Archive for June, 2011
208,000 Women’s Institute members to campaign for libraries
Jun 8th
At the AGM of the Women’s Institute, in front of 4500 people at the Liverpool Echo Arena, Annie Mauger of CILIP put the case for libraries. This was the culmination of months of meetings of WI clubs up and down the country where their members debated whether to support the case for libraries or not. What was at stake was whether the National Federation of Women’s Institutes would not only lend their support to public libraries but also to campaign actively on their behalf. It must have been a nervewracking moment for Annie. The picture below shows the view facing her. If she was worried, she need not have been.
97.79% voted for the motion that “this meeting urges HM Government to maintain support for local libraries, as an essential educational and information resource.”
This almost unanimous WI vote to campaign for libraries may well be very important, and is certainly at the very least most welcome, in the battles ahead as, rather than maintaining libraries, the government is standing by as local councils cut library budgets by up to 40% and more.
453 libraries (382 buildings and 71 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”)
Changes to library service
Bexley and Bromley – Merger of library services will include halving of staff including sacking of 36 staff, including all (back-office?) professional staff.
Milton Keynes – 2 less libraries under threat – all libraries reprieved from closure.
Northamptonshire – 2 more mobile libraries under threat – 2 mobile libraries (out of 4) to go. 8 libraries will be “community led” (that is run by volunteers) – these are counted by Public Libraries News as closed so they remain under threat. £287k less professional librarians, £297k less managers/backroom. 17.5 librarians left at end of this years’ cuts, down from 45 in 2008.
News
Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson: ditch the internet and visit your library instead – Telegraph.
Electric books are still books – Independent (letters). Second letter is about Brent campaign. “Brent is perfectly aware of the dreadful effect this will have on children who use their library for quiet study, as is shown by their hasty decision to postpone the closures until the end of the exam revision period.”
Government intervention crucial for literacy: Rosen – BookSeller. Michael Rosen demand Government arrange for linkup between libraries and schools.
Julia Donaldson, UK’s new children’s laureate, vows to campaign for libraries – School Library Journal (USA) reports on Julia’s first blog.
Pushy parents can put children off reading for life, says new laureate – Independent. “I have visited so many libraries in the past 15 years, and while even in the boom years libraries’ belts were being tightened, it’s crucial that their belts don’t get any tighter,” she said. “People say it is better than cutting education budgets but frankly, if you increase class sizes you can decrease them again when times are better. But if you sell a library it is very unlikely that you will ever get it back again.”
Save our libraries – Campaign Room (Labour Party). There is a petition and a chance to comment.
Women’s Institute to campaign for libraries – Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries. The WI, with 208,000 members are a “well-respected lobbying force”.
Local News
“The cuts include deleting all the service managers, all the professional librarians, all the archivist staff, all the IT staff, all the site staff and all the stock and support staff services staff.” Bromley Council and Bexley Council sharing library services will cause “jobs massacre” – News Shopper. 36 jobs (half of total) will go.
Brent – Council is taken to court for closing libraries – Harrow Observer. Council says closing 6 (out of 12) libraries is a “transformation” and that “we have a strong case and that we have came up with the best strategy in the current financial climate”. Campaigners’ solicitor says that the council has actually “swung a wrecking ball through local services with little regard to the consequences for those who use them.”.
Central Bedfordshire – No whispering, say it loud in library debate – Dunstable Today. Suggestions include different opening hours, library services from other venues and refreshment facilities.
Gloucestershire – Libraries “invoice” row continues – BookSeller. DCMS sends abrupt reply back to Gloucestershire campaigners who believe they are paying for the legal action to save libraries that the department should do. Interesting comment about Mr Vaizey’s own expenses where he ordered antique furniture for his office (although strangely it was delivered to his house).
“Dear Sirs,
Three campaigners from the Friends of the Isle of Wight Library Service are meeting with officials from the DCMS tomorrow, 9th June, in an attempt to save the 5 of our 11 libraries due for closure in 23 days time. We would appreciate support in the form of emails to djqhda(at)yahoo.co.uk. All help will be fully appreciated and a news letters will be issued in the next few days. Many thanks.” Isle of Wight.
