Archive for January, 2011

372 libraries plus 32 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
– plus 1 and 3 mobiles – Shropshire are aiming to cut 3 mobiles (out of 5) and to close an unsuccessful community-run library.
– I did not know about the earmarked closures in Anglesey and so they were not counted on the grand total.
– minus 2 – although Walsall are cutting one-third (6) of their libraries, this is still less than the 8 previously reported
– plus 19 – Cambridgeshire – blog posting suggests up to 19 will be closed. Rumour is it could be more.
– plus 8 – Hounslow – up to 8 threatened (out of 11) with £870k cuts this year on top of £1m in the last 18 months.  Hounslow is the only privately run library service in the country.

News 
Libraries are in the news as never before.  Below is two days of coverage and it is not comprehensive – I have simply run out of time to collate.  There has been a long article on Radio Four about an inquiry into libraries.  Boris Johnson is apparently saving the libraries in London.  Just amazing. The argument for someone to shout “stop! let’s look at his nationally!” is reinforced by the announcement of the huge cuts in Hounslow and Cambridgeshire, detailed today.

I was going to dedicate a paragraph to my decision to join “Voices For The Library”
but there is not time tonight.  I hope to do them justice another day.

Aberdeen – closure of all libraries considered? (text is open to interpretation) – Herald Scotland
Anglesey – 4 libraries earmarked for closure look to be saved, temporarily – Online Mail
Buckinghamshire – Cuts unveiled but worry whether communities could run libraries – Bucks Herald
Bury – why should the children suffer? – Bury Times
Bury – “Elbow” frontman fights for Unsworth (he wrote some of his best lyrics there) – Manchester Evening News
Cambridgeshire – Residents petition to save Barnwell Road – Cambridge First
Cambridgeshire – Up to 19 to close, doubts over council survey – Friends of Arbury Library
Conwy – public not properly consulted – North Wales Weekly News
Croydon – Meeting to save library to grill councillor over “hobsons choice” strategy – Croydon Guardian
Doncaster – Protests step up, 3000 names on petition so far – The Star
Doncaster – Save our Libraries – PermaFuture
Gloucestershire – “Blackmail” claimed – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – “huge” crowds at meeting – This Is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – March through Stroud against library closures – Stroud News & Journal
Gloucestershire – Children will be the victims – Tewkesbury Ad Mag
Gloucestershire – Consultation meetings – Stroud News & Journal
Gloucestershire – two more consultation meetings announced – FoGL
Gloucestershire – Mily, aged 10, on why she loves her mobile library “I hope this saves the library cuts” – FoGL
Gloucestershire – Mobile libraries are a “luxury” – FoGL
Hillingdon – library expands into e-books – Hillingdon Times
Kent – Some  (volunteers to be asked to run) – Your Ashford
Lancashire – 16% cut in library staff – Ormskirk and Skelmersdale Advertiser
London – Boris Johnson to create a trust for threatened libraries – London Evening Standard
Norfolk – Cuts of £1.2m in libraries discussed  – Evening News 24
North Yorkshire – MP attacks closures plan – Yorkshire Post
North Yorkshire – Public meetings, asking for people to run the libraries – Yorkshire Post
North Yorkshire – Committee formed to keep open Gargrave – Craven Herald
North Yorkshire – Save Bilton library petition – Beta Petition and Starbeck Library
North Yorkshire – Library closures revealed – The Press
Oxfordshire – Council lets public see meeting, with security guards and police – Oxford Mail
Oxfordshire – School involved in saving Sonning Common – Get Reading
Rutland – opening hours of six libraries to be cut, staff reduced – Stamford Mercury
Shropshire – 3 (out of 5) mobile libraries to go, community run library to go – BBC News
Somerset – fight intensifies – This is the West Country
Somerset – South Petherton under threat, councillors look to Bucks examples – This is the West Country
Sussex – self-service installed in Uckfield and Crowborough – Sussex Express
Walsall – Third (6) of Walsall’s libraries to be axed -Express & Star
Walsall – Future uncertain as 6 to close, “This is not about buildings. It’s about the service” says councillor – This is Walsall Online

