The most beautiful library view in the world?

Editorial

Linda Thomas, the manager of St Mary’s Library in the Isles of Scilly has sent me this rather amazing picture of the view from her workplace window and has laid down the challenge to everyone: can anyone beat it? I’m looking for photos from your library so we can judge if there is any better view out there.  Send them to me at ianlibrarian@live.co.uk and we’ll see if Linda gets the kudos of Most Beautiful View From A Public Library or not.

Is this the most stunning view from any library in the UK?

Changes

• Harrow – New Harrow central library confirmed with lego studio: 4 libraries will close on June 13.

National

• Dementia Awareness Week: libraries report benefits of reading for people with dementia and their carers – Reading Agency. “Figures released from English public libraries, announced today (18 May) for Dementia Awareness Week, show the importance of book-based support for people affected by dementia – a need which is being met by public libraries. Since the launch of Reading Well Books on Prescription for dementia in January 2015, national loans of the books in the scheme have nearly trebled. English libraries have seen a 286% increase in national library loans of titles from the recommended reading list of 25 books. In Newcastle a Reading Well Books on Prescription for dementia title held the top spot for loans of non-fiction titles in March, with five other titles making the top 20 list. The public library scheme is delivered through a partnership between The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians with funding from Arts Council England. It provides a list of 25 titles, recommended by health professionals as well as people with lived experience, and is designed to offer information and advice about dementia, support with living well after diagnosis, practical advice for carers and suggestions for shared therapeutic activities. The list includes non-fiction, a picture book, personal stories and the novel Still Alice by Lisa Genova, recently made into an award-winning film starring Julianne Moore.”

“@edvaizey and Cllr Ian Stephens LGA visited Leadership for Libraries task force to reiterate importance of libraries and taskforce going fwd” Paul Blantern on Twitter

• First lady: Libraries, museums are ‘necessities,’ not extras – Yahoo News (USA). “First lady Michelle Obama says America’s libraries and museums aren’t luxuries or “extras” that can be passed over while money goes toward other goals like creating jobs or teaching children. “So often our libraries and museums are doing the critical work to help us achieve those goals in the first place,” Mrs. Obama said Monday at an East Room ceremony honoring 10 institutions from across the country for service to their communities.”
• Little Free Library Big Book Access Campaign – KickStarter (USA/Global). “Millions of children lack books in their homes or cannot access books elsewhere. Their school libraries have been shut down, they live too far away from public libraries and their families cannot afford to buy books, which average $10 a piece. For many families, taking care of basic needs will always win over buying books. Little Free Library® helps solve this problem, and we can do more with your help and pledge today. 96% of Little Free Library’s expenses are covered through the sales of our products. We are a social enterprise non-profit. Hence, nearly every cent raised from this campaign will help us:”
• Makers, Craftivists and Public Libraries (Part I) – Storify (Australia).
• New partnership to enhance attractiveness of public libraries – New Times (Rwanda). “For Kigali Public Library, the government signed a five-year partnership with Innovation Village, a local design and innovation company that has gone on to set up an innovation hub at the rooftop of the Library. According to the Ministry of Education, the partnerships are in line with government’s vision of creating a knowledge based economy using technology as the driving force.”
• Rise of DIY Libraries – Vice (USA). “The library model, as opposed to the standard bookstore concept, also sidelines the commercial aspect, emphasizing the power of the collective over the power of cash. “I think there’s something disruptive about the library model within a larger system of commerce or economy of books,” Valinsky told me. They’re currently preparing to set up a temporary library at NADA in May, a mega-money art fair where they will deploy their custom-designed mobile reading room, a collapsible furniture set that transforms on the fly into a mini library of 500 books. “[NADA] is an overtly commercial three-day event, [and] we’re installing this very non-commercial project as a space where people will sit and stop traffic, which [goes against] the point of being in an art fair where you’re supposed to walk around and see everything.” “
• Suffolk Library – Distinction (USA). “libraries are about making connections with people. That’s difficult in Suffolk, where three such facilities and an aging bookmobile serve 430 square miles and 84,000 people. “What if we brought the library to them?” she thought. And her pop-up concept was born. She and her staff carted books to all ends of the city, using simple materials to set up a library. To her surprise, it yielded tremendous results – one observer even called them “breathtaking.” Hundreds of people signed up for library cards. Children returned again and again for more titles. And people who’d never been attracted to books found themselves reading.”

