Book Desertification

Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.

News

• How Twitter and Facebook helped Bing Thom design a public library – Fastcodesign.  Canadian library designed in record time due to use of social media for public consultation.  ““Surrey used to be the joke of Vancouver. Well, it’s not going to be a joke. People are starting to see that it’s the future.””
• Internet and supermarkets kill off 2,000 bookshops – Telegraph.   “Campaigners warned yesterday that the loss of bookshops, coupled with threats to close thousands of libraries as part of council cuts, will lead to “book deserts” across large areas of the country.”.  CILIP says cutting libraries can lead to anti-social behaviour.  Waterstones stops its 3 for 2 offer, independent bookshops likely to (mostly) close.
• Karin Slaughter and Lotte Sluyser – This Week in Libraries. “World famous best seller writer Karin Slaughter and Lotte Sluyser, a driving force for libraries in the Netherlands. Lotte is the Director of the Public Library of Haarlem.”
• Library media box and other vending machines – Swiss Army Librarian.  Shows several different types with pros and cons.  “Anything we can do to make library services available outside the library’s building and operating hours – in a variety of ways to meet a variety of patron needs – is a good thing.”
• Porn in US Libraries – RT (USA).  Russian TV channel emphasises supposed porn aspect of US libraries caused by constitutional freedom of free speech. Includes several viewpoints but emphasising shock at such liberty.

• Why we love libraries (and we bet you do too) – Shine. Reasons – quietness, free items, librarian advice, meet people, universal, connect to past, ownership of library card, rainy afternoons, answer questions, “the magic”.
• World of Julia Donaldson, Children’s Laureate – Telegraph. “A lot of local councillors seem scared of not being voted in at the next election if the libraries close – it is brilliant that protests are having such an effect. As Children’s Laureate I am planning a big libraries tour next year to do sessions dramatising picture books with local schoolchildren. I want to illustrate the things that can and do happen in libraries; I don’t want to just swan in like the Queen.”

Changes

• Bolton – Library closures to be softened with several 300-title collections (97.6% less stock than in current libraries) in community centres.
• Northamptonshire – 50% cut over 4 years with closures if other funding or volunteers not found.  Closures in 2013 if search not successful.    
• Northumberland – 3.4% cut in paid staff, more use of volunteers in complementary roles such as helping children with reading.  

Local News

• Bath and North East Somerset – Library survey starts – BBC. ““We’re not in the same situation as many other councils who are looking at drastic cuts and closing libraries. We’re looking to make sure that the library service we’ve got is what people actually need and what they want.””

“This is an empty alternative that will in no way meet the range of needs that local people have.  Although this is part of the Council’s preferred cost saving ‘Option One’, they have not said how much the new service will cost to set up, what the ongoing rental, staffing and transport costs will be, or indeed how the service will be staffed. Will it be by volunteers, or by existing community centre staff? This is a shambles of a proposal. Local people need a proper library service, not a small pile of books in the corner of a community centre.” Bolton – A library is more than a pile of books in the corner of a community centre – Alan Gibbons.  Quote from Bolton campaigner Ian McHugh  regarding council suggestions for “taster” collections to replace closed libraries.

• Bradford – Addingham library could be first to be run by community – Ilkley Gazette. “Members of Addingham Community Library took a step closer to running their own village library when they became the first group in the Bradford district to sign a service level agreement.”.  Building already owned by parish council so rent will be free, council will train volunteers.
• Gloucestershire – Phone box in Gloucestershire turned into library – BBC.  Yet another phone box library article.  “BT said it was the 1,500th phone box in the UK to have been adopted by its local community.”
• Northamptonshire – Library closures not ruled out without help of voluntary organisations – Northampton Chronicle.  “The county council’s cabinet member for customer services has said library closures could be considered again in 2013 if funding costs were not “diversified” among other public and voluntary organisations.”.  Moulton Parish Councillor says ““We have 8,500 students at the college, 1,500 at the secondary school and 400 at the primary school so I think we should be able to expect a library service.”
• Northumberland – County libraries ready to meet the challenges of the future – Berwick Advertiser.   ““There is little doubt the government sees libraries as a soft touch and across the country hours are being reduced and volunteers taking over from paid staff,” explained Ms Wright. “That’s the reality.””.  More friends groups, new library in Newcastle [opened in 2009].
• Waltham Forest – Leytonstone: Cutting opening hours could save library – Guardian series.  Two libraries may be taken over by volunteers rather than closed OR reduce hours in all libraries (or even stop a planned extension of hours in largest libraries).  3000 petition in Harrow Green. ““People can’t believe the council would even contemplate doing this in such a deprived area.””