A look into the past with Newcastle libraries chief explaining the strategy before the cuts hit and a challenge on library RFID are the two notable items today.

News

#Save Libraries – Once upon a time – Youtube.  Sad, seasonal and contemplative video on public libraries.

Local News

  • Barnet – Judge to decide on library squatters on Tuesday – Barnet Today.  “At 12pm on Tuesday a judge will rule on whether to grant Barnet Council a possession order allowing it to take back control of the building on Friern Barnet Road, which has been run as a community library since September. During today’s hearing representatives of the library occupiers, who include local residents and members of the Occupy London protest movement, argued that forcing them out of the building would infringe on their right to protest and that they have an informal licence to use the building. “
  • Brent – Campaigner donates Christmas tree to Barham Community Library – Brent and Kilburn Times.  “Friends of Barham Library (FOBL) brightened up Wembley High Road by displaying their own Christmas tree outside their community library which was donated by Cllr Paul Lorber, leader of Brent’s Liberal Democrat and a member of the campaign group.”
  • Croydon – Judicial review: Save Croydon Libraries – Stop the privatisation of public libraries.  Appeal for people to help with judicial review against the takeover of Croydon libraries by private company Laing (JLIS).
  • Edinburgh – Library damage missed during work to refurbish building – Scotsman.  “Morningside library had been reopened by Edinburgh author Alexander McCall Smith on December 16 last year after a revamp which provided modern interior design and shelving, soft seating, a cafe area, study space, community rooms, a computer learning centre, and new and improved areas for children. Work was also done to upgrade the library roof and belltower. However, less than a year after it reopened it has been forced to close after dry rot and fungal growth were found in the building’s front.”
  • Middlesbrough – Hemlington library closure would be “tragic” – BBC. “”It’s so important for the area, providing one of the cheapest forms of entertainment and escapism, it’s a portal to knowledge for the young, old and low on cash, and a meeting point for the community.”

Newcastle – Tony Durcan of Newcastle City Libraries – Officer in charge of libraries interviewed for the MLA before the cuts hit explaining the strategy behind the then new City Library and other reforms within the council’s library service.

  • Newcastle – Save Newcastle Libraries  – New website for the Newcastle campaign group.
  • Arts cuts are disastrous – Guardian.  Detailed piece on the cuts.  The thing that is most scary is that the Council points out it is one of the few to do a three year plan – other councils are doing it year by year – so its cuts may be a truer picture of what will happen by 2015 than that suggested so far in many other areas.