Milton Keynes – New chapter in library dispute – Milton Keynes Citizen. New council leaders move quickly to ensure libraries saved. Consultation on how to save money in other ways launched.
Northamptonshire – Changes to the library service – Northamptonshire Council. “Customers are likely to experience some service delays” as more than £500k of staffing is axed.
Suffolk – Public to have say on future of public libraries – EADT. ““I think the county was surprised by the hostility to their proposals for the library service. I think they had under-estimated the importance of libraries to many communities. The importance was underlined by the 42,000 people who signed petitions and the 4,000 who sent in responses to their original consultation exercise.” but library closures still possible.
Waltham Forest – Proposed library closures slammed – This is Local London. “It’s strongly the view of the Conservative group that this is deliberately designed to disadvantage Chingford and the report is not worth the paper it’s written on”. South Chingford Library sits on “prime development land”
Julia Donaldson, Library Campaigner; Ed Vaizey, Woolly.
Jun 7th
Julia Donaldson, the new Children’s Laureate, is to make saving public libraries one of her key tasks over the next two years. She will be visiting threatened libraries, doing author visits in libraries rather than schools and even, perhaps doing a library tour from Land’s End to John O’Groats. She sounds like exactly the sort of person that we need doing the job at the moment. More power to her, especially as the person who should be championing libraries, Ed Vaizey, continues, in the words of the Penguin children’s MD, to be “woolly” on the subject. This, as the next sentence (in bold, with the big number at the start of it) shows, is the last thing we need.
453 libraries (384 buildings and 69 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4517 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”)
News
All aboard for National BookStart Week this June – BookStart.
Back from the field – Walk you home. Lauren Smith from Voices for the Library about her experiences for the cause at Hay.
Donaldson puts libraries centre stage – BookSeller. New children’s laureate Julia Donaldson will focus on public libraries, visiting threatened Whithorn Library in ten days’ time.
Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson is new childrens’ laureate – Guardian. “In recent months she has flung herself into the campaign to save libraries, leading a protest meeting at the Scottish parliament, signing petitions, and turning up at readings in libraries in Scotland and England.”. Also reported by BBC as Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson is childrens’ laureate. Her aims in the new job are suggested for her at What should the new children’s laureate do (Guardian). Julia has been on record for a while in support of libraries, for instance her message at Voices for the Library and her appearance on BBC on 5/2/11 on saving libraries.
John Berger, Julia Donaldson the children’s laureate – Front Row, BBC Radio 4, 1.20 to 6,50 “I’m going to do a lot of library visits, if I get asked to visit a school I’ll tell them to bring the class to the local library…”. Julia was a writer in residence at a library.
Libraries are part of the safety net, no wonder governments hate them – Care2 (USA). “If a community doesn’t feel ownership of its library, it’s going to go away. And if the people at the city and the county aren’t made to understand a library’s value for the community, they’re not going to fund it. It breaks my heart that libraries have to be fought for, that their role and their potential isn’t known by heart by everyone. But that’s where we are. If we want to keep our libraries, our libraries need champions.”
“[Ed Vaizey] needs to take responsibility for his role. It’s not good enough to come to a room full of children’s experts and have a woolly line on libraries. It’s not endearing.” Penguin children’s m.d. Francesca Dow
Changes to Libraries
Croydon – Full paper to Council on decision to invite private tender for library services.
Dumfries and Galloway – Plus one (previously no cuts known) – Whithorn Library, due to close mid June.
Islington – Some under threat (previously thought all libraries safe) Consultation, £250,000 cut 2011/12 on top of £330,000 staffing cut already made. May share services with other authorities, may change to a Trust allowing cutting of tax paid by £400k, may use more volunteers or give libraries to community groups.
Local News
Cambridgeshire – Have your say on library cuts – Fenland Citizen. Consultation starts on cuts, including to opening hours.
Croydon – Labour calls council plans “outrageous” – This is Surrey. “Under the proposals, the council would retain strategic control of the libraries but any contractor would be free to try to raise extra money.”
