Cambridgeshire cuts “bloodbath”, Warwickshire decision soon

 

News 

• Analysis: The onward march of the leisure trust – ThirdSector.  Review of Trusts noting that granting charitable status was (and is) controversial “by permitting charities to carry out services that councils are bound by law to provide, such as libraries”.  Excellent (rare) report describing both the pros and cons of Trusts.
• Library Association welcomes Labour’s positive stance on free public libraries – Lianza (New Zealand).  “In this time of technological change it is crucial that the principle of freedom of access to information, irrespective of format, is enshrined in law. There is currently a risk that some local authorities will treat the introduction of e-books as an income generating opportunity”.
• Morgan to be Arts Council libraries director – BookSeller.  Nicola Morgan of the MLA will be new libraries boss, seeing her job as “an exciting new chapter” to “take forward libraries’ vital and enduring role in our communities in spreading reading, learning, and access to information.”
• Parents “must let children choose what they read” – Guardian. “make sure children talk directly to a librarian or a bookseller, while parents stand well back”. 
• Plans to move gov online “lack cyber-security” says MPs – Register.  “It said the efficiency reform group should continue to make online services accessible via libraries, which have recently faced closures and cuts, as well as through post offices and other public spaces.”
• Premier League Reading Stars – National Literacy Trust.  Chance for public libraries to receive major football backing free of charge. 
• Review of library statutory duties – Voices for the Library.  Government review of all duties (including the requirement for a “comprehensive and efficient” library service) now closed.  “The greatest numbers of responses, due to the campaign generated interest, were on: planning (including duties regarding allotments), children and young people, and libraries”… “we can see that support for public library services remains strong, which is extremely encouraging and positive, but at the same time there may also be a risk that these services can still be eroded via other routes.”
• Shush No More – Voices for the Library (Nilam Ashra-McGrath) – “who will listen to these voices? Will it be the mid-level policy adviser, fast-tracked through the civil service graduate scheme, who now finds himself in the midst of the library storm with his hands clapped firmly over his ears? I hope someone’s listening.”
• Travelling to Taiwan? Free public Wi-Fi launched in Taipei – TNW.  Free Wifi in all libraries in Taipei, to be extended to blanket coverage of the capital by end of year.

Changes

Cambridgeshire – 48% cut over 5 years inc.  29 out of 45 managers to lose jobs. 
Enfield – 20% budget cut.

Local News

• Bromley – Chick lit author Adele Parks officially opens Orpington Library with MP Jo Johnson – News Shopper.  “I firmly believe that people’s lives are enhanced by reading so it’s wonderful to see this facility available to local communities.”
• Cambridgeshire – Public libraries – Meandering the Bookshelves.  “The situation is incredibly tough – 48% base savings needed over 5 years, but their remedy seems akin to a bloodbath rather than just tough medicine.”
• Carmarthenshire – Library group in cuts battle – News Shopper.   “This is the eighth fortnightly gathering since Carmarthenshire Council announced the intended closure of three Gwendraeth Valley libraries — Pontyates, Pontyberem and Tumble — by March 31.”
• Dorset – Campaigners unite to fight Wool village library closure – Daily Echo.  Campaigners say it makes no economic, social or geographic sense to close the only static library, and one of the last public services, in an a largely rural area and one which is already part-funded by the parish council.
• Dorset – High profile tories back library campaign – Dorset Echo and Top tories back plan to keep Dorset libraries open – Daily Echo.  Local newspapers report support of Lord Fellowes and Oliver Letwin.
• Enfield – Council survey shows library closures possible – Enfield Independent.   20% budget cuts means closing (“consolidating”)  libraries “likely”.
• Gloucestershire – Court Hearing for Permission for Judicial Review against Gloucestershire County Councils drastic library cuts http://tinyurl.com/66aogzy Thur 10.30am (arrive 10am as security queue likely).
• Hampshire – Streamlined mobile library service set to be launched – Salisbury Journal.  “Streamlined” means “cut”. 
• Isle of Wight – Cautious welcome for Bembridge Library decision – Ventnor Blog.   Bembridge will have maintained opening hours until end of September to allow for volunteers to be trained – already this has included IT training and will soon include shadowing of library staff.  Users group would greatly prefer council to keep lease and maintain some paid staffing.  
• Oxfordshire – County libraries need your support – Oxford Mail.   “the public need to understand this is only if we largely staff it ourselves with volunteers. This seems very hard when other libraries, which cost more and are used less, will apparently be fully staffed.”
• Somerset – Communities in Somerset planning library takeover – BBC.  Bishops Lydeard and several others about to be taken over by volunteers, with free buildings, enthusiasm and furniture but not much else.
• Somerset – Reduced mobile library routes in Somerset revealed – BBC.  “Details of the changes will be sent out to mobile library users over the next few weeks. The county council has also said static libraries which could have their funding cut may be offered a mobile library service as a replacement.”  Also Mobile library cuts attacked by MP – Mercury 24. “Wells MP Tessa Munt described the cuts as “a grossly exaggerated response to the Conservative council’s aim to cut the libraries budget by 25 per cent over three years.” 
• Waltham Forest – Churches unite to fight library closure – Guardian Series.  “In this part of the borough we have a lot of elderly people who use the library services and by doing what it is proposing, the council is expecting them to travel further away.”  Conservatives accuse Labour council of wishing to close libraries in areas where there are few Labour voters.

“Sources, from with the Warwickshire Library Service, tell me there is no news, just a lot of anxiety. But they (being employees) are expecting to hear that the library management are likely to recommend all 16 library closures. This employee has been looking at survey results and not one agrees with proposals. The majority are vehemently against where others have questioned the consultation format. He/She concluded saying WCC have been canny, stating that they want Community Libraries rather than just closing them. This may of stopped any protests – shame as libraries really are doomed.” Warwickshire – Libraries overview and scrutiny meeting Monday 11 July everyone please attend – What’s in Kenilworth.  16 libraries face threat of closure, councillors have only three days to read report.

• Wokingham – Borough libraries are owed £55,000 – Get Wokingham.  “Mr Alexander said the money owed in arrears would be taken over by the new management company along with books which were already out on loan.”