One visitor in 2012 for every five last year: Blackheath Library one year on
News
- Learn to read from a Wookiee – StarTribune (USA). “Don’t be surprised if you see Imperial Stormtroopers, Jedi, Rebels or various configurations of R2-D2s on the streets of America on Saturday. They will be enjoying Star Wars Reads Day at your local libraries, schools, independent bookstores, Barnes & Nobles and Books-A-Million.”
- Libraries for Life for Londoners – This London-wide group of public library supporters are seeking new members. Membership is £10 for a group, £5 for an individual.
Library Services (Cheshire West and Chester Council) [NB. Be nice about this video as I was involved in making it and, indeed, have a cameo in one scene – Ian).
- Morpurgo: “library closures impoverish the intellect” -BookSeller. “Echoing comments from the current children’s laureate Julia Donaldson, who has frequently criticised library closures, the War Horse author said: “To close a library is to shut off an opportunity, perhaps the only opportunity for some, to knowledge and understanding. It is to impoverish the intellect and starve the emotions.” He added: “In a civilised society, the availability of literature for everyone is a right, not a privilege.” Morpurgo was speaking in an interview to The Bookseller’s sister publication We Love This Book.“
- Support libraries in the UK -Save Kensal Rise Library. “We are delighted to announce that the partnership between Bilbary and Kensal Rise Library is now active.This groundbreaking collaboration will promote and encourage reading by providing access to over 300,000 of e-books available via e-readers, computers, tablets and smart phones.Bilbary, an online ebook service (run by Tim Coates former MD of Waterstones and respected library campaigner and advocate) is running in the USA and will now operate through Kensal Rise Library in the UK.50% of revenues raised through our website www.savekensalriselibrary.org will go to our library.”
- Using video to promote your public library – Marketing News for New Jersey State Librarians (USA). “Easy-to-use and inexpensive video cameras and editing tools have made video creation much more accessible. You can create a video simply using a smartphone, but public libraries have other options as well. If you don’t have the funds to hire a video company, consider tapping students in film school. Often, students will be looking for subjects and topics that will help them meet the requirements of a class or add to their portfolio.”
- Women’s Library: this is no “abduction” – Guardian / Letters. ” it is mistaken to regard the move to LSE as an “abduction” – “abandonment” by London Met might be better, since London Met can no longer afford to maintain it, and LSE will be rescuing it.” … “I can’t imagine what sort of bid could be cobbled together at this stage which could incorporate a self-standing building with the associated running costs. At the time the library was built we estimated that to be self-sufficient would require an endowment fund of over £12m – I suspect that it would need considerably more now.”
Changes
- Bexley / Bromley – Join London Libraries Consortium.
- Sefton – Up to 10 libraries under threat (inc. Ainsdale, Aintree, Birkdale, Bootle, Churchtown, Crosby, Formby, Litherland and Orrell). Closing seven (the preferred option) would be a cut of £450k.
Local News
- Bexley / Bromley – Library cards accepted in 180 branches – News Shopper. “Bexley and Bromley councils will become the 16th and 17th members of the London Libraries Consortium when they join in January next year. This will give residents access to the stock in both boroughs with one library card as well as access to more than six million items from 180 library branches across London. The new library management system is underway and is expected to be completed early next year.”
- Croydon – Labour push for rethink for libraries – This is Croydon Today. Labour councillors are trying to “persuade the council to rethink its plans to cut funding for Upper Norwood Library are being taken tonight (Friday). Labour opposition members have called in the cabinet decision on the future of the library and it will be discussed by the scrutiny and overview committee.”
- Amazing scenes in Croydon Town Hall: Legal challenge over library? – News from Crystal Palace. “As the meeting neared its end after almost three hours of questions and debate Cllr Hollands repeatedly threatened to clear the public gallery following continued verbal criticism from library campaigners and supporters.Cllr Hollands, withdrawing a Labour recommendation to ask the cabinet to give the library funding beyond two years and which he had initially agreed to support, announced: “The gallery has caused that. “The recommendation has been lost.”He then announced: “The meeting is closed.” No vote of any sort had been taken.” … “As far as Upper Norwood folk are concerned the Conservative Parliamentary candidate won’t just be picking up the proverbial poison chalice. They will be picking up a chalice which is totally toxic…….”
- Leicestershire – Refuges created for vulnerable – This is Leicestershire. “North West Leicestershire District Council is setting up Keep Safe Places in libraries and town centres. The idea is to have places to reassure people who are vulnerable, upset, scared or distressed. As well as all libraries and the district council offices in Coalville, Keep Safe Places are to include Hermitage FM community radio’s coffee lounge and at the Marlene Reid Centre, in Belvoir Road, Coalville.”
