Archive for June, 2011

393 libraries (319 buildings and 74 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”). Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

(S) marks updates added on Sunday.

News

As US firm seeks to run beloved institutions, are we at risk of “barbarism”? – Express.  LSSI’s interest in UK libraries is noted, as is it’s current tiny presence in the UK (apparently it’s office is above a shop).  While fears about it are noted, some campaigners argue it could keep open some libraries under threat. (S)
At least ten arrested in Friday afternoon library cut protest in Oakland – Contra Costa Times (USA).  “The demonstration opposed Oakland library cuts and other austerity measures and began around 4 p.m. It was uneventful at first, but when the protesters moved to the street, blocking traffic, and refused police orders to disperse, at least 10 were arrested on suspicion of offenses ranging from failure to disperse to battery on a police officer.”
Localism Bill – House of Lords.  Attempt by three peers to exclude the Libraries Act from the Bill.
Running to spread word on literacy – Northern Echo.   “For the past four years, thousands of youngsters in Darlington have been rewarded by Miss Youldon’s enthusiasm through her role as Bookstart co-ordinator and community engagement officer for children aged up to seven at the town’s Crown Street library.” “There has been lots in the press about libraries. I thought it was interesting that we are looking at closing libraries in our country, when in the Third World they want to set up libraries.”
This week in libraries – TWIL (a half-hour TV show on libraries no less, based in the Netherlands but in English).  Interview with Justin Hoenke (Teen Librarian, Portland, USA).
Volunteer use “not right approach” to spending cuts” – BBC.   Trading Director of Oxfam says depending on volunteers alone ro run libraries is wrong.  Rather, any volunteers should be additional and complementary to a well-funded library service with a paid staff. (S)
West London councils combine library forces – Londonist.  “Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea councils have announced plans to combine library services, in a move they say will secure the future of all libraries in the area and one that will presumably send Eric Pickles into paroxysms of joy.” Article worries that the councils in question will be closing libraries despite combining services (S)

Changes to services

Cheshire West and Chester – Libraries may move to becoming a community interest company, charitable trust or other charitable organisation.

Local News

Camden – Gran outraged at anti-Semitc book found in at Kilburn Library – London24.  ‘Are Jews Responsible for 9/11’ book on shelves.  “As a Jew I found it exceptionally offensive, but in this instance the complaint by Gillian actually changed Camden policy. Senior librarians will monitor book orders very closely.”(S)
Cheshire West and Chester – Union fears over plan to outsource more services – Chester Chronicle.  UNISON: “From our point of view it means dealing with another employer who might seek to change our members terms and conditions or, as with Connexions, they might turn around and say we have not got the money to do things so we will have to make cuts.”
Croydon – Libraries under threat of LSSI takeover – Sanderstead Library Campaign.  Regarding Express article “Learning of dealings with LSSI being made so swiftly will only serve to raise residents’ suspicion and concerns in Croydon.” (S)
Ealing – Hanwell, Northfields, Northolt and Perivale library buildings “stay open” – BBC.  Decision on 5th July.  “Ms Brown said she suspected the mobile service had received little support during a recent consultation because it was mostly web-based and so was not completed by many elderly people.”
Gloucestershire – High Court injunction on library closure plans – This is Glos.  Cllr Mark Hawthorne blames campaigners for the cost of questioning the legality of his plans to withdraw funding for 10 libraries.
Gloucestershire – Mark Hawthorne costing taxpayers thousands – Thoughts of a [wannabe] librarian.  “arguably the most incompetent council leader in the country”, “Yes, it is costly and frustrating for taxpayers Mark.  Which begs the question, why did your council embark on a disgraceful consultation that took little noticed of the needs and requirements of the local community?”
Hackney – Support our libraries, stop these unnecessary cuts – Hackney Unison.   Members to strike over reduction in numbers (25% of staff to be lost), cuts in wages (£2000 plus), loss of paid breaks. Investment could save money eg. stop the theft of DVDs.
Hampshire – New county library service set to start – News.   1200 stops cut to 365 stops, which be withdrawn if there are fewer people than 10 per stop in one year.
Isle of Wight – Library protesters at ministry – IWCP.  “accused the Isle of Wight Council of failing to consult properly, unfairly discounting a 9,000-name petition and encouraging parish and town councils to break double taxation rules over library funding.”
North Yorkshire – Libraries saved as vans face axe – Ripon Gazette.  
Suffolk – Not for profit company may help run libraries – Bury Free Press.   “The main proposal we’ll be putting to cabinet in July is to have a social enterprise, an arms length, not for profit company. We feel that’s the best vehicle to assist people to take forward their ideas – and there are some great ideas.”
Waltham Forest – Library closure consultation begins – This is Local London. “The authority says that the proposal to shut the South Chingford branch in Hall Lane and Harrow Green library in Leytonstone is the most efficient way of cutting £1million from the service’s annual budget.” Consultation until 9 September.
Wokingham – Library outrage sparks petition – Reading Chronicle.  Protester says “I am appalled by the thought of companies making a profit out of libraries. Libraries should be for the benefit of residents, not city sharks.”.  Council responds “This plan means we will be able to save money and give a better service, so I do not know what the petition is campaigning to save the libraries from. We are still providing the service that the residents want, but it is nonsense to think that all of the services have to be run directly by the council at Shute End.”(S)

