baths, and Wash House – all located at 64-80 Tollcross Road – are now on the market. The category B listed building is being marketed as a development opportunity ‘suitable for a variety of uses’ by City Property Glasgow (CPG).”
  • Isle of Wight – Local libraries support BBC Radio Solent’s Soapbox Appeal – Island Echo. “To support efforts of fighting hygiene poverty, 6 council-run libraries on the Island — located in Cowes, Freshwater, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, and Ventnor — have become designated drop-off points for donations.”
    • Libraries to launch “exciting” new newsletter in 2025 – Island Echo. “will be delivered directly to subscribers’ email inboxes every 2 months, offering a wealth of information including library news, event updates, book reviews, details about library services, and exclusive interviews with library staff.”
  • Jersey New children’s library opens in Jersey after refit – BBC. Some beautiful pictures of refurbishment at Jersey Library.
  • Leeds – Library kicks off zine appeal ahead of fan-tastic new exhibition – Leeds Council. “Librarians at Leeds Central Library are calling on supporters across the region to raid their collections at home and submit some of their favourite zines, which could be displayed in Voice of the Fans when it opens at the library in May.”
  • Midlothian – First baby to be registered in 2025 joins the library – Midlothian Council. “Harris also today became the newest and youngest member of Midlothian Libraries when his parents signed him up under the Every Child a Library Member (ECALM) programme.”
  • Newcastle – Chinese New Year at Newcastle Libraries – Newcastle Council. Lion Dance, crafts, storytime.
  • Newport – Library cuts, community centre handovers: How Newport Council will save money – South Wales Argus. “… cutting the number of council libraries in Newport – on the basis demands for the service have “changed significantly over the last six years, with many members moving away from visiting physical sites”. The council wants to “consolidate” the service and keep open four “compass” sites: the city’s Central Library, Rogerstone Library, Bettws and Malpas Court, and Ringland. The “well-used” Caerleon Library has been earmarked for closure, but could remain open as a volunteer-led library if a local group takes over the building via Community Asset Transfer arrangements.”
  • Oxfordshire – Library moves to art gallery while building is refurbished – Henley Standard. “The Old Fire Station Gallery in Market Place opened as a temporary library on Monday and will remain in its new form until early spring. The gallery, which is owned by Henley Town Council, has been set up with shelving units, a seating area, a children’s reading area and a computer.”
  • Perth – Library closure campaigners to stage Perth Museum protest – Courier. “Protesters from four of the affected communities – Auchterarder, Birnam, Comrie and Scone – have banded together under the one ‘Save Our Rural Libraries’ banner. And they’re urging others to join them, warning “your library could be next”.”
  • Sheffield – 50 people banned from Yorkshire city’s leisure centres and libraries – Yorkshire Live. Reasons for library bans are: Anti-social behaviour: 6; Racially abusing a security steward at the Central Library: less than 5; Viewing porn sites on the library’s computers: less than 5.
  • Slough – Petition to save Langley and Cippenham libraries fetches hundreds of signatures – Maidenhead Advertiser.
  • Suffolk – Library service makes £45k from charges and fines – BBC. “Figures released by the service revealed the income made last year would not be enough to fund replacing all of the 7,683 books that were lost. Paul Howarth, director of audiences and content at Suffolk Libraries, said the main reason it issued charges was to encourage people to return the books for others to enjoy. In 2024, the service made £45,888 from overdue charges and lost books.”
  • Sutton – Transforming Sutton Council’s libraries offer – Local.gov. “Implementing self-access resulted in the service being able to deliver savings in excess of £300 thousand in year one due to reduced staffing costs. The capital budget for installing the required technology was £363 thousand. “
  • West Berkshire – Axing mobile library ‘real problem’ for elderly – BBC. “West Berkshire Council is considering ending its mobile library service, which travels to 76 locations including public service stops, schools, nurseries, sheltered housing, a community cafe and a hospital. The council said the proposal to stop the service would save £42,080 per year. But David Bowyer, a pensioner in his 90s who lives in Beech Hill, said it would make taking out books “very difficult”.”
  • West Sussex – Crawley Library to host a free writing-for-children workshop – West Sussex Council. “West Sussex County Council’s Crawley library has won an ‘All Stories’ national competition to host a fully-funded workshop aimed at encouraging and supporting aspiring writers from under-represented backgrounds. The workshop, on Saturday 1 February 2025 at 10am will be presented by Sussex-born author Patrice Lawrence.”
  • Worcestershire – ‘Read & Unwind Time’ at your local library – Worcestershire Council. “If you love reading but sometimes struggle to find time to sit down with a book, why not try out the new Read & Unwind Time at your local library, where you will find the space to read, away from the distractions of everyday life, in the company of fellow readers. With no set book or obligation to talk, Read & Unwind Time is an opportunity to read your own book, at your own pace, in a relaxed environment and as part of a community of people who share your love of books.”
  • Wrexham – Two weeks remaining for consultation on the future of our libraries – Leader. Article by Wrexham MP: “There are two weeks remaining for the Wrexham County Borough consultation on the future of our libraries and community resource centres. You can fill in the consultation online here and the consultation ends on the 19th January. Please take time to complete this so that as many voices are heard as possible. Our libraries and community resource centres provide connections, services and support for everyone, whatever their age. As a Community Councillor in Offa, I have seen first hand how important the community resource centre has been to local residents and it is something that I have utilised myself.”

Christmas period news 2024/5

Editorial

I was sorry to read of hear of the loss of Marleen Kennedy, a fellow judge of mine in the CWA Dagger In the Library awards, so as a mark of respect I will not write an editorial this post.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Best of 2024: ‘If there’s nowhere else to go, this is where they come’: how Britain’s libraries provide much more than books – podcast – Guardian. “Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. From July: In 2024, libraries are unofficial creches, homeless shelters, language schools and asylum support providers – filling the gaps left by a state that has reneged on its responsibilities. By Aida Edemariam”
  • Co-creation boosts young people’s library engagement – Arts Professional. “Following a co-creation pilot programme between libraries and young people, researchers found 71% of participants reported gaining new knowledge and skills, such as writing, communication and digital marketing.” … “In a pilot project funded by Arts Council England (ACE) between January and August this year, nearly three-quarters (71%) of participants also reported gaining new knowledge and skills, such as writing, communication and digital marketing. The scheme, run by the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL), involved seven library services across England. It tested co-created approaches with 56 young people aged between 11 and 13, including some who were neuro-divergent.”
  • Councils closing libraries across Scotland will ‘destroy communities’, say Greens – National Scot. “In November the Tory-run council in Aberdeenshire announced it could close 13 libraries, with seven more in Moray and Perthshire also threatened with closure in the coming months. Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who represents Central Scotland, has been a vocal supporter of a campaign aiming to save the seven local libraries across his region.”
  • Council staff logging into work from beaches abroad while taxpayers foot the bill – Conservative Post. ” more than 2,000 requests for council staff to work from abroad have been approved since the pandemic began. Destinations include such “essential” work locations as Barbados, Jamaica, and Botswana” … “What’s resilient about a council worker in Thailand while your local library shutters its doors?”
  • Education Secretary: Encourage your child to pick up a book at Christmas – Telegraph. Behind paywall. “total of 344 libraries in England have closed in the past 15 years”
  • England council shake-up: five ways it could affect you – BBC. “Rayner’s plan is to make the system similar across England. So bins and libraries, planning and leisure centres will all fall under one, single council.”. For closing libraries and other council owned property: “The government says it wants to replace this right to bid with a right to buy, with funding available to purchase community assets.”
  • English councils slash culture spending by 50% – Local Gov. “Spending on culture, heritage and libraries by English councils has been cut by more than half over the last 15 years, according to new research. New analysis by the Campaign for the Arts (CFTA) has found that since 2009-10, revenue expenditure on culture has fallen by 50.4% in real terms, from £42.42 to £21.05 per person.”
  • Japanese Manga Translations in UK Public Libraries – Proceedings of Joint Conference on Digital Libraries – “The extent to which translated Japanese manga are held in public libraries worldwide can serve as an indicator of their international reception. This study utilized a list of translated Japanese manga compiled during our previous surveys to investigate the availability of these works in public libraries across the United Kingdom.”
  • Leading library and digital inclusion charities forge new partnership – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected, the membership body for public libraries, and Good Things Foundation, the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, have announced a new agreement that will see them work together more closely on fixing the digital divide.”
  • Libraries Connected issues guidance to councils considering major changes to library services – Libraries Connected. “The guidance has been produced as part of a support package for library services within local authorities that have issued Section 114 certificates – effectively a declaration of bankruptcy – or are operating within severe financial constraints.”
  • NAG’S 15th Collection Development Seminar and Public Library Forum – 40 Years of NAG: Looking Back, Looking Forward – National Acquisitions Group. 15 May, Leeds. Call for speakers. “Join us in celebrating NAG’s 40th birthday, in looking back at where we have come from, and looking forward to potential future developments.” https://nag.org.uk/forum-speakers/  Deadline 2nd Feb
  • Secret network of Santa’s helpers is bringing missing people home this Christmas – Mirror. “Last week we distributed our safeguarding briefing to a library and within half an hour one of our helpers called us to tell us a missing person was there. “We were able to call the police, do the welfare checks to make sure they were OK and close the missing case. Libraries are wonderful. They do so much for the community. When it works, it works ­absolutely beautifully.”
  • Sharing libraries: easy on the planet, easy on your pocket, and great for the community – Happiful. “We’re not talking about regular libraries here, where you can borrow books, magazines, newspapers, and more. Sharing libraries offer other useful items to local people, who are able to borrow and return them, free of charge or for a very low fee.”: toys, maternity clothes, tools, reusable cloth nappies. Gives environmental benefits, saves money, promotes equality of access and sense of community.
  • This year marks a critical moment for Scotland’s libraries – Herald. “.. a shadow looms over many towns and villages in Scotland where the fate of local libraries hangs in the balance. The poignant plea of a child in Aberdeenshire, weeks before Christmas, wishing only for Santa to keep their library open speaks volumes about the urgency of the situation. Recent years have seen a troubling trend of closures and cuts to library services across the country”

“We need a national conversation — and national action — to ensure our libraries not only survive, but thrive. Let’s resolve that in 2025, we won’t be talking about closures and cuts but celebrating a renaissance in library services that reflects their true value to our communities. Anything less would be a failure we cannot afford.”

Alison Nolan, chief executive of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)

