Norfolk – 10% cut in hours in all libraries proposed
Sheffield – 3 (out of 4) mobiles to be closed, 33 library staff to be made redundant, reduced opening hours, £1.4m cut

News

Are volunteers happy to run libraries? – Voices for the Library.   Councils asking communities to run libraries is the equivalent of blackmailing them.  The fact communities are willing to consider running them shows how important they are and how they should continue to be funded.

“The report, Council spending: making it clear, shows some of the biggest cuts across the country will take place in education funding – down 11.4% – and cultural services, including libraries, which will be reduced by 10.2%. Environmental spending will fall by 3.72%.” Council spending cuts hitting North more than South – PublicFinance. 

Libraries are in crisis, but literary culture is thriving – Guardian.   Reading groups doing well despite decline of libraries and may be in a small way a replacement for them.
Library cuts hit staff and users: time for action against the cuts – Socialist. Less staff and more work means less service.
Support your library, CWA tells authors – BookSeller.  “The Crime Writers Association (CWA) is asking each of its members to do at least three events a year for their local library as part of a campaign to support the public library service in the face of widespread cutbacks.”
Torture legal aid case is a triumph of the rule of law – Guardian.   The right for legal aid for “pure public interest cases” upheld in court. Witholding legal aid “the perfect cover for decision-makers to eliminate bothersome services such as legal aid, or aspects of the state that don’t fit within their own agendas such as libraries”
Which local politician is the most incompetent in terms of the public library service? – Twtpoll. Mark Hawthorne (leader of Gloucestershire) storms home with 60% of the vote.

News by authority

Barnet – Campaigners plan a picnic protest while councillors are “hobnobbing” – Barnet Today.  Protesters suspect council AGM will be celebratory banquet.  ““It seems they haven’t registered the fact they have made more than 100 people redundant, libraries are merging, the Church Farmhouse Museum has closed, Barnet Museum is fighting to stay open and lots of people are very concerned about privatisation.”

Brent – Save Our Six Libraries – Brent SOS Libraries.

Brent – £5 donations needed for library legal action – Harrow Observer.   Brent SOS Libraries set up to represent all threatened libraries.  £30,000 needed for judicial review, with Bindmans LLP acting on their behalf. Also covered by the BookSeller. 
Cambridgeshire – £36,000 to keep libary safe – Cambridge News.  Councillor says this much money would keep local library open, local observer says “I do understand the county’s position but I think they haven’t really got a clear idea about where the funding and provision for this library is going to come from.”
Cumbria – Campaigners fight to save Seaton Library – Times & Star.  Petition started by residential home manager – “She said that about 20 of the residents in the home, which is opposite the library, regularly used it. They said it meant everything to them.”. 

Dorset – Ad Lib urges Dorset Council to spend less on library books – Dorset Echo.  Campaigners say service holds more books than it has shelves to put them on.  Council leader responds in same newspaper with Council chief says good stock turnover is essential to library users
Isle of Wight – Minister calls council in over library plans – VentnorBlog.  Ed Vaizey calls in council to present their plans to DCMS officials.

Lambeth – This is not just about balancing the books – South London Press.   Council looks at usage of each branch.  Commission to look at libraries invited public responses.
Norfolk – Norfolk libraries’ opening hours cut planned – BBC.  10% cut is an option in consultation.
Northamptonshire – Group formed to fight closure of a Northampton Library – Northampton Chronicle.  Friend of St James’ Library group to be formed to fight potential closure of “least-used” library.
Northern Ireland – Libraries closure decision delayed – Mid-Ulster Mail.  Decision to be made in September.
North Yorkshire – Budget cuts deal could be lifeline for North Yorkshire libraries – Craven Herald & Pioneer.  Massive response to public consultation means councillors will re-examine proposals to cut 24 libraries. Budget cut will still need to happen at same scale – cuts could be more evenly spread out. “I expect North Yorkshire was rather taken by surprise at how much feeling there was about the libraries.” says campaigner.  Decision next week.  More info on Public outcry could save libraries from the axe – Gazette & Herald.  
North Yorkshire – Library cuts idea rejected – Press.  Liberal councillor suggested spreading cuts more evenly throughout authority.  Voted down.

Oxfordshire – Summertown campaigners “prepared to buy library” – Oxford Times.  Friends of Summertown Library are in the process of turning into a registered charity.  £7k already raised – group starting feasibility study to rebuild expanded library on same site.
Sheffield – Library vans hit by cuts – Sheffield Telegraph. 3 out of 4 mobile libraries and 33 staff to be axed, opening hours to be cut. Consultation is “nothing of the sort” says user.
Somerset – Porlock extraordinary meeting to discuss cuts – Somerset County Gazette.   Parish gains £7k from rates from library building, may lose library, visitor information centre, museum and recreation ground.
Somerset – Opening hours at Burnham On Sea library to be cut by 20% – Burnham on Sea.com.  7.6 hours less per week during least busy times.
Suffolk – New council leader Mark Bee pledges to work with communities over libraries – Evening Star.  Some closures but on the other hand not many and new libraries could be created. However, no clear news yet and campaigners still worried.