13 more libraries under threat while Mr Vaizey jokes

Editorial

The latest council to announce large-scale cuts to its library service is Barnsley, where eight out of 17 branches will either be closed or farmed out to volunteers or other organisations.  Cuts north of the border appear to be increasing, although met with massive protest, with Midlothian looking to change three branches.  Southend is also cutting provision.  While all this is happening, Ed Vaizey attended a new library opening in North Somerset and had a joke.  His performance is not amusing many people, though, with a whole raft of celebrities questioning the cuts to the Arts and his seeming inability to answer letters – a trait well known to library campaigners, who well remember similar behaviour over the last couple of years.

News

• The age of scale: Michael Edson – A great look at what is possible, and what should be possible, with great implications (not all of them good) for public libraries.
• Five stages of disruption denial – Harvard Business Review.  This is about Twitter but it might just as easily be about e-books.
• Ignoring the Evidence: Another Decade of Decline for School Libraries – CEA (Canada). “Four decades of research indicates that well-staffed, well-stocked, and well-used school libraries are correlated with increases in student achievement. Well-staffed school libraries have qualified teacher-librarians with qualifications in librarianship, digital technologies, and inquiry-based pedagogies.”
• What has Culture Secretary Ed Vaizey done to anger Dame Helen? – Independent. Mr Vaizey fails to respond to letter about arts cuts so 60 celebs write open letter.  “Whatever the merits of the arguments in the report, it does seem bad manners not even to address directly the concerns of such a gathering of worthies.”  [He has previous on this, ignoring this letter about library closures in later 2012 – Ed.]

Changes

• Barnsley – 8 out of 17 libraries under threat: Darfield, Dodworth, Grimethorpe, Monk Bretton Thurnscoe, Worsbrough and the Priory campus in Lundwood to either be taken over by non-council groups or closed.  Kendray library to close.
• Buckinghamshire – Aylesbury Library move possibility questioned.
• Coventry – Free internet access increased to two hours due to welfare changes,
• Derbyshire – Two new replacement mobile libraries introduced.
• Midlothian – 3 libraries under threat (Gorebridge to close, Mayfield to close, Newtongrange to move to community centre two miles away).
• Southend – Thorpedene and Friars Libraries may be replaced by one at Shoebury Primary School.

Local news

• Barnsley – Views of public sought on two-tier libraries – Yorkshire Post.  “The consultation documents suggest that the 17 libraries in Barnsley will be split into two types – nine “community libraries” and seven smaller “neighbourhood libraries” (Darfield, Dodworth, Grimethorpe, Monk Bretton Thurnscoe, Worsbrough and the Priory campus in Lundwood), which could be run by local organisations. Kendray Library, meanwhile, which is currently only open on three afternoons and one morning a week, would close.”
• Bristol/Somerset – Debut novel gets “Big City Read” partnership promotion – Reading Agency (press release). “Readers in Bristol and Glastonbury will be offered exclusive access to hotly-tipped debut novel The Universe Versus Alex Woods, encouraging as many of them as possible to join in a ‘Big City Read’ of new author Gavin Extence’s Somerset-based book, thanks to a partnership between The Reading Agency, publishers Hodder & Stoughton, Bristol City Council’s and Somerset County Council’s library services and local book shops.”

“We’re celebrating 400 years of public libraries in Bristol this year, so we’re delighted to be able to offer our readers a ‘birthday present’ in the form of this fantastic book,” says Kate Murray, head of libraries for Bristol City Council.”

• Buckinghamshire – Doubt cast over moving library to Aylesbury High Street – Bucks Herald.  “Moving the library from near the bus station to the bottom of the high street may make it less accessible for the elderly and disabled, Aylesbury Town councillors said. It was also suggested that the current location makes it a hub for young people.”
• Bury – Bury the latest to consult on libraries – BookSeller. “Proposals to demolish Newtongrange Library, along with the town’s swimming pool, sports centre and community learning centre, have been announced by Midlothian Council. As part of the plans to rebuild Newbattle Community School, the facilities would be rehoused at a community hub in the village of Easthouses, two miles away. Opponents to the plans – which would also lead to the closure of libraries and leisure centres in Gorebridge and Mayfield – have likened them to the mine closures in the 1980s.”
• Coventry – Libraries’ online time rises for welfare tests – BBC. “because people were struggling to complete new welfare reform online assessments in an hour. The new time limits apply to anyone using computers or wi-fi at the city’s 17 libraries.”

“You can’t double the access time in libraries which have closed.” Geof Dron

• Croydon – Council to press ahead with £3million furniture spend for new HQ – This is Croydon Today. Comment: “Well, at least the library service is safe. Isn’t it? Surely not? But they couldn’t… could they? Still, who needs any of those when you can sleep soundly at night knowing that there will be plenty of brand spanking new executive chairs”
• Derbyshire – New mobile libraries – Riply and Heanor News. “Two of Derbyshire’s oldest mobile libraries are to be replaced with state-of-the-art versions boasting easy access for people with disabilities and parents with buggies.”
• Dorset – Community to mark 100 days of running its library with World Book Night – Dorset Echo. “There will be 40 copies of The Reader by Bernhard Schlink given away to new library users and anyone who signs up as a member before 5.30pm will also have the chance to win an e-reader. Wool is one of seven libraries that have been transferred to community ownership following the withdrawal of core funding from Dorset County Council.”
• Luton – Final chance to have your say on libraries – Luton Today. “Councillor Mohammed Ashraf said: “Due to cuts in funding we cannot continue the libraries service in its present form. The vision is to have fewer standalone libraries and more in community centres.”
• Manchester – Levenshulme: no ifs, no buts, fight the public sector cuts – Alan Gibbons. “I attended a noisy and lively protest today against cuts to Levenshulme’s library and Arcadia sports centre. Led by a vociferous group of rabble rousers on a flat back truck the well-attended demonstration wound its way to the library where it heard a range of speakers. I addressed the crowd on behalf of the Campaign for the Book.”
• Midlothian – Irvine Welsh calls to save Newtongrange library – Scotsman. “Proposals to demolish Newtongrange Library, along with the town’s swimming pool, sports centre and community learning centre, have been announced by Midlothian Council. As part of the plans to rebuild Newbattle Community School, the facilities would be rehoused at a community hub in the village of Easthouses, two miles away. Opponents to the plans – which would also lead to the closure of libraries and leisure centres in Gorebridge and Mayfield – have likened them to the mine closures in the 1980s.” 2400 petition. See also Residents campaign against plans to close facilities in three towns – STV (includes video).

““Libraries are hearts of towns and villages and the only place left for real autodidacts to find information on foot rather than via expensive ­technology.” Janice Galloway

• North Somerset – No library cuts ‘on the horizon’ – Weston Mercury. “Cllr Felicity Baker, the authority’s executive member for libraries, told the Mercury North Somerset Council were not planning to reduce spending on libraries any time soon.”

“Mr Vaizey, who joked that it was nice to open a library for a change”

• Southend – New public library could open at Shoebury primary school – Echo. “A year-long review of the library service suggested replacing Thorpedene Library, also in Delaware Road, and Friars Library, in The Renown Centre, with a new centralised library in Delaware Road.”