Ed Vaizey”s new letter – Minister gets even more excited about “community” libraries
Changes to libraries today
Devon – consultation launched on opening hours (ends May 7th), none to be closed.
Nottinghamshire – Library opening hours almost halved (from 601 hours per week to 311); bookfund halved (from £1.6m before to less than £800k)
Sefton – 40% library manager posts cut; library opening hours cut “scaled back to 2001 levels”; £140k cut; “several” branches “at risk” (not “3” as previously listed).
Warwickshire – libraries consultation on £2m cuts inc. 16 library closures ends June 9th
Wirral – 50 library jobs cut
National and World
50 books every child should read – Independent “The authors chose books that have brought them huge joy, while expressing their outrage at the “great big contradiction” of Mr Gove’s claim to wish to improve literacy while closing libraries across the country.”
50 books a year is ideal, but why stop at schoolchildren – Independent “Public libraries, which have fed the reading habit so well for generations, are being closed down on all sides by local authorities keen to make savings…”
Libraries’ digital future – Reading Agency (via Alan Gibbons)
New letter from Ed Vaizey to councils – Alan Gibbon “Some local authorities, including several of those involved in the Future Libraries Programme, are looking at new ways of working with their local communities to deliver the library service. Others are looking at how community-managed libraries can be established, enabled and operated alongside a local authority-run library service. I am very keen to learn from and share the experiences of these local authorities and have therefore invited the MLA, working with the LGG and the Asset Transfer Unit, to gather evidence and to consider and present the legal and practical issues, and some case studies, in a guide published for the use of all local authorities. I intend to publish this in May 2011“.
US judge writes unhappy ending for Google’s online library plans – Guardian
Should children read 50 books a year? – Guardian
UK authors weigh in on Education Secretary’s 50 book challenge – School Library Journal
Local News
Barnet – library campaigner vows to make sure Barnet Council implement plans properly – Barnet & Potter Bar Times ““What we did was start a campaign from day one when they announced a review, whereas other boroughs weren’t as quick which meant they didn’t get public support fast enough.” (c. 6000 petition)
Cambridgeshire – 1300 sign up to save threatened libraries – Cambridge News
Cardiff – Marketing award for city’s Central Library – Wales Online “Events planned at the library this year include wine tasting, a dance festival and a battle of the bands.”
Devon – Consultation on future of saved Devon libraries – Mid Devon Star
Dorset – Former mayor’s please to keep Wyke Regis library open – Dorset Echo
Dorset – MP Oliver Letwin’s column – Bridport News “To judge by my postbag, almost no local topic has caused so much interest recently as the question of the fate of our community libraries”
Gloucestershire – BBC national news interview FoGL – FoGL
Lewisham – Lewisham Latest – Alan Gibbons
North Ayrshire – How council wasted £45,000 – Largs and Millport Weekly News (£45k libraries consultancy report “riddled with inaccuracies”)
Nottinghamshire – Row over “extra money” announced in council newsletter – This is Nottingham (council newsletter somehow presents halving of hours and of bookfund as an increase in spending)
Sefton – Formby Library opening hours scaled back as part of council cuts – Formby Times (9500 responses too consultation)
Warwickshire – Consultation begins over library closures – Coventry Telegraph
Wigan – Golborne library prints – This is Lancashire – 4000 petition; “everyone will be invited to leave their hand print in a book being produced by Golborne Library Action Group as a mark of support for the library.”
Wirral – Letters – Wirral News
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