523 libraries (462 buildings and 61 mobiles) currently under threat or recently closed/left council control out of 4517 in the UK

171 authorities listed out of 206 in UK, 133 of those are on record as (at least) considering closing libraries or making significant cuts (list below news), 56 on record as not closing libraries in 2011/2 (list at bottom)
Known changes to library funding/opening since last posting
– none

Local News – all news is representative and not comprehensive
Dorset – library staff (in branches about to be closed) recognised for outstanding customer service – Dorset Echo
Dorset – library cuts “aren’t legal” – Daily Echo (AdLib campaigner says council plans would not stand up to legal challenge)
Leeds – World Book Night – Leeds Reads
Gloucestershire – campaigners crucify books in Matson library cuts protest – This is Glos
Oxfordshire – Innovative idea to save libraries – Bicester Advertiser (examines success of Hillingdon) ““About 25 per cent of people will always use libraries whatever state they are in. About 25 per cent will never use them. What we have done is hit the 50 per cent that might use them.” (same article is advertised on full front page in Oxford Mail)

Oxfordshire – Campaigners fighting to save Oxfordshire libraries from closures reject offer of “Big Society” funds – Herald Series (only 3 groups have expressed an interest, omni-present LSSI also interested)
Suffolk – “fantastic response to plea for libraries ideas” – Bury Free Press (1300 responses inc LSSI)
National News
Ancient law risks derailing councils’ plans to sell public assets – 24dash.com (if library is 19th Century, law may mean that it cannot be sold off if it ceases being used as a library, law upheld in 2005)
Big society: Tory detox or ideological smokescreen – Caledonian Mercury “closed libraries are now offered to communities to run on a voluntary basis – as if a public library service was an amateur activity on a par with craft classes, and should be allowed to prosper solely on the vine of local enthusiasm.”
British libraries soon to be taken over by US company? – ShortNews.com (re: LSSI want to take over 15% of UK libraries by 2016, introduce coffee, events and more formal dress code)
Council leaders claim reserves at risk due to rising fuel prices – Local Government Chronicle (councils need reserves for petrol, can’t use them for saving libraries?)
Day in the life of a Brooklyn Librarian – Save NYC Libraries (USA)
Lead article on libraries – Inside Out London (BBC 1:13 to 10.30 ) (inc John Bird, founder of Big Issue examines volunteer-run libraries, Tower Hamlets Ideas Stores, Ed Vaizey likes both and says of legal challenges “we’ve not got to that stage yet”)
Shhh! The noisy US revolution coming to British Libraries – Independent (examines LSSI’s plans – read comments as well)