Campaigners urge government to stand up for libraries – BookSeller
Don’t be quiet please – Red Pepper
Guardian launches special page for libraries and arts cuts – Guardian
Library campaigners demand public inquiry – Guardian
Library cuts, hope they’re not too bad – Winstonsdad
Libraries bring poetry to life, CILIP are actively campaigning – Guardian (Letters)
Save our libraries from cuts and closures – MyVillage
Saving Public libraries (blog by Steve Ross) – BookSeller
Somerset Campaigners threaten legal action and call for a national inquiry, Michael Morpurgo – “You and Yours” BBC Radio Four (1.12 to 8.55)

369 libraries plus 29 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)

News 
Anglesey -Library service to be reviewed – BBC News

Birmingham – Sutton Coldfield to be “forced” open (had been mothballed due to asbestos and lack of funds) – Birmingham Mail

Buckinghamshire – Council cuts run to 19 pages “on top of measures already proposed to get volunteers to run libraries” –  Buckinghamshire Advertiser
Croydon – Hobson’s Choice as public told to choose which library (or more) to close – London Evening Standard
Gloucestershire – Still time to have say on closures – Tewkesbury Ad Mag
Gloucestershire – Users fear future after proposed closure of Bourton Library – Cotswold Journal

Leicestershire – To cut 1000 jobs, library review to be carried out – BBC News

North Yorkshire – Author Mike Pannett attacks closures plan (33% cut in funding in 4 years) – Gazette & Herald
North Yorkshire – Consultation meeting over library closures – Gazette & Herald
Oxfordshire – Author Colin Dexter “shocked and ashamed” at closures – BBC News
Oxfordshire – School against closure – Get Reading
Somerset – Town council considers funding closing Highgate Library, with volunteers – Burnham-on-sea.com