International news

Local news by authority

  • Aberdeenshire – Aberdeenshire libraries slated for closure cost council just £270k of £700m budget – Aberdeen Live. “According to the local authority’s books, the libraries set to be closed in 2025 cost the council 0.03% of their budget last year, with £190,000 allocated for staff salaries and £88,000 for building maintenance.”
  • Birmingham – Library still ‘temporarily’ closed two years later – BBC. “A 130-year-old library which temporarily closed two years ago remains shut with no date given for its reopening. Spring Hill Library, housed in a grade II-listed, red brick Victorian building near Birmingham city centre, is shuttered due to what bosses call “issues with the building”. The city council is considering closing a number of its library buildings as part of efforts to drastically reduce its budget and Spring Hill has been recommended for permanent closure. The consultation is ongoing.”
  • Bradford -Eccleshill Library will reopen on Thursday, January 2 – Telegraph and Argus. “Eccleshill Library closed in late October to allow for improvement works funded by Arts Council England. It will reopen on Thursday, January 2.” … “Both the adults and children’s areas have been fully refurbished as has the first-floor meeting room, and there is a new small meeting room on the ground floor. The shelving is now on wheels so can be moved aside to create a large event space on the ground floor.”
  • Buckinghamshire – Eight Buckinghamshire libraries set for increase in opening hours – Bucks Free Press. Staffless technology allows “The libraries in Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham, Hazlemere, Marlow, and Princes Risborough will see a 23 per cent increase in opening hours from June”
  • Cambridgeshire – Village library to close for refurbishment work – BBC. Yaxley to close for three months.
  • Ceredigion – Library poised for summer move despite opposition – BBC. “Aberaeron library is expected to be in its new home in a county hall building on the edge of the town at Penmorfa by June, according to Ceredigion council. Many of the 900 people who took part in a public consultation opposed the move, but in October it was backed by senior councillors, as part of a £70,000 savings target for the library service. It is one of four full-time libraries in the county, and potential similar proposals were suggested for Lampeter, partly due to budget pressures.”
    • Date revealed for contentious library move – Nation Cymru. “The consultation attracted just under 900 responses, the vast majority against a move from the town hall, with concerns including a loss of footfall for local businesses, increased walking distance making it unusable for those with physical limitations, and users wanting to shop and socialise in the town centre at the same time as visiting the library.” Also, “potential similar proposals being mooted for Lampeter, partly due to ongoing budget pressures.”
  • Cheshire West and Chester – Designs for revamped Cheshire library to be submitted in new year – Chester Standard. Northwich. “Due to the scale and complexity of the works required, it is not currently possible to identify the full time-scale of the project at this stage, it is currently anticipated that the library will reopen to the public in 2026.””
  • Coventry – Coventry library to close for weeks for ‘building improvements’ – Coventry Live. “Foleshill Library will be closed from Monday, January 20, and will reopen on Monday, February 3, due to planned building improvements.”
  • Cumberland – Library will be ‘modern space’ after £3m revamp – BBC. “More than £3m is to be spent on the redesign of a city’s library almost 40 years after it first opened. Carlisle Library, which is located within the The Lanes shopping centre, is in need of “essential upgrades”, according to Cumberland Council. As well as structural work such as rewiring, the authority said the facility would be transformed into a “modern space” with a children’s zone, study spaces and adult learning classrooms. It is being funded by the government as part of a £19.7m Carlisle Town Deal programme.”
  • Derbyshire – Plans to secure future of libraries to be discussed in new year – Derbyshire Council. “The library service was tasked with delivering £910,000 of savings by 2028-2029, and has already achieved £285,000, leaving a total of £625,000 to be saved through the implementation of the strategy, if it is agreed, over the next 4 years.” see also Final library cuts plan to be discussed by council – BBC. “The fact that we received more than 3,800 responses during the public consultation shows that Derbyshire people feel as passionately about the service as we do”
  • Devon – Tiverton Library hosts community Christmas craft fair full of seasonal fun – Devon Live. “Tiverton Library put on a brilliant show, and all the folk of Tiverton have turned out here. Amazing choir and brilliant craft stalls—it’s a brilliant community event”
    • Library book returned after 31.5 years – Dawlish Gazette. “We are very grateful to the anonymous borrower who posted us back our copy of ‘Thomas’s ABC’ this week. “We checked the date label and note that this book was slightly overdue by 31.5 years.””
  • East Lothian – Sofia and Ivy win Library Service writing competition – East Lothian Council. “The competition was part of Book Week Scotland, which runs every year in public libraries in November, organised by Scottish Book Trust. The theme for 2024 was Hope. More than 160 entries were received for the competition, which was publicised in all of our public and school libraries and by the East Lothian Courier.”
  • Essex – More than 105k books presumed lost from libraries – BBC. “The authority has received £58,845 in fines from readers who failed to bring books back to its libraries this year, a Freedom of Information request revealed. A spokeswoman said it was “great” to see well-used library services, but warned people were “disappointed” when their favourite novels were unavailable.”
    • Redevelopment plans proposed for library – BBC. “Essex County Council has proposed changes for Clacton Library, with community space alongside the traditional library resources being proposed. The redevelopment is part of a wider £20m rejuvenation in the town centre. Lee Scott, Conservative cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration at the council, said: “We are excited to see the plans for the library progress alongside other regeneration work we are supporting in the area.””
  • Gloucestershire – Lending library aims to help people reduce waste – BBC. “Stroud Library of Things (SLOTH), in Gloucestershire, will offer a variety of tools, DIY supplies, decorations and electronic goods for people to borrow for a fixed time at a low cost.”
  • Guernsey – Postal workers rescue library home deliveries – BBC. “Guernsey Post said it had formed a partnership with the Guille-Alles Library in St Peter Port to continue the service established in 2018 to deliver books, audiobooks and other materials for free to people’s homes.”
  • Haringey – Haringey Council compromises on library opening hours cuts – Tottenham Independent. Council opts for retaining one evening of opening for Wood Green, Marcus Garvey, Hornsey; Hornsey and Marcus Garvey libraries to remain opening on Sundays; cuts continue in other libraries.
  • Hertfordshire – County’s most loaned library book of 2024 revealed – BBC. “Spare ranked above Rory Stewart and Adam Kay to top the biography category, according to information from the county council.”
  • Highland – Highland Libraries: A lifeline for communities and a treasure trove of history – Press and Journal. “In Moray, locals were stunned by a proposal last month to close seven libraries in the region. Meanwhile, in the Highlands, there are no plans to shut down any public libraries, which collectively attract nearly 2 million visitors annually. The Press and Journal met head of Highland Libraries, Julie Corcoran, who spoke about the “vital” service these facilities provide, in particular for vulnerable people.”
  • Kirklees – Kirklees Libraries awarded prestigious ‘Library of Sanctuary’ status – Yorkshire Live. “The service was the first to receive the award in Yorkshire back in 2021, and has now been re-awarded the status for another three years. This award is issued by City of Sanctuary UK alongside other major refugee organisations. Library of Sanctuary status recognises the work done by library services to provide welcome and safe spaces for people fleeing conflict, climate change and persecution.”
  • Leeds – Tiny bible features in Christmas book display – BBC. “The miniature book, which is not much bigger than a £2 coin and can fit in the palm of a hand, features in a collection of festive classics on view to visitors at Leeds Central Library.”
  • Lincolnshire – Gotham library will reopen after fire – but mobile service will remain – Nottinghamshire Live. “A village library will not reopen following a fire last year. In February 2023, a blaze broke out in the Memorial Hall in Gotham, which housed a library, doctor’s surgery and dispensary in addition to the community hall. From March 27, 2023, the village has been serviced by a mobile library which regularly visits the Memorial Hall car park, with the next visit scheduled for January 13, 2025. Almost two years after the incident, a number of repairs and improvements have been carried out at the building which allowed the dispensary and doctor;s surgery to reopen in the building earlier this month. The hall itself is expected to open again for community use in February 2025. However, it has been confirmed by Nottinghamshire County Council that the library will not be reopening at the site.”
  • Liverpool – ‘Spellow Library changed my life’ – BBC. “Manicurist Alex McCormick said she was sitting at home alone when she decided to start an online fundraiser to repair the damage done by vandals. “After seeing the library destroyed, my initial plan was to raise £500,” she said. “I didn’t think beyond that.” She had no idea that four months later, she would be the guest of honour at the Spellow reopening ceremony, having raised £250,000.”
  • Milton Keynes – New lease of life for Milton Keynes Central Library – Milton Keynes Labour Party. “Milton Keynes City Council is set to approve plans for critical repairs and significant upgrades to the city’s Central Library, in a decision taking place next week. The £3.6M project will address essential infrastructure issues which include making the building watertight and operational for the long term.”
  • Moray – Moray Council meeting halted as leader apologises in tears for library closure chaos – National. Paywall. “A MorayCouncil meeting was suspended after its leader broke down in tears due to the confusion surrounding the closure of Moray libraries last week.”
  • Newham – Former Grade II-listed library to be renamed – BBC. “Newham residents are being asked by the council to help name a former Grade II-listed library. Canning Town Old Library on Barking Road is being refurbished and is set to reopen as a heritage centre with a café in 2026.”
  • Norfolk – Cast of Norwich panto hosting free event at city library – Norwich Evening News. “The cast of Aladdin is set to delight audiences with dramatic readings of Christmas stories at Norfolk and Norwich Millenium Library.”
    • How can libraries become safe, supportive spaces for teenagers? – Reading Agency. Putting in bean bags, adding Reading Well leaflets by books, “Friendship bracelet workshops, inspired by Taylor Swift, attracted teens into the library”, school visits” but “The libraries recognise they are addressing a critical gap. Valentina and Emily both acknowledge that young people are a missing demographic in their libraries, and they’re an age group that libraries across the country are struggling to engage.”.
    • Former Norfolk libraries chief named in New Year Honours list – East Anglian Daily Times. “Jill Terrell, from Stowmarket, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) is among the recipients in this New Year’s honours for her contributions to library services in Suffolk and the East of England. Her role has seen her collaborate on a number of projects, including chair the Libraries Connected East branch.” 
    • Council leader warns future of Norfolk libraries in peril – Diss Mercury. “With £45m of cuts and savings needed to balance the books next year, Kay Mason Billig, Conservative leader at County Hall, said she was not able to promise libraries would be spared. Her comments came after Liberal Democrat county councillor Saul Penfold asked for reassurances about the future of libraries, and other services the council does not have a legal duty to provide, at a recent council meeting. “
  • North Somerset – Somerset library twins with Ukrainian counterpart with festive celebrations – Somerset Leveller. “The twinning of The Campus library in North Somerset and the Central Children’s Library of Kharkiv is wonderful news, and the two libraries are already building a fantastic friendship. “This twinning provides an invaluable opportunity for us to develop joint initiatives, connect audiences and celebrate UK and Ukrainian literature and culture.”
  • Oxfordshire – Library to relocate for refurbishment works – BBC. Henley Library. “The council said there would be moveable shelving enabling the space to be used for multiple purposes, as well as a bespoke children’s area once the work was completed.” … “The refurbishment project is fully funded through a combination of Central Government Decarbonisation Funds and developer funding provided by South Oxfordshire District Council.”
  • Perthshire – Hundreds sign petition to save Auchterarder Library from closure – Daily Record. “Hundreds have signed a petition to save Auchterarder Library from closure. Earlier this month residents from under-threat Auchterarder, Birnam, Comrie and Scone came together to launch the Save our Rural Libraries campaign. Now an online petition on change.org to prevent Auchterarder’s “irreplaceable community hub” from being lost amassed over 600 signatures in less than a week.”
  • Powys – Library to stay closed until the new year – Powys Council. “It had been due to open in its new temporary home, in the canalside cottages next to Y Lanfa, after a week’s break, but the planned set up has not been completed in time.”
  • Sheffield – How many people banned from Sheffield’s leisure centres and libraries revealed – The Star. “In libraries, there are six people who are banned for anti-social behaviour, less than five for racially abusing a security steward in the Central Library and less than five for viewing porn sites on the library’s computers.”
  • Slough – Cippenham and Langley libraries ‘not fit for purpose’ as council considers closures – Maidenhead Advertiser. “Papers for the cabinet meeting suggested a mobile library could be an alternative option to a library building. Councillor Wal Chahal (Con, Langley Marish) slammed a ‘shambolic’ consultation in 2021 – which prompted library cuts. Cippenham Library is open regularly just three days a week and Langley is open four days a week, after a review undertaken by the council’s Labour administration in 2021. Cllr Chahal said the consultation had caused libraries to ‘die on the vine’ and added, ‘what we have currently is not fit for purpose.’”
  • Somerset – Council services move to library during upgrade – BBC. “Residents who need to speak to Somerset Council in person will be able to do so at Williton Library from Thursday. The council said its library, customer service point and children’s centre will move back to West Somerset House after the upgrade in March.”
  • Southampton – City’s libraries use e-bike book delivery service – BBC. “A city’s library service is encouraging people to sign up to its home delivery service that uses eco-friendly transport. The free Southampton scheme enables people who are unable to leave their homes to have books brought to their doors using e-bikes. The service is funded by Solent Future Transport Zone as part of a range of sustainable transport trials across the Solent area.”
  • South Gloucestershire – Library cards given to Year 6 children in South Gloucestershire – South Gloucestershire Council. “South Gloucestershire Libraries are giving every child in Year 6 their own library card to encourage children to read for pleasure and build a love of reading into their lives. Having a library card and reading has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s learning and life chances, supporting them to thrive. In the summer term, library cards were given to more than 3,000 children in Reception class. An additional 3,500 library cards will be given to young people in Year 6 this term to ensure the momentum and interest in reading is carried into the secondary phase.”
  • St Helens – St Helens Arts in Libraries Project to be extended – St Helens Star. “The council’s cabinet has approved plans to extend the project for an additional year beyond the current end date of 2025/26. This extension could bring in a further £236,000 in funding, allowing the council to continue providing quality art projects across the borough.”
    • Four places we have to say goodbye to in 2024 – St Helens Star. Rainhill,  Garswood, Rainford and Parr libraries : “The decision to axe four libraries and also not to reopen Peter Street and Billinge libraries, which have already been closed for some time due to the expiry of a building lease and structural issues respectively, was strongly opposed by many in the communities affected, who expressed anger and sadness at what they branded a “disastrous decision”.  St Helens Council claims the new strategy will focus “on providing resources in areas of greatest need””
  • Staffordshire – Most borrowed Staffordshire library books of 2024 revealed – Lichfield Live. “Crime and thriller titles continue to be a hit, with Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series taking the first four places. The Jack Reacher series also remain popular titles, with The Secret and No Plan B taking two of the top ten places.”
  • Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries offering free Warm Welcome boxes – East Anglian Daily Times. Seven libraries take part as “The initiative, funded by almost £11,000 from East Suffolk Council, is part of Suffolk Libraries’ winter campaign.” … “The boxes contain useful items, including LED light bulbs, a blanket, a hot water bottle, a vacuum flask, hot chocolate, and cup-a-soups.”
    • Christmas appeal sees thousands of toys donated – BBC. “More than 3,800 toys have been donated to a children’s Christmas toy appeal. Suffolk Libraries and BBC Radio Suffolk celebrated the success of the second year of the Be Kind to a Kid Christmas appeal.”
    • Leiston Library to host new free singing workshops – East Anglian Daily Times. “The ‘Tonic: Singing for Health’ sessions, organised by Suffolk Libraries in collaboration with Cohere Arts, are aimed at adults facing health challenges.”
    • Physical newspapers in libraries – Suffolk Libraries. “From January 2025, Suffolk Libraries will no longer be buying physical newspapers for libraries.  Increasing financial pressures, coupled with the rising cost of newspapers means that providing daily and weekly newspapers in all our 45 libraries has become unsustainable. This is also coupled with the fact that the way people access news and information has changed in recent years and far fewer people are solely reliant on physical newspapers.  “
    • Romanian community plan education festival – BBC. “The first Romanian film festival, external for Suffolk was held in partnership with Ipswich County Library in September.”
    • Ukrainian refugee finds sanctuary at Suffolk library – East Anglian Daily Times. “”I felt very anxious but I met amazingly kind, friendly and sympathetic people. I am very grateful to my hosts as they advised me to visit a local library where I became a welcome guest.””
  • Sutton – A bright future for Sutton as we go into 2025 – Sutton Council. “Nearly half a million books have been borrowed from our local libraries and almost 3,000 children took part in our summer reading club.”
  • Wakefield – Reduced hours for libraries and museums considered – BBC. “Reducing the opening hours of libraries and museums is being considered by a council to cut costs. Wakefield Council said the change would mean venues opening slightly later or earlier to try and minimise the impact on visitors. Hannah Appleyard, the council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport said the authority needed to “make some changes to help us deliver a balanced budget”. Two surveys asking residents how they use the facilities will run until 14 March, before a final decision is made by councillors.”
  • West Dunbartonshire – West Dunbartonshire Libraries awarded improvement grant – Clydebank Post. “This fund, managed by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), supports initiatives designed to inspire engagement in areas including digital upskilling, sustainability, and inclusivity. The West Dunbartonshire Libraries Empower Connections project aims to engage with new audiences and tackle child poverty and digital exclusion in the area.”
  • West Sussex – West Sussex Libraries celebrate 100 years in 2025 – Sussex World. Council is “proud to say that it still boasts 36 libraries thanks to innovative thinking and thanks to embracing the new technologies. It means the service is in good heart to celebrate – and indeed blow its own trumpet – for a very special year ahead.”
  • Wirral – ‘We took over our library when the council shut it’ – BBC. “Wallasey Village library was opened in 1938, but closed in 2022 alongside eight other branches on the peninsula because the local authority could no longer afford to run them. The community group decided to take it over instead and now the building has fully reopened, with a café, a community room, bookshop and a lending library. Trustee, Ray Lyons said the library project probably would not have been viable without the café.”
    • Community ‘in the dark’ over future of historic popular library – Liverpool Echo. “A community group linked to one of Wirral’s most popular libraries said they are still in the dark about what Wirral Council plans to do with it. Wallasey Central Library on Earlston Road first opened in 1910 after a £9,000 grant from iron and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. In February 2024, the council decided in its budget this year to consider relocating the Wallasey Central library out of its current hub on Earlston Road as part of plans from April 2025 onwards. This could save £250,000 alongside plans to relocate Birkenhead Central Library.”
  • Wolverhampton – Memories gathered to mark estate’s centenary – BBC. “The city council said the exhibition was part of the wider Know Your Neighbourhood Project and was planned for Low Hill Library next year.”
  • Wrexham – Consultation on Wrexham libraries and community resource centres – Leader. “Like most other councils, Wrexham is under huge financial pressure and it’s getting harder to make ends meet. We have to do more with less following more than a decade of reduced funding, increased costs, inflation, interest rate rises, and more residents needing our support. So we’re having to rethink the way we do things and we’ve launched a new consultation. We urge you to have your say and complete the questionnaire or collect a paper copy from your local library. Thank you for your continued support! https://orlo.uk/34VQP
  • York – Our amazing year: ‘We had more footfall than Railway Museum and York Minster’ – York Press. “As  2024 draws to a close, we’re celebrating a decade of Explore Libraries, Archives, and Reading Cafés – ten years of transforming York’s public spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity, community connection, reading and learning.”
    • Library Services public engagement survey – York Council. “We’re calling residents, workers, and students in York to participate in an early engagement exercise to help shape the future of the city’s library services. This exercise launches on Friday 6 December 2024 and will remain open for 9 weeks.”

