A quiet few days: Cumbria, Anglesey and a fracking fund

Editorial

A reasonably quiet couple of days with a few libraries threatened in Cumbria and more detail on what is likely to happen in Anglesey. There’s a somewhat hard to believe report that fracking will result in £1 billion of community grants for groups, but it specifically mentions libraries so here’s hoping. There’s also a couple of things about health and wellbeing from the LGA and Task Force.

Changes

• Anglesey – At least 3 ( Cemaes, Newborough and Moelfre) to close (£100k cut). Rhosneigr library will also close if parish council does not fund it. Beaumaris Library (once under threat) to remain open “after agreement was reached” with leisure centre.
• Cumbria – 3 libraries (Hensingham, Mirehouse and Kells) under threat.

National news

• All to play for: games, libraries and sharing skills – British Library. “The Living Knowledge Network (LKN) regularly organises skills sharing days for members of partners in the network, and recently hosted a fun packed skills sharing day on the topic of games and playfulness in libraries, which took place on 9 November 2017 at Leeds Central Library“
• The Big Issue Big Book Giveaway – Nominate a group, we’ll send them books – Big Issue. “We believe in the power of words. With literacy levels struggling across the UK and library closures hitting hard, we want to give you a hand to get books to those who need them” … “Unfortunately though, libraries are under threat. Last year, £25m less was spent on libraries in Britain, a 2.6 per cent fall from the £919m the year before, a reflection of cuts by local authorities looking to free up cash for frontline services. The knock-on effects are disastrous – for reading groups, for those who can’t afford to buy new books, for those who need to use library computers to get online when they don’t have access at home, for the marginalised for whom libraries are a welcome sanctuary“
• Communities to share £1bn shale gas funding – LocalGov. “A £1b fund has been announced for communities near fracking sites to pay for extra facilities including parks, sports centres and libraries. Treasury exchequer secretary Andrew Jones said people living in the North and Midlands where there are significant shale gas reserves will benefit first.”
• Helping people look after themselves – Local Government Association. “Local libraries also offer a Reading Well Mood-Boosting Books option, which includes uplifting novels, non-fiction and poetry. There is a dedicated recommended reading list for dementia too”
• Library Family Adventure – Christmas Special – Society of Chief Librarians. A simple quiz game aimed at encouraging library use.
• Patient and public information – how can libraries help? – Libraries Taskforce. “Librarians and libraries are absolutely the right people to support the creation, provision and signposting of patient information and there are a number of reasons why. We are experts in finding, appraising, and packaging information based on our users’ needs” … “One easy way for us all to collaborate in a really effective way is through Health Information Week. The next one is due to take place from 2-8 July 2018. This is an annual, multi-sector, national campaign to promote good health information to patients, the public and health professionals”
• The Radical Librarians Collective, Lostock, and Nigel Sussman – Times. “The Radical Librarians Collective has asked us to clarify that it is not leading the debate on recataloguing and reclassification in university libraries as reported in our story “Universities may censor student reading” (News, October 29). We are happy to do so.”
• Techniques to inspire, develop and implement change in your library – CILIP. Monday 11th December, London. “Keen to help your staff, library users and the wider community embrace change and challenge themselves to a brighter future? Curious about the possibility of embracing mess and play as part of your organisation’s information experience? Take a visit to Library Island and discover through hands-on activities and interactive challenges how information and health professionals from Michigan USA to Christchurch New Zealand have been pushing the boundaries of information science to drive change and develop new relationships both in and out of their organisations. Hear about the latest developments in international libraryland, including reports from the team behind the new vision for public libraries in Queensland, Australia.”

International news

• EU – IFLA and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Share your story – Naple Sister Libraries. “IFLA is convinced that access to information and knowledge is key in order to help tackling these problems and achieve these goals. To demonstrate it, they need the evidence demonstrating libraries’ contribution to the UN SDGs and impact in the communities they serve. The tool they’re using for it is the IFLA Library Map of the World. This map has a section called SDG stories to collect SDG stories from libraries and countries across the world.”

Local news by authority

• Anglesey – Libraries set to shut in Anglesey as council seeks outside help to keep services going – Daily Press. “At least three libraries are almost certain to close as a cash-strapped council attempts to plug a £7m financial black hole over the next three years. Anglesey council’s scrutiny committee today recommended the closure of Cemaes, Newborough and Moelfre libraries in a bid to achieve around £100,000 of savings.”
• Bath and North East Somerset – Save Bath Library: Do our politicians in Bath have no shame over libraries? – Bath Chronicle. “I saw thousands sign petitions, hundreds march and many, many more make public statements and write in on consultation ballots that they did not want their library co-located with the One Stop Shop, as to do so would destroy the very essence of a library. But the council did not listen. No user of the One Stop Shop has been asked if they want their service put inside a busy, city library.”
• Cheshire East – Cheshire East Council to close libraries and care centres to help save £20m – BBC. “Five libraries and two care centres have been earmarked for closure as part of a council’s efforts to save £20m. Cheshire East Council’s budget plan for 2018/21 would also see council tax raised by 4.99% from April 2018. The Conservative-led council’s budget was under “severe pressure” due to funding cuts and more demand for care services, councillor Paul Bates said” see also Council unveils plans to save more than £70m – Wilmslow.co.uk.
• Cumbria – Three libraries could be shut – News and Star. Three libraries (Hensingham, Mirehouse and Kells) under threat. “The report says book borrowing from Hensingham library fell from 5,745 in 2010/11 to 1,548 in 2016/2017. In Mirehouse it fell from 9,686 to 2,735 in the same time period and in Kells from 6,588 books down to 1,737”
• Hackney – Community Library Service has the Wow Factor – Hackney Council. “Hackney Council’s Community Library Service staff showed they have the Wow factor, by beating over 21,000 other award nominees to pick up one of the 14 national customer service prizes at the WOW! Awards Ceremony 2017 in Central London on Monday 6 November”
• Manchester – What’s On for Literature Lovers: November – Mancunion. “Manchester Central Library is proud to host a display inspired by the British Library’s new exhibition, Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Displays were launched simultaneously across 20 public libraries in the UK, mirroring the initial exhibition at London’s British Library. “
• Norfolk – Nearly 3,000 sign petition calling for Norfolk’s children’s centres to be protected from cuts – Eastern Daily Press. “Closer working” between children’s centres and libraries expected.
• Somerset – North Petherton Town Council confident of keeping library open despite cuts – Bridgwater Mercury. “North Petherton Town Council remains confident of keeping its library open in the face of impending cuts in funding from Somerset County Council. Speaking at North Petherton Town Council, town clerk Rod Latham and Cllr Bill Revans updated members on a meeting had taken place with Somerset County Council representatives, which Mr Latham described as an exercise aimed at ‘softening up the library in preparation for cuts’.”
• West Lothian – Bestselling West Lothian author discusses her new work and love of libraries following reading – Daily Record. Lisa Ballantyne “Lisa said: “I am enthusiastic about visiting libraries and supporting public libraries in any capacity, and was therefore thrilled to be invited to Bathgate Partnership Centre as part of National Libraries Week. “Having grown up in West Lothian, I particularly enjoy events in the area and am grateful for all the support I have been given by the local community.”
• West Sussex – Council forced to reverse decision to sell poppies in libraries, MP says – Mid Sussex Times. “Due to the vast number of charity collections nationally, we had, until recently, taken the position of not having any charity collections within our libraries. “However, because of the historical significance and unique nature of the Royal British Legion’s fundraising campaign we have been happy” to now sell them in libraries.