Vaizey even less likely to intervene
398 libraries plus 53 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
– minus 8 – Hounslow – 57% in 7000 consultation wanted to keep all sites – bookfund cut instead (£300k), longer term library strategy being devised.
– plus some – Warwickshire – 30% (£2m) cut (no change to total as unsure how many to close)
– minus 1 – Gloucestershire – £500k less cuts due to protests, Cinderforld Library saved (10 more still threatened)
Summary
Ed Vaizey said (on Mumsnet) that (a) he won’t intervene until the council has firmly decided to close library/ies and (b) that he will need to “take advice” from the MLA and, only if they agree, will he take action.
Being the leader of the MLA has described Oxfordshire’s closing of 20 of its libraries is “courageous”, this does not bode well for those (rapidly decreasing) few that see the minister as a potential saviour. The MLA actually seems to have funded the consultants who led Somerset to propose closing so many of its libraries. It seems increasingly likely from this that there will not be many (any?) government-led interventions. I hope Ed watches the wonderful “We Love Libraries” video and has a change of heart and starts acting, perhaps even over the shocking reduction by one-third in opening hours that Hertfordshire confirmed yesterday.
I would have to say, though, that I was highly amused by a comment on one news article that a library cut in Essex would result in the headline “Book Lack in Ongar”. Less amusingly, a few hours later, Essex announced yesterday that no library closures would occur but there would be major cuts in library opening hours.
Due to other commitments, I will not be updating this blog further until Sunday. In the meantime, please see the blog of Alan Gibbons for library news.
News (full list of library closures starts below links, (S) shows item added on Sunday)
Brent – Rachel Rose Reid backs campaign – Harrow Observer
Buckinghamshire – Libraries are being unfairly punished – Buckinghamshire Advertiser
Buckinghamshire –
Coventry – opening hours to reduce, more fees – Coventry Telegraph
Dorset – 13000 petition – BBC
Dorset – 13636 back libraries – Bournemouth Echo
Durham – children show support for Barnard Castle Library – Teesdale Mercury
Essex – no closures but hours to be cut – BookSeller
Essex – no closures but hours to be cut – BookSeller
Gloucestershire – Cinderford saved but fight goes on – BookSeller
Gloucestershire – 500 march against cuts – Stroud News and Journal
Gloucestershire – disappointment at concessions – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – revised plans – This is Gloucestershire
Hertfordshire – cuts in opening hours by one-third confirmed – Watford Observer
Hounslow – consultation means libraries saved, this year anyway – Hounslow Chronicle
Hounslow – consultation means libraries saved, this year anyway – Hounslow Chronicle
Hounslow – Chronicle campaign continues as libraries not safe yet – Hounslow Chronicle
Hounslow – official council press release – Hounslow Council
Hounslow – save our libraries website – Saveourlibrarieslbh
Hounslow – Anna Ford backs campaign – Hounslow Chronicle
Hounslow – Protest to save Bedfont – Hounslow Chronicle
Hounslow – save our libraries – Radio Jackie
Hounslow – save Brentford – Radio Jackie
Hounslow – Petition hosted in numerous hotspots – Hounslow Chronicle
Isle of Wight – We love “We love libraries” Video – Ventnor Blog
Isle of Wight – Celebrate Ventnor Library Day – Ventnor Blog
Milton Keynes – Read-In at Stony Stratford – About My Area
North Yorkshire – Communities in libraries fight – Gazette & Herald
Oxfordshire – We need libraries – Witney Gazette
Oxfordshire – private company LSSI “can save” libraries – Oxford Times
Portsmouth – libraries to stay open – About My Area
Sefton – meeting with Chief Exec – Southport Anti Cuts Coalition
Sheffield – council bans “Read In” – LWFABF
Somerset – two threatened libraries reprieved, one doomed – This is the West Country
Somerset – controversial online lending of books introduced (controversial as it’s feared this will be instead of keeping the physical library open) – Burnham on Sea.com
Somerset – Priorswood Library Read-In, 1000 petition – This is the West Country
Somerset – Don’t celebrate too soon – This is the West Country
Suffolk – Rosehill Library campaign – Rosehill Readers
Surrey – Molesey library could face axe – Surrey Herald
Surrey – petition to save mobile library service – Surrey Council
Surrey – Bagshot Library – your help is needed – Bagshot Village
Swindon – Volunteers just cannot do the job of librarians – Swindon Advertiser
Swindon – (volunteer-run) Walcot is not a library, it’s a charity shop – Swindon Advertiser
Warwickshire – some libraries to close (30%/£2m cut) – Coventry Telegraph
Worcestershire – Pershore library may be bulldozed for housing – Worcester News
Ed Vaizey talks to Mumsnet – “Don’t you realise that allowing all these libraries to be closed is going to lose a hell of a lot of Conservative votes?” – Mumsnet (Ed’s comments are in green)
Electorate didn’t sign up to cuts like these – London Evening Standard
Librarians are more important than ever – Metro (USA)
LSSI – turning a negative into a positive – American Libraries
LSSI – New York Times Letters – Library Journal
Mr Pullman’s compass – New York Times (USA)
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about 13 years ago
But Highland Council are cutting Professional Posts!
about 13 years ago
Thank you for linking to our campaign in Hounslow.
Over here the local authority is trying to play cat and mouse with the community. Threats “postponed” but not withdrawn, and all that.
Please take a look at our site and let us have your views about how we are are tackling this. Thanks.
http://saveourlibrarieslbh.blogspot.com