A Spellow Of Good News

Editorial

It was lovely to see the reporting of Spellow Lane Library’s reopening this week. I remember the awful riots and how shocking it was to see a library being set alight. I also remember seeing the huge and generous public response to the arson, with huge donations being made. My tweet on the subject got 105,000 views, showing how close to the heart a stab at public libraries are. Since then, the funds raised and the rebuilding work has been wonderful to see, with there being national publicity for the reopening. I suspect many more than the 130 libraries reported nationally were lit up on the night in celebration.

Continuing the positivity, it’s lovely to see three big refurbishments and two new libraries opening, in addition to that in Liverpool. On the downside, Peterborough have failed to get into the Christmas spirit, with an announcement that up to seven out of its ten libraries could close and heaven knows what is happening in Merthyr Tydfil, which has reported it has lost a third of its opening hours and a third of its staff this year.

Please send any comments, views, remarks, news or chocolate assortments to ianlibrarian at live dot co dot uk. Thank you.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Cheshire and Warrington devolution deal could be sealed by 2026 – Cheshire Live. Services in Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington could combine again.
  • Coming to the end of 2024 – Community Libraries Network. “we hosted vibrant mini-conferences in London, Swindon, and Sheffield bringing together library volunteers, staff, and supporters to share ideas, celebrate successes, and explore new ways to serve our communities …”. Newsletter celebrating the work of library volunteers.
  • Leading library and digital inclusion charities forge new partnership – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected, the membership body for public libraries, and Good Things Foundation, the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, have announced a new agreement that will see them work together more closely on fixing the digital divide. The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at leveraging “each other’s strength, voice, unique positioning, expertise, and reach to jointly explore and advance solutions to exclusion in a digital and AI age”. The agreement commits both charities to working collaboratively on projects identified by library leaders and digital inclusion experts.”
  • Libraries face closure as councils grapple with budget challenges – Herald. Behind paywall.

“The First Minister will have received the many emails that have been sent to Mid Scotland and Fife MSPs and constituency MSPs in the region from Perthshire residents who are complaining bitterly about the threatened closure of five public libraries, in Scone, Birnam, Alyth, Comrie and Auchterarder. I hope that he will also recall his appearance before the Public Petitions Committee in 2017, when he gave a firm commitment to support library access for our young people. In a week in which new statistics show that two in five Scottish pupils require extra help with their learning, and when members of the public across Perth and Kinross are furious about the impending closures, given that their council tax is being hiked by 10 per cent, what does the First Minister believe should happen to keep those essential services open?” Elizabeth Smith MSP, Scottish Parliament.

  • Public Libraries and Their Rivals – Voluntary Libraries of Victorian Britain. “Public libraries developed slowly after the passing of the Public Libraries Act of 1850, which was not mandatory. Opposition largely came from those who objected to paying higher taxes and from publicans and brewers who feared that their trade would be affected by their customers spending leisure time in libraries. The result was that substitutes for public libraries were set up in many places; some were free, and some charged a fee. Examples include religious libraries, mechanics’ institutes, mutual improvement and co-operative societies, hostels (e.g. the Young Men’s Christian Association), and clubs.”

“Designing Libraries are going to produce quarterly newsletters on all things library design, including Case Studies, tips on design layout, themed pieces, such as green libraries, children’s libraries and outdoor spaces etc. Also a wealth of information on Library Design resources. If you would like to sign up for this newsletter, please use this link. You will also be able to access the newsletter directly on the website  – designinglibraries.org.uk

Spellow

“A library is the repository of truth and those riots were started by lies. “There’s just something really medieval about burning a library. It’s an assault on knowledge and an assault on truth.”

Frank Cottrell Boyce

International news

  • Ireland – Library first to win Sanctuary award – Dublin Gazette. “Balbriggan Library was recognised for the consistent and innovative work that goes into making the library a champion for inclusion and welcome. ” First in Dublin to be awarded status.

Local news by authority

  • Aberdeenshire – Closing Aberdeenshire libraries will help the Council Budget, Tories warned – The National. Behind paywall.
  • Brent – Wembley Library reopens after £2 million makeover with more children’s spaces – My London. “A North London library has officially reopened after being temporarily closed as part of a £2m make-over of the council building. The changes include an expanded library collection, a children’s area, more quiet zones for study, as well as a new ‘Resident Hub’ to improve customer service for residents.”
  • Croydon – Council puts the ‘sham’ into ‘shambolic’ over 4 closed libraries – Inside Croydon. “Bradmore Green, in Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Shirley and Broad Green libraries all closed their doors last month, despite overwhelming public opposition, despite viable alternative plans, despite millions of pounds of developer levy funds unspent on the buildings’ upkeep, and despite some of the libraries being among the best-used in the borough. It was only after the closures that Croydon Council swung into action to try to find alternative uses for the buildings, with a poorly notified and very short-notice consultation period which, according to some reports, attracted barely any interest at all.” Article suggests council is not publicising or supporting volunteer takeovers so it can sell the buildings instead.
  • Edinburgh – Capital’s libraries launch Edinburgh 900 poetry competition – North Edinburgh News. “The competition celebrates the city’s rich history, culture, and community spirit and six winning entries will be featured on exclusive bookmarks distributed throughout the capital’s council-run libraries”
  • Essex – Costs of new library increases by more than £100k – BBC. Shenfield. “The council said “higher specification items” being used by contractor Essex Housing would “improve the value of the private residential units” above the new library. Once complete, the site will be home to a larger modern library, meeting room, new public garden, and outdoor learning space. The new development will also create flexible commercial space.”
  • Glasgow – Glasgow library to close for almost two years for major refurbishment – Glasgow Live. “Langside Library is to close on February 1 and will not reopen until late 2026 for works including interior and exterior renovations, and a new entrance on Battlefield Road.”
  • Gloucestershire – Pam Ayres opens refurbished Lechlade library at event – Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard. “Throughout December, each child that borrows a book from Lechlade Library will receive a free gift.”
  • Hampshire – Kingsclere Community Library receives £4,000 donation – Basingstoke Gazette. “Kingsclere Community Library, which has an annual budget of more than £10,000, is looking for core costs of £8,389. The Greenham Trust has donated £4,000 towards this amount and has offered to match £1 for each £1 donated for the next six months through The Good Exchange fundraising platform.”
  • Haringey – Council agrees to slash library opening hours – Haringey Community Press. “One of the key changes under the new option is both Hornsey and Marcus Garvey libraries being open on Sundays. Neither option one or two had all three of the main libraries open that day, with option two proposing all three were closed, and option one keeping just Wood Green open. “
  • Lancashire – Preston’s all new Savick Library is now open – Lancashire Council. “Based at the same location of the former Savick Library, which closed in 2020 before being demolished, the new library is being by run by Lancashire County Council’s library service to primarily serve the people of Ashton-on-Ribble. The new library features a vast collection of books, digital media, and educational resources, and is equipped with free WiFi, comfortable reading areas and a paid for printing service.”
  • Merthyr Tydfil – Update issued on future of public libraries in Welsh county – Wales Online. “during 2023/24, financial restrictions under the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust meant that cutbacks affected stock purchase and staffing levels, which in turn meant reductions in service hours.” … “From an already low baseline in 2022/2023 total staffing has decreased by almost one-third and Merthyr Tydfil therefore fails to meet targets for total staff per capita and qualified staff per capita. ” 30% reduction in opening times.
  • Milton Keynes – New lease of life for Milton Keynes Central Library – MK FM. “The £3.6M project will address essential infrastructure issues which include making the building watertight and operational for the long term. Key facilities will also be repositioned and expanded to better accommodate the needs of families, children and adult learners. Once complete, the renovations will: Relocate the children’s library to the ground floor, making it easier to access for families and carers; Reconfigure event spaces to create additional classrooms for adult education, meeting growing demand; Replace the Central Library roof; Restore the lift, improving access for residents with mobility challenges.”
  • Moray – Tories apologise over library closure confusion – BBC. “The Tories, who lead the council but do not have a majority, announced on Monday that the plans “won’t be taken forward” and the facilities “have been saved”. However, three hours later, an amended statement was sent out, stating that the closure proposals were still on the table but the Tory councillors will not support them. The SNP described the latest developments as “incredibly chaotic and deeply embarrassing”.”
  • Norfolk – Diss Library move for Norfolk County Council revamp gets pushed back – Diss Express. “Diss Library was set to move from Church Street into the Denny Centre, in Thomas Manning Road, on a 12-month basis, but this has now been pushed back.”
  • North East Lincolnshire – Protest over new chapter for libraries – BBC. “Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society will stage a protest later after raising concerns about the future of the building, which is in need of substantial refurbishment.” … “It comes after a reported 43% decline in the number of people visiting the area’s libraries between 2018 and 2024.” … “The council was awarded £4.2m in 2021 to refurbish the central library, including a potential Green Skills Hub. However, last month it said some of this money needed to be “reallocated”, external for a leisure project at Freshney Place shopping centre – with a decision due to be made at the council meeting.” but “£2m backlog of repairs” for library.
  • Northern Ireland – Brand-new Fivemiletown library opens in time for Christmas – Impartial Reporter. “, visitors will find a spacious ground floor featuring dedicated areas for adults and children, a computer study zone ideal for work or digital learning, and comfortable new furniture throughout.” … “The library is equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere and a Changing Places facility has been installed. “
  • Nottingham -City library opening delayed until summer 2025 – BBC. “Nottingham City Council revised the opening date for the new Sherwood Library in Spondon Street to the end of 2024 after work started to remedy 130 defects in the building. The defects included problems with a living wall, fire safety and a significant leak in the building’s atrium. However, on Friday, a spokesman for the authority told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the library service was now “working towards an opening date of summer 2025″.”
  • Nottinghamshire – New plan for organising Nottinghamshire library services has been approved – Worksop Guardian. No libraries to close, libraries to be split into three tiers. “All of my libraries closed, they all got moved into different buildings, they all had employees and now they’re all run by volunteers “
  • Oldham – Libraries to help Oldhamers stay warm this winter – Saddleworth Independent. “
  • Perth and Kinross – Perth and Kinross Council urged to hold fire on library cuts – Daily Record. “Campaigners hope “record” funding for local authorities next year and the 10 per cent council tax strategy voted through by Perth and Kinross councillors this week could keep libraries open”
  • Peterborough – Council publishes draft proposals to deliver balanced budget in 2025/26 – Peterborough Council. “Reduce the current libraries service from 10 static libraries to 3 static libraries, investing in a modernised Central Library and maintaining two additional core libraries (one in the north and one in the south), whilst supplementing this service with smaller self-service facilities in existing hubs (such as Family Hubs). This proposal is subject to separate statutory consultation” £314k per year cut.
    • Campaigner speechless over plans to shut libraries – BBC. “Jennie Storey, from the Friends of Woodston Library, said these were “crucial services” and called the decision “short-termism” … “”I was speechless. [The] council’s priority areas are for the elderly and children and we don’t understand why the council is not utilising these libraries to deliver these priorities. “Reducing them to three libraries – with the lowest literacy rates in the country – it does not add up.”
    • Library campaign group in ‘stalemate’ with council – BBC. “The Friends of Woodston Library group said the proposal that it be community-run for a year to test its future viability was “sprung” on them and that it does not have the funds to do this.”
    • Mothballing city lido among cost-cutting proposals – BBC. “A proposal to reduce the current libraries service from 10 static libraries to three would save £314,000 a year. The council said it would invest in a modernised Central Library and two additional libraries, with smaller self-service facilities in hubs across the city.”
  • Slough – Two libraries could close under council budget cuts – BBC. “Slough Borough Council announced on Friday it could close Cippenham and Langley libraries in Slough, Berkshire, next year.” … “It now says closing Cippenham Library, on Elmshott Lane, and Langley Library, on Trelawney Avenue, will allow it to “improve” services elsewhere. Britwell Library could be staffed rather than operating as self-service, it said, and the budget for new books would be shared between two instead of four libraries.”
  • Suffolk – Beyond the Bassline exhibition now touring Suffolk’s libraries – Suffolk Libraries.
    • New Compassionate Communities bereavement bookcases for libraries – Suffolk Libraries. “specialist bereavement book collections launched at Woodbridge and Aldeburgh libraries. Compassionate Communities is run in partnership with St Elizabeth Hospice with the aim of sharing books, information and support to help people of all ages understand and manage grief.”
  • Wiltshire – Wiltshire Council unveils its library strategy – Salisbury Radio. “The Wiltshire Council Library Strategy 2025-2030 was agreed at the council’s latest Cabinet meeting, which took place on 10 December.” … “A high proportion of older people use library services and therefore demand is predicted to increase in the coming years”

