Join the library profession: get more than half your student debt written off.
The BBC Student finance calculator above at last provided some good news for those fancying a career in librarianship. Choose “librarian and related professions” from the options and, assuming one goes for a £9000 loan each year, you will get more than half your debt written off after a mere thirty years. This is not (and I know this will come as a surprise to few of you) due to some enlightened government policy to encourage literacy and free access to information. Nope, it’s simply because you’re never going to earn enough in the profession to pay it off. The machinery of the calculator is not clear but one likes to think that it has factored in mass cuts in public services and a move towards paying anyone in public libraries not just low wages but nothing at all, let alone not enough to pay back a loan. Much of the media is very keen on pointing out the high pay of those in the public sector but always seem to concentrate on Chief Executives and not on the pay of the front-line staff that are being cut… but the BBC student finance calculator doesn’t lie.
(With thanks to @melissaterras)
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. 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
- ACE publishes first library strategy document – BookSeller. “Culture, Knowledge and Understanding: Great Museums and Libraries for Everyone is said by ACE to be designed to provide certainty about which programmes ACE will run in 2011-15, including the Future Libraries Programme, and to solicit further debate about the directions the body should take in the long term.”
- Afictionado – “a fresh new website where you can borrow ebooks for your computer, tablet, smartphone or ebook reader; the freedom to read anything, anytime, anywhere”. Unrelated to the recent Amazon lending ebooks suggestion.
- Axiell’s 2011 Symposium: “Rethinking libraries?” tackles current and future challenges – BookTrade. “‘Rethinking Libraries?’ is the theme of Axiell’s third symposium; speakers from the UK, Scandinavia and USA will address key challenges such as improvements in efficiency, opportunities for savings and scope for reorganisation.”
- Ban on sex offenders entering public libraries may be unconstitutional – Metro Pulse (USA). “No guns, no pervs: Knox County has instituted a new ban on library access for registered sex offenders.”
- Eight year old boy sent threatening letter on debt collectors about overdue library book – Telegraph. “The letter stated that Jamie should return the book – which should have been returned on August 11 – immediately, but added: “If you believe that you no longer have these items, please contact the library immediately, as you may be referred to a Debt Collection service.”
- End of books: Ikea is changing shelves to reflect changing demand – Centered Librarian. “If you needed any more proof that the age of dead-tree books is over take a look at these alarming style changes at Ikea: the furniture manufacturer’s iconic Billy bookcase – the bookcase that everyone put together when they got their first apartment and, inevitably, pounded the nails wrong into – is becoming deeper and more of a curio cabinet. Why? Because Ikea is noticing that customers no longer buy them for books”
- Guardian and Observer Bookswap: how to take part – Guardian.
- New library hours could shut out public – Leinster Leader (Eire). “that while some additional community services are to be provided, it could mean that the libraries will be closed for up to half a day, every day of the week.”
- New safeguards for library privatization protect the public – California Progress Report (USA). “An example of a deal gone bad is the city of Santa Clarita, which recently handed over control of its libraries to a private entity and the decision has already cost the city $12 million more than anticipated. “. Useful checklist for those facing privatisation.
- Society Daily 15/9/11 – Guardian. “Libraries. Chris Addison has reposted a piece from Public Libraries News on his blog, which perfectly puts the case against library closures:”… there are a lot of uninformed opinions about public librraies…” [included here both due to need to provide completeness and to satisfy ego].
- Sweetest thing ever: selling cookies and lemonade for libraries – NYPL (USA). ““I personally can’t quite get over the magic of the library. You can just take books- for free!” How great is that?”
“We’re nearly 96! Help protect local library services and celebrate the WI’s birthday by signing our petition” WI Institute Tweet.
Changes
- East Sussex – Seaford Library to be temporarily closed while new library (merged with day care centre and supported living flats for adults with learning difficulties).
- Newham – Stratford children’s library to be reduced
- Northern Ireland – Downpatrick Library to cut by 13.5 hours per week to 40 hours per week.
