A record-breaking honours list for librarians?

Well, I was going to do a review of the year this post but that will have to wait as it’s just so great to see so many people connected with public libraries receiving a mention in the New Year’s Honours List. All in all, I count fifteen such people – all mentioned below, don’t worry – on the list. Whatever one may think of the honours system, it is lovely to see so many deserving people mentioned. It can only help those people push for libraries and be an aid to the sector generally. For more on this, see this post I did back in March for Libraries Connected on the subject.

Changes by local authority

• Bradford – £700k for health and wellbeing / help ease £1m cut to library budget.
• Cardiff – Rhydypennau and Whitchurch libraries to be turned into “wellbeing hubs”
• Croydon – Joins London Libraries Consortium.
• Essex – Plan to close libraries cancelled. £1.9m to convert libraries into more commercial/community spaces. Other funding to update IT inc. possibly as a consortium.
• Neath Port Talbot – Neath Library to close: to be relocated into leisure centre.
• Somerset – Shepton Mallet Library to remain open, rather than being co-located, due to town council and community donations.
• St Helens – Central Library to move into World of Glass, opening hours reviews.

New Year’s Honours

The following figures connected with public libraries received a mention in the New Year’s Honours List:

• Carol Boswarthack MBE – Head of Barbican and Community Libraries in the City of London. Here’s an article on how her libraries reduce loneliness.
• Catherine Cooke BEM – Support Officer for the TriBorough shared library service (Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster) and the current Chair of the BIC Libraries Committee. Here’s an article she wrote on catalogue discoverability.
• Jane Ellison BEM – Head of Creative Partnerships at the BBC. Trustee of Libraries Connected, used to be on Libraries Taskforce.
• Angela Forster BEM – Service Manager, Community Hubs, Libraries and Parks, Newcastle City Council. Recently retired.
• Subnum Hariff-Khan BEM – Library and Information Manager for Oldham Libraries. Culture Lead for Greater Manchester Libraries and Chair and Reading Lead for Libraries Connected North West. . Here’s an article show wrote on the sensory room at Oldham Library.
• Amy Hearn BEM – Digital Inclusion Coordinator at Leeds City Council. Lead for 100% Digital Leeds.
• Anthony Hopkins BEM – Head of Library, Heritage and Adult Education Services for the London Borough of Merton. Former President of the Association of London Chief Librarians. Here’s a few articles he has written for the Libraries Taskforce.
• Elizabeth Hutchinson BEM – For services to school libraries. Very active campaigning for, and supporting, school libraries.
• Denise Jones BEM – Development Manager: Liverpool Libraries and Information Services – Here’s an article on the MakeFest she wrote.
• Mark McCree BEM – Head of libraries for Blackpool.
• Philip McLaughlin OBE, recently retired from Northern Ireland Libraries. He was branch manager at Strathfoyle Library.
• Isabel Oswell BEM – British Library – Head of Business Audience. Leads on the Business and Intellectual Centres in public libraries.
• Maria Reguera BEM – Redbridge Libraries. Leads on Makerspace programme, involved in LibraryLab programme.
• Jacqueline Thompson BEM – ICT Learning Officer for Gateshead Libraries.
• Sue Wilkinson OBE. Recently retired as CEO for the Reading Agency, previously an MBE.