A Challenge for Summer Reading

Editorial

It may seem to be a strange time to talk about the Summer but, as a small but select bunch of library staff know, the brochure for Reading Agency Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) materials arrived last week. It’s a big moment. One gets to look through to see the theme (embargoed so no news of that here) and what’s on offer.

The SRC is by far the biggest promotion for most library services offer and is the only real national library promotion that the average man on the street – if they’ve been a parent or a child in the last 25 years – will know about. Medals and certificates are handed out in their hundreds of thousands and the Challenge is the key thing in libraries during August, which is the busiest month in the library year.

But it’s not all wonderfulness. The last few years has seen first one then several then a significant number of library services cease purchasing the Reading Agency material. This, due to never-ceasing demands on the budget, is often due to the cost but also due to the materials themselves. The SRC, you see, has remained largely the same since it started 25 years ago. One still has a pack that one has puts stickers in after reading books/visiting the library and one still receives a certificate and medal for “completing” after, normally, reading six books. This was revolutionary back in the heady days of 1999 but not so much now. Some librarians get bored with doing the same thing year after year, even if the kids (who, after all, change every few years) don’t. And it’s increasingly obvious that the SRC is losing its appeal for older primary school children, who have so many more options available to them than they did in the pre-digital turn of the century.

The challenge for the Reading Agency is how to respond to this. They’re not a huge organisation and they don’t have much of a budget. And it’s hard to see what would appeal to older primary school children, at least in the price range feasible for local library services. To their credit, though, they are noticeably being more involved in getting feedback from libraries – who are, basically, their customers – and have responded to some of the suggestion in the materials for 2025.

But is it too little and too late? Is there anything actually else that they could do? It’s certainly easier to criticise from the outside than to actually create the resources and some of the materials I see from library services producing their own SRC are decidedly below par. although others are good. So I hope that this is the start of a turnaround for the SRC. Because it’s still the best public promotional campaign libraries have.

I just wish it was a more exciting theme.

Please send any comments, views, remarks, news or chocolate assortments to ianlibrarian at co dot uk. Thank you.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Basic library cleaning – Library Data Blog. “Download the basic libraries dataset – enhanced “
  • Big Tasty Read: Book Recommendations – Reading Agency. “Big Tasty Read: Feast on a great read! The Reading Agency and BBC Arts are looking for suggestions of adult books with food as a key theme for a new campaign, The Big Tasty Read in 2025. Find out more and submit your suggestions by 11 December. Librarians can also support the selection of the books by volunteering to read and review the submitted titles. Apply by 11 December. “
  • Creating Safer Libraries – Guidance Note – Libraries Connected. “Creating Safer Libraries, originally published in October 2023, offers clear, concise guidance on preventing, managing, and responding to disruptive and anti-social behaviour in public libraries. The 2024 updates include information about external communications and social media as well as additional links to guidance and useful organisations.”
  • Engagement with UK public libraries is on the rise – SW Londoner. “The DCMS’ Annual Participation Survey showed a 6% rise in physical visits to public and mobile libraries, increasing from 19% in 2022-2023 to 25% in 2023-2024.”
  • Librarians in plea over ‘never before seen cuts’ – BBC. “The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS) has written to Finance Secretary Shona Robison warning of cuts at a level “never seen before”. A number of cash-strapped local authorities have proposed permanent closures, staff cuts and reduction in opening hours. Libraries earmarked for closure include 13 in Aberdeenshire, seven in Moray and five in Perth and Kinross. Councils say fewer people are using libraries and they are accessing books and information in new ways. However, six facilities were saved in North Lanarkshire in October, after the council reversed an earlier decision to close them.”
  • Library guide to Bluesky – Ned Potter. “Bluesky has reached a critical mass, with enough users leaving Twitter and joining the platform for it be considered a legitimate X-replacement. This shift makes it worth considering setting up an account for your institution.”
  • Scotland’s Libraries at Risk – CILIPS. “CILIPS have written to the Scottish Government to ask for urgent financial support for our public and school libraries following a series of severe cuts proposed by local authorities. These proposals include the closure of over 60% of branches in some areas. In addition to this, our school libraries have seen continued loss of staffing and resources as well as significant deprofessionalisation. We believe this is unsustainable.”
  • A warm welcome in South London’s libraries and leisure centres this winter – London Daily News. Lists Warm Libraries offers in Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lewisham, Merton and Wandsworth.

International news

Local news by authority

It’s Christmas time

Editorial

It’s been Christmas Festival weekend in my non-library life, which means I have been a certain bearded character in a grotto for much of yesterday, a reindeer herder (not real reindeer – my daughter and her friends in full costume) in the evening and clearing the grotto out all day today. And yesterday was fantastic and lovely but I’m a bit tired so the library world can live without an editorial this week.

Please send in any news, comments or corrections to ianlibrarian at live.co.uk. Thank you.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Britain’s high street ‘as we know it’ is dead – ‘people only want two things’ – Daily Star. ” Cafes, restaurants and charity shops – which can avail of cheaper rates – are usually the only new businesses taking up new leases.” … “Public authorities are also tentatively moving public-facing services (such as surgeries and libraries) on to high streets. This can both improve access to those civic functions and increase footfall to sustain local businesses.”” … ““Retail will always be important, but people want to see a variety of businesses and other services such as NHS diagnostic centres and libraries on their high street. “
  • Charities join forces to ‘poverty proof’ libraries – Libraries Connected. “Funded by a grant of £49,770 from Arts Council England, Children North East will carry out a full Poverty Proofing© audit of libraries in three English local authorities. ” Starting in Gateshead.
  • Children told refugees ‘enrich our country’ and drive ‘growth’ in Usborne book – Telegraph. “Publication stocked by local council libraries and sent to schools is described as ‘indoctrination’” Registration wall.
  • Libraries: Cornerstones of Our Communities we need – This is Local London. “With the loss of libraries, we will lose a great opportunity to connect with those who may live right next door. “
  • Will we still need our libraries in ten years time? – This is Local London / Young Reporter. “Libraries can only be described as absolute treasures in a world where technology is slowly taking over. I talked to Ann, a librarian at Osterley Library, in order to open a window into how the growing influence of technology is slowly invading its way into these precious spaces.” … ““If we could, with funding, make libraries more accessible to all age groups, perhaps we could be more equipped to protect them” … “The future of these priceless spaces are in our hands”
  • Yorkshire and Humber libraries reflect on a year of success – Libraries Connected. 10 million visits and 12 million physical/digital issues, various projects funded 2023-4.

International news

Local news by authority

  • Aberdeen – Aberdeen City Libraries is among 13 services in Scotland to receive funding from the 2024/25 Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF) – Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. “Innovation Station, will see the development of an exciting technology hub within Central Library by providing opportunities for communities to access emerging technologies.” … “This project aims to be youth-led, with young people involved in the planning, development and delivery of the project alongside Library Teams. Young people will become advocates of and for the project across the city’s libraries.”
  • Aberdeenshire – Politics: Under threat libraries are vital community hubs – Grampian Online. “Aberdeenshire Council has announced it will be closing 13 libraries across the area – with five in the Aberdeenshire East constituency being impacted, writes MSP Gillian Martin. This news has come as a shock to many people including councillors who were not all informed of the decision, until the plans became public last week.” … “I have written to Aberdeenshire Council and to both Audit Scotland and the Scottish Government to ask how this decision could have been made without more scrutiny and a full and proper consultation process.”
  • Angus – Angus libraries win funding for new sensory facilities – Angus World. £17k. ” implementation of a suite of sensory packs across all seve [sic], Angus libraries, as well as two mobile libraries and via the Home Library Service.”
  • Bolton – Harwood Library to undergo huge investment to benefit all – Bolton News. “Harwood Library is to benefit from ward funding to undergo an upgrade and have specialist equipment installed to ensure more can use the services it offers.” … “Among the new equipment is a Lego tech machine set, rainbow sensory bricks, antimicrobial bean bags, a teepee and a clear acrylic notice board.”
  • Bridgend – Awen Libraries’ performance assessed by Welsh Government – Awen. “Welsh Government’s annual assessment (2023-24) of the library service in Bridgend County Borough has recognised its “impressive range of activities”, “support for people with a wide range of needs and interests, in particular those with additional learning needs” and “strong focus on children’s provision”.”
  • Bromley – Chislehurst Library closes until summer 2025 for refurbishment – News Shopper. “The library is set to close for several months due to ongoing refurbishment works and will not open until summer of next year, although no current reopening date has yet been confirmed. The space is set to receive an upgrade including an expansion to the children’s library and installation of a new public toilet and baby changing facilities, accessible entrance and windows.”
  • Camden – Much-cherished Highgate Library has reopened following £1.88m investment – Camden Council. “The library required extensive works with many of its services and infrastructure in need of replacement, which as well as making visiting less enjoyable, also led to high levels of heat loss from the building.”
  • Cheshire East – Future of Bollington library is made as councillors approve libraries strategy – Macclesfield Nub News. “Alderley Edge’s richest residents should consider putting their hands in their pockets to help fund Cheshire East’s libraries, a councillor said.” … “various town and parish councils have stepped in to help, and ‘top-up’ funding has provisionally been agreed for Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley, Handforth, Macclesfield and Poynton libraries.” … “Talks are ongoing with Knutsford Town Council. Crewe and Nantwich already top up theirs.” … “Alderley Edge Parish Council reduced their precept last year by 6.5 per cent – one of the richest villages in the country ”
    • Libraries face new “tier” system amid more Cheshire East cost-cutting – Nantwich News. “Nantwich along with Crewe, Congleton, Macclesfield, and Wilmslow will be in tier one. Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Middlewich, Poynton and Sandbach will be in tier two with Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley and Handforth in tier three. It is tier three – known as community libraries – which have taken the biggest hit as Cheshire East plans to fund these for just 1.5 days a week.”
  • Cornwall – Storytime sessions encouraging children to read – BBC. “Libraries in Cornwall are hosting storytelling sessions for children as a literacy charity said it had recorded its lowest ever number of young people that choose to read for pleasure. The National Literacy Trust survey found only one-in-three children in the UK said they enjoyed reading for pleasure, external said it was the lowest level of reading recorded in the past 20 years.”
  • Gloucestershire – Residents urged to have say on plans to access library services out of hours – Gloucestershire News Centre. “The technology, called Open Access, is being introduced to the libraries at Churchdown, Fairford, Prestbury, Quedgeley, and Tetbury in the coming year, enabling registered customers to use library services outside of ordinary staffed hours. It is already used at Bishops Cleeve and Oakley libraries so this would see the service extended to cover more areas.”
  • Haringey – Hundreds sign petition to retain opening hours at Alexandra Park Library – Haringey Community Press. “Richard Loren, a supporter of the petition, added that reducing the hours after the building had been recently refurbished made “no sense”. A new lift, accessible toilets, as well as improved facilities including a new children’s library were installed at the library last year. “
  • Kirklees – Dewsbury library plans take next step as new location confirmed – Examiner Live. “The library will be shifted from its current spot on Railway Street to the Walsh Building next to Dewsbury Town Hall where it will be co-located with the town’s customer service centre.”
  • Lincolnshire – Golden moment for volunteer behind sensory room – BBC. “Ms Burley, who has learning difficulties, helped develop the calming and colourful space at Cleethorpes library for neurodiverse children and adults.”
  • Merton – Discovering Libraries in Merton – This is Local London.
  • Midlothian – Midlothian libraries awarded funding for digital inclusion project – Midlothian View. £15k. “Digital Learning Stations will be installed in each library, equipped with tablets, notebooks, or laptops pre-loaded with interactive tutorials and courses on essential digital skills such as basic computer use and internet safety.”
  • Moray / Aberdeenshire – Moray and Banffshire public fight to save libraries – Northern Scot. ““I think the council have been a bit taken back about how strong the reaction has been. “If we were ever complacent about our library we’re certainly not now.” Ironically, the Keith protestors have been told by Moray Council they are no longer allowed to meet inside the library in case they disturb other users.” … “A thousand people – a quarter of Macduff’s population – have already signed an online petition in support of that library.”
  • Norfolk -Norfolk libraries celebrate National Tree Week with events – Eastern Daily Press. Registration-wall.
  • North East Lincolnshire – Results of first stage of Public Library and Archive Service review to go before councillors – North East Lincolnshire Council. “A large percentage of library users who responded said they would welcome gallery and exhibition space within libraries, and would also welcome libraries in shopping centres and  leisure centres. Respondents said they would like longer weekday and weekend opening hours, better public toilet facilities and more social spaces, reflecting a change in how people are using the libraries overall.”
  • North Northamptonshire – Statement of Reassurance for Raunds Library Customers – North Northamptonshire Council. “Currently the library is run as a three-way partnership arrangement between North Northamptonshire Council, CTT [Creating Tomorrow Trust] and RCLT [Raunds Community Library Trust]. As there are ongoing discussions between all three parties about future arrangements, North Northamptonshire Council is disappointed that RCLT have put out this statement on social media. It is not in the interests of effective partnership working for one partner to make statements about another without prior agreement. The content of it is misleading, and as such, North Northamptonshire Council has formally requested that RCLT take the post down.”
  • North Somerset – Public Document Pack – North Somerset Council. “£433,000 for the libraries budget, starting 2026-27 and staggered over 2 years.” page 44 PD08. Proposed £433k cut over 2 years due to “explore new delivery model reducing the number of library sites and exploring outreach and mobile delivery”.
  • Nottingham – Nottingham residents fight back against plans to close local libraries – West Bridgford Wire. “The results of the consultation indicate overwhelming opposition to the proposed changes. Many respondents highlighted the crucial role of libraries as community hubs, particularly for children, older adults, and people with disabilities. In areas with limited public amenities, the libraries provide warm, safe spaces and access to essential services like books, digital resources, and social activities. Concerns were also raised over the potential impact of reduced opening hours, with many fearing that cutting availability would lead to a decline in library use, creating a negative cycle that could justify further cuts in the future.”
    • Number of visitors who visited long-awaited £10.5m Nottingham library in first year revealed – Nottinghamshire Live. “Nearly 293,000 visitors have stepped through the doors of Nottingham’s Central Library in its first year, Nottingham City Council has revealed.” … “The new building hosts a stunning children’s library with an immersive storytelling room that helps bring books to life. It has been so lovely seeing families enjoy these areas and popping outside to use the new play area.”
  • Nottinghamshire – Nottinghamshire County Council ‘crystal clear’ it will not close county libraries as new 10-year plan considered – Newark Advertiser. “Nottinghamshire County Council says it is “crystal clear” it will not close libraries or cut services as a new 10-year plan is considered. As part of mapping out how it will run libraries over the next decade, the authority plans to designate 12 key sites as ‘hub libraries’ that offer a wide-range of activities and services six days a week.”
  • Orkney – Library forecourt to be transformed – Orkney Islands Council. £11k “to create an interactive Orcadian trail of native flora in the library forecourt.” … “five raised, wheelchair accessible planters being made for the native plants. Sensory panels, sound chimes and a wooden finger maze will also be installed.”
  • Perth and Kinross – Job losses unavoidable as Culture Perth and Kinross implements cuts to its library and museum services – Daily Record. “Every library in Perth and Kinross will be hit by cuts and job losses will be unavoidable as Culture Perth and Kinross seeks to reduce its budget by 12 per cent over the next three years.” Libraries not at risk of closure look set to have their opening hours reduced from next April.”
  • Peterborough – Council to debate community library under threat – BBC. “Woodston Library in Peterborough is one of several community buildings the city council has considered selling to plug a black hole in its finances. Some 764 people signed a petition to keep the facility open and to “develop the library as a real community hub”.” Eye Youth Centre and Library, Dogsthorpe Community Centre, Stanground Library and Woodston are “under consideration for sale”.
Peterborough – Woodston Library “our  community’s petition will finally be debated at Peterborough City Council’s Full Council meeting on Wednesday.  Where we will have five minutes to speak. We will meet at the steps at the rear of the Town Hall at 5.30pm, ahead of the meeting start time of 6pm.”