Throw the book at Con-Dem Vandals – Counterfire

List of cuts by authority (click on name of authority for link to relevant report)
Aberdeenshire – some
Angus – 4 libraries closed this year (April) to be possibly replaced by a mobile.  More info here
Argyll and Bute – 3 libraries and mobile library.
Barking and Dagenham – 5
Barnet – some – public consultation here
Barnsley – up to 8
Bedfordshire – 1 mobile to go
Bexley – 3
Birmingham – 39 (three libraries lose hours so Tower Hill can remain open)
Blackburn with Darwen – (reduced opening hours)
Bolton – Up to 8
Brent – 6 (out of 12)
Bromley – (KAB talking books cut)
Buckinghamshire – up to 14 to close or be staffed by volunteers (this article says 11)
Bury – 1 (1 other reduced hours) – Manchester Evening News
Cambridgeshire – some (mobile services already “slashed”) (£1.1m cut)
Camden – several plus one mobile library (£2 million cut)
Central Bedfordshire – one mobile library to go
Conwy – 7 (out of 12)
Cornwall – up to 23
Croydon – Up to 6 (public gets to choose which) plus 1 local studies
Doncaster – 14, (may also be taken out of council control)
Dorset – up to 20 (out of 34) to close or be given to community groups  (£143k off bookfund).  Dorset is the sole council to receive an actual increase in funding for 2010/11.
Dumfries – 7
Durham – some
Falkirk – (transferred to Trust)
Flintshire – 5 and at least one mobile
Gateshead – some (school library service, music library, AIRS talking newspaper under threat)
Gloucestershire – Up to 18 and 6 mobiles  – 11 to close or go to volunteers. 7 to close if they don’t find a partner.  A further 11 reduced to 3.5 days a week (this is such a small figure I include them under “closed”), 6 mobile libraries to go.
Greenwich – (could be turned into a Trust)
Hammersmith and Fulham – 2 and 1 mobile
Hampshire – (58 FTE jobs to go) (and mobile library review)(libraries merged with IT/property etc)
Haringey – (staff cuts)
Harrow – (34 FTE to go)
Hartlepool – 1 confirmed to close (another to merge with community centre, all library’s hours cut)
Hertfordshire – (opening hours to be cut by one third – from 2236 hours down to 1575) – At least one library (Borehamwood)  faces a 40% cut
Highland – (Wick Library to close and merge with school library)
Hull – some (to merge with “customer service centres”)
Hounslow – some (£869k p.a cut – reduction in hours,12 FTE to go, 1 IT skills suite closed)
Isle of Wight – 9 (out of 11)
Kent – some (83 FTE to go as self-service comes in)- Isle of Thanet one of areas hardest hit
Kirklees – at least 1
Lancashire – 2 mobile libaries (plus 16% staffing cut)
Leeds – Up to 20 (out of 52)
Leicestershire – all libraries could be privatised, put to trust or shared (merge of lending/reference- 14 FTE jobs lost)
Lewisham – 5
Liverpool – some
Merton – (2 libraries will have reduced hours)
Milton Keynes – 2
Newport – 7
Northern Ireland – 10
Northamptonshire – 8 out of 38 may close, 2 mobile libraries to end. Cuts to management and support also.
Northumberland – some
North Ayrshire – some 
North Lanarkshire – 1 (closed March 2010)
North Norfolk – some (c. £1m reduction)
North Somerset – 1 closed, 2 proposed, volunteers may run libraries. Weston Mercury update
North Yorkshire – 24 (out of 53) to close or be staffed by volunteers, 9 mobiles to go off road.
Nottingham – (80 FTE jobs to go, 75% off bookfund, 30 libraries have less opening hours – down to less than 10 hours per week) , 1 library already closed.
Oldham – (increase in volunteers, merging, cuts)
Oxfordshire – 20 – list of those under threat here, Oxford Central hours extended to 7 days per week 
Redbridge – 5 out of 12 may close, another may relocate.
Renfrewshire – 1 (1 library to move into smaller sites in community centres)
Richmond – 1 (£351k cut) (service may be privatised)
Rochdale – (some library managers to to go in first phase of cuts)
Salford – some
Sandwell – some
Sefton – 3
Sheffield – (30% cut expected)
Shropshire – 1 (reference library to merge with central library)
Somerset –  20 (out of 34) will be offered to community groups. 4 (out of 6) mobile libraries will also go.  Ten other libraries will have a 10% reduction in hours. List of closures here .Consultation period ends on 14th Jan. Rethink on mobiles may happen – article here.
Southampton – 2
Stoke – 2 and 1 mobile library, (ends RNIB service)
Suffolk – up to 2
Swansea – some
Thanet – some
Thurrock – (RNIB subscription ends)
Tower Hamlets – (staff made to reapply for their own jobs -23 library staff replaced)
Wakefield – at least 2
Walsall – at least 8 (30 FTE). More details here 
Walthamstow – some
Wandsworth – 1 (mention in Guardian here) plus reduction in hours in others.
Warrington – 2 and 1 mobile library.  More info here.
West Dunbartonshire – 3 (some staff losses too)
West Sussex – Some (5 FTE lost, some librarians pay reduced to library assistant)
Wigan – Up to 15 out of 17  (£1.1m cut off £4m budget)
Wiltshire – (26 FTE posts have gone in Dec 2010  inc. 9 out of 13 community librarians)
Worcestershire – some (Pershore library to move out of town centre)

Authorities which have announced no library closures
Brighton
Devon (may have reduced opening hours, less mobile stops, no new Exeter Library – although this article suggests mobile library service has improved)
Hillingdon
Lincolnshire
Moray – (may move to being in a Trust, another article here)
Poole
Staffordshire
Wirral 

369 libraries plus 29 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
– plus two mobile libraries – Lancashire – which is also reducing staffing by 16%
– Poole has announced it will not close any libraries

News 
You will notice that the map has changed a bit.  The comedian Mark Thomas tweeted about it, resulting in 30,000 people taking a look.  One felt so enraged by what he saw (the closures that is, hopefully not the amateur nature of the map) that he offered to help.  The aim is to put a blue pin on it for every threatened library closure.  This has meant some changes because Google Maps can only cope with around 200 pins. My thanks to our new cartographer and the many thousands out there campaigning to save public libraries.