Gloucestershire – report from Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries on their dealings with the DCMS – “So, basically the meeting Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries had with DCMS policy officials in May 2011 WAS a waste of time. We only were invited, after spending 6mths requesting that someone talk to us, in order to shut us up it seems. The DCMS has said if we had wanted our fees reimbursed we should have said before the meeting and they would have informed us this was not possible. Well, we say to the DCMS that if they had informed us they merely sought to meet with us in order to nod sympathetically in our direction, pat us on the head and send us back to the Shires, then we would not have wasted our time and money making the trip.”. Also reported in BookSeller.
Islington – Libraries Consultation 2011 – Islington Council.
North Yorkshire – Council set to debate changes to library service – Northern Echo.
Telford and Wrekin – Targets co-operative council – BBC.
Nottingham – Children give libraries the thumbs up – My Nottingham. Survey shows how children use libraries – half used it for homework. “It is wonderful to hear how much children are enjoying their library and thanks go out to all the hard work of the library staff who organise numerous events and activities to ensure the children have fun whilst learning”
Somerset – Fresh fears raised over viability of threatened Highbridge Library – Burnham on Sea.com. Some of the people who offered to work as volunteers now not available. Local town council cannot afford the full costs passed to them from the county council.
Warwickshire – Libraries talks set to finish – Coventry Telegraph. 2000 written replies in consultation, 2000 online. ““This will be the biggest transformation in the history of Warwickshire’s library service”.
Wokingham – Libraries will not close says council – Get Wokingham.
Croydon and Wandsworth join Wokingham in wanting privatised libraries
Jun 6th
“Retired librarians working on a volunteer basis are killing their profession”
Jun 5th
“Retired librarians working on a volunteer basis are killing their profession. Where do they think future retired volunteer librarians will come from if they collude in running libraries voluntarily? These people will have to give up sooner or later.” Patricia Richardson
This point was borne out by the discussion on volunteer-run libraries on the Jeremy Vine Show where it was pointed out that Chalfont St Giles Library has retired librarians helping out. While this says a lot for the dedication of the ex-library staff in question and is certainly a help locally, sadly in the current climate, this simply encourages councils throughout England to close more libraries. So, if you’re a librarian reading this approaching retirement or, more likely, facing voluntary or compulsory redundancy, don’t consider going back to the job you love when you are “let go”. It’s heartbreaking but you would simply be helping to birth a cruel new world of libraries available only in wealthy areas, with unpaid employees – and underfunded/non-existing libraries in those areas not blessed with large numbers of retired professionals.
Library staff up and down the country are facing people who seem to think that they can be got rid of and anyone who who fancies having a go can run a library. Don’t, for the love of libraries you have worked your life for, be one of them.
448 libraries (379 buildings and 69 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4517 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”)
News
“Do everything you can to support libraries – God knows, they need every bit of help they can get nowadays. I find it incredible and outrageous that public and school libraries are being forced to close – we’ll all pay the price in the long term.” Children’s Laureate: cuts are “outrageous” – Independent.
Civil servants blow your cash on flowers, booze and gift vouchers – Mirror. DCMS spends £250,000 via credit card for flowers, expensive hotels, films.
Councils that can’t afford libraries are still recruiting highly paid “sustainability” officers – Telegraph.
Make it hard to privatize libraries, California Assembly says – Sacramento Bee (USA). Also reported in the Times-Union.
People versus the cuts (and, as ever, the lawyers will be the winners) – Independent. “Dan Corey, a solicitor acting for library campaigners in Gloucestershire and Somerset, said the level of cuts was behind the rise. “Judicial review is proving a very useful tool to look carefully at these kinds of cuts and to pick up where councils have just had one eye on their balance sheet and have tried to rush cuts through without consulting properly.”
Rural cuts in Somerset and Gloucestershire bite hard – BBC. Conservative councils in Somerset and Glos have introduced cuts (inc. libraries) harder than the ones they blamed their Labour predecessors for, citing the global recession,
Snoring snoozers upset library users – New Zealand Herald.
Supporters give “hug” to budget-pinched NYC libraries – CNN (USA).
Swingeing cuts give the lie the notion of the big society – Guardian. “We shouldn’t be arguing about whether we need libraries or domestic violence services. We need both.”