Success, celebrations and opportunities

Editorial

Some interesting stuff from the communication departments of various councils this week:

  • Aberdeenshire announced library closures as a fait accompli with no apparent consultation with local politicians.
  • Ealing have announced that “building on the success” of their previous volunteer libraries staying open, the best things is for six more to be volunteer-staffed.
  • East Lothian announce “temporary” opening hour cuts over the Winter.
  • Nottinghamshire confused the public with how they described cuts to their service.
  • Sheffield celebrated a decade of volunteer libraries.
  • Stoke on Trent announced increases to opening hours and services (after cutting them earlier this year) but only if volunteers can do it.

The danger with putting the most shiny interpretation on things is that it may mislead the public or be seen as patronising. It also shows, presumably unintentionally, how little value is attached to paid library workers. The frequency such press releases result in angry responses and, in some cases, the need for apologies, is notable.

What could be done instead is researching what to do fully then giving the news in a clear factual way, with evidence and no bias.

Um, hang on. That’s exactly the sort of thing a librarian would do …

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Aberdeenshire and Moray library cuts plan ‘another nail in coffin’ for communities – Press and Journal. “Authors, including Shetland writer Ann Cleeves and Bookseller of Inverness author Shona MacLean, told the Press and Journal why they love libraries and why they are so vital”. Aberdeenshire local councils “kept completely in the dark about the cost-cutting measures which could see 13 facilities close within weeks ” … “In Cruden Bay, more than 200 people have already signed a petition calling for a rethink” … “for best-selling author Neil Lancaster, libraries are not only about books, but are community lighthouses, enhancing the towns and villages where they are based.”

 “Without libraries, I wouldn’t be a writer. There would be no Vera or Shetland on our screens, selling all over the world and bringing money and tourists into our country. More importantly, I probably wouldn’t be a reader.”

Ann Cleeves

“Great hour on @BBCRadioScot this morning about the value of libraries. So many members of the public and campaigners articulated it brilliantly, and CILIPS were happy to contribute too. Go back to the start of this and enjoy an hour of library support”

Sean McNamara, Twitter.
  • How the Reading Landscape is Changing – Reading Agency. “By embracing digital development, and evolving reading habits, we can unlock new creative possibilities and inspire more people to read, write, and engage with stories and information. We’re in exciting times as the future of reading unfolds before us. Ask a child if they enjoy reading for pleasure and they may say no. Ask them if they enjoy gaming and they are likely to say yes. Bridging the two can offer new possibilities.”
  • Inclusive Public Libraries: How to Adequately Identify Accessibility Barriers? – Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. “there is a need for library specific guidelines addressing the organization and presentation of the collection, signage, and to understand what users need to be self sufficient in the library when it is open outside opening hours and no staff is present.”
  • I would have been stranded on my walk without Scotland’s libraries – their closure is devastating – Scotsman. Lists several occasions when she has worked in a library and seen how valuable they are – with children, bullying, loneliness, community. “I could go on with stories like this that show how libraries in towns and villages around Scotland don’t just provide books. They are a lifeline for communities.”
  • Only posh people will be writing books if you close down libraries, warns romance novelist Colgan – Daily Mail. Jenny Colgan “pointed out some of the country’s leading writers, including herself alongside Val McDermid and Sir Ian Rankin had been ‘library kids’ growing up.” … ” ‘I would say “no libraries, no authors”, because that’s where it starts.”
  • Reading `picnics’ and campfire projects win library funding – Scottish Government. “As Book Week Scotland opens, it has been announced that 17 projects will benefit from the 2024-25 funding round through the School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF). Among these, the S’More Reading For Mental Health initiative which operates at Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Mintlaw Academies in Aberdeenshire will benefit. It uses campfire-themed kits with tents, replica campfires, and nature toys to create a calming atmosphere for storytelling sessions and has been awarded £12,260. The Craigie Book Blether at Edinburgh’s Craigentinny Primary gets £3,200 to help foster a reading community …”
  • World Book Night – World Book Night. Bids accepted for free Quick Reads books.

International news

  • Canada / USA – Urban Libraries Council Survey Shows Positive Trends, Challenges for Libraries – Publishers Weekly. “The survey captured a range of trends in patron engagement from 115 ULC member libraries, “representing nearly 2,300 locations and serving over 87.5 million people” for 2023.” … 24% average increase in visits in 2023, 11% increase in the average number of digital resources accessed, a slight increase (3%) in FTE staffing levels in 2023. But in-person visits still a third down on pre-Covid, two-thirds down in computer usage.
  • Denmark/Norway – The public library “for all”? A typology of the ranging notions of “for all” in public libraries in Norway and Denmark – Journal of Documentation. “The analysis shows that although for all is used as an argument by both advocates and opponents of the principle of neutrality, there are different notions of who constitutes for all. In total, five ranging notions of for all are identified …”
  • Europe – If Librarians Ran Europe – Europe Challenge. “The Webinar Series showcases the work of libraries and communities participating in The Europe Challenge, offering a dynamic online Marketplace of library initiatives, ideas, and inspiration.”
  • Japan – Japan libraries to trial book sales amid decline in bookstores – Kyodo News. “Some public libraries in Japan will trial sales of new books from fiscal 2025 to fill the void caused by a nationwide decline in the number of physical bookstores, industry officials said. The program is aimed at increasing opportunities for people to buy books, particularly the elderly who may be unfamiliar with the process of using online shopping sites.” … “The trial will be funded by the two companies which are currently selecting candidate libraries. They expect to expand the system if demand for book sales is strong”
  • USA – Confronting Shiny Object Syndrome in Libraries – Katina. “Every few years a new shiny object takes over calls for proposals, grant application themes, and social media commentary. Some last longer than others, while some quickly fade from memory.”
  • Vatican City – Pope to librarians: May your libraries be oases of encounter – Herald Malaysia. “Addressing participants in a Vatican Apostolic Library conference, Pope Francis emphasised the role of libraries as guardians of cultural heritage, urging librarians to foster peace, openness, and human connection in addressing global challenges like inequality, conflict, and ‘cancel culture’.”

Local news by authority

  • Aberdeenshire – Aberdeenshire residents launch fight to save ‘irreplaceable’ libraries amid closure plans – Aberdeen Live. “The council blamed low footfall and unsuitable buildings for the drastic decision. However, the unexpected announcement has caused uproar. Hundreds of residents affected by the shock closures have been quick to take action to reverse the move. A number of online petitions have been created for individual libraries, while another has been set up on behalf of all 13 venues. It comes after Aberdeen City Council created fury by permanently closing six libraries through brutal budget cuts last year.”
    • Council ‘regrets’ handling of library closure news – BBC. “Live Life Aberdeenshire, which delivers services for the council, said on Friday the sites would close by the end of the year due to reducing usage. It said 18 libraries in “main towns” would remain open. However there was a community backlash about a lack of consultation. BBC Scotland News has learned a final decision will be taken by councillors before the end of the financial year, so some buildings may remain open into 2025.”
    • Cruden Bay residents back petition to save library from closure – Press and Journal. “Leader of the opposition, SNP councillor Gwyneth Petrie, said: “Despite being told, time and again, that local voices and place planning matters, we are hit with yet another raft of closure announcements without any community consultation, and without even our local members in those areas being informed of the decision.”
  • Cambridgeshire – Singing librarian says online reaction ‘crazy’ – BBC. Closing time announcements are sung by music student. “”Some days people will clap… other days it’s just crickets and complete silence.””
  • Cheshire East – Updated strategy for Cheshire East’s libraries to be considered – Cheshire East Council. “Following significant engagement with town and parish councils, ‘top-up’ funding has provisionally been agreed for Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley, Handforth, Macclesfield and Poynton libraries. When combined with existing town council support for Crewe and Nantwich libraries, this equates to local council investment in library services of more than £166,000, which delivers 41.5 library opening hours each week. Subject to committee approval, the Libraries Strategy 2024-28 will go live from 1 January 2025.”
  • Cheshire West and Chester – Date set for Cheshire town library’s roof replacement works – Cheshire Live. “The library will remain open as normal during the works with disruption being ‘kept to a minimum wherever possible’, the council says.”
  • Ealing – More community-run libraries proposed – Ealing Council. “Building on the success of the 4 libraries in Northfields, West Ealing, Perivale and Hanwell, which have been managed by community groups since 2020, the council believes that the following libraries should also be community-managed: Jubilee Gardens, Southall; Northolt Leisure Centre, Northolt; Greenford Library; Wood End (currently under construction in Greenford)” [Really impressive Double-speak from Ealing here, making removing paid staffing sound like an opportunity – Ed.]
  • East Lothian – Five East Lothian libraries have their hours slashed – East Lothian Courier. “In September, East Lothian Council announced that Dunbar, East Linton, Gullane, Haddington, Musselburgh, Ormiston, Port Seton and Wallyford residents would lose opening hours at their libraries due to a “recruitment freeze” and the need for “financial savings”.  Now, the local authority has announced that the East Linton, Gullane, Ormiston and Port Seton libraries, as well as the library in Longniddry, face a further reduction in opening times, with “temporary winter opening hours” being applied from Monday until February 28.”
  • Edinburgh – Have your say on plans for Edinburgh libraries – North Edinburgh News. “Your feedback will inform our plans for the next five years.”
  • Gateshead – Gateshead Libraries receive fantastic response to customer survey – Gateshead Council. “Our Gateshead Libraries team recently ran their annual customer survey. It’s something they do every year to hear feedback from those who use our libraries on what they love about our spaces, and importantly, what could make them even better. It’s open to everyone no matter how regularly they come through our library doors and for whatever purpose. This year, the team were delighted to get responses from 1,092 residents – 166 more than last year. “
  • Glasgow – Glasgow protest at ‘high risk’ Cardonald Library after RAAC closure – Glasgow Live. “The library, along with two other buildings, was closed by Glasgow Life in September following the discovery of dangerous RAAC concrete – protesters are demanding the library be re-opened.”
  • Hammersmith and Fulham – Hammersmith Library closing for three weeks – Hammersmith and Fulham Council. “Hammersmith Library will be closing for three weeks from Monday 25 November while essential maintenance works take place.”
  • Hampshire – Two parties show interest in the former Horndean Library – Petersfield Post. Library was closed in 2021.
  • Lambeth – ‘LiBARary’ launches in Brixton to meet UK demand for books in bars – Lambeth Council. “Brixton Brewery will be home to a pop-up mini library in the taproom – not just to give people a space to read while they meet and drink, but hosting book clubs and events featuring some of the city’s best literary talent. The LiBARary will include books for visitors to tuck into with a drink, anytime, courtesy of Book Stop Brixton- with anyone donating a book to the LiBARary eligible for a free pint.”
  • Liverpool – ‘Hate will never win’ as library torched by rioters to reopen – Echo. Spellow Library. “the city council has now confirmed the hub will reopen on Thursday, December 12. To mark the occasion, the local authority is calling on councils around the country to join Liverpool in solidarity on the day.” see also From fire to light – a spotlight on unity marks re-opening of arson-hit library – Liverpool Council. “Any organisation which wants to get involved in the lighting up moment can email cultureliverpool@liverpool.gov.uk and they are encouraged to share their photos on social media using #SharetheLight #Spellow #Libraries.”