National news

• ‘An early Christmas present’: NPOs get 1.84% funding boost – Arts Professional. “More than 800 arts and cultural organisations across England will receive a 1.84% increase to their funding in 2020. Arts Council England (ACE) CEO Darren Henley said DCMS has confirmed it will receive an extra £7.5m in the next financial year, giving National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) an above-inflation funding boost rather than the planned 0.4% reduction on 2019/20 levels of grant-in-aid.”
• Christmas appeal: ‘School librarian cuts are a catastrophe for young readers’ – I. Tom Palmer: “Around 8,000 jobs have disappeared in UK libraries since 2010, some replaced by volunteers. One in eight schools do not have a designated library space, with a higher proportion of poorer children more likely not to have one.”
• CILIP says libraries need £250m in demand to Johnson government – BookSeller. “Recent figures released by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) showed funding for the service has fallen almost 30% during a decade of austerity, with analysis demonstrating library loans have plunged by 43% over the same period. CILIP called on political parties to make a commitment to libraries during the election campaign. It said the government’s planned £25m investment, through its Cultural Investment Fund, was “roughly one-tenth of the capital investment we need to deliver a world-class library sector over the lifetime of this Parliament”. An extra £250m would bring the funding close to its 2009/10 level of £1bn. The CIPFA figures show the sum is currently £744m, a slight improvement on the previous year.”
• CILIPS in 2019 – Year in Review – CILIPS.
• Jack Monroe: My manifesto for rebuilding a truly broken Britain – I. “Thousands of preventable deaths. 11,000 fewer firefighters. A 40 per cent cut in the number of Police Community Support Officers. 800 libraries closed. “
• Library loans down 43% in 10 years, new analysis shows – BookSeller. “Analysing the full figures, which are not made freely available by CIPFA, together with past results, Coates said loans of printed books in English libraries stood at 150 million in the past year, adding to a total drop of 43% in the last decade and 59% since the turn of the millennium. There were also 371 libraries run by volunteers in 2018/19, up from 272 the previous year.”
• New programme to help libraries to raise income – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected has been awarded £150,000 by Arts Council England to plan a programme of training and mentoring to help library services to develop strategic approaches to income generation. The Future Funding programme will be designed and delivered by Libraries Connected in partnership with expert partners from the public, third and commercial sectors. The programme will help libraries to generate income in new ways by using the skills and resources they’ve built up as centres of knowledge and information.”
• Libraries Connected to launch income-generation funding scheme – BookSeller.
• Rakuten OverDrive in buyout deal with KKR investment firm – BookSeller. “Investment firm KKR has signed a deal to buy digital reading platform OverDrive from Rakuten for an undisclosed sum. OverDrive is known in the UK for providing e-books to public libraries and has a worldwide network of 43,000 schools and libraries spanning 75 countries. KKR has a string of investments in related companies including audiobook firm RBMedia, which it bought in 2018, and Nielsen.”

International news

• Canada – Radon gas detector kit wait list growing at P.E.I. libraries – Journal Pioneer. “Despite only being made available starting in late November, there is already a 74-person waiting list to access one of the devices. Each of the 15 units available can be signed out for a maximum of six weeks. Which means some people could be facing a wait of up to eight months. “
• USA – Ten Stories That Shaped 2019 – LIS News. “1. Whither Late Fees? The movement to end library late fees seemed to reach the start of a tipping point this year. Whether or not your library continues this practice, it should at least justify the current policy in place.”
  • Island libraries eliminate late fines – MV Times. “Joining a movement across the country, all Martha’s Vineyard libraries will eliminate overdue fines for materials starting Jan. 1, 2020 for a fresh start to the New Year.”
  • Looking at Libraries – The Atlantic. A long look at the best US public libraries and activities. “Continuing the photo essay about public libraries, which showed many examples of children’s rooms and adult spaces, this collection shows some of the multitude of activities happening at public libraries. It also includes some of the kinds of collections besides books, and some of the public places where books are available to borrow besides at traditional libraries.”
  • Make Way For Books At Your Library – Princh. “As of right now, we have established a wonderful partnership with the Pima County Public Library in Tucson, AZ, focused around the Make Way for Books App. As an early literacy non-profit organization, we value libraries as one of our most important resources, providing support and equitable access to information for the community.”