Buckinghamshire – Use it or lose it at Burnham Library – Maidenhead Advertiser
Buckinghamshire – Packed meeting on future of Stokenchurch Library – Bucks Free Press
Bury – Battle to save Unsworth Library – Manchester Evening News
Croydon – Resident’s Association fights to save library – This is Croydon Today
Doncaster – library “hit list” named – The Star
East Sussex – Self-Service coming in Uckfield and Crowborough – BBC
Gloucestershire – 10000 petition – Gazette
Gloucestershire – Updates consultation dates – FoGL
Gloucestershire – Why the Bucks volunteer-run library model is not for all – FoGL
Gloucestershire – Volunteers for Prestbury Library? – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – “With libraries closing down, unemployed people could volunteer at them” – This is Glos.
Gloucestershire – “the library cuts … go beyond necessity or common sense” Joanna Trollope in the Guardian
Gloucestershire – Your Library Needs You – Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!
Isle of Wight – 100s attend protest meeting – Isle of Wight County Press
Isle of Wight – MP heckled – Isle of Wight Radio
Lancashire – To cut 2 mobile libraries, 16% staffing cut – Champion
North Yorkshire – library sees 30% increase in usage to be closed – Malton and Pickering Mercury
Oxfordshire – Library closures could be illegal – Oxford Times
Oxfordshire – Time to sit up and take notice – Oxford Mail
Oxfordshire – Writer Peter Hitchens joins battle to save libraries – Oxford Mail
Oxfordshire – Berinsfield Library protest meeting – Oxford Mail
Oxfordshire – Marston Council fights to save closure – Oxford Mail
Poole – No library cuts – “In particular, we appreciate the vital community role performed by our libraries.” – BBC
Somerset – Ilminster residents urged to act – This is the West Country
Somerset – “Give Some Respect To Our Bibliotheque!” poetical demonstration at Glastonbury Library – Youtube
Somerset – Protest as Somerset tries to close Glastonbury Library (lots of images) – InTouchRadio
Somerset – letter to send to schools – Save Somerset Libraries via Alan Gibbons
Somerset – Sarah McIntyre gives support – Jabberworks
Swindon – Here’s one that was saved earlier – 24% increase in issues, 44% children’s – Friends of Old Town Library
Warrington – close libraries, spend on ipads for councillors – Express (NB the ipads are explained as a money-saving measure. I include this article as evidence of the importance placed on libraries)

BookTrust – time to close it down – Liberal Democrat Voice
Defending libraries – Times (letters) via Alan Gibbons
Interesting legal point – what does “efficient” mean? – Good Library Blog
Libraries – so what are our priorities? – Alan Gibbons
Libraries seen as easy touch – Guardian (full page article)
Library closures are a tragedy for our children – Readyforten
Mapped – UK library closures – Liverpool Echo
Mapped – London’s threatened libraries – Londonist
“Peter Barlow” against library closures – Mirror
Mapping library closures – Speak Before Thinking (from one of the collaborators on the map)

(USA) Libraries change lives for the better – Library Mix Archive

376 libraries plus 27 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
– plus one – Doncaster are closing 14, rather than the previously announced 13.
– some to close in Hull – no change to figure as unsure as to scope.
– plus two – Southampton have recently closed 2.

News 
This is from the Times letters page today, from the person in charge of the MLA (the quango with some responsibility for libraries).  Due to the paywall, I cannot link directly but I think it presents another side of the argument. 

“Sir,
It is untrue that the Libraries Act is being ignored and an exaggeration to claim that “councils are ‘doing a Wirral’ with impunity” (letter, January 3).  The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is aware of proposals for substantial changes to a wide range of local services, including public libraries.  The 1964 Act calls for a “comprehensive and efficient” service, so councils are right to rationalise costs and infrastructure while striving to improve delivery. 
Closures grab headlines, but can be justified, and new and refurbished libraries are opening, too.  In addition to reading books people want libraries to provide digital media and 24/7 access, factors that are certain to drive further change on the high street.  Councils invite us to advise them on sustainable strategies;  we have expert teams in the field and our website offers case studies, guidance and comparator data.
Libraries are community spaces, free for all to use and vital in many places, so local consultation is essential.  Final decisions can only be taken by councillors accountable locally, but under the Act these may be subject to independent scrutiny.
ROY CLARE
Chief Executive Officer, Museums
Libraries & Archives Council”

