Culture officially becomes a public library universal offer
Editorial
Culture has officially joined Learning, Information, Reading, Digital and Health as public library universal offers. Some more information, a photo and a video from the minister are below. Ever since Arts Council England took over from the MLA back in 2010 as the agency responsible for government grants to libraries, this has probably been on the cards. There’s a ton of shows, ACE funded or otherwise, now playing in libraries and I suspect that is only going to increase with the Society of Chief Librarians becoming a Sector Support Organisation for ACE. The challenge this brings, with there now being six Offers, is for the key messages of why we use libraries to be clear. We’ve always suffered a little from being Jack of All Trades and now, officially, we have another trade. And what a trade. Those shows can be beguiling, and more than a little time-consuming and distracting. But they can also be wonderful. It’s up to SCL to ensure it’s all to the good.
On an entirely different matter, it was great to see a particularly annoying internet troll who decided to take on libraries being rounded upon and shown the error of his ways. More below.
Changes
- Midlothian – 7 out of 8 under threat, £240k cut, 30 FTE job losses. Petition.
- Warrington – Post office may move into Burtonwood Library.
SCL Launch of Culture Offer
Minister for Libraries, John Glen, launches the SCL Culture Offer
SCL launches the Universal Culture Offer today at the Central Library in Hull, City of Culture 2017. This new offer seeks to build on the excellent work already happening in libraries to bring new and diverse cultural experiences to local communities. Public libraries have a key role in developing the audiences for arts and culture around the country. In libraries people can try out and learn new creative skills. They can experience performance, visual arts, digital arts and meet actors, dancers, poets, writers who excite, inspire and challenge.
In 2012 Arts Council England became the development agency for libraries and this became the catalyst for library services to further explore the potential for arts and cultural activities within libraries. The Culture Offer has been developed for SCL by Meta Value, following detailed consultation with the library sector, stakeholders and partners. It is the latest in a suite of programmes which together develop and promote the role of a modern public library service.
‘As the development agency for libraries, the Arts Council has been funding cultural activity in libraries for many years and, in 2018, seven library organisations will join our national portfolio for the first time. We are absolutely committed to supporting communities to experience the best of arts and culture wherever they live and we know that libraries act as community hubs providing access to creative experiences, inspiration and knowledge in a trusted environment. I’m delighted to launch this Culture Offer in Hull and look forward to seeing how partnerships develop and the diverse cultural opportunities it will help bring to people across the country.’ Darren Henley OBE Chief Executive of Arts Council England
‘We are delighted to be launching the Culture Offer at a time when libraries are playing an ever stronger role in the cultural life of the nation. Many library services have received Arts Council England funding in the last five years and next year, six library services will become Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations. We know that the cultural offer will play a significant part in libraries’ development over the next four years and we are looking forward to the new partnerships and creative opportunities that it will provide.’” Neil MacInnes, President of SCL

Darren Henley, Chief Exec of Arts Council England, Sarah Mears, Essex Libraries and Culture Offer Lead, Mag Astill and Neil MacInnes, President of SCL
- Society of Chief Librarians is delighted to introduce the Universal Culture Offer – Society of Chief Librarians. “The Universal Culture Offer will complement the other five offers; the Six Steps Promise and the Children’s Promise. There are two elements to this offer- the Core Offer that most services will deliver and the Stretch Offer that some library services are beginning to shape. In conducting the consultation for this offer , the range of cultural activities provided by libraries was impressive. As SCL becomes an Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation, being able to articulate libraries’ unique role within local and national cultural provision and demonstrating how libraries create new opportunities for communities to engage with and enjoy art and culture will be crucial to its success. The Culture Offer will be formally launched in the autumn.”
- Understanding cultural engagement: introducing the Cambridgeshire Culture Card – Libraries Taskforce. ” a new and ambitious pilot project that seeks to promote the contribution of libraries to arts and culture, facilitate partnerships for delivering cultural opportunities, drive an evidence based model for more effective cultural strategy and planning, that puts libraries at the core of the wider Cambridgeshire cultural offer – could in many senses, be considered perfect timing.” … “The Cambridgeshire Culture Card system will not be unique to Cambridgeshire: it will be designed to be highly replicable, using technologies and data assets already in place across the country. We would really like to hear from anyone in the public library sector that is either designing or delivering a similar project; is considering or would be interested in developing a scheme through the library service that can incentivise, track and measure impact of cultural engagement. In addition, if you are a library management system provider and this is of interest, please do get in touch.”