Local news by authority

• Blackpool – Plans unveiled for future of Blackpool’s libraries – Blackpool Gazette. “The Libraries Ambition Plan 2019-2024 is considering priorities including using the facilities to help with children’s readiness for school, to improve literacy levels, encourage more people to read, provide access to digital services and to support residents’ mental wellbeing.”
• Bradford – Cash to boost plans for reshaping district’s libraries – Keighley News. “… the council has issued a pledge to commit £700,000 ongoing funding into its library service budget for 2020/21 as part of a wider health and wellbeing initiative. “
  • £700k health boost for district’s libraries – despite cuts overall – Telegraph & Argus. “The Council Executive will discuss funding for the library service budget for 2020/21 as part of a wider health and wellbeing initiative. The Council is in the process of making over £1m cuts to the library service budget, but says the new funding will help to “inform plans to re-shape library services in order to sustain a viable and accessible network into the future.” … “The Council Executive will discuss funding for the library service budget for 2020/21 as part of a wider health and wellbeing initiative. “
  • Community engagement held at Manningham Library to discuss proposed cuts – Telegraph and Argus. “”The Council’s commitment is still to retain all 29 libraries and we’re trying to make that happen. We are looking at more innovative solutions than closures.We may see reduced opening times – there are a range of options, but we need to make sure the public are informed.”
• Cardiff – Two Cardiff libraries will close for six months so they can be refurbished – Wales Online. “Rhydypennau Library, on Llandennis Road, Cyncoed , and Whitchurch Library, on Park Road, will close at 7pm on Tuesday, January 7, to allow the internal and external work to take place. They are due to reopen as community hubs in the summer of 2020.”
• Croydon – Millions more books on offer through Croydon’s libraries – Your Croydon. “Croydon’s libraries have joined The Libraries Consortium offering members free access to millions of books from more than 200 libraries as well as audiobooks, ebooks and IT facilities.” … “Since bringing the service back in house Croydon Council has embarked on an investment programme to improve and refurbish all 13 of the borough’s libraries.”
• Devon – Rise in children borrowing from libraries – Radio Exe. “More children than before took part in the Summer Reading Challenge in Devon this year, while Children’s borrowing number from July to September 2019 are up nearly four per cent on 2018 figures.”
  • Libraries connecting communities and getting active this January – Devon Live. “50 libraries across Devon and four libraries in Torbay will be hosting events and activities designed to get people of all ages exercising their mind, body and soul.”
  • Smash and grab by ‘hooded men’ leaves Exeter library staff gutted – Devon Live. “Vital donations have been stolen from one of the busiest libraries in the country during a break-in to target its large charity box. Thieves used a rock to smash a window and gain entry into Exeter Central Library via Rougemont Gardens last Sunday, December 15, at around 11.30pm.”
• Essex – Anger at behind closed doors talks over libraries – Harwich and Manningtree Standard. SOLE campaign group hands out leaflets in front of secret / unpublicised talks council is having with groups hoping to take over libraries.
  • £3m investment will improve ‘clunky’ system, says head of Essex libraries – BookSeller. “The changes are due to be made as part of a £3million investment to make Essex’s library service “fit for the 21st century”, announced by county council leader David Finch in July. “
  • Council warned against ‘small cabal’ deciding future library IT system – Yellow Advertiser. “Cllr Stephen Hillier said it was important the system overhaul was run with proper oversight. He said: “What is the platform the library management system is currently running on? Are we looking for something that is off the shelf or are we building it to specification? Who is going to develop it? Are we looking for packages that need to fit together?”
  • Essex libraries campaigners hit out at ‘commercialisation’ of service – BookSeller. Council talking about “changing shelving but also allowing space for theatre workshops, meetings, community wellbeing sessions and co-locating partner organisations in the buildings.” … “A spokesman for Save Our Libraries Essex, said: “The alarm bells are most certainly ringing, as it is clear the county council is investing in a far more commercialised service. Traditional free library services are being binned, with more emphasis on services that will bring in money.”
  • More clubs come to Wickham Bishops library following community group boost – Halstead Gazette. Friends group celebrate start of Warhammer and coding clubs.
  • Wivenhoe children join SOLE’s Love Your Librarian event – Gazette News. “Hundreds of schoolchildren signed Christmas cards for their local librarian to show them how valued trained staff are to communities. Members of Save Our Libraries Essex (Sole) organised and presented the cards during special Love Your Librarian days at Wivenhoe and Galleywood facilities on Saturday. “
• Fife – Challenging perceptions of the menopause in Fife project – Fife Today. Library service wins funding from Engaging Libraries programme.
• Hampshire – Libraries set junior bookworms a winter reading challenge – Advertiser and Times. “The county council’s library service is encouraging young children to read four books and earn stickers to pick up the commendation.”
  • 37 libraries in Hampshire won’t face the axe, says council, ahead of library consultation – Daily Echo. “County bosses have confirmed that details over the future of libraries across the county will be released on January 9 when a ten-week consultation will be launched. It comes after last month county councillor Peter Chegwyn  claimed that 37 of the 52 libraries in Hampshire could face axe. At the time the county council said  it “would not be appropriate to speculate”. But now the authority has said that it is not and never has been considering closing 37 libraries.”
