2018: when merely being life-changing is not enough

Editorial

There are now two councils, Northamptonshire and East Sussex, who have announced that they aim to provide a “legal minimum” level of service. This is due to deep (nearly 50%) cuts in government funding since 2010 and, at least in the case of Northants, fairly gross financial incompetence. It’s suspected that more will be added to the list. So, that’s bad news for libraries. The sector has “statutory” protection but that is overseen by the DCMS minister who has resolutely failed to effectively uphold any standards in the past and has yet to intervene despite some fairly (75%+ I believe) cuts in some council library services. And it’s not even like English public libraries have any standards to begin with, although they once did. I like the “libraries change lives” motto but when councils are aiming for a “We’ll try not to be directly responsible for killing anybody” level of service, merely life-changing may not be enough.

Changes

• East Lothian – Customer services to move into Preston Pans Library.
• Halton – Active members increased, issues up from 290k to 360k.
• St Helens – Opening hours changed.

Ideas

• Photo competition for new images for library cards.

“The public librarian is your high priestess”: Secrecy, Obscurity and Esoterica: How To Use A Public Library Like A Witch by Joanne Fitzpatrick

I hear other library professionals speaking often of how if the idea of public libraries were conceived of today, then they wouldn’t exist. The very concept of them doesn’t fit at all into this late capitalist society we live in, and free books, free entry and completely neutral, uncensored spaces would likely be dismissed as being too costly, too much like yet another handout and too socialist. Luckily for us, they already have happened, and their existence is enshrined in law, and libraries remain institutions that promote social justice, access to information and equality. 

Joanne Fitzpatrick, library manager, student and … high priestess?

In this post, I’ll highlight the importance of the library space as somewhere where communities are given easy access to information and resources. Drawing on my experience as a public library manager, and linking this to my dissertation for my Masters in Information Science at Northumbria University, which focuses on how Pagans and witches access and use information in their practice, I can reach some conclusions as to the importance of information relevant to a community being easily and readily accessible. This is arguably one of the more essential roles of the public library today, in a climate that is composed of increased inequality, faster paced change and growing misinformation. 

If I imagine a typical day in the life of a public librarian, rather than the extremely varied, sometimes bizarre days that I usually experience, I can immediately summarise many ways in which public libraries provide information to communities. Initially, we deal with reference queries, and are fortunate enough to have Google take the majority of the standard questions, leaving us with the interesting, the complex and the downright difficult to answer.  

In addition, librarians advise on the process of making reference queries, which can sometimes be as involved as making formal requests under the freedom of information act, or accessing subscription only websites, or visiting archives. Without the librarian as guide, members of a community would likely abandon these queries that they do not have the skills to answer. Even Pagan seekers, expressing interest in learning oath-bound, hidden information only available by passing through initiation and experiencing the thing that which you enquire about for yourself, require a sponsor, who acts as a friend throughout the process. The public librarian is your spirit guide. 

Furthermore, the public library is there to serve the community that it sits within, having after all been paid for with that community’s taxes, and as such that includes all people within that community. Few institutions will offer such a level playing field and equality of access, and part of the public librarian’s role is to ensure that all parts of that particular community are acknowledged, encouraged and provided with resources and materials to empower themselves with.  

Similarly, paganism notoriously resists any kind of formal organisation, and is an umbrella term describing people who follow many different paths, so anyone who serves that community has to take this into account. Both of these are very difficult positions to be in, and require much mediation and building of relationships. The librarian is your council of elders. 

Finally, in a world composed of ‘echo chambers’ facilitated by online communities and fake news, a public librarian will never show you information that they want you to see, they will merely show you what is there and what is reliable. Censorship is something that librarians avoid, and advising on the authenticity of an information source is getting increasingly difficult for someone without specialist skills. In the same way, a leader of a coven of witches will not train new followers who rely on her power, she will train new witches who are able to wield power for themselves. A public librarian will not have you rely on information they provide, they will show you how to judge reliability for yourself. The public librarian is your high priestess. 

Joanne Fitzpatrick,  @joannefitz 

National news

• Libraries change lives. They should be protected at all costs – Guardian. “Because of government cuts to local funding, councils are under immense pressure to save on spending. And there are core services that they need to provide. However, I believe that a library is a core service and should be protected at all costs.” 138 comments.
• Literature Festivals with library involvement – Public Libraries News. A list, with links, from over 30 library services. Has yours been missed?

International news

• Australia – NSW libraries in strife as funding reaches ‘crisis’ – New Daily. “Dallas Tout, president of the NSW Public Libraries Association, said funding had diminished from a 25 per cent contribution in 1980 to just 7 per cent last year, leaving local governments to find the rest.” … “About 35 million people visited NSW libraries last year, up from 27 million in 2000” … “Cr Tout said libraries have reached the point where they will need to start reducing hours, staff and activities.”
• USA – Get a literary-themed tattoo at the Denver Public Library on Sunday – Know. “The Denver Public Library Friends Foundation is partnering with Certified Tattoo Studios to raise money for the library with library and literary-themed tattoos. From 1-5 p.m. Sunday, at the Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library, patrons can purchase a tattoo for between $50 and $200, with funds supporting the library, according to a news release.”
• USA – There’s an Amazon-like corporation trying to take over public libraries – Medium. “With 82 branches across six states, Library Systems & Services (LS&S) is the country’s third-largest library system, smaller than only Chicago and New York City. It pitches itself to towns and counties by making many of the same arguments in the op-ed. That libraries aren’t “innovative” enough without the corporation’s management and “social entrepreneurship.” That it can help libraries become a “third place” between work and home — as if they weren’t already just that for many poor and working people.” see also Privatized libraries; public backlash – Journal Gazette. “Public Interest, an advocacy group supporting democratic control of public goods and services, argues that what Library Systems & Services has done at the 82 libraries it manages has been to “slash employee pay and benefits to turn a profit while shrouding its dealings in secrecy.”

