News

  • Chief librarian moves in from England – Chronicle Journal (Canada). Well-known librarian John Pateman gains new job in Canada.  “Part of Pateman’s research has been in making libraries more accessible, both in terms of how they appear physically and what’s on the shelves. “Otherwise, you’re potentially missing out on 70-80 per cent of your population,” he said. “People get ideas of not going to libraries because they feel that they’re not brainy enough, or whatever.” … ““I’ve been doing this a long time, and every five or 10 years, someone will say it’s the end of the book,” he said. “But it never happens.”

 

  • Could downloaded e-books be the saviour of libraries – Channel Four / Cain on Culture.  Expanded version of Channel Four article from yesterday. “I spoke to Janene Cox, President of the Society of Chief Librarians.  “Librarians on the whole are very positive about e-lending,” she told me, “and I think the reasons for that is that they recognise that if libraries are to remain relevant and accessible in a digital age then we have to provide our services in a way that people want to make use of them.  So e-books provide us with an opportunity for our books to be 24/7 and for people to access them remotely and for people to download them to their own digital device.”.  Interesting comments.

“The editors of Library Journal need your help in identifying the emerging leaders in the library world. Our twelfth annual round of Movers and Shakers will profile 50 or more up-and-coming individuals from around the world who are innovative, creative, and making a difference. From librarians to vendors to others who work in the library field, Movers and Shakers 2013 will celebrate the new professionals who are moving our libraries ahead.” LJ Movers an Shakers; nomination guidelines, Library Journal (USA)

“Labour have led calls for a review of e-book lending in libraries since June, as part of a wider examination of the important role libraries play in our communities.  Whilst this review is a welcome step in the right direction, it is a long way short of the strategic vision which Local Authorities and libraries need from the Government as libraries across the country face the threat of closure.  In the first half of 2012, sales in e-books have increased by 188%, demonstrating a huge appetite for them as we increasingly use kindles and i-pads. If libraries are to evolve and meet the needs of today’s communities, e-book lending must be a key part of their development.” Response to Ed Vaizey’s announcement of a review of e-book lending in public libraries: Jarvis – Labour.

  • Review of e-lending launched – DCMS.  “The panel will consider issues such as the benefits of e-lending, current levels and expected future demand, and possible consequences for libraries, publishers and the public. Although some library authorities in England already use e-lending, there is no common consensus on the best way and publishers can be wary about making their books available for e-lending.” … “A panel of experts has agreed to help William Sieghart with the review.  They are: Janene Cox, President, Society of Chief Librarians and Commissioner for Tourism & Culture, Staffordshire County Council; Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library and formerly Director of Archive and Content for the BBC; Caroline Michel, CEO Peters Fraser & Dunlop; Stephen Page, Chief Executive of Faber & Faber; and Joanna Trollope OBE, author.”

“Over 12,000 people have signed a petition to Save The Women’s Library. Join us as we deliver it to London Met Governors and continue the campaign to keep The Women’s Library collections, staff and building together. Thursday 27 September, 4.30pm, Moorgate Building, 84 Moorgate London EC2M 6SQ. Next organising meeting of Save the Women’s Library campaign: Monday 30 September 6pm Freedom Books Off Whitechapel High Street. All supporters welcome”

  • Speak Up For Libraries Conference #suflconf – ElizCro.  Excellent review of what can be expected at the conference from a campaigner who was there last year.
  • UK Government looks at ways to put ebooks in libraries – BBC.  “The panel is due to report back in the new year.”
  • United for libraries secures $75,000 from Neal-Schumann Foundation – American Libraries (USA). “United for Libraries has secured $75,000 from the Neal-Schuman Foundation to support library advocacy at the local level for libraries with troubled budgets. The Citizens-Save-Libraries grants will send expert advocates to 20 locations over the course of two years to help friends of the library groups, library directors and trustees develop individual blueprints for advocacy campaigns to restore, increase or save threatened library budgets.”

Local News

  • Cheshire West and Chester – Should Hoole Library in Chester be run by volunteers? – Chester Chronicle.  “Labour understands Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) wants to relocate Hoole library from a dilapidated building in Hoole Road to Hoole Community Centre but run by volunteers supported by a qualified librarian. Ex-Labour MP Ms Russell, who attended the London School of Librarianship where she gained the Professional Librarianship Qualification, fears a long-term plan to run all libraries using volunteers. “I think it’s the thin end of the wedge – it’s Hoole today but it could be Lache, Blacon and Upton tomorrow,” said Ms Russell, who worked as a librarian in Camden, at the University of Glasgow and for Dunbartonshire County Council.”
  • Manchester – Central Library grant to “transform” archives – BBC.  £1.5m Heritage Lottery Fund grant: “The money will go towards the library’s Archives+ project, which will create “interactive interpretation areas and exhibition showcases for rare books”.
  • Sheffield – Has council’s library review failed to spark much interest? – Postcode Gazette.  “Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that just 418 people filled in a hard copy of the questionnaire ‘Have your say on Sheffield’s library service’ during the critical first two weeks of the public consultation which was launched last month.   On average, just 15 people per library completed the questionnaire, which is available at library counters, between August 13 to 29. ” … “just three people filled in the survey at Hillsborough Library, two people at Upperthorpe and one person at Park Library. No-one at all had filled-in a questionnaire at Burngreave Library, or at the Archive service. “
  • Surrey – Volunteers take over Byfleet Library – Woking People.  “Surrey Libraries Action Movement (SLAM) believes the council has overestimated the number of volunteers it has available to run the library. Lee Godfrey of SLAM said: “A large number of SLAM members live in Byfleet and a number of them volunteer in the library so we get very good information from Byfleet CPL. I think they are overclaiming for publicity’s sake but even 50 volunteers is short of what would be considered sustainable. “Byfleet has between 24 and 40 (reports vary between these numbers) volunteers available to work in the library. “Voluntary Action Elmbridge (www.vae.org.uk) has calculated that a CPL would need a minimum of 70 volunteers consistently available for a CPL to be sustainable.””
  • Swindon – Library is more about borrowing books – Swindon Advertiser. “The library will be a poetry hub between October 4 and 9 as it hosts a number of readings as part of the Swindon Festival of Poetry. Author James Aitcheson will be dropping in on October 30 to talk about his latest historical novel, The Splintered Kingdom, and his interest in the Norman Conquest.”
  • Worcestershire – Consultation meeting on Bromsgrove Library’s future– Bromsgrove Standard.  Users “urged to have their say on plans for the future of Bromsgrove Library, which could see the current one on Stratford Road closed and the service relocated in the refurbished former Parkside School. That building would also house a customer service centre, Registry Office, community hall and offices for council staff.
  • Catshill residents urged to attend library feedback event– Bromsgrove Standard.  “More than 130 responses were received and the feedback, which has been assessed by Worcestershire County Council officers, will be relayed to those who go along to the get together at 7pm at Catshill Middle School. Residents were asked about the proposals to close the current Catshill Library, which is the most underused one in the county, and replace it with volunteer-led services based at the middle school.”