Local News
Croydon – Council’s announcement on the future of libraries looms closer – Sanderstead Library Campaign. Less opening hours and more use of volunteers expected.
Milton Keynes – Inviting ideas – Milton Keynes Library Service.
Oxfordshire – Libraries facing uncertain future – Guardian series.
Warwickshire – “Horrific” plans to cut hours at Lillington library face criticism – Courier. Cut from 37.5 hours to 20 hours per week. Computer users charged.
Warwickshire – Saturday morning review of the week – JohnnieB’s Blog. Review of workshop in setting up a community library.
Wiltshire – cutting library positions – Wiltshire Times. 10 smallest libraries will open with help from volunteers. 13 full-time job cuts, self-service machines installed.
Wokingham – Controversial library plans approved – Reading Chronicle. No consultation with schools or library users before decision to privatise approved. Also covered by the BBC.
Volunteers in David Cameron’s local library
Jun 3rd
So, the Big Society will come to David and Ed in the shape of a nearby library run by volunteers or, as one caller to Jeremy Vine called them this morning, “unpaid employees”. I wonder if either of them have heard of the phrase “be careful what you wish for, lest it come true”?
449 libraries (380 buildings and 69 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4517 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”)
News
Boris defends mayoral record at Talk London debate – Londonist. “I love libraries” said the Mayor, before ducking responsibility for library cuts across the capital: “I’ve got a situation in which councils want to make decisions on spending themselves”.
Communities, cartoons and cheese – Voices for the Library. Wide-ranging activities taking place in libraries.
Council cutbacks hit blind readers using RNIB scheme – BookSeller. 4500 out of 26000 subscriptions expected to be cancelled by councils.
“Public libraries have a vital role to play in supporting the ambition to secure a truly networked nation in the UK. They are not only digital hubs which provide people with access to free or low cost PCs but also have a role in supporting people to get online and explore all the benefits that being online brings.” Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion
Overdue: a shot of the public spirit – Independent (Boyd Tonkin). Boyd had used threatened Friern Barnet library as a child. “with every threat to a branch, some people will experience the theft of their past – and of a part of themselves”.
Oxfordshire cuts test “big society” as librarians are replaced with volunteers – Guardian. 6 libraries in David Cameron’s constituency, 2 in Ed Vaizey’s will have paid staff replaced with volunteers. Also reported by i-volunteer.
Parents must pass on their passion for books to children – London Evening Standard. “That books are available is a right of every child, and his or her way to access the literature of their country”, Michael Morpurgo.
Shared Service Map – Geocommons. Shows examples of shared services across council boundaries. Very few library examples at the moment.
“… Any author, talking to readers in impoverished parts of the country, will meet children, invariably of exhausted, indifferent parents, for whom a library opens a door of possibility. The problem with Anthony Seldon’s argument for ebooks is that it offers the perfect excuse to those councils currently dismantling and undermining the library service while Ed Vaizey, who paraded as a friend of libraries in opposition, turns a deaf ear to protests. His colleague Michael Gove has spoken bold words about the need for children to read 50 books a year, but, for hundreds of thousands of children, his words are a hollow joke as the very source of those books is closed down.” There’s more to a book than just the text – Independent (Terence Blacker).
Volunteers to run Oxfordshire Libraries – Radio Two Vanessa Feltz Sits In for Jeremy Vine (from 33.33 to 59).
can be better than thousands
of bought ones
Cuts to library services
Bromley – Withdrawing from RNIB scheme, replacing with Calibre service.
Camden – Local Studies and Archives to be cut, shared with Islington, and users encouraged to use private researcher (at £26 per hour).
Central Bedfordshire – Consultation.
Hackney – One-quarter of library staff to lose their jobs (number down from 104 to 76).
Suffolk – Suffolk capping users of RNIB service.
Westminster – Withdrawing from RNIB scheme, replacing with e-audio service.
Worcestershire – Warndon and St John’s reprieved, Upton under threat.