“Cllr Liam Robinson is writing to councils, asking them to light up one of their libraries on Wednesday December 11 in a show of solidarity, hope and joy. By having a light, or a lantern in a window, or illuminating the outside of a building, this will shine a light on libraries as places of sanctuary, knowledge and community.”

Liverpool Echo
  • Monmouthshire – Sponsor a Book initiative launches at Monmouthshire libraries – Monmouthshire Council. “Residents can now sponsor books at Monmouthshire libraries through our partnership with Friends of Caldicot Library. The new scheme allows locals to contribute directly to their library by sponsoring new titles, ensuring the shelves remain vibrant and well-stocked for all community members.”
  • Moray – Resurrected Moray library campaign group prepares for another battle – Press and Journal. “Moray Save our Libraries helped save three sites from closure when it was formed in 2013.” … “In 2013, Rothes, Portnockie, Findochty, and Hopeman libraries were all closed despite strong opposition from the Moray Save Our Libraries group. However, the campaign succeeded in saving three libraries in Cullen, Dufftown, and Burghead. Now, more than ten years later, the group reconvened at Elgin Library on Monday evening to prepare for another battle – this time, to protect those same three libraries, along with others in danger of closure.”
  • Norfolk – New poetry project launches across Norfolk libraries to celebrate Norfolk as a county of welcome – Norfolk Council. “Service has teamed up with Creative Arts East on a multi-lingual Words of Welcome Poetry Exchange, launching this month in all 47 libraries across the county. The project aims to celebrate Norfolk’s cultural diversity and showcase it as a place of welcome, by inviting library visitors to read specially commissioned poems on the themes of welcome and sanctuary, and respond with their own ‘words of welcome’. ”
  • Nottinghamshire – ‘Confusion’ over plans for county libraries – BBC. “It included reclassifying sites as either a “hub library”, “community library”, or “library access point”, depending on the size. Council documents, however, say feedback indicated the new names have caused confusion, and they now plan to reinstate a numbered system, with libraries placed in tiers 1 to 3.”. Strategy document described by local author as “fairly vague and confusing” and “There’s a curious omission of any mention of paid staff running libraries”
  • Perth and Kinross – Protesters gathered outside Scone Library campaigning to save it from closure – Daily Record. “Over 200 protesters gathered outside Scone Library on Saturday, November 9 eager to save it from potential closure.”
  • Sheffield – Sheffield celebrates 10 years of volunteer-led libraries – Yorkshire Bylines. “Library volunteers from all over Sheffield gathered together to celebrate and reflect on a decade of hard work in their community” … “Sheffield’s libraries are no longer just places to read and borrow books – they have become vital hubs for the community, offering services to everyone from babies to the elderly. These libraries now provide facilities for schools and young people, low-cost groceries for families in need, fitness classes, and table tennis.”
  • Slough – Slough Borough Council threatens library service cuts – Slough Observer. “A first public draft of the council’s next spending plan includes what it calls a £60,000 ‘service reduction’ to libraries in its children’s services budget. Slough Borough Council told the Observer that councillors will discuss ‘potential options’ for library services at a meeting next month – but didn’t say what those possible changes might be.”
  • Staffordshire – People asked for views on town library refurbishment – Staffordshire Council. “People in Leek are being asked for their views on how their town library could look after a refurbishment at three information drop-in sessions.” … “Staffordshire libraries service has carried out successful refurbishment projects across the county, most recently Burton and also Newcastle, Stafford, Lichfield, Tamworth and Codsall.”
  • Stirling – Drymen’s ex-library set for new lease of life as hotel accommodation – Daily Record. “The neighbouring Winnock Hotel has submitted an application to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners for a change of use of the premises at 12 The Square from Class 10 (public library) to Class 7 (hotel).”
  • Stoke on Trent – Call for volunteers to help boost library hours – BBC. “The city council said it wanted to increase opening hours at all six of its public libraries and deliver additional services. The libraries already offer services such as book loans, IT facilities, digital support sessions and activities for children, families and adults. Under the proposals, a book delivery service for people who struggle to leave their homes would be expanded, and new services such as befriending would be introduced, the council said.”
  • Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries Christmas toy appeal relaunches to help struggling families – East Anglian Daily Times. “The Be Kind to a Kid appeal aims to make Christmas special for Suffolk families by distributing donated new toys to children in need. Last year, the initiative received 2,500 toy donations, which were distributed to more than 20 charities and organisations working with struggling families and children. Suffolk Libraries is partnering with BBC Radio Suffolk as part of its Warm Welcome cost-of-living support campaign.”
  • Warwickshire – Children’s book by Warwickshire Libraries staff member achieves national recognition – Warwickshire Council. “Warwickshire County Council is delighted to share that a children’s book edited by Dr Anjna Chouhan, National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) Creative Producer at Warwickshire Libraries, has achieved national recognition. The children’s book, Shakespeare’s First Folio: All The Plays, has been shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year, which is due to be announced on 28 November, and highlighted as one of the best children’s books of 2024 by the Telegraph as an engaging introduction to Shakespeare’s works.”
  • Wirral – Final Christopher Salmon Poetry Competition announced – Birkenhead News. “Organisers have announced the launch of the 15th and sadly what will be the final Christopher Salmon Poetry Competition. “
  • Wokingham – Libraries break new ground – Wokingham Today. “Wokingham Borough’s libraries have become the first group of libraries in the country to sign up for a scheme that gives families confidence about breastfeeding. Wokingham Borough Council has continued its partnership with the Breastfeeding Network to establish its libraries as breastfeeding friendly venues.”
  • Wolverhampton – Library restoration scheme under way in city – BBC. “Work has begun to improve Wolverhampton’s Central Library and adult education facilities as part of a £61m City Learning Quarter development.” … “The library is having its Grade II* listed facade restored, a new roof, remodelling, a new lobby and landscaping. The adult education base, the Alan Garner Centre, will also have internal remodelling and a link building connecting it to the library’s 1930s extension.”
  • Worcestershire – All libraries in Worcestershire to offer free warm spaces this winter – Worcester News.
  • Wrexham – Libraries are an integral part of our communities – Leader Live. MP for Wrexham says how important libraries are and how people can be involved with the consultation on cuts to them.

31 libraries, 1 mobile and others under threat in seven services announced in 1 week

Editoral

There are announcements of 31 libraries and 1 mobile library under threat over five different library services, plus further cuts in a sixth and the loss of an archive/local studies library in a seventh in just one week. This is up there with the peak of Austerity in 2012, but with the noticeable difference that the majority of cuts are in Scotland, perhaps because services north of the border escaped relatively unscathed the first time around.

When you’ve digested that, check out the link to the ONS statistics showing how many libraries are in each service in England and Wales, plus a dataset (3159 libraries as of May this year, fewer doubtless now) and even an estimate of the walking time to each library needed. It shows a rough correlation between how urban an area is and the number of libraries, which makes sense.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Access to local amenities in England and Wales: October 2024 – ONS. Shows number of libraries per 100,000 in England and Wales, shaded on a map. Clickable by council. Dataset is here. Shows 3159 libraries in England and Wales as of May 2024. Also has walking times.
  • Libraries celebrate microgrant success – Libraries Connected. “The 15 successful projects include an inter-generational creative programme exploring the history of gaming, a World Book Day costume swap, and a new lending library of screen-free audiobook devices for children.”
  • Libraries recognised for community contributions in annual award ceremony – Herald Scotland. “Shetland Libraries and the National Library of Scotland (NLS) have been recognised for their work with young people and supporting communities.”
  • Libraries should capitalise on appeal as community hubs, report recommends – Arts Professional.
  • Local government funding in England – Institute for Government. “Unlike central government, local authorities cannot borrow to finance day-to-day spending, and so they must either run balanced budgets or draw down reserves – money built up by underspending in earlier years – so as not to exceed their annual revenue.  Local government in England has limited revenue-raising powers compared to other wealthy countries. In 2018, every other G7 nation collected more taxes at either a local or regional level.1  7% of the UK’s taxes were collected, or intended to be collected, locally in 2014, compared to 12% collected locally or federally in Italy, 32% in Germany, and almost 50% in Canada.”… “Local authority ‘spending power’ – the amount of money authorities have to spend from government grants, council tax and business rates – fell by 17.5% between 2009/10 and 2019/20, before partially recovering. However, in 2021/22 it was still 10.2% below 2009/10 levels.”

International news

Local news by authority

“Community Hubs in which Libraries are part of are in the midst of a reorganisation. Hubs are currently focused on delivering core council services and enquiries with other ‘partner’ organisations working in them to deliver other services, LA’s staff main focus is on resident enquiries with very limited knowledge and interest in core library functions. This all now now sits within the People and Resilience – Care, Community and Health Integration portfolio. This will continue in the future with books becoming progressively less important and side-lined. The proposals are to move four of the remaining six locations with library provision in them over to community management with some LA staff representation in them primarily to handle resident enquiries . This will leave only two locations in LA control Dagenham Library and Barking Learning Centre. The proposals are due to go to LBBD Cabinet shortly. With the aim on implementation of the plans by April 2025.”

Barking and Dagenham – CILIP Library services Changes Tracker

“… Bradford Council has agreed to sell Margaret McMillan Tower as part of its money raising/saving exercise. The ground floor of this building houses two very important organisations. One is the Council’s Local Studies Library and the other is the Bradford office of the West Yorkshire Archive Service. Both contain large sources of information for people carrying out personal and professional research, and some of the WYAS information is not available anywhere else. The Archives have already closed to the public, and Local Studies will be closing some time in the near future. As far as we know no alternative accommodation has yet been confirmed. Apparently, the officer who agreed that the building would be sold had no real idea what an archive is and had not realised that specially controlled storage facilities have to be created and approved. This takes considerable time.”

Bradford – Letter seen from Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society to Telegraph and Argus

Thought for the next four (five?) years

Editorial

After the US election result, I tweeted “Well, it’s been pretty tough being a librarian in the UK this last decade or so but I think I’d still prefer it to working in a US library for the next four years”. There have been strong moves towards censorship in the USA and that is likely to greatly strengthen during Trump’s return. But this is not to say American libraries are not well-funded – see the report below on Austin’s lovely libraries to see this is not the case. It’s just to say that even the most beautiful library misses the point, and worse, if it is not allowed to show the books its community needs.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the case of Croydon gives more evidence, following the horribly disappointing budget last week, that nothing much has changed. The Secretary of State, who campaigned for libraries while in opposition, is declining to intervene, stressing it’s up to the local council and any cuts due to local budget is therefore, of course, nothing to do with her. New boss same as the old boss?

Please send any news, views, convincing evidence that library policy will change, and biscuits to ianlibrarian@live.co.uk. Thank you.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • 1,400 libraries now helping patients access NHS App – Healthcare Leader. “Around two in five public library services have signed up to the scheme (64 out of 151), with more expected to join ‘in the coming months’, it added.”
  • Community Libraries – Scottish Parliament. “Numerous constituents have contacted me to raise concerns about the proposed closure of seven community libraries in towns and villages across Perth and Kinross as a direct result of budget cuts by the Scottish National Party-run Perth and Kinross Council. “

“This was a new variation on what some may recognise as the Fine Free Libraries map. The main takeaway is really that library overdue fines are not necessarily about being fine-free or not. They are about how much, and the expense varies considerably. Being charged 20p for a book being a week overdue, and getting a timely reminder to bring the book back seems to be a service aiming to ensure responsible lending from users. Charging 50-60p per day, and waiting a week or so to remind users seems more about extracting money from users. If you can’t go fine-free, try to be the service that uses fines for the benefit of users.”