Local news by authority

• Bradford – Dogs Trust to hold workshops at libraries across Bradford – Telegraph and Argus. “will show children how to look after dogs and will introduce her furry partner, Winnie, at 12 Gnasher and Friends workshops.”
• Dorset – Dorset libraries awarded £70,000 arts grant – Bournemouth Echo. “Together with other grants, Dorset Library Service has more than £140,000 for its two-year market Gillingham and Weymouth libraries will receive the funding and will work with The Arts Development Company to establish ‘artistic and cultural hubs’ in the towns. Through the project, there will be eight paid artist residencies programme and 16 events showcasing programmes for specific community groups.”
• East Lothian – Council to move services into Prestonpans Library – East Lothian Courier. “East Lothian Council has announced it will move most of its customer services into Prestonpans Library with a one-day closure to allow “some changes ” to be made to the building. The proposal to turn the library, which as built in 1905 through funds from Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, into a shared facility and move council services from their offices in the town’s Aldhammer House, were first put to the public in June 2016″
• Hackney – Indie founder to ‘cool’ Hackney librarian: Richard Boon plans to pen memoir as he retires – Hackney Gazette. “In 1991 Richard had had enough of the music industry and when his son Adam was born he became a house husband, then helped run a parent co-operative nursery at William Patten. When Adam started school Richard saw an advert for a job at Hackney Libraries and retires this week after 21 years. “Since I was very small I’ve had a library card and been interested in libraries. It’s an incredible community resource and I get angry about what the government has done to authorities nationwide, which is force them to close libraries.” He has “done wonders for literacy” in Hackney according to Liz Vater who brought him on board to help organise the Stoke Newington Literary Festival 10 years ago, and dubbed him the “world’s coolest librarian”. “
• Halton – More people are using libraries across Halton – Runcorn and Widnes World. “There are now 25,000 active members of the library, up from 11,000 in the previous year with 360,000 issues, up from 290,000 in 2016-17”
• Kent – The library and museum in Tunbridge Wells will be relocated while the Amelia Scott centre is developed – Kent Live. “There are major changes ahead to how people will use their library, museum and adult education services in Tunbridge Wells for at least two years while the Amelia Scott centre is developed. Work on a £13.2million conversion of the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Library along with the Art Gallery will start in January with opening scheduled for summer 2021.”
• Northamptonshire – Northamptonshire County Council: Protesters ‘mourn’ cuts to services – BBC. “Louise Stubbs chairs a campaign group that is fighting to save Brackley library in the county. She said: “Our library service is the most efficient in the entire country… that is why we have had to fight so hard to try and save them.” see also Northamptonshire’s cash crisis driven by ideological folly, councillors told – Guardian. ““We are witnessing the culmination of 13 years driven by an ideology that put private profit before public need,” Labour councillor Danielle Stone told the meeting.” and Campaigners launch desperate bailout pleas as service and job cuts loom at Northamptonshire County Council – Northant Chronicle. “”The libraries used to be a core service – does that mean they are going to close even more libraries?” and The crisis in Northants reveals a Britain heading back to pre-Victorian days – Guardian. ” It must sack staff, freeze pay,  close two-thirds of its libraries and stop all bus subsidies.” and The cuts contagion: will Northamptonshire’s collapsing council hit the rest of Britain? – News Statesman. “since David Cameron became prime minister and imposed his austerity agenda in 2010, councils have lost 49 per cent of real-terms funding. “

“local charities warned that further cuts to children’s services in the county would heighten the risk that the council would be unable protect vulnerable youngsters. “Ultimately, the funding for children’s services is insufficient to provide a safe service,” a report by the charities concludes.”

• North Yorkshire – Libraries invite photographers to capture summer – North Yorkshire County Council. “The service is producing new limited edition library cards and to illustrate them is seeking inspiring pictures that capture the beauty and diversity of a North Yorkshire summer. Six pictures will be chosen and the winning photographers will see their pictures turned into limited edition library cards that will be used by library members across the county.”
• St Helens – Revised opening hours for St Helens libraries – St Helens Star. “Some of the borough’s libraries are to operate under revised opening hours from Monday next week”
• Sheffield – Telegraph Voices: Are public libraries still relevant in our modern digital society? – Sheffield Telegraph. “We asked members of the public and library workers their views.” … “Are they relevant? They’re essential.”
• Staffordshire – J.R.R. Tolkien in Staffordshire: touring exhibition – Libraries Taskforce. Lottery funded.