Local News
Barnet – Friern Barnet Library campaigners say consultation document is “slanted” – Times series. “So many friends and neighbours are shocked and angry to hear about the plans to close it and children from local primary schools are really upset. “Many local residents are also discussing the shamefully slanted consultation document, saying how obvious it is that the results are a foregone conclusion. People feel their views will be ignored.”
Brent – Library challenge – Alan Gibbons. “Brent sought to characterise its proposals as a ‘transformation’ of the borough’s libraries but in reality, it has simply swung a wrecking ball through local services with little regard to the consequences for those who use them.”
Camden – Local Studies and Archives to be “outsourced” – Fitzrovia News. Service to be shared with that of Islington, users encouraged to use private researcher instead at cost of £26 per hour.
Camden – Three librariea are told to go it alone – Camden New Journal. Three libraries may be taken out of council control, decision expected next week. ““I sent a long list out to our supporters asking if anyone would be prepared to volunteer. The response was total silence.” says one.
Central Bedfordshire – Debate future of libraries – Biggleswade Today. Peaceful protest from 1pm. “Last month when a similar peaceful protest was held at the library, Conwy County Council called the police, who decided not to take action.”
Conwy – Protesters will stage sit in at Penrhyn Bay library – North Wales Weekly News.
Cumbria – Campaign grows to save more libraries – Times & Star. Local school planning a rally in half-term to protest closure of Distington Library. [Link not working properly when tested]
Cumbria – Hundreds speak out over Cumbria libraries – Westmorland Gazette. People unimpressed by moves to close 18 libraries and to put some books for lending in local shops.
Dorset – Charmouth: library land mystery help is needed – News series. Library may have been donated with use thus restricted if council closes it.
Edinburgh – Libraries to promote services at the pub – STV. Staff to explain library services in pub on Saturday “”Libraries offer a vital service to the community so we’re delighted to get involved” says landlord.
“you have outsourced to the people of Gloucestershire your responsibilities to superintend the delivery of statutory library services” Gloucestershire – Library campaigners invoice DCMS – BookSeller. £30,000 invoice to be sent to DCMS to cover FoGL legal costs. “the people of Gloucestershire are being asked to pay for both the legal fees to challenge the plans AND the legal fees to defend the plans”.
Gloucestershire – Complaint: Misleading claims from GCC about consideration of deprivation in library strategy – FoGL. Councillor in charge of libraries, Antonia Noble, is alleged to have not used deprivation as a criterion despite claims to the contrary.
Hackney – Jobs cuts spell “slow death” for Hackney’s libraries – Hackney Gazette. UNISON unanimous vote of no-confidence in head of libraries. ““There will be hardly enough staff to keep the doors open. This is a slow death sentence for the library service.”
Hertfordshire – Borehamwood Library “read-in” to highlight council cuts held today – Times series. Demonstration to encourage council to reverse 40% cut in opening hours when finances are better.
Isle of Wight – New chapter as library battle goes to government – IWCP. “Campaigners are still hoping to challenge the council’s decision to reduce opening hours at many public libraries and transfer others to community groups, despite being told by the Legal Services Commission their case had no realistic chance of success”
North Yorkshire – Library cutbacks ease after review – Yorkshire Post. Also covered by BBC. Several other articles cover the same thing from different angles – Tadcaster library’s future assured – Wetherby News; Would you step up as a library volunteer? – Scarborough Evening News. ““I would accept a percentage cut across the board but not this and expecting people to go to Scarborough Library is just marginalising them.”; County Council to retain Ingleton and Bentham libraries – Craven Herald & Pioneer; MP welcomes revised plans for future of libraries – Westmorland Gazette.
Somerset – People asked to help fund Somerset’s libraries legal challenge – This is the Westcountry. £5,000 needed.
“By threatening things like libraries, we made people consider what they really value. We caught the public’s imagination and motivated them to come out and protest. It’s very exciting.” Jane Storey, interim council leader, Suffolk. [editor’s note – this does not appear to be a joke]
Suffolk – Outsourcing plans shelved at “trailblazing” council – BBC.
Warwickshire – Final days for library cuts views – Coventry Telegraph.
Worcestershire – City libraries safe from closure – Worcester Standard.
Worcestershire – Library under threat – Shuttle.