“What we have agreed is to use a European process called “Competitive Dialogue”. What this is is to ask interested parties to suggest ways of improving our library service within a given framework (including libraries cannot close). At the end of the response period the replies will be analysed and used to produce 2 key documents 1) Requirements Specification and 2) Business Case. Those documents will be reviewed and if not acceptable by the Executive then nothing will change. If they are then, and only then, will the normal tendering process start with a view to outsourcing the operation only (i.e. all assets will be retained by the Council).” (Cllr Keith Baker, Wokingham Council)

I take from this that, of course, it may be privatised but the deal is not yet done and other alternatives are still on the table.

393 libraries (319 buildings and 74 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”). Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

Age of uncertainty – Independent. “Later learning enriches the lives of thousands of elderly people. But widespread library closures could spell an end to many of these study groups”.  The U3A “requires nothing from the public sector except a level of infrastructure, and in particular, good public libraries everywhere. Taking that away is appallingly short-sighted and, even in economic terms, it will cost more in the long term.”

Free libraries from government – Orange County Register (USA).   Pro-privatisation piece following on from California bill making it harder to privatise libraries “This also is just more state meddling in local matters. AB438 also is part of the ongoing effort of the Democratic majority to protect government union jobs from being privatized – even at the expense of strained local budgets.”
The #savelibraries chat I had with Ed Vaizey at the Children’s Laureate announcement – @MarDixon.  ” Well actually I just blocked the door but it worked.  I asked him why he didn’t ever tweet me back.  He knew then who I was because at first he got defensive(ish) and asked if I have read his report.” 
Three London Tory councils say libraries will not close – BBC. “27.5 full-time jobs cut from a workforce of 259, with annual savings of £1m”.
Use every trick in the book to save at your local library – Independent (Eire).  “The number of visits increased by 13% between 2007 and 2009, and statistics from individual library services suggest that this increase has been maintained. The number of books being borrowed has also increased,”

Changes 

Pembrokeshire – CDs withdrawn.
Warrington – Photocopiers withdrawn in all libraries except Central.