• Hull – The reasons people were banned from Hull libraries and leisure centres – Hull Live. “Viewing inappropriate images, theft and antisocial behaviour are just some of the reasons people have been banned from leisure centres and libraries in Hull. Over the past two years, 13 people have been banned from leisure centres and libraries across the city.” … “Hull’s list of library ban reasons include two people who were kicked out for viewing inappropriate images and five for antisocial behaviour.”
• Leicester / Leicestershire – Flasher among 28 people banned from Leicestershire’s libraries for inappropriate behaviour – Leicester Mercury. “Some 28 people have been banned from Leicester and Leicestershire’s libraries in the past two years, including one person barred for indecent exposure.”
• Manchester – Man called in a bomb hoax at Central Library just days after the first anniversary of the Arena attack – Manchester Evening News. “A father who called in a bomb hoax at Central Library days after the first anniversary of the Arena bombing has been spared jail. Abdinasir Hashi, 46, left a Tesco bag for life in a booth at the city centre library. He then walked out and called 999 from a phone box, saying that there was a bomb. Manchester Crown Court heard that in a bid to avert mass panic, the fire alarm was triggered so the public did not hear of the threat.”
• Merton -Young Harry Potter enthusiast makes rare find on Wimbledon Library book shelves – Wimbledon Guardian. “The book is in remarkably good condition considering it has spent 22 years in circulation. The lack of wear and tear has been helped by the fact that the copy had been part of the Schools Library Service and hadn’t been available on the open shelves until transferred to Wimbledon Library in February this year. Since the transfer, it has been borrowed three times. “
• Neath Port Talbot – Neath Library set to move into new multi-million pound leisure and retail development – Wales Online. “Neath Library is set to be relocated to the new £12m leisure centre and retail development in the town once it’s built, a new council report shows. Neath Port Talbot Council said the existing library had become very expensive to maintain and usage had fallen by more than 30% in the past 10 years.”
• North Yorkshire – Three local libraries receive awards for participation in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge – Scraborough News. “Final figures show that 11,161 children took part, an increase of 14 per cent on last year. Thirty-three libraries met or exceeded the number taking part the previous year, with 12 seeing an increase of more than 10 per cent.”
  • Drop-in to brush up language skills at Scarborough library – North Yorkshire County Council. “People who do not have English as their first language are invited to drop-in sessions at Scarborough library to improve language skills, build confidence and socialise.”
• Northern Ireland – Offenders make Braille children’s books for Northern Ireland libraries – Belfast Telegraph. “Offenders completing community service have converted a range of children’s books into Braille for libraries across Northern Ireland. “
• Reading – Caversham Library to temporarily close in new year – Reading Chronicle. “The work, taking place on Monday, January 13 and Wednesday, January 29, will cover improvements to the library’s energy efficiency, alongside upgrades to heating systems, wiring and electrics. “
• Somerset – Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis helps secure future of Shepton Mallet Library – Somerset County Gazette. Library to stay where is it is due to funding from outside of council. “The decision includes an agreement which would allow the building to be open outside of library opening hours to help develop its community role, and to accept contributions totalling £23,000 for each of the next five years from the town council and Mr Eavis. “
• South Lanarkshire – Scots library opens doors for homeless to watch a movie on Christmas Day – Daily Record. “Rutherglen Library in South Lanarkshire will be open between 11am and 2pm on December 25, with staff planning a festive film screening. It is the second year the library has opened up on Christmas Day, with Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop hailing the initiative.”
• St Helens – St Helens Council to conduct review into library opening hours – St Helens Reporter. “A review of library opening hours will be undertaken across the borough in preparation for the opening of a library at the World of Glass. St Helens Central Library, based in the Gamble Building, closed for urgent repairs in March 2017 and has never reopened. In April, St Helens Council announced plans to establish a temporary library at The World of Glass, which has long been the preferred destination for a new town centre library. The move is expected to take place in early 2020.”
• Swindon – Cafe return down to public – Swindon Advertiser. Curreent cafe will close. Consultation on what will replace it in the space. “Coun Keith Williams, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “We know the cafe is a popular facility for some visitors to the library but the current provision is not paying its way at a time where we need to ensure we provide sustainable, cost-effective services. “
• West Sussex – Community hub plans for Worthing Library hit delays – Worthing Herald. “Problems with lifts and heating and cooling systems mean the Worthing Community Hub will not open as planned in the summer. West Sussex County Council plans to transform the town’s library, in Richmond Road, into a one-stop centre which would also house children and family services and registration services.”
• Warrington – Revealed: Warrington’s most books borrowed from LiveWire libraries – Warrington Guardian. “Topping the fiction list for adults is The Second Child by Caroline Bond, which was a designated Book of the