Local News
- Angus – Council plan library grab – Scotsman. “Bob Spink, an independent councillor for Arbroath, will challenge Angus Council’s plans to take over the ownership of the library, gifted to the town by a former Provost, as part a major review of the Common Good Funds in the area.”
“Barnet’s gung-ho approach to shoving its libraries into other people’s buildings, whether they want them or not, must also call into question plans approved in July to close North Finchley and Friern Barnet libraries. They justified the move with plans to open a new library in Artsdepot, an arts centre and theatre atop the local bus station. While Barnet claims Artsdepot (which gets only a small amount of funding from the council) is “positive about the extra footfall it will create”, when the centre was being built in 2002, a £100,000 consultancy report discussing whether to add a library concluded it would be too expensive.” Barnet: Library News – Private Eye (via Alan Gibbons).
- Bolton – Question Time-style debate on libraries – Bolton News. “At 7pm, a Question Time-style debate will be held at Bolton Central Library lecture theatre as politicians and campaigners come head to head to discuss the town’s underthreat libraries.”
- Croydon – Outsourcing: a real threat to Croydon’s libraries – That Woman’s Blog. 6 libraries were in consultation process yet all 13 will be privatised, consultation flawed and parts of it ignored by council, staff drastically reduced this year in order to make deal more appetising for tendering companies, council has failed to listen to users despite promises.
“The decision to ‘market-test’ all 13 libraries was taken on the basis of the ideas of just 412 replies, recorded as “Explore links with commercial businesses i.e. outsourcing, sponsorship, advertising, cafe, retail”. No breakdown was recorded as evidenced by the refusal of the FOI request so those who offered ideas of efficiencies such as seeking sponsorship or adding a cafe have effectively had their suggestion counted as a vote for outsourcing.” Croydon – That Woman’s Blog
East Sussex – Seaford: new library plan unveiled – Eastbourne Herald. “The planning application, submitted by East Sussex County Council, includes a new library, day care centre and supported living flats for adults with learning difficulties. The plans include demolishing the existing library for the new build at Warwick House in Sutton Park Road and a temporary library at the Elm Court site in Blatchington Road. If the £6 million scheme goes ahead it will see facilities relocated from Homefield Place, a county adult social care facility.”
Edinburgh – New library scheme goes by the book – Edinburgh Evening News. “A NEW library and community centre being built in Drumbrae is on schedule to be completed in November.”
Newham – Save Stratford children’s library – GoPetition. “The children’s library at Stratford Library is a vital community resource and an important and necessary investment in the children and young people of our community, where children from babies to teens gather to read, explore, and learn. Current plans will drastically reduce the size of this space after a six-month closure from 1st October 2011. The community was not consulted in the plans for our library.”
- Norfolk – Youngsters celebrate completing reading challenge at Norwich Library – Norwich Evening News. “More than 10,000 youngsters across the county took part in this year’s challenge, which included circus workshops and events held in Norfolk libraries to encourage children to sign up and enthuse them about reading.”
- Northern Ireland – Library hours cut to limit history resource access – Belfast Telegraph. “Libraries NI are now proposing to reduce the opening hours of a number of libraries across Down District but particularly Downpatrick Library, which presently houses the core Co Down historical collection in the Heritage Gallery…”
- Oxfordshire – Volunteers’ concern over Sonning Common library – Get Reading. “Campaigners have urged town hall bosses to change proposals to keep Sonning Common Library open amid fears they will not be able to find enough volunteers to run the service…. More than 100 protesters packed into Sonning Common Village Hall in Wood Lane on Monday evening to discuss the plans, which they described as “deeply flawed”…”“If a volunteer model is confirmed to be the only way forward then this too should be one which deploys volunteers in all libraries on a proportional basis and irrespective of location.””
- Staffordshire – County Council claims it’s set to save millions of pounds in taxpayer’s money – Birmingham Mail. ““We’re taking out hierarchies and ensuring that those who lead the new teams take on more responsibility and accountability. And it’s working.” … ““While other councils are cutting libraries and bus services, Staffordshire is working with local communities and is responding to local priorities, innovating to meet real needs and reshaping services to respond to financial pressures.”
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