National news
- Angry librarians breathe fire after columnist suggests closing public libraries – International Business Times. “The New York Observer columnist recently trigged the wrath of the ‘guardians of books’ when he suggested that all public libraries should be closed since nobody goes to them anymore. He added that the books should then be given to school-run libraries instead.” … “While Walker is known for making inflammatory statements meant to rile people up, the reading community was not willing to take this one lying down. The comment immediately triggered a wave of angry responses from librarians, book-lovers, teachers and students alike.” see also Twitter leapt to the defence of libraries after a journalist said they should all be closed – Belfast Telegraph and ‘Library usage is on the RISE mother-f*****s!’ Angry librarian goes on expletive-filled rant after Twitter user says ‘nobody goes to libraries anymore’ and they should all be closed – Mail and People on Twitter drag reporter who claims nobody goes to libraries anymore – Mashable and New York Observer columnist who offered ISIS money to kill him thinks we should close all public libraries, takes heat – Melville House Books. “The response from the library community, which is to say the community of humanity, was swift — equal parts baffled, thoughtful, and fierce.” … “Andre, if you’re reading this, what the librarians and their millions of patrons say is true: you suck.”
“Walker’s turnaround was also welcomed tongue-in-cheek by the Society of Authors which tweeted: “We can’t condone chasing anti-library campaigners through the streets with sticks until they capitulate, but, I mean, it does seem to work.”
- Cisco wants to close digital skills gap through education – IT Pro Portal. “As part of the pledge, there will be two initiatives: providing support for the teaching of Computing in Schools, and making digital skills training accessible through Libraries. First, there’s the Computing for Schools programme, providing teachers with training and resources to help them deliver the computing curriculum. As for UK libraries, Manchester’s 22 libraries will be among the first to have free access to courses that range from the basics of getting online, to providing an introduction to the Internet of Things and cybersecurity. Other cities to follow in 2018.
- Civic crowdfunding is privatisation masquerading as democracy – Guardian. “Particularly contentious are the numerous library projects seen by some as a thinly veiled attempt to get volunteers to paper over the cracks created by widening austerity, echoing criticisms of the Cameron government’s much-maligned “Big Society” initiative. Plans to provide a community space at Childs Hill Library in Barnet elicited the following response: “Sorry, Childs Hill Library does not need to be turned into a thriving community space; it was a thriving community space … However well-meaning volunteers may be, they cannot replace fully trained library staff, half of whom, in Barnet, lost their jobs a few months ago.””
- No one needs libraries any more? What rubbish – Guardian. “Now, I don’t usually make a habit of writing columns about something controversial that someone has said on Twitter; life is far too short. But this time, more than 100,000 people have replied to Walker’s tweet, rendering it somewhat newsworthy (and also leading him to back down and admit that libraries are not as unpopular as he believed). I’m also addressing it because of the context in which it appears: because of cuts to local authorities, libraries in Britain are closing all the time, at a rate that – despite the passionate commitment of librarians and activists, has begun to feel heartbreakingly inevitable.”
“Libraries may be needed more by poor people but many comfortably off people use them too. Regardless of class background, libraries plug us into our communities, reminding us that there is life beyond our living rooms, that there’s more to our daily existences than work and coming home, and the same again tomorrow. We are not all atomised in front of our glowing screens. Libraries don’t just mean us, they mean other people too. No wonder we fiercely protective of them. They are priceless. Maybe that’s why they are so busy”
- USA – Borrowing history: ‘expired’ library books – in pictures – Guardian.
- USA – Public Comments Show Portland Is Divided Over Who Gets to Use the Public Library – Williamette Week. ” the library solicited public comment on the updated rules, which include prohibitions on using drugs, carrying weapons, eating, sleeping and using the restroom sinks for bathing or shaving. While the updated rules don’t mention homeless people directly, the comments show the debate is a proxy for deep differences of opinion about people on the margins using library branches as daytime shelters.”
Local news by authority
- Bath and North East Somerset – Lib-Dems to officially challenge library decisions – Midsomer Norton Journal. “Local Lib-Dem Councillors last week tabled formal challenges to two decisions taken by the Conservative Cabinet to move the One Stop Shop into the Podium and to ask local Town or Parish Councils and community groups or volunteers to take over library provision in areas previously served by branch libraries”
- Bournemouth – Winton Library celebrates 110 years – Daily Echo. “Today Winton Library is a Grade II listed building and has a Children’s Centre attached in the former bindery. “There were over 72,000 visits made at the library last year and the library has a well used IT suite and also hosts a popular weekly job club,” said Medi Bernard, Library Service Manager of Bournemouth and Poole Libraries”
- Bradford – Queensbury Community Library officially opens its doors – Telegraph and Argus. “Queensbury Community Programme (QCP), in High Street, is home to the new facility after the Bradford Council-run library in Victoria Hall shut earlier this year. And while it has been open since September, a special ceremony was held today to mark officially mark the date.”