Local News

Camden – Future of libraries under question – Highgate People.  “The survey found that many residents use more than one library across Camden and do not feel tied to a local library.  People under 45 were more likely to prefer fewer libraries across the borough offering better services, with older residents feeling that a local library service is important. Overall, 57% of people who responded to the survey would prefer to keep all 13 of Camden’s libraries open with reduced opening hours.”
Camden – Hand-over could be shelved: four Tory councillors force “call-in” of strategy – Camden New Journal.  ““There is a little hope the call-in will allow Camden to reconsider its decision. All things are possible but Camden does not appear minded to be sensible. Councillors have not thought things through.”
Gloucestershire – Enjoy pampering to support library – This is Glos. “”It’s just turned out to be a good way of raising money, which we will need when we take on the running of the library.”
Isle of Wight – Library supporters ask council decision to be reviewed by Ethics Committee – Friends of the IW Library Service.  “At last nights full council meeting, the ruling Tory group, following their usual non-democratic procedures refused to allow Cllr Jonathan Bacon (Ind) to ask a question about libraries.  In view of this and several other matters we are  asking the Ethical Standards Committee to investigate the IW Council.   Rather than just one or two of us signing the letter we are seeking signatures from Islanders in the form of a petition
North Yorkshire – County Council backs fair solution to libraries’ future – North Yorks Council. Examples of successful community libraries include “a pub in Hudswell”.
North Yorkshire – Mobile library stops at budget “crossroads” – Whitby Gazette.   “We are being told that they are going to make everyone redundant and get volunteers to staff it, but that’s totally wrong.”
North Yorkshire – More time for libraries plan to be finalised – Scarborough Evening News. 
Suffolk – Campaigners fight on against divestment – Tendance Coatesy.  Council still cutting budget, seeking other organisations to run libraries, wishing to avoid running libraries directly.
Surrey – Save Surrey Libraries – Save our services in Surrey. “This is only the beginning – if these closures go ahead without serious public and staff opposition then there will be a Phase 2 and Phase 3 until no more libraries are run directly by the public sector.” 
Warrington – Photocopiers axed in libraries – This is Cheshire. Photocopiers no longer profitable.  “Visitors can use scanners on computers to make any copies of documents in the future”
Warwickshire – Residents plan to run library – Rugby and Lutterworth Observer.  Robin Aird, chairman of Dunchurch Parish Council, said: “There has been a lot of support from the community. We had a very good turn out for the meetings held in the village and we received over 1,400 signatures on the petition. We are very hopeful that the county council will support our plan.”
Warwickshire – We need our books, say Whitnash library users – Courier.  “We all know that cuts have to be made and the money has to come from somewhere, but over a quarter of a million pounds was spent refurbishing this building just a couple of years ago. Fifteen hours a week amounts to semi-closure. Where’s the economic sense in that?” 
West Sussex – Big changes afoot for Horsham district’s libraries – West Sussex County Times.  “Libraries are one of the most wonderful things local government has done for 100 years, and they should not be put at risk.” – looking at co-location, increasing income.
Worcestershire – Council libraries close? – Evesham Journal.  “concerns about potential library closures has prompted people to flock to the buildings.” 4 libraries may go. Kathy Kirk of the council said: “It’s great to see so many people taking an interest.”

The news from North Yorkshire is that “only” 18 libraries (including mobiles) will close or move out of council control rather than the 34 originally threatened.  There’s been a lot of these reprieves on recently.  So much so in fact that the tally of library threatened with closures has dipped by over a hundred.  Great news.  However, actual budgets haven’t been restored.  We could be looking at a situation like that reported yesterday in the Wirral where the libraries are open but there’s no-one home.  It’s worth remembering that the Women’s Institute voted to campaign to “maintain” library services, not merely to keep them open. 

393 libraries (319 buildings and 74 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”). Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

Common Knowledge – Voices for the Library (Sibyl Ruth).  “Knowledge could be King. Libraries should be places where information is for sharing.  Only I keep thinking about those metal barriers. The ‘Keep Out’ signs. Maybe our civic leaders are in the know.  We are being kept in the dark…”
Ed Vaizey: You can run but you can’t hide (from the Women’s Institute) – False Economy.   Lauren Smith summaries the situation, False Economy adopts the library closures map.
Methods of demonstrating the value of libraries – Library of Digress.  Excellent (but academic) literature review on how one can place a value on the invaluable.
Northern leaders call for a culture of collaboration and dialogue – Guardian (Public Leaders Network).  Wakefield – “Wakefield is shaping up to meet tough financial challenges by exploring innovative ways of providing public services. It is aiming to becoming a “catalyst council” – keeping the responsibility for providing services, such as libraries, but not necessarily directly delivering all those services itself. Delivery would be left to social enterprises, co-operatives, community groups, local businesses, public sector partners, joint ventures with private sector partners and other models.”
Pete Andre and Boris Johnson launch children’s literacy project – London 24.   “The Mayor of London and the Mysterious Girl singer took turns at Botwell Green Library in Hayes, west London to read passages from Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo to a group of children.”… “The National Literacy Trust’s work has demonstrated that friends, neighbours and other community members can help parents support the literacy of their children. This is particularly important for parents with low literacy who may be less confident using services such as libraries and children’s centre”
Read-in Roundup – Screwy Decimal.  Campaigning in the USA.
Shared service push saves libraries – Local Government Chronicle.  Hammersmith & Fulham / Kensington & Chelsea / Westminster merging library services to save £1m per year, “Council leaders will vote on the plans on 20 June and say they will enable the councils to keep 21 libraries open at a time when authorities are closing substantial numbers of libraries.”  

