Consultation in Bradford and transfer delay in Hertfordshire

Editorial

Purdah, that strangely colonial term for councils not being political during an election campaign, is kicking in but there are a few things still happening in library-land.

Two local stories. The first is that Hertfordshire are having to postpone the transfer of their library service to a mutual because of how complicated it is. Something that needs bearing in mind with those wanting to transfer their service out of direct council control is the complexity. Think of it as a mini-Brexit but, thankfully, without Farage. Unless you’re doing it really wrong. Secondly, Bradford are finally consulting on the deep cuts it is proposing for its library service which has already resulted in strike action. Bradford’s entry on this website chronicling the last ten years is a long and terrible one and to add this injury on top is horrible. I hope the people of the city let them know how bad.

Finally, Libraries are starting to be mentioned in articles concerning the General Election, notably of course in the Guardian – ever the official newspaper of public services – but also a smattering in the local press too. While this is very much a one-issue election, it would be good to see some more mentions so politicians are reminded of how important the service is.

Changes by local authority

• Bradford – Consultation.
• Edinburgh – Central Library may be refurbished.
• Hertfordshire – Transfer to “Libraries for Life” delayed until 1 April.
• West Sussex – Burgess Hill Library to move into Martlets Hall.

National news

Are English libraries serious about fighting ‘fake news’? – Mechanical Dolphin. “Are public libraries’ collections supposed to be free from pernicious items of “fake news”? It seems unlikely. Does librarians’ training immunise them from fakery? Not always.” … “Public libraries are proud of the relatively high degree of community trust which they enjoy. They recognise the need to play a role in the turbulent information ecoystem of today’s digital world, even if they haven’t fully defined or enacted that role yet.”

The leave-voting seat where the library matters as much as Brexit – Guardian. “Some observers might view the fight over the library as a proxy for the underlying factors that have been linked to Brexit: years of cuts, a sense that people have lost control over their own lives, and a pervading belief that places far from London have been forgotten. But in Darlington, it did not feel like part of a sweeping national story. Instead, a campaign ostensibly about a library became a focus for other long-held concerns about the direction of the town.”

A Welsh library bus left to rot in a back garden has had an amazing makeover – Wales Online. “A Welsh 1960s library bus which had been left in a garden to rot for almost 40 years has been restored to its former glory. The Aberdare Public Library bus, which dates back to 1961, had been parked up in the back garden of house in Aberaman since 1981. ”