- image from Lewisham – Blackheath’s library: lowest number of visits in Lewisham – Blackheath Bugle. Usage in ex-council library has plummeted. “For every one person that walks into the current library, more than five people walked into the old one in 2011. The old library which is now a private school.”
- North Yorkshire – Get connected at the local library – Selby Times. “Get Online Week is part of the UK Online centre’s campaign to encourage people to give computers and the Internet a go. Friendly and informative library staff will be on hand to facilitate and assist anyone wishing to explore information and help navigate relevant websites. The scheme runs from Monday October 15 to 22 and all libraries in the East Riding are taking part. It doesn’t matter if you have never even touched a computer before or if you already know a little bit, everyone is invited along to drop into their local library for free sessions and you can progress onto free online courses should you want to.”
- Sefton – Council to axe between seven and ten libraries – Southport Visiter. “ouncil is set to axe up to 10 of its 13 libraries in a shock cost-cutting move. Sefton bosses are debating options that would lead to a massive and hugely controversial cull of facilities. Communities across the borough today reacted with shock at the disclosure, with opposition councillors warning of “cultural vandalism”.”
- Staffordshire – Survey to improve the library service – This is Tamworth. “bookworms are being asked to take part in a survey as part of a continuous drive to review and improve the town’s library services. Staffordshire County Council is inviting adult library goers to complete the Adult Public Library Users Survey (PLUS), which is conducted every three years.”
- Suffolk – Group pledges to help its library – Bury Free Press. “the Friends of Mildenhall Library decided to form a group to safegaurd the library and help it grow. Tom Caple, who organised the meeting, said: “I have always seen it as more than a place where you keep books and computers and DVDs it is very much something around which a community can gather.” … “in future years the funding given by Suffolk County Council could leave a £100,000 short-fall and that groups set up in support of the county’s libraries may play a role in plugging the deficit. “
- Surrey – Second Surrey library taken over by volunteers – BBC. “The New Haw branch is the second of 10 libraries becoming volunteer-run. The council said it was continuing to provide the libraries’ buildings, books, computers and free wi-fi. The Conservative-run Surrey County Council’s original blueprint was regarded as a way of keeping all 52 of the county’s libraries open, while helping save up to £381,000 a year”
- Wakefield – Libraries cut-off looming – Express series. “As part of Wakefield Council’s plans to create hub libraries, many of the area’s services are being off-loaded. Groups have until October 31 to submit plans. The council is offering support and access to a one-off fund that will help them with initial start-up and development. To request an application form email libraryconsultation@wakefield.gov.uk or call 01924 305068.”
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about 12 years ago
Oh please.
More of the same. While I don’t feel that cuts need to be made, cuts have to be made by councils because the government has cut their grants.
This means that they have to make tough decisions.
One of the tough decisions Lewisham had to make was which services to close. Yes, they shut Blackheath library, but the fact of the matter is that it was based in a commercial premises which meant they were shipping a ton of cash.
The other fact of the matter is that Blackheath library is a mere 15 minute walk or 25 minute bus trip from the recently refurbished Manor house library.
In any case, even considering the presence of alternative excellent libraries there is still a library facility of sorts at the Age Exchange.
Lewisham have done damn well considering the level of cut they have had to make, and simplistic, ill informed “oooh, look visits to Blackheath have gone down” stories do not even scratch the surface of the actual situation.
For those moaning –
Is the solution really that bad? Can you not get to Manor House (or even the Central Library) if the Age Exchange facility is not good enough for you?
Secondly, if the situation is that bad, can you suggest what you’d cut instead please? Schools, social services, parks, road repairs? What should Lewisham prioritise its 28% less money on to keep paying a commerical rent at the Blackheath library?
about 12 years ago
Ian, you sad, sad man. The blasted building is being refurbished! Of course the issues and visits are down. You really need to get out more!
about 11 years ago
Thank for the comment – well, OK not a great deal of thanks as it’s not nice being told that (a) someone doesn’t like you and (b) that one is sad. But, you know, you’re probably right on the important points. I fear that spending so much time collating public libraries new does indeed make me “sad” in at least two different ways. In my defence, it does appear to be making a difference and I get many many people telling me how useful it is.
That is great news that Blackheath Library is being refurbished – any more info on that would be appreciated. This whole blog won’t be so used if it shows just one side (hence pages on new libraries, investment etc). Any news you have, good or bad, is welcome. Direct personal insult, though, perhaps less so.
about 11 years ago
While I reject the unpleasant comment that follows mine, Ian, I think that there is an issue with the constant reposting of any story to do with libraries, especially if those that emanate from the rag bag of library campaigns that are local and usually only have one thing in common – that the shutting of a particular local library is a Bad Thing.