Changes to library services

Birmingham – £200k off £1.3m bookfund,  some cuts in opening hours, reduction in library staff and bookstock.
North Yorkshire – 10 out of 11 mobiles to close, 8 libraries under threat – Barlby, Bilton, East Ayton, Embsay, Gargrave, Great Ayton, Hunmanby and Masham (may turn to volunteer-run), 16 reprieved.  £1.7m cut. 
Wakefield – Libraries likely to be run by private company/volunteers/others.

Local Library News

Brent – Library campaigners raise cash for legal battle – Harrow Observer.  “At a comedy night in Kilburn on Friday (June 10), called Stand Up For Libraries, £700 was raised for the campaign to save six of the borough’s reading rooms. While at Queen’s Park Book Festival on Sunday (June 12), £800 was taken in donations.” £7000 of £30000 needed for legal challenge now raised.
Dorset – Ten could be spared from closure – Dorset Echo. Also reported in Daily Echo as New proposals could save 10 of Dorset’s threatened libraries. 
Lewisham – Library campaigners hailed as Our Heroes – Guardian series.  “Married couple Peter and Pat Richardson have worked tirelessly to try to block Lewisham council’s closure of five libraries.”
Lewisham – Public meeting at Sydenham Library – Friends of Sydenham Library.  “Darren Taylor of Eco-Computer Systems invites all those interested in the future of Sydenham Library to a Public Meeting on Thursday 29 June.  He is happy to share his future plans for the library and answer any questions the local community may have.”
North Yorkshire – Cuts see North Yorkshire mobile library service to end – BBC.  Summary of revised cuts.  “The challenge is to keep our libraries open in a way that is sustainable so that they can grow and develop to meet future needs.”
North Yorkshire – Library closures on BBC Radio.  1:36:12 to 1:43:40 –  8 libraries still under threat but 16 reprieved, some may be taken over by volunteers. “it’s a vast improvement… but it’s not perfect”.  Councillor interviewed is keen on libraries being run in pubs. Mobiles “have reached the end of their shelflife” (£8 cost per book issued). “The important thing is to make your voice heard”.  “The status quo is no longer an option”.
Oxfordshire – Rural communities suffer the most – Witney Gazette.  “City libraries are reprieved, while rural libraries must move to being run by volunteers, although I cannot see how our very popular, small, part-time library in Charlbury, which is excellently run by our one librarian, can be effectively organised by volunteers without the help of a librarian. And there is not room to serve coffee.”
Suffolk – Plans to offload libraries are confusing and uncertain, meeting is told – Lowestoft Journal 24.  Council aiming to put libraries into a Community Interest Company.  Uncertainty in last six months has led staff to break down in tears.
Suffolk – Campaigners united to form “Save Suffolk Libraries Campaign Network” – Save Suffolk Libraries.
Suffolk – Library campaigners to put their views to County scrutiny commitee – EADT.  “It must be ensured that they are given all the information possible to ensure that they can make an informed decision. As it stands, we do not believe they have that level of information for various aspects of the consultation.”
Waltham Forest – Live: library closures meeting – Guardian. Report live on key meeting to decide if to close two libraries. Cabinet agrees to library closure consultation – up to 200 union members protest outside meeting,
Warwickshire – Libraries attract community groups – BBC.  16 groups have expressed an interest in running the 16 libraries under threat.
Warwickshire – 16 libraries under threat – BBC Midlands Today.  Piece on the closures, councillor says communities should run libraries causing report to say “when is a closure not a closure?”, local campaigner says libraries are an “essential member of the community”, Lauren Smith from Voices for the Library defends libraries from closure.  Lauren Smith has done a blog post on her experience.
West Sussex – Most villages in Midhurst and Petworth area escape mobile library cuts – Midhurst and Petworth Observer. 

