News

  • Favourite stories about libraries and librarians – Reading Rockets.  “Meet Tomás who is introduced to the world of books by the local librarian during harvest season, ‘that book woman’ who delivers stories by horseback to children in the Appalachian hills, and a lion who one day decides to walk right into the library. These books will remind you of the many reasons why our libraries — in all their forms — are such special places.”
  • Libraries lobby, by Amber and Poppy Ash – MyVoice.  Two teenagers report on the Speak Up for Libraries day, including talking to an MP or two.  Excellent summary of the day.  “The one thing that all of the people attending had in common was that they valued their local libraries, libraries in general and the benefits they can bring for those who can’t afford books and those who just love to read or need access to information and learning.”

Changes
Local News
  • Barnet – Hundreds of book lovers show support for pop-up library in Friern Barnet – Times series.  “Crowds gathered to show their support for the People’s Library where they could chose from an array of 1,000 donated books and enjoy a selection of tea and cake.” Picture shows large crowd.  “Mr Tichborne has pledged to keep the People’s Library running if the council allows him to pay £500 peppercorn rent to hold it at Friern Barnet Library.”
  • Bournemouth – Quick response codes to appear across Bournemouth – Daily Echo.   “Quick response codes will soon be popping up at libraries and museums across Bournemouth enabling smartphone users to get more information at the touch of a button. Bournemouth’s library services is one of only 13 successful bids to the arts council, securing £10,000 of funding to launch the technology at points of interest around the town.”
  • Brent – Campaigners open pop up library as a temporary replacement to Barham Park Library – Harrow Times.  “We were all devastated when the library was closed and we feel that the council have turned their backs on us about the situation. The younger generation are the losers in all this, because reading is so important to their education. In the meantime, we hope that this temporary library will help keep community spirit alive, because it’s such a shame to have lost such an integral part of our community after 60 years.”
  • Northamptonshire – Community library in Northampton is alive and well after survival – Northampton Chronicle.  “A community library [NB. this is “community” in the original local and counci-run sense of the term]  once under threat of closure, proved it is still thriving at a celebration day for the young and old. The now safe Abington Library, on Lindsay Avenue, is one of 34 Northamptonshire County Council libraries to open on Sundays from this weekend between 1pm and 4pm, while the Central Library in Northampton will open from 11am to 4pm.”
  • Stoke on Trent – City library opening hours to be cut in bid to save council £100k – This is Staffordshire.  30 hours per week cut (from Bentilee, Longton, Meir, Tunstall, Stoke, Trentham and Hanley libraries) with £100k taken from budget and five job losses.  “East Bentilee Residents’ Association chairman Alan Joinson, aged 64, of Chelmsford Drive, Bentilee, said: “It’s going to make it harder for people to get to the library for books, especially if they are working. Every time I walk past the library there are always people in there and it seems well used. I don’t think they should be making cuts to things like libraries, which are a source of information and education.”
  • Surrey – Trust “frustrated” over High Court ruling as library saga rolls on – This is Sussex.  “Lingfield Library trustee John Cole has written to Surrey County Council asking to have the trust transferred to the trustees. They want to stop the council including Lingfield in its plans because they would rather run it themselves, keeping the two staff members employed.”
  • Worcestershire – Council staff could move into Kidderminster Library gallery space – Shuttle.  “Kidderminster Library’s gallery and piano could make way for Worcestershire County Council offices and staff despite being funded by a National Lottery art grant. The council is consulting until Tuesday, May 1, on a change of use to the building’s second floor, which would see 90 desks and 139 staff from adult and social care and children’s services moving in.” … ““We either make libraries like Kidderminster pay their fair share or close smaller libraries like Bewdley, which I am not going to do” says cabinet member.”.  Some very negative comments question wisdom of moving a loud grand piano more into the library and the apparent failure to uphold the terms of the grant.