The reasons for closing libraries are varied and need to be considered on a case by case basis before unthinking posting of stories about libraries. There is a very good reason for the former Blackheath Library to be closed. It was a commercial premises on which the council were paying a huge rent. Given the proximity of excellent other libraries, you could see a case for the closure of this library even without the need to save money.
The issue in Lewisham is that the story of what is happening here is refracted through the prism of one or two very high profile local campaigners who do not engage with the realities of the local situation, but who have either prominent local blogs and in many cases the national press on their side. Thus, sensible debate about local realities becomes almost impossible.
Sadly, the national debate about libraries is just a bigger version of this. The “every library closure is bad” response, which is nothing more than an agglomeration of myriad local campaigns, ignores the reality that councils just don’t have the money to keep facilities open, and have to face hard choices about what services they shut and what they retain.
Where councils try to overcome the funding shortage through a different way of doing the business, be it voluntary libraries or outsourcing or whatever, these approaches are dismissed out of hand by library campaigners who call instead for the status quo ante, failing to recognise that the cuts they oppose simply happen to other services. Some of those other cuts will fall on services that vulnerable people rely on. It is actually not easy to close a library, as the experience of Suffolk or Somerset has shown. People think libraries are a soft option. They’re not. Vocal middle class campaigners appear at every turn. They fund court cases. They have friends in the culture pages of newspapers.
On the other hand, it’s very easy to reduce domiciliary care. It’s very easy not to refurbish the playground. it’s very easy not to resurface the side roads. It’s easy to leave the grafitti on the walls.
Why don’t library campaigners accept this reality and try and help forge the solutions that might help libraries exist through the funding cuts? Why is every alternative dismissed out of hand?
Now, you might well retort that we should not accept the funding cuts, and I’d agree with you. They have plunged the nation back into recession. But the problem is this, every major party will introduce cuts.
So, do we fight the cuts (which isn’t really a libraries issue) or do we try and do something to keep our libraries open which might be this – we don’t fight the battles that are pointless but make us feel better, instead we find ways to make sure that we actually have libraries moving into the future.
about 11 years ago
I have several thoughts on the above:
– Firstly I think it is poor of the above person to refer to the writer as a sad man. Is it really ‘sad’ to stand up for what you believe in? This website does a great job in highlighting the failures by councils like Brent to protect the interests of their residents and provide decent services. I’ve seen this blog highlighted in NATIONAL media. Not a bad achievement.
– As for SE London resident – any chance you’re a councillor in Lewisham? I’d hardly describe the remaining Lewisham service as excellent either. For instance those in Sydenham or Crofton Park are now miles from their nearest library. Manor House is relatively small and I always need to order books in from boroughs like Redbridge. Downham, despite costing thousands, again doesn’t have much in terms of book selection either, and make things worse there is no study space in there as such. Lewisham didn’t consider many options either – it was shut 5 or 0. Why not follow the tracks of Camden and close a few (eg Grove Park needed closing) and cut the excessive opening of Downham as well? Deliberately Poor decisions made by councillors only interested in protecting Miliband and the rest of the Labour Party.
– I’d hardly call this silly either. People should be questioning the motions of councils when they are spending my (and other taxpayers’) money. It’s called a democracy.
about 11 years ago
I don’t know the facts of the case discussed above so I won’t pass comment. What I do this is that both “SE London resident” and “I don’t like Ian Anstice” are both councillors and clearly and it should be you in the front line saving services rather than attacking those who are doing your job for you. No point whinging about the budgets being cut, we are one of the richest countries in the world and if we cannot afford to have literate citizens then you and the rest of the political class are failures.
p.s it shows how incompetent the DCMS, ACE etc are when one man who is dedicated to the idea and ideals of libraries is having to do their job for them.
about 11 years ago
And there is the reason why I am posting anonymously. I am not a councillor in Lewisham or anywhere. Neither do I work for Lewisham. I live there. I use the libraries there. As do my children.
Just because I express a view which might be a bit different to that held by Mr Craig and “Bromley Resident” (not a Lewisham Resident, I note) does not mean I need to be moved into the box marked “enemy” and condemned accordingly. That response is as objectionable as the unpleasant posting from “I don’t like Ian Anstice”.
And, in any case, Mr Craig didn’t actually read my posting before posting his, obviously. If he had done, he would have noted that I do not agree with the cuts – in fact, I oppose them. However, I posted that without a change in the policy of the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, there will be cuts. I am merely observing that this is the hand that local councillors have been dealt and that in light of this the “not a single library must close” is a completely unsustainable argument.
Not that Mr Craig picked up that part of my posting, he was too busy making incorrect assumptions and engage in playground abuse.