Congratulations must go to Jim Brooks who has received an MBE for his work in establishing a volunteer-run library at Little Chalfont after Buckinghamshire Council decided to close it a few years ago.  This comes barely a week after the same library won a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.  It’s interesting timing (and this is not meant to be detrimental to the efforts of Jim and his team), though, that these awards are being given now that public libraries are under threat as never before and councils around the country are actively encouraging volunteers (“unpaid employees”) to run them. 

It is also interesting to compare this situation to the Minister for Libraries’, Ed Vaizey, comments on national radio in January that …

 “We [Conservatives] have never said – and it’s a gross misrepresentation of what we have said – that somehow volunteers should replace professional librarians. No-one is suggesting that volunteers should take over the role of professional librarians…. Nobody is saying that there’s a strategy to replace  professional librarians with volunteers.”

417 libraries (344 buildings and 73 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”). Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

7 habits of highly effective library websites – Lesley Thomson.  Sites need to have a purpose, be integrated, designed for the user, access anything in three clicks, use pictures, if there is a complaint it is the computer and not the user that is broken, great content, accessible to all, easily searchable and findable, constantly redesigned, mobile phone access is half as good. “I looked at a large number of UK library websites and, with few exceptions, the usability and UX of these was pretty dire”

“Well done to the Evening Standard, in London, and the National Literacy Trust for their extraordinary and brilliant campaigns about literacy in the capital. I have never seen anything like it – and it has worked. I have been in two council meetings in the last two weeks in which councillors have talked – even with some passion and feeling- about the importance of books, reading, libraries and so on. A year ago I thought I would never hear the like” Tim Coates, Good Library Blog

I really love public libraries but … – Karen Blakeman’s Blog. Caversham (Reading) library user dislikes computer errors with loan dates and online renewal, useless ID number on library card.  “Perhaps Reading Libraries is an exception but if libraries seriously want to encourage more users then they need to improve ease of use, especially when it comes to their web based services.”
Killer pets – Library Tribe.  Excellent photo of library user in ongoing series by Warrington photographer.
Outgoing children’s laureate Anthony Browne wants youngsters to keep hold of their creativity – Your Canterbury.  “Just 85 councils out of more than 150 with responsibility for schools run their own dedicated service, providing fresh stocks of books to schools alongside a range of other resources. Mr Browne said: “It’s a terrible shame. We should be encouraging libraries to become more interesting, provide more resources and be more exciting places to be – not the other way around.”

“We desperately need libraries, but we don’t need them as they were in the past 20 years. I think library budgets should go up immensely, but not if we do things as we do them now. School libraries are one of the first documented points of academic success. There’s just so much data and evidence that talks about test scores going up when you have a school librarian, not just a library. They’re educators, they’re teachers, and they’re not stuck in this straitjacketed curriculum. They let kids explore what they want to know. Imagine if the entire community is allowed to be that agile — if they can make decisions based on better information.” Preserve our dreams, Dallas Observer (USA). Challenging but pro-library piece by one of the most prominent librarian thinkers.

TEDx LibrariansTO – Conference on librarians as “thought leaders” (USA)
Veria Public Library, Greece – Winner of Access to Learning Award 2010, Greece Bill and Medinda Gates Foundation 
Wha’s like us – Scotland on Sunday (leading article).  Julia Donaldson received MBE as well as becoming children’s laureate. “For those concerned about our children’s literary future, Donaldson is the ideal champion. Not least because, as every Scottish child knows, there really is such a thing as a gruffalo.”

Change to services

West Sussex – 1 (out of 3) mobile libraries closed meaning £65k cut out of £1m cut expected of libraries by 2014.   

