365 libraries plus 27 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)

News
For those who do not think that campaigning works, have a look at what has happened over BookTrust funding over the last few days.  All funding is announced as closed – there is a national uproar – then funding is restored.  Wonderful news and a late Christmas present for all who care for literacy.

CILIP produced a little Christmas present of their own with the removal of password protection on their campaigning materials.  In other news, reading articles like Thurrock’s below, it is clear that some councils are not announcing cuts until their council committee meetings in February. Not sure how this is going is going to tie in with consultation of the public.

Doncaster – 13 out of 25 branches still in danger – South Yorkshire Times
Gloucestershire – 20 community groups express interest in running libraries – Cotswold Journal (including one group that wants to purchase the land for grazing)
Hampshire – library hours expand – Hampshire Chronicle
Leicestershire – children’s centre joins Anstey Library – In Loughborough
Moray – closure threats lifted – Northern Scot (money saved by moving service to a Trust)
North Yorkshire – fury over closures – Craven Herald & Pioneer
North Yorkshire – Petition for Barlby – Selby Times
Somerset – Interview with Save Somerset Libraries – Radio Somerset (at 1.30)
Somerset – Wells Library set to expand as others close – Wells People
Thurrock – RNIB subscription ends – Thurrock Gazette
Wiltshire – new library built – Gazette and Herald
Wolverhampton – 2 libraries offer Wifi – Wolverhampton Council

A deception of Madoff proportions – Shirley Burnham
BookTrust – u-turn statement in more detail – London Evening Standard
BookTrust – Philip Pulman welcomes rescued funding – BBC
Booktrust – Miliband says funding restored? – BBC
BookStart – authors attack decision – BBC
BookStart – Miliband condemns funding end – Independent
BookStart – This government has set its face against reading – Guardian (the comments below the article show a wide variety of opinions – the most sadly ironic being that there is no need for BookStart as we have so many libraries) and Observer and Guardian again
CILIP – library campaigning materials – CILIP (now free to use and open to all) and here too
(USA) Usage up, uses up – Charleston City Paper