News

  • Books in public libraries – Good Library Blog.  Research has shown that “the three things that most determine whether people will find a library useful and use it were ; The book stock (of all kinds and for all ages); the opening hours and the state of the building “

“what people wanted in their local library were books and newspapers to read, a library that was open and clean, safe, attractive, and practical to sit in… the smaller the library, the more they depended on the experience of the librarian to help them (except it wasn’t generally a ‘professional’ librarian – just someone with a lot of wise experience)”

  • Decline in children’s non-fiction must stop, say authors– Guardian.  “”It’s partly because of the dearth, or even death, of school and public libraries. And then there’s the belief that the internet provides all the information anyone needs.” Official figures from Nielsen BookScan show that sales for children’s non-fiction fell to £41.1m by mid-August, down 9% on five years ago. The majority of this is made up of sales of study guides – worth £22.6m – with the range of TV tie-in books on the Moshi Monsters taking the top five chart slots and making £2.2m over the period, up 35% on last year. Caroline Horn, children’s literature expert and editor of the children’s books resource Reading Zone, agreed that children’s non-fiction had declined significantly in recent years.”
    New York public libraries announce initiative to connect schools citywide to millions of books – Art Daily (USA).  “..MyLibraryNYC, an initiative that connects New York City public schools with the millions of books and other learning materials available through the public libraries. MyLibraryNYC supplements the materials available in public school libraries and will provide access to the more than 17 million books and other items that are a part of the New York, Brooklyn and Queens Public Library catalogs to up to 250,000 students in 400 public schools this year and 1.1 million students by 2015. The program is made possible with $5 million in funding from Citi.”

“Libraries are an indispensable asset to our students and the expansion of MyLibraryNYC will encourage reading and promote learning both inside and outside the classroom,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “This program is a great example of the public and private sectors coming together to invest in our children and city’s future.”

  • Putting on my hard hat -An Awfully Big Blog Adventure / Emma Barnes. “Every school should have a library. Schools make space for computers – but books are far cheaper, and what children need if they are going to read is books. Every school should have a librarian. Somebody on the staff of every school should have the job of understanding which children’s books are out there, choosing the stock, and guiding the children to the books that might interest them. That also means they need the budget and the training.”
  • Save the Women’s Library campaigners vow to fight on – Save the Women’s Library.  “The Library’s current home opened just ten years ago, with £4.2m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and contributions from other supporters. It encompasses purpose-designed collections storage, education and exhibition space, and light and airy reading room facilities.” … ““Moving the collection out of its purpose built premises on Old Castle Street will limit and reduce access to this powerful collection. “Access is about more than opening times, and we find it hard to see how current plans will accommodate the vibrant exhibitions, education and events programmes that have opened up this collection to the wider public over the past decade.”

Museums Association public opinion poll

Changes

Local News

  • North Yorkshire – New chapter begins for Ingleton and Bentham libraries – Craven Herald and Pioneer. Ingleton: “Under the new agreement with the county council, the library will be staffed 15 hours a week and Mrs Lis, who is employed by Ingleton Parish Council, will cover the remaining 25 hours”.  Bentham: “It has already delivered increased opening hours and a new homework club and further developments could be achieved with more volunteers. “
  • Sheffield – Deadline to have your say on future of Southey library – Postcode Gazette.  “Under proposals made by Sheffield Council people could see library hours reduced or in some cases closed. ” … “Coun Mazher Iqbal, Sheffield City Council’s cabinet member for communities and inclusion said “Libraries have over the years developed into much more than book lending centres and offer a range of learning, creative and information sharing opportunities.  “We want to ask local people what library services they want now and in the future, that will help us shape them”