- Cheshire East – Cabinet shake-up announced at Cheshire East Council – Knutsford Guardian. “Cllr Liz Wardlaw – Deputy Leader Health, also customer operations, public engagement and libraries. “
- Devon – Politician, Strictly Come Dancing star and top author Ann Widdecombe urges book lovers to use their libraries – Devon Live.
- Haringey – A Labour council attacking its own people? This is regeneration gone bad – Guardian. “That juggernaut is the Haringey Development Vehicle, a scheme by the zombie Blairites running the north London borough to shove family homes, school buildings and libraries into a giant private fund worth £2bn. Its partner is the multinational Lendlease, which will now exercise joint control over a large part of Haringey’s housing and regeneration strategy”
- Kingston Upon Thames – Yoga, knitting, local meetings: Library in Kingston gets extension – Surrey Comet. “The Tudor Drive Library extension, unveiled on Friday, October 20, will house a record of the nearby Hawker aircraft factory site on Richmond Road and the rich history of Latchmere House, which has served as a private house, a WW1 hospital, a WW2 detention centre and a prison. Funded by the Richmond Chase Development, the extension is a partnership project Kingston Council, Berkeley Homes and the Kingston Aviation Centenary Project.”
- Midlothian – Council cuts fightback is underway – Midlothian Advertiser. “The wide-ranging proposals announced two weeks ago are aimed at bridging an anticipated budget gap of £13.5 million next year, rising to £45m by 2021/22, with a public consultation to be carried out before councillors finalise the budget early in 2018.”
- Northamptonshire – SOS call from Mawsley youngster over proposed library closures – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “William Haynes, seven, from Mawsley loves going to the library in Rothwell and has designed a poster urging people to use their local library more often to show how much they are valued and needed.” …”Dad Andrew tweeted the Reverend Richard Coles about William’s poster, and the former Strictly Come Dancing star from Finedon praised the ‘young library activist’ in a response which has since had 189 likes and 70 retweets. ” see also Alan Moore Puts County In Budget Headlock to Keep Local Libraries Open – Signature and Northampton demonstrators stand side-by-side to say no to library funding cuts – Northampton Chronicle.
- Slough – Slough’s library and cultural centre, The Curve, racks up 8,000 more members in its first year – Slough Observer. “Slough Borough Council revealed that visits are up by 69 per cent compared to the final year at the old library site and membership is up by 59 per cent, with 8,065 new library members. In total there have been 356,258 visits to the centre, with over 211,000 items borrowed. The centre is also the registration office for the town and 4,087 births were registered in the first year as well as 168 marriages. “
- Stockton – How a Scandi-inspired ‘forest’ nursery is saving this Stockton library from closure – Gazette Live. ” “We are delighted that Fairfield Library has been retained and we look forward to working with the nursery provider, The Barn Childcare, to bring much needed nursery places for children in the area. “Libraries are no longer just about books and we have already seen a similar combination of services working well at other sites. I am sure that all the facilities at Fairfield Library will be valued by local people.”
- Warrington – Post Office may move into Burtonwood Library – Warrington Guardian. “Post Office is set to move into the library and increase its opening hours. Cllr Terry O’Neill (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick) said merging the services is the best way to secure their future. Residents are invited to have their say on the plan to move the Post Office from Chapel Lane into Burtonwood library, which is about 130 metres away”
- West Berkshire – Volunteers crucial to Thatcham Library’s survival – Newbury Today. “The library wouldn’t be open if they weren’t here.” Volunteers who stepped in to help save Thatcham Library have been praised for their efforts – 19 months after the community facility was threatened with closure. Around 25 volunteers make up the friends group, which has helped keep the building open. The group held an open morning at the library on Saturday, to coincide with libraries week and the Thatcham Festival. “
- Wiltshire – No money for Westbury Hub- Westbury getting a raw deal again say critics – White Horse News. “Plans for a community hub in Westbury Library have hit a stumbling block following a feasibility study which concluded that funds cannot be raised from the library site. “
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about 7 years ago
When will the Culture offer appear in detail, alongside all of the other offers, on the Universal Offers poster? The only one I have is simply suggesting that the Culture offer will be available in June?
about 7 years ago
Hi Brad. I’ve just checked the SCL website and the 2018 one is on there – see http://goscl.com/wp-content/uploads/SCL-Universal-Offers-Calendar-2018-Final.pdf.