Fine Free Libraries
  • Practical Tips for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries – Facet Publishing. “This exciting book will equip readers to assess their own library, talk about challenges with more confidence and make concrete changes to improve diversity and inclusion.”
  • Report finds ‘shocking and dispiriting’ fall in children reading for pleasure – Guardian. “National Literacy Trust finds only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their spare time, a sharp drop on last year to the lowest figure yet recorded”
  • Shadowing – Carnegies. “Every spring, CILIP invites reading groups from schools, libraries, and homes to join the exciting process of shadowing the Carnegie Medals. This experience gives young readers the chance to follow along with the official judging process as ‘shadowers.’”
  • The Summer Reading Challenge celebrates 25 years of encouraging young readers – Reading Agency. “With yearly themes spanning from the inaugural year’s ‘The Reading Safari’ to 2024’s ‘Marvellous Makers,’ the Challenge, which encourages children to log their reading and earn rewards over the summer holiday, has created 15,649,232 reading journeys between 1999 – 2023. “
  • Turning the page: understanding the barriers to library use and how to encourage engagement – DCMS. “we spoke to people who had not used a public library service in England in the last 12 months to understand their views. The research involved 22 focus groups, 20 depth interviews and an online journal task completed by 12 participants who took part in depth interviews and did activities via a mobile app to familiarise themselves with a local library.”: limited awareness of library services, poor interiors, lack of time, services offered by others”
  • Why aren’t children reading in their free time? – National Literacy Trust. “The research, which was taken from our Annual Literacy Survey 2024 of more than 76,000 UK children and young people, revealed that only 1 in 3 (34.6%) 8 to 18-year-olds say they enjoy reading in their free time.”

International news

Local news by authority

Oh great, it’s austerity again

Editorial

One of the things that has keeping me going since the dark financial days began for the public libraries sector in 2010 was the belief that, one day, the government would change and things would get better. Well, fourteen years later, the party in government has changed, but the Budget has changed nothing for public libraries and so I was, at this stage, only half right. The money set aside for local government is demonstrably insufficient to keep them from cutting services.

OK, well, at least the adults are in charge for a bit – I don’t think the new Prime Minister is the type to start a culture war or party if a new pandemic hits – but this is going to be little consolation for library services still facing cuts that can only be met by closing hours or reducing opening hours or staffing. So, for however long it continues, we’re now in the age of Labour austerity, whether the term is accepted yet or not. Woohoo.

So what is there to look forward to? Well, the Budget is billed very much as the medicine needed to get the country well again. So let’s hope the government notices signs of recovery soon, or its more pro-public service members gain more more traction. Because Kemi Badenoch strikes me as an unlikely saviour.

Please contact me with your views, comments, corrections, news and pictures of that cake with a model library inside via ianlibrarian@live.co.uk

Changes by local authority

National news

  • 1,400 libraries now offering people support to use NHS App – NHS. “More than two in five public library services (64 out of 151) in England have already signed up to offer the service with several more expected to join in the coming months.”
  • Black History Month Spotlight – Into the light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet exhibition – DCMS. “Funded by a £245,500 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet is a unique partnership between creative agency Oxygen Arts and Libraries Connected, which will take the exhibition to 25 libraries across the country.”
  • CILIP Statement on Budget 2024  – CILIP (press release). “CILIP welcomes the attempts of the government to deliver greater stability to the public finances, for our members working in both the public and private sectors.”

“Just had a quick scan through the main budget document and can’t see Public Libraries mentioned at all, if you’ve spotted something please let me know.”

Alan Wylie.
  • Distress and the DCMS – Library Campaign. “We have just written our fifth letter in a month to the DCMS about the impending disaster in Croydon. As we said in the last newsletter, this cash-strapped borough is pushing the strangest library “plan” we think we have ever seen. In brief, it will close four libraries, redeploy the staff to work wonders at the remaining libraries and “mitigate” the loss of the four with plethora of highly unlikely “outreach” activities that don’t yet exist, in places that have not been identified (let alone secured).”
  • Don’t be fooled: austerity is here to stay under Labour – Morning Star. “Everything we’ve seen so far from Starmer and Reeves indicates that they remain committed to the economic orthodoxy of cuts imposed by the Tories – which is why we need to revitalise the anti-austerity movement … “
  • GLL Literary Foundation – Better. “The GLL Literary Foundation is an organisation, operated by charitable Social Enterprise GLL, that has been established to support authors to continue to write, share stories, and inspire young readers.” … “GLL recognises that we are uniquely positioned to support the success of early-career authors by bridging the gap in author training and experience in the areas where we deliver public library services. In 2024 the GLL Literary Foundation was founded to combine the knowledge, expertise, and support of our team of librarians, event managers, our Start Up Programme, and our 100+ libraries.”
  • Global Book Market 2024 shaped by strong fiction, declining non-fiction and slower price increases – Nielsen. “While the fiction segment saw increased revenues in 14 of the 16 territories surveyed, and children’s and young adult books also showed growth in nine regions, non-fiction struggled” … “. Although average prices continue to rise in 12 of the surveyed territories, such as in the UK by 1.9% to £9.02, 12 regions are seeing lower price increases or even falling prices”
  • Green Libraries Conference 2024 – CILIP. “Join library professionals from academic, school, public, legal, and all sectors at the British Library Knowledge Centre on Monday 25 November for a day of discussion and insight on ‘Every library a Green Library’.”
  • Parliamentarians, library representatives and allies come together to celebrate the role of libraries in changing lives by creating opportunities – School Libraries Association. “Author John O’Farrell, British Library Chief Librarian Liz Jolly, and key library sector representatives joined politicians in a packed parliamentary Terrace Pavilion yesterday to celebrate the positive impact of libraries across society, in particular how Libraries Change Lives by Creating Opportunities.”
  • Protect library funding: CILIP writes to every political representative in 19 local authorities – CILIP. “CILIP has encouraged councillors, MPs, and Metro Mayors to protect public library funding, ahead of the national Budget on 30 October and local budget discussions. The campaign highlights the immense value public libraries bring to their communities and the statutory duty to consult citizens properly about changes. CILIP has written to 807 Councillors, 90 local MPs, and all 11 Metro Mayors for 19 councils across England and Wales, where local authority budget pressures could put their public libraries at risk of closure or a reduction in service provision.” see also CILIP appeals to councils under pressure to close libraries ahead of Budget – Bookseller and Libraries at risk of closure due to council funding problems, campaigners warn – Morning Star. ““We know we’re at an incredibly difficult moment where tough decisions have to be made, and so we urge national and local government to prioritise investing in public libraries,” Ms Coiffait-Gunn said.”
  • Public Library Usage: England – Hansard. ” the Government are publishing DCMS-commissioned research by Ipsos on barriers to library usage by the general public.” … “We are sharing the findings to ensure that library services across England can actively consider how they might act on the results”
  • Reeves told she will have to raise further £9bn to avoid UK public service cuts – Guardian. “Casting doubt on Labour’s claim to be turning the page on austerity, the IFS said Reeves could be forced to top-up her spending plans by an additional £9bn after the next financial year to avoid ushering in real-terms cuts to unprotected Whitehall departments, including councils, the justice system and prisons.”

“Equivalent to a 20% increase in Council Tax …”

Common Futures on what’s missing in the Budget

International news

  • Canada – Chow announces plan to open all Toronto libraries 7 days a week – CBC. “This is a seven per cent increase to the [Toronto Public] Library budget, which results in a 14 per cent increase in overall open hours, effectively doubling the return on investment,” a report to the library board says. “This is achieved by leveraging and maximizing the full capacity of TPL’s resources and the existing infrastructure.””

“It is cost effective! You pay for the building whether it is open or not. By opening more days, you maximise the value of your investment in library buildings.”

Diane Edmonds MBE on Toronto
  • France – Local libraries are changing – Ministere de la Culture. “A guitar to borrow, a coffee room to set up, a digital creation laboratory equipped with a 3D printer and a vinyl cutting machine, a digital film platform … The State supported almost 600 schedule extension projects between 2016 and 2023, which allowed these establishments to open on average almost 10 hours more per week … Nearly 1,300 libraries are equipped with video games”
  • USA – Deeper budget cuts for Hawaii libraries means fewer services – Hawaii News Now. “Already reeling from cuts during the covid pandemic, Hawaii’s library system is facing fewer staff positions and reduced hours of operation.”

Local news by authority

  • Barnet – Creative Communities events in Barnet libraries – Barnet Post. ” The project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. ” … “This month, events at local libraries include Lego and Chit Chat, for adults to socialise while creating and building with bricks and a belly, and a Bollywood dance workshop. There’s a session with Mind on mindfulness for relaxation and stress reduction.”
  • Barnsley – The Washing Line Project embarks on the last leg of its community library tour to start more conversations about domestic abuse – Barnsley Council. “our unique domestic abuse art installation”
  • Bexley – Sidcup library, cinema, and café win award for being the best public building – News Shopper. “A library, cinema, and café have won an award for being the best public building. The Sidcup Storyteller has been named ‘the best public or community building’ in the regional Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence awards.”
  • Caerphilly – Public consultation of future of Caerphilly libraries opens – South Wales Argus. “The futures of 12 libraries across the county borough could be under threat as the council attempts to save money and rationalise its resources.” Council needs to cut £45m.
    • Petition started to save village library – South Wales Argus. Llanbradach: 215 signatures “The signatures of what is a fifth of the entire population of the village were collected within just two days of the petition’s launch.”
  • Cornwall – More than 8,400 children in Cornwall took part in reading challenge – Voice.
  • Coventry – Stop Coventry Labour cutting our libraries – Socialist Party. “Coventry Labour council is consulting on its proposal to move four libraries – Canley, Coundon, and Bell Green – from their purpose-built buildings, into smaller buildings. Holbrooks Library will be moved into a dementia centre.” … “The council should make no cuts, and demand that the Labour government coughs up the money to pay for it.”
  • Devon – Poetry project sparks young voices in Devon’s local libraries – Devon Live. “Children from five Devon primary schools have enjoyed the chance to write and deliver live performances of their poetry. The youngsters have been working with prize-winning children’s poet James Carter in a week-long project rolled out by the Somerset Literacy Network (SLN).”
    • Libraries offer warm spaces this winter – Mid-Devon Advertiser. “Free warm clothes, hygiene banks, community fridges stocked with free food, and welcoming groups and events are amongst a wealth of offerings to be found in libraries across Teignbridge this winter. “
  • Dorset – Verwood Library to close for essential building works’ – Salisbury Journal. “Verwood Library will be closed to customers for six days while essential building works take place next month.”
  • Dudley – Three in five Dudley residents do not have a local library – Stourbridge News. “Despite this, 94 per cent were within half an hour of a library, and every resident could reach one within an hour’s walk. The ONS’ figures show Dudley had 14 open libraries as of August, or one for every 23,300 people in the area.”
  • Dumfries and Galloway – Story ends for librarian Cath – DnG24. Cath Aitken. was aged 16 when she started at Ewart Library in February 1977 and is retiring after 48 years.
  • East Dunbartonshire – Libraries offer light lift for low winter mood – Health and Care. “A new initiative will offer 100 ‘Wintering Well’ boxes to people in four local libraries across the region as part of research into the mental and physical effects of long dark winters.”
  • Edinburgh – City libraries gain from UNESCO City of Literature conference – Edinburgh Reporter. ” 36 visiting cities donated books to the Edinburgh Children’s Library, all different and all written in the original language of each city. It is traditional for visiting cities to donate books to their host city.”
  • Essex – Colchester Library temporarily shut until 2025 – Gazette Standard. “Whilst funding of £337,500 is being put into a new ‘Children’s Imagination and Literacy Centre’, it is at the loss of a study space and research hub for so many people. Having access to spaces like ‘The Local studies and Quiet Study zone’ upstairs was great for when College was overwhelmingly busy. Colchester Library have stated that other libraries such as Wivenhoe and Sudbury library will have extended opening and closing dates. However, as a college student, this is sadly not a suitable alternative.”
  • Greenwich – Eltham and Ukrainian libraries team up in celebration of literature and culture – London News Online. “The twinned libraries, Eltham Library in Archery Road, and Central Library in Kyiv, have come together as part of a new project run by the charity Libraries Connected. The move is part of a national initiative which has paired more than 20 libraries in England”
  • Hertfordshire – ‘Winter Reads’ challenge launches across Hertfordshire Libraries – Hertfordshire Council. “Following the success of last year’s challenge which saw 3,600 residents of all ages sign up, a new set of challenges have been devised to encourage reading for pleasure and attendance at a series of exciting events that are taking place across the county’s libraries. All those taking part are asked to complete six challenges. There is a choice of challenges available so those taking part can choose how tricky they would like their challenge to be. Challenges for adults can be found on a Winter Reads bookmark while children have a collector card. It’s super easy to take part and all you have to do is pick up a bookmark or challenge card from any library in the county from 1st November.”
  • Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries lists all its community activities for November 2024 – Brixton Buzz.
  • Leicester – Visit Leicester libraries for a warm welcome – Leicester Council. “The Warm Welcome programme runs from now until the end of March 2025, giving people the chance to use their local library as a ‘warm hub’ where they can enjoy a hot drink, meet new people, and try something new.”
  • Manchester – Free seeds to be given out in new nature scheme – BBC. “Residents will be given free packets of seeds and encouraged to join guided nature walks around Manchester as a part of a new scheme at libraries. Manchester City Council is teaming up with Natural England to establish seed libraries at eight locations around the city, and giving seeds to people who sign up.”
  • Midlothian – Letter – CILIPS. “we would be very concerned that community-led provision is likely to leave residents without a library service fully run and delivered by trained library professionals as they are legally entitled to, as well as potentially breaching equalities legislation.”
  • Northern Ireland – New look Killyleagh library opens to public – Newtownards Chronicle. “Library reopened its doors this week following a period of closure to facilitate a comprehensive refurbishment. The refurbishment includes the removal of the unused first floor of the building, the installation of an energy-efficient heating system, mechanical ventilation, and heat recovery system, alongside energy-efficient general and emergency LED lighting.”
  • Nottinghamshire – Notts County Council Seeks Opinions on New Ten-Year Library Plan – Leftlion. “Nottinghamshire County Council are now undertaking a public consultation – seeking views on their new ten year library strategy – but you’d be forgiven for not knowing this given the limited efforts to publicise this. And yet the draft proposals have noteworthy implications, in particular for libraries that serve smaller communities, one of which is my local library in Woodthorpe.” … “Based on the proposed new model of Library Access Points – which tellingly omits any mention of paid staff – this would mean Woodthorpe Library and many others becoming a book swap or community centre at best.”
  • Perth and Kinross Scone residents holding protest against potential closure of town’s library – Daily Record. “The town’s booklovers argue – that with 750 new homes planned for the town – removing the “vital” reasonably modern and purpose-built facility would be “nothing more than short-sighted”.” … “Perth and Kinross councillors agreed at the 2024/25 budget meeting in February to allocate £191,000 to Culture Perth and Kinross to find “local solutions for library services” over the next year. It later emerged Scone had been added to a list of libraries under threat.”
  • Somerset – Library is running coat exchange again -Around Wellington. “Across the 12 libraries taking part this year, 546 coats have already been donated – with more than 200 already finding new homes.”
  • South Gloucestershire – Library staff hours reduced – Downend Voice. “South Gloucestershire Council has confirmed new opening times for libraries including Downend, Staple Hill and Emersons Green, as staffed hours are cut back.”
  • Suffolk – Glemsford Library celebrates a new home – Suffolk Libraries. “Glemsford Library’s ‘temporary’ home in Bells Lane is now officially the new permanent home for the library. The library moved out of the village hall two years ago whilst essential building work took place. The work took longer than planned and the library’s new home in Unit 1a Bells Lane, next door to the Spar ended up being such a success that it has now been confirmed as the permanent location for Glemsford Library.”
    • Gainsborough Community Library officially opens ‘garden room’ – Suffolk Libraries. “The garden room is an extension to the library and has created a new flexible space for community groups and customers using the library to use.  The new room has been built in the library’s garden but with the addition of new plants so this part of the library still feels green and colourful.”
    • Let’s Get Creative autumn Launch Pad events – Suffolk Libraries. “Let’s Get Creative’ is an online directory of free and low-cost creative and cultural activities available across Suffolk – a ‘library of experiences’. The ambition of the website is to make it easy for to find free or very low-cost cultural activities taking place on their doorstep”
Walsall – National Authors Day: We ask our library staff for their favourites – Walsall Council.