Local news by authority

• Birmingham – Birmingham library users stage sit-ins – BookSeller. “Police were called in one instance to help disperse the protestors who refused to leave the building on Friday evening (15th May). Around 30 students refused to leave at the library’s new designated closing time of 5pm, demanding to speak to council management, according to a report in the Birmingham Mail. After police were called, two officers were able to negotiate with the group, who left at 6.30pm. A rally was then held outside.”
• Brent – Wembley Library in Top Ten UK Libraries – James Powney’s Blog. “Libraries? Following on from my previous post on the annual library numbers, it is worth pointing out that Wembley Library is almost certainly now in the top ten public libraries nationally, as predicted.  The most recent annual figures for Wembley Library are 1,169,735 visits and 177,640 loans for the year ending 31 March 2015. “
• Flintshire – Deeside Leisure Centre library shake-up agreed – BBC. “Three libraries will shut in Flintshire when a central hub opens at Deeside Leisure Centre. Libraries at Hawarden, Mancot and Queensferry will be closed under the plans agreed by the council’s cabinet committee on Tuesday”
• Harrow – ‘I got the letter and my heart sank’ – Campaigners heartbroken after Harrow Council reject business plan for community-run Bob Lawrence Library in Edgware – Harrow Times. “A community group is “heartbroken” after Harrow Borough Council rejected its business plan to save a library. The Friends of Bob Lawrence Library group have been campaigning to save the library, in Mollison Way, Edgware, since Harrow Borough Council announced plans close it as part of budget cuts. The campaigners were invited to submit their own business plan to allow the library to remain open as a community-run venture, but group members say they feel devastated after being told their application had been rejected.”
• Harrow – New library to be built in Harrow town centre despite council closing four others – Harrow Times. ” new library will be built in Harrow town centre under proposals confirmed today by Harrow Council. The announcement, which comes just a day after it rejected the community business plan to save Bob Lawrence Library in Edgware, is part of the council’s library strategy to modernise the library service across the borough … Other improvements include the introduction of a LEGO studio for children from primary to secondary school age, and extended library opening hours. As part of the reorganisation to provide these new facilities, four of the borough’s libraries will be closing from June 13, including Hatch End, North Harrow and Rayners Lane.
• Milton Keynes – Stony Stratford set to celebrate 40th birthday just four years after threatened closure… – MK Web. “Get ready with confetti and party poppers because Stony Stratford Library is set to celebrate turning 40 at the start of June and this comes just a matter of years after the premises looked set for closure. Back in 2011 residents of the area rented out 60,000 from the library as threats of closure loomed over the service. But four years on from that and Emma Carrick, Area Team Leader for the Library say she is looking forward to celebrating the services 40th anniversary.”
• North East Lincolnshire – Still no opening date as negotiations continue on future of library – Grimsby Telegraph. Scartho Library: “As reported, the St Giles’ Avenue centre closed late last year and had been due to be taken over by a team from Grimsby-based charity Foresight on Monday, January 5. However, five-and-half months after the planned opening day, the Foresight volunteers are no nearer to moving in, as legal wrangling between the charity and North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) continue.”
• Oxfordshire – Residents’ group takes council reins – Herald. ““We want to look after our youth clubs and libraries, and this requires help from the parish council. We can raise a precept and use that money wisely … “I think we achieved rather more than we expected. I am aware of the challenges that face us, such as the voluntary library. My reason for standing was to make sure more money was put back into the community. It looks possible, but it could take a while to sort out.”
• Thurrock – Animal hospital coming to Corringham Library in half term – Your Thurrock. “Corringham & Fobbing Community Forum are bringing the “South Essex Wildlife Hospital ” to Corringham Library in the Half Term Holidays … The wildlife hospital will be talking to the children about real life rescues – the hospital and how it works – and bringing along”
• Trafford – Plan unveiled to create 6,000 sq ft library and community centre on site of Hale bowling pavilion – Altrincham Today. “The proposal, which has been jointly put forward by the newly formed Hale Community Trust and Altrincham-based Hillcrest Homes, is the first significant tender since Trafford Council invited bids for the redevelopment of the site. It would involve the library facility moving to a new library and community centre on Ashley Road, replacing The Cottage pavilion and toilets overlooking the 100-year-old bowling green used by Hale Bowling Club.”