Surrey big cuts, Hounslow £5m in 2009, Glos suggests charging

401 libraries plus 53 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)

– plus 11 branches and 5 mobiles – Surrey – library service to be reduced to “core” and community-run branches.

News

More information on Hounslow’s cuts has come out. This borough is worth looking at closely as it is the only authority to have its libraries run by a private company. Over £5m was given to Laing in 2009 by Hounslow Council to improve its libraries, many of which are now earmarked for closure. It does not appear that the company is penalising the council for, presumably, breaking the terms of its contract.

Surrey has announced cuts very similar to those that have caused such furore in Somerset, Gloucestershire and (increasingly) Dorset. The comment by the deputy leader that he does not see libraries in physical buildings in the future seems, at the moment, more like reading the headlines than fortune-telling.

A Gloucestershire councillor has suggested users can be charged for using a community-run library. This is the first time I am aware of that this has been publicly raised.

Bradford – Burley is safe, possible Co-op involvement – The Advertiser

Cornwall – 23% cut in library budget, 102 hours p.w. cut – BBC
Devon – “Brutal” cuts to Record Office – This is Devon

Dorset – Campaign gathers pace – Bridport News

Dorset – Scrap new Dorchester library instead – View Online

Dorset – Lyme Regis residents will need to go 20 miles for full library provision, no evidence for decisions to close, £5m new proposed “white elephant” Dorchester Library should be deferred instead – View Online

Dorset – Review of cuts means keep campaigning says councillor – Bournemouth Echo

Gloucestershire – cuts “cruel and shortsighted” – FoGL

Gloucestershire – Moreton residents urged to attend meeting – Cotsworld Journal

Gloucestershire – charge users at community-run libraries says councillor – This is Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire – Kate Mosse warns of long-term consquences – FoGL

Herefordshire – No libraries to close, mobile library review – Ledbury Reporter

Hertfordshire – 661 hours cut, £581k cut – St Albans Review

Hounslow -8 libraries under threat – Hounslow Chronicle
Hounslow – Meeting over Beavers Library closure – Hounslow Chronicle

Isle of Wight – Cowes Heritage attacks library cuts – Ventnor Blog

Newcastle – No libraries to be closed – BBC

North Yorkshire – read-in protest to save Bentham – Westmorland Gazette

Oxfordshire – cuts divisive and unfair – Henley Standard

Renfrewshire – councillor calls campaigner a “cheeky mare” – Paisley Daily Express

Somerset – Hope for Libraries – ITV Regional News (2 minutes)

Somerset – Vicar uses Facebook to help save Priorswood – This is the West Country

Southend – libraries could move into schools, some may close – Echo

Surrey – some (possibly a lot of) libraries to close, 5 mobile libraries to go – BBC

Surrey – “I don’t see the future of libraries being physical buildings” says deputy leader – Get Surrey

Swindon – no libraries to close, paid staff needed in branches – volunteer library has seen usage decline, only one child taking part in summer reading scheme – Swindon Advertiser

Wiltshire – ““To date there has been no consultation whatsoever with the village” – Salisbury Journal

Wiltshire – 10 to be closed/volunteer-run – BBC

Worcestershire – libraries could be shared with youth centres – Worcester News

“A library is where you can find out how to be you” – Voices For The Library

Arts Council is being given £3m for libraries rather than the MLA’s £13m – Guardian

CILIP asks all to take a stand as 94 out of 115 authorities report cuts – Morning Star

Ebooks are being “leased” rather than bought, piracy will increase – Telegraph

Leave libraries alone, you don’t understand their value, says Phillip Pullman – False Economy

Library closures threats spark campaigns across England – BBC

Libraries – why we must fight for our right to read – Socialist Worker

Lisa Nandy MP says library cuts just part of unfair emphasis on cuts to young people – CYP Now

Read-Ins planned throughout country – Coalition of resistance