Local News

Barnet – Last chance to state your views on libraries plan – Barnet Today.   Major opposition to plan to close Friern Barnet Library.  Council says “Our strategy foresees a service delivered in places that people go to rather than requiring them to travel to come to the local library.”
Croydon – Message clear at Labour’s open meeting – This is Croydon today. Labour asks for cross-party commission to look at options, Tim Coates suggests cutting overheads from 45% to 10% would solve problem.
Croydon – Privatisation of all Croydon libraries? Act now – Sanderstead Library Campaign Group.  Privatisation was not part of the now ended consultation process on closing libraries in Croydon and there has been no support for this proposal voiced.
Croydon – Wards among worst in London for children’s literacy – Inside Croydon.  Literacy advisors reduced, “Significantly, there is no library service to speak of in the area. A library visit for parents with their under-11s, or for any of the classes at the schools, would require a drive by car or bus to Caterham on the Hill or Purley. And if Kenley residents were to take their children to Sanderstead Library, they would discover that there is now a children’s librarian on duty on only one Saturday every month”.  Councillor in charge of libraries for Croydon, Sara Bashford, has said that it would be better to give everyone book tokens rather than keep libraries open.
Cumbria – Self-service machines for Carlisle library – BBC.   First refurbishment of Carlisle Library in 25 years to include self-service and re-arrangement.  “The changes will allow more library staff to get out from behind the counter and really provide a service which involves interacting with library customers.”
Cumbria – Views sought on Cumbria library shake-up – BBC.  “”There are no preconceptions to this debate and we may end up with more library access points in Cumbria than we have now – or we may end up with fewer”, although 20 branches are still under threat.
Gloucestershire – FoGL fundraising campaign and legal challenge – FoGL.   Council may be in breach of Public Libraries and Museums Act, Libraries Act and failed to consult properly. Up to £15,000 needed for case as government has cut Legal Aid’s budget.
Northamptonshire – Review of library service begins – BBC.   “The aim is to make libraries more self-supporting and reduce council costs.”
Northumberland – Coffee, cakes and Catherine Cookson – Morpeth Herald.  Two-year old report starting to be acted on – cafes may be installed. Councillors suggesting increasing income by charging for libraries, charging coffee companies to use buildings, cutting management. “This is not about deciding which libraries are unsustainable and will be axed, it is about making sure there will be a library service in all our communities and that it is sustainable.”
Suffolk – Libraries: air your views on future – Haverhill Echo. “This is an important opportunity to look at how the council is moving forward with the libraries review – and give interested parties an opportunity to air their views in public 
West Sussex – £65k cuts lead to loss of West Sussex mobile library – Bognor Regis Observer.  Survey showed 30% used a static library as well, some alternative provision found for the 70% who did not.  Also reported in Mobile library cut balance council books – Crawley Observer. “I’m more than a little concerned. There are many elderly residents in Worth. The library service will stop at Pound Hill Parade and that’s a bit of a long slog.”

Donaldson backs National Libraries Day – BookSeller.  “Hooray for National Libraries Day! So many wonderful things go on in libraries—not just reading, browsing and borrowing, but storytelling, rhyme times, book clubs, activity days, author events and holiday reading challenges—and this special day will be a celebration of them all.”
Future Library – BookSeller.   New “Library of Birmingham” biggest public library project in Europe, “shop window for the city and culture of the city”.  Birmingham Council says it will not close any libraries.
Women’s Institutes joins battle to save libraries – Guardian.  ““It’s fabulous news for the millions of people across the UK that love their libraries. Libraries are an essential education and information resource. They are at the heart of communities across the country and are too important to lose,” (Annie Mauger, CILIP).

Changes to Library services

Birmingham – 39 less under threat.
Islington – Guarantee no libraries will close.  10% (£600k) cut.  May be job losses, cuts in hours, more self-service.  Seriously considering turning into a Trust to save £450k p.a. in tax. 
Somerset – The four (out of six) mobile libraries to be closed are based at Minehead, Bridgwater, Taunton and Wells meaning a reduction of 206 stops.

Local News

“If you removed every single public library from the budget, it wouldn’t affect the budget crises we are trying to resolve. From a budget point of view libraries aren’t that significant. From a point of view of their contribution to a community and health of a local community, they are enormously important.” Brian Gambles, Assistant Director of Culture, Birmingham.

Islington – Library service could be run by charity trusts to save thousands in taxes – Islington Tribune.  10% (£600k) cut in Islington library service, no closures – some job losses, cuts in hours, more self-service. Turning to a Trust would save £450k per year. 
Somerset – County Council plans to cut mobile libraries – BBC. 
Wokingham – “Council consulted no-one” claim as libraries row rages on – Get Wokingham.