Not at your leisure?

Editorial

From 2010, as libraries underwent budget stress the like of which they’d never seen except in wartime (and perhaps not even then), there were a lot of experiments on how to run them cheaper. One of these models were volunteer-run libraries, which now number in their hundreds. Another model were library trusts, of which all four (Devon, Northern Ireland, Suffolk and York) are still with us. And then there was the idea of saving money by having libraries run by a for-profit company (I was never sure how that was supposed to work), which had but one, unsuccessful, example.

Yet another idea was, and is still, being tried – the library service run by a leisure trust. Leisure centres, swimming pools, theatres and the like. This has been more hit and miss, with some apparently doing well, such as Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL, trading as “Better”) which has taken over five services in a decade. But an increasing number – not so well.

To my knowledge there are 22 single-council leisure trusts running libraries within the UK, with more than half being in Scotland. But there used to be 30, with 8 having been returned back to council control, with the last one of these – Flintshire – ending this week. And there may be more. At least one – Aneurin Leisure Trust (Blaenau Gwent) has recently announced it’s in serious financial difficulties.

Please email me your news, comments and offers of large amounts of money via ianlibrarian@live.co.uk

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Consultation on the proposed rate per loan for the 2023 to 2024 Public Lending Right scheme year – DCMS. “The British Library Board has proposed a rate per loan of 11.76 pence for payments in the 2023 to 2024 scheme year. This is a reduction of 1.93 pence, from 13.69 pence (in 2022/23). This reflects the slightly raised amount of funding available (but the PLR fund remains relatively unchanged), and an increase in the estimated number of loans of books registered for PLR.”
  • Developing a library strategic response to Artificial Intelligence – Elucidate. “AI is ‘the defining technology of our generation’ according to a recent joint statement by the UK and US governments. We all understand that it is likely to impact library and information work profoundly, so it is important to try and be more than reactive and think strategically about the opportunities and problems it is creating. The article poses nine key questions for consideration, and reflects on some answers that might support a more strategic library approach to AI. “
  • Introducing the first ever Michael Rosen Day – Michael Rosen. “Join us on Tuesday 12 November for a day of poetry, stories and creativity to celebrate 50 years since Michael’s first book. With bespoke resources and activities for children of all ages, we want to see as many schools, libraries and other settings across the country getting involved and getting creative, with all things Michael.”

“Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources. I will work with my colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to get local government back on its feet after fourteen years of savage and drastic underfunding. We will do the basics right, providing councils with more stability through multi-year funding settlements and ending unnecessarily expensive competitive bidding for tiny pots of money.”

Chris Bryant, The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
  • Leisure centres, pools and libraries facing threat of closure as ‘no fat left to cut’ for councils – Cambrian News. “Council chiefs warned of “no fat left to cut” with leisure centres and libraries across Wales facing the threat of closure due to “unprecedented” financial constraints. The Senedd culture committee took evidence on 24 October as part of an inquiry on the impact of cuts on the arts, culture and sport.” … “WGLA warning of a £432m funding gap across Welsh council services”
  • Libraries to offer warm spaces for third year running – Arts Professional. “Libraries Connected said it is partnering with the Warm Welcome Campaign, which began in 2022 when energy prices rose because of the war in Ukraine. The first warm spaces will open next week after the clocks go back at the weekend. “
  • Rebecca Lawrence appointed as new Chief Executive of the British Library – British Library. Previously in Crown Prosecution Service, Policing and Crime, Civil Service. “She brings skills and experience from more than 25 years at the forefront of reforming and delivering public services, with particular strengths in leadership and digital transformation. “

International news

  • 9th IFLA Green Library Award 2024 Results – IFLA. Winner is “The Missoula Public Library exemplifies sustainability through its innovative programming and green practices.”, second is “The Stadtbibliothek Paderborn / Paderborn City Library renovated a 460-year-old building, and upcycled scrap by products for furniture.”
  • Afghanistan – Taliban issue list of 400 banned books to libraries – Amu. “The banned books reportedly cover a wide range of subjects, including those related to the Shia branch of Islam, modern governance, political freedoms, and figures like Ahmad Shah Massoud, a prominent resistance leader. Titles exploring democracy, social and civil rights, art, literature, and poetry are also among those targeted.”
  • Australia – The enduring importance of public libraries in the digital age – SBS News. “More than just a place to borrow books, modern libraries have reinvented themselves to fit into the digital age. One library in Sydney – shortlisted as one of the world’s best- says demand for its services has never been higher.”
  • France- When 50 Librarians Biked Across France – School Library Journal. “Cyclo-biblio – a library-to-library bike tour designed by and for librarians” … “a volunteer-led nonprofit with an organizational team of librarians scattered across France from the Loire Valley to the southern part of the country. The goal? A rolling unconference providing exposure to multiple libraries”
  • Sweden – Sweden’s libraries caught in a political row about drag story hour – Conversation. “Drag story hour is “nothing other than indoctrination and sexualisation of children”, claimed Sweden Democrats politician Jonathan Sager during a session of the local parliament in Kalmar, southern Sweden, in 2022. He was reacting to plans to organise a drag story hour event at the local library, where drag queens would read to children, challenging norms of gender and sexuality. He called (unsuccessfully) for the event to be cancelled.” … “Sweden is experiencing a backlash against drag story hour events.”
  • USA – Public libraries level the playing field for students and job seekers – Seattle Times. “Community members can gain valuable skills at the library to set them up for success inside and outside of the classroom. KCLS offers free learning resources for students in grades K-12 through Study Zone. This volunteer-driven program includes tutoring, homework help, math clubs, programs to practice reading out loud and English language learning classes. College students and adult learners may access free online learning support, get assistance with résumés and cover letters, finish high school through the library, and find entrepreneurial training to launch a small business.”

Local news by authority

“We have just written our fifth letter in a month to the DCMS about the impending disaster in Croydon. As we said in the last newsletter, this cash-strapped borough is pushing the strangest library “plan” we think we have ever seen. In brief, it will close four libraries, redeploy the staff to work wonders at the remaining libraries and “mitigate” the loss of the four with plethora of highly unlikely “outreach” activities that don’t yet exist, in places that have not been identified (let alone secured). The libraries are to close in early November. The non-existent “outreach schedule” will not be launched until April next year. We are getting distressing messages from local people who can’t find out what is going on, and will be severely affected by the closures.” Croydon – Library Campaign newsletter.

Peterborough – Local school children petition to save Woodston Library – Friends of Woodston Library. The community’s petition has gained over 860 signatures in five weeks, and the petition from the children would see that increase by over 110.  We are hopeful the children petition will be included, particularly as we have the youngest Councillor and the youngest MP in the country. (press release)
  • Reading – Reading’s Southcote Library set to be completely demolished – Reading Chronicle. “The Southcote Library building has been empty since 2018 when books and other services were moved into the nearby Southcote Community Hub.”
  • Somerset – Council could make up to 450 employees redundant – BBC. “Somerset Council has opened a formal 45-day consultation on compulsory redundancies. The potential job losses are in addition to the 195 voluntary redundancies announced earlier this year. The news comes as part of the council’s plans to restructure and rein in its projected budget overspend by saving £30-£40m by April, to avoid going bust.”
  • Staffordshire – Read all about it! 16 qualified librarians across 43 Staffordshire libraries – Stoke Sentinel. “A senior county councillor has said Staffordshire has a “gold-plated” library service after the number of qualified librarians was questioned. More than 25 of Staffordshire’s 43 libraries are now community-managed services, where day to day running is carried out by a community group while the county council remains responsible for providing books, other stock and IT services and paying utility and maintenance costs.”
    • Half term family learning fun available in libraries – Staffordshire Council. “Families can drop-in and get stuck in, with everything from playing 1970s number games, such as Connect 4 and Skittles, making a lavender bag and making fruit kebabs and bread from scratch.”
  • Stirling – Huge response to Stirling libraries survey as deadline looms – Daily Record. “Almost 1,700 people of all ages have already taken part in a survey as part of a consultation on the future of Stirling Council’s libraries.”
  • Surrey – Library to reopen in summer after Raac work – BBC. “Redhill Library in Warwick Quadrant will reopen following a full refurbishment and works to address the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete discovered in 2023. The newly-refurbished library will have a children’s area, meeting rooms, a public computer and study area.” … “The library is also temporarily moving to the Belfry Shopping Centre from its stopgap site at Consort House.”
  • Warrington – Warrington twins with Ukraine library – Warrington Council. “The borough has been twinned with a library in the city of Chortkiv, located in western Ukraine, on the banks of the Seret River. It forms part of a national initiative led by Libraries Connected, which is seeing more than 20 areas in the UK twinning with Ukraine libraries to share information, exchange skills, connect audiences, develop joint initiatives and celebrate UK and Ukrainian language, literature and culture.”
  • Westmorland and Furness – Libraries call for shipyard memories to bring history to life – Westmorland and Furness Council. ” calling on Barrow Shipyard workers and local veterans to share their memories, stories, and items as part of their Memory Lane Project.”
  • Wiltshire – Free thermal cameras lent in home heat loss scheme – BBC. “Wiltshire Council has made 11 devices free to use from libraries across the county. The camera can be used with a smartphone or tablet and a special app, external. Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling said being able to fix cold spots in the home is especially important this winter as energy bills continue to rise.”
  • Woking – Temporary Woking library closure – Woking News and Mail. “It will be closed until November 3 and a click and collect service will be available on site so customers can still return items and collect reservations.”
  • Worcestershire – Councillors fear for future of libraries in Worcester – Worcester News. “St John’s councillor Richard Udall and Warndon councillor Jill Desarayah both fear their libraries are under threat. However, Worcestershire County Council has said it is looking to increase library provision. The councillor spoke after statistics showed three-quarters of Worcester residents do not have a library within walking distance.”
    • Helping children and young people to reach their potential – Worcestershire Council. ““Worcestershire Libraries were instrumental in helping me connect with the community, they offered me spaces to perform, access to poetry workshops, and even introduced me to a broader audience than I ever could have reached on my own.” Caleb’s role as Young Poet Laureate taught them invaluable life skills. “