15 libraries saved from closure in North Yorkshire
Jun 1st
450 libraries (381 buildings and 69 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4517 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”)
Changes to libraries by authority
Camden – 7 (out of 13) under threat, to be decided on 8th June (previously listed as “some”)
North Yorkshire – 18 under threat (previously 33) = 8 libraries still under threat (previously 23 out of 42), 10 mobile libraries to go. Plans to close 15 libraries scrapped after public outcry – funding to be found by reduced hours and staffing in larger libraries, no Sunday opening.
Northern Ireland – 10 under threat (not 20 as previously thought).
West Sussex – 1 (of 3) mobile libraries to be scrapped (£65,000 “saving”). £2m to be cut by 2014 (previously listed as “some”).
News
Plugging the gaps – LocalGov. “Social entrepreneurs” have a big place in helping alleviate the impact of cutd – “It is also not just about the range of the services affected – from children’s services to libraries to leisure centres – but the scale and speed at which change is happening”
“…public libraries, especially rural ones, are the only way for many people to access knowledge, to access the Internet to inform themselves, to apply for jobs, to be a part of the world outside; the only way for older people to get hold of affordable, large print books, and to continue to be enveloped by human warmth and friendships they may not find at home, and, in turn, to keep their minds and bodies active for longer without having to find refuge in the (also underfunded) NHS. They are prime services of civilisation in an increasingly barbaric age.”“Prime services of civilisation in an increasingly barbaric age – Voices for the Library.
Three in 10 UK children “own no books” – Guardian. 18,000 children asked – 4 in 10 boys don’t own a book. “Douglas stressed that there was “no point at which it is too early” to support children in learning to love books. “It is not just something which starts the first day of a child’s schooling,” he said. “Don’t think it is basically up to the school to get a child reading. Everyone the child has contact with – parent, uncle, aunt, grandparent – has an active role to play in terms of supporting literacy.” Also covered (front page) in London Evening Standard (see yesterday’s update) and as Boy, 9, tells teacher “The only book in the house is the Argos catalogue” – Mail and BookSeller and Book That – Travelling Suitcase Library.
News by local authority
Brent – Councillor joins runners in bid to save library – Harrow Observer. £1000 raised in fun run to save Barham Library. £5000 raised to help run library so far.
Camden – Report available on the future of our libraries – Camden Council. Three options (1) close Belsize, Chalk Farm and Heath libraries plus 10% cut in all others (2) Belsize and Chalk Farm to close plus 35% cut in all others (3) reduce number of libraries from 13 to 6.
Lambeth – Residents to have their say on local libraries – Net-Lettings.
“County councillor Chris Metcalfe, executive member for the library and information service, said members had listened hard during the consultation exercise and felt “heartened that our outstanding libraries are held in such high regard”. North Yorkshire – Reprieve for libraries after public outcry – Northern Echo. Also reported as “Libraries vital to the future of North Yorkshire’ communities” says County Council – Harrogate News
North Yorkshire – New blow in Great Ayton library battle – Gazette. “Great Ayton campaigner Jennifer Roberts said: “We’re deeply disappointed at being left out. We were the ones who caused the council to have a rethink on the library situation in the first place.”
Suffolk – Ipswich Borough Council invests to save town libraries and school crossing patrols – EADT. “Residents have demonstrated through petitions, at meetings and through correspondence that these services matter to them and during the current uncertainty we will not stand by and watch them being axed.” £54k committed in 2011, £156k in 2012. Asking for urgent talks with Suffolk Council about its plans to cut libraries.
Suffolk – Princess Royal in Kessingland to meet the community – Norwich Evening News. “Despite today’s celebratory atmosphere, the royal visit was bittersweet for some with Kessingland’s library under threat of closure. While Suffolk County Council’s controversial plans to offload its libraries have been scaled back, supporters fear the village branch could still shut and staged a peaceful protest outside the Marram Green this morning.”
West Sussex – Mobile library service reduced – BBC. “The local authority said the mobile service was “convenient but not vital” for many people.” Also reported as West Sussex mobile library vehicles to be cut from three to two – West Sussex County Times.
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