International news

• Finland – How Helsinki Built ‘Book Heaven’ – CityLab. “In a country that boasts one of the world’s highest literacy rates, the arrival of the new central library in Helsinki last year was a kind of moon-landing-like moment of national bonding.” … “Patrons can even borrow season tickets for the Helsinki’s popular professional basketball games. Only on the topmost level—in a soaring, light-filled space Laitio calls “book heaven”—will one find actual volumes for readers, a 100,000-book collection that’s in very high demand.”
• Global – IoT Technologies in Libraries – Princh. “The Internet of Things (IoT), a recent shift in technology that libraries’ and library staff should be familiar with as it may help improve the services, resources and experience that libraries’ can provide. In this week’s post Barbi Gardiner, an IT librarian, social media manager and founder of Library Tech talk, discusses all things IoT and libraries.
• USA – Public libraries generate social capital that can save lives – OCLC. “Libraries don’t provide food, water, electricity, or medical services. In many cases, libraries had suffered the same catastrophic losses as their neighbors; staff had perished or been injured, buildings completely destroyed or unusable, resources gutted. Why, then, did people so quickly turn to libraries after a disaster? Because of social capital.”
  • Library deploys drone to probe mystery of hidden anti-Trump books – Independent. “Someone has been hiding books lately – specifically, those that explore politics through a progressive lens or criticise president Donald Trump. They wind up misfiled in out-of-the-way corners where readers will be sure not to find them. “I am going to continue hiding these books in the most obscure places I can find to keep this propaganda out of the hands of young minds,” the mystery book relocator wrote in a note left for Ms Ammon, the library director, in the facility’s comment box. “Your liberal angst gives me great pleasure.”
  • Why Libraries Have a Public Spirit That Most Museums Lack – Hyperallegenic. “I’ve been reading about the roots of both institutions in the United States, and they have evolved in similar ways; so how do they diverge? And is this divergence relevant to the ways in which a stunningly broad swath of society feels welcome within a public library and not a museum?”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Authors to give talks at Aberdeen libraries to mark national book celebration – Press and Journal. For Book Week Scotland.
• Birmingham – ‘We can’t keep libraries open but spend millions on a fountain’ – Fury at library cuts – Birmingham Live. “Ann Gallagher, a member of the Friends of Birmingham Libraries group: “We can find millions to bring a fountain back to life in the city centre to please tourists, but don’t invest in libraries. It’s madness.” The city council’s Labour leadership say blame for cuts lies at the feet of the Conservative government and its austerity programme – but also admit there is not going to be any new investment in libraries in the year ahead. Their full spending plans for 2020-21 will be revealed shortly.”
• Blackburn With Darwen – Online mental health support extended to borough’s libraries – Lancashire Telegraph. Kooth online counselling and mental health support for children and young people is now available to access in Blackburn with Darwen’s libraries. Kooth offers access to peer-to-peer support, moderated forums, goal setting and self-help materials 24-hours a day for young people aged 11-18.
• Bradford – Bradford libraries and museums: Unite members escalate action against cuts – Socialist Party. “Around 50 Unite members in libraries and museums across Bradford have entered their second round of strike action, escalating from two to three days of action this week. As well as rallying in the city centre, strikers have held rallies outside a number of local libraries linking up with concerned service users in places like Wibsey and Ilkley.”
  • Chance to have your say on future of libraries – Wharfedale Observer. “Now the Council has launched an “engagement exercise” where the public can have their say on the library service before a decision on its future is made in the new year. A Council boss said the responses will “help steer our plans for our libraries and find smarter ways to use public money.”
  • Consultation begins over libraries future – Keighley News.
• Bromley – Union meets with library for negotiations as Bromley staff renew strike – News Shopper. “Representatives from Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, entered talks with Greenwich Leisure Limited in a bid to resolve the dispute over pay and staffing, which has now entered its sixth month. Negotiations are ongoing, with staff recently voting by 100 per cent to continue strike action from Monday November 25. ” … “A total of 50 workers across 14 libraries in Bromley remain on strike. “
• Denbighshire – Libraries across Denbighshire among top performing in Wales – Journal. “29.5 per cent of 4-12 year olds in Denbighshire took part in the summer reading challenge in 2019 (first in Wales) … 41,225 people were helped with using IT and getting online (first in Wales) …”
• Dumfries and Galloway – Libraries across the region are being asked to consider holding ‘doggy days’ – Dumfries and Galloway 24. “South Scotland MSP Emma Harper has written to Dumfries and Galloway Council and contacted a number of libraries suggesting they have dedicated Dog Friendly Library Days. She believes it could help increase footfall and bring great benefit to those who may be suffering from loneliness and isolation.”
• Edinburgh – An elevator with Old Town views could be added to the outside of Edinburgh Central Library – Edinburgh Live. “Edinburgh City Council has now set up a project team, led by strategic manager Paul McCloskey, to “explore the viability of developing an imaginative, accessible and engaging future vision” for the building.” … “Two initial options were tabled back in 2013 by Bennetts Associates Architects – the first would double public space to around 75 per cent of the building but cost £21m. A second option, with a price-tag of £29m – would bump the public space up to 95 per cent of the building, including the vaults. It is thought the costs will have risen since the 2013 feasibility studies – but any proposals are likely to attract Heritage Lottery funding.” ‘External lift with views over Edinburgh’ could be part of Central Library overhaul – Edinburgh news.
• Essex – Library petition is closed due to election – Braintree and Witham Times. “Steven Walker, who heads up Hands Off Walton Library, said a Parliamentary Petition – which calls for the Government to ringfence funding for all library services in order to protect them from closure by local authorities in future – has now shut due to the General Election. ”
• Falkirk – Book in for a thrilling night at Falkirk Library – Falkirk Herald. “Organised by the Scottish Book Trust, the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing returns for its eighth year from November 18 to 24.”
• Hampshire – Hampshire libraries face closure – Daily Echo. “A county councillor has claimed that 37 libraries across the county are under threat of closure as Hampshire County Council aims to save £1.75m from the library sector by 2021 in a move that would put 58 jobs at risk. County bosses said there are 52 libraries across the county and further details over their future will be subject to public consultations. “
  • Hampshire libraries face closure – Southern Daily Echo.
• Hertfordshire – Libraries for Life update – Hertfordshire County Council. Hertfordshire County Council has taken the decision to delay the transfer of the library service to Libraries for Life, until 1 April 2020. Libraries for life were awarded the contract in August, following a comprehensive public procurement process and were due to take over responsibility for delivering the service from 1 December 2019. Since the contract was awarded a significant amount of work has been done by staff across the council to prepare for the transfer and tremendous progress has been made. This is a hugely complex process, and the additional time will enable the smoothest transition for staff and volunteers and give Libraries for Life the best possible grounding for success in the future.”
• Moray – Book Week Scotland events come to libraries across Moray – Press and Journal. “Events for young and old readers will be held in the region as part of Book Week Scotland, which is organised by the Scottish Book Trust.”
• Norfolk – ‘I’ll bomb City Hall’ – threats of violence which triggered council building bans revealed – Eastern Daily Post. “Norfolk County Council banned 11 people from its libraries in 2019 and 10 in 2018, including for looking at inappropriate content on computers and for throwing books at staff.”
  • ‘It is important to bash this taboo’ – WI donates to project fighting period poverty – Watton and Swaffham Times. “… a project, which offers free tampons and sanitary towels and pads through the county’s libraries, has received a boost from the Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institutes (WI).”
  • Portuguese teens invited to learn more about their heritage through literacy – Eastern Daily Post. “Called Em Voz Alta, it is running for five weeks every Monday from 4pm. The sessions are informal and young people are asked to help shape the programme over its course.”
• Suffolk – Library closed as roof collapses after downpour – East Anglian Daily Times. Hadleigh. Suffolk library open again after ceiling leak – East Anglian Daily Times.
  • Suffolk library ban for person who defecated in sink – BBC News. “Defecating in a sink, violence and riding bikes inside are some of the reasons a council has banned people from its libraries. Suffolk County Council has handed out almost 170 bans over the past two years. Verbal abuse and intimidation of staff or customers accounted for 68, while 15 were issued for physical assaults.”
• West Sussex – Burgess Hill Library to close and move to new building – here’s all you need to know – West Sussex County Times. “The library is moving from its old location at Martlets Hall to 15-19 The Martlets, a few hundred metres away, as part of the town centre regeneration project”
• Worcestershire – Conservative candidate Robin Walker optimistic no Worcester libraries will close in the future – Worcester News. “Robin Walker, the prospective parliamentary for the Conservatives, said the Hive and the rest of the city’s libraries were a “real success story” and were “punching well above their weight.” Asked whether he could promise that no libraries would close if he was re-elected as the city’s MP, Mr Walker said: “Touch wood they haven’t to date …” … “Mr Walker said it would be his job as MP to find library funding from “wherever it needed to come” “