Unfortunately, the Times missed off his phone number 020 7273 1476 and email address roy.clare@mla.gov.uk (available at http://www.mla.gov.uk/about/who/staff)

Cambridgeshire – Cambridgeshire against the cuts
Croydon – protests at plans to close Norbury – This is Local London
Doncaster – Council confirm 14 libraries to close “”There has been absolutely no public consultation whatsoever.” – The Star (out of 26, and for the bibliographic services unit, archives and schools library service to move to the central library site).
Doncaster Council disgrace – Save Doncaster Libraries
Falkirk – Libraries to be transferred to a trust – BBC News
Gloucestershire – 10000 petition against closures – Cotsworld Journal. Petition covered on BBC Points West (link may not work in your area).
Gloucestershire – this is what a 10000 petition looks like – Flickr
Gloucestershire – thousands force debate – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire and Somerset – petition power – This is Somerset
Hertfordshire – I love my Herts libraries – Facebook
Lancashire – amnesty? – Pendle Today
Merton – volunteers to counter cuts in library opening – Wimbledon Guardian
Milton Keynes – Wot no books? Save Stony Stratford Library – About My Area
North Yorkshire – Andrew Jones MP against the closures – MP website
Richmond – Libraries mat be privatised, or be closed – Richmond and Twickenham Times
Somerset – Interview with library campaigners “if you’re getting rid of a hospital, you’re denying someone’s health: if you deny them a library, you’re denying someone’s knowledge” – BBC Radio Somerset (from 1.47)
Somerset – library consultation at Crewkerne – This is the West Country
Somerset – “don’t shut Highbridge Library” – Burham On Sea.com
Southampton – 2 libraries to close/have closed – Daily Echo
Worcestershire – Pershore library could move out of town – Evesham Observer

“I love the library” song – Bucky and the Band.  Other library songs here
Library Campaigns – are we all inside the same tent? Course – Walk You Home
Full details of the Library Campaigns course are here
Martha Lane Fox – Digital future for all, includling libraries – Guardian
(USA) Map of UK Library Closures – The “M” Word ( this one is in Germany.)
(USA) Libraries – A call to arms – Roly Poly

372 libraries plus 27 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
– plus 3 since yesterday – informed that West Dunbarton are closing 3 (out of 10)

News
There was a segment on Radio 4 PM and a letter in the Times today about saving public libraries. Closer to home, the comedian Mark Thomas tweeted about the library cuts map (link on right) today which resulted in 14,000 people looking at it this afternoon and evening. Also today, news coming out of Gloucestershire is that they are going to more than double the 5000 names they aimed for in their petition. When people learn a library is in threat, they will try to protect it. The problem for library campaigners is in getting that message out there.

Cambridgeshire – closing libraries the least popular option of all unpopular options – Cambridge News
Isle of Wight – campaigning group – Save the Libraries on the Isle of Wight
Oxfordshire – letters pages raging over library closures, volunteers may work in affluent areas – Guardian
Somerset – consultation on Wednesday – Yeovil Express
Somerset – BBC Somerset Radio interview with Save Somerset Libraries – BBC (at 55 minutes)
Somerset – Steve Barlow speaks about “bloodbath” library closures – BBC Radio 4 PM (at 28:36)
Swansea – “it’s going to be a tough year” for some libraries – This is South Wales
West Dunbartonshire – 3 libraries under threat of closure – West Dunbartonshire Council.

Councils are ignoring the legal protection of libraries, Ed Vaizey is being very coy – Times (letters, behind paywall)
Campaign for the Book January Newsletter – Alan Gibbons
How to do a Read-In – Walk You Home
(USA) Libraries, a priceless resource – NorthWest Journal
(USA) Libraries are screwed – Ebooks have changed everything – Go To Hellman
(USA) Maximise your job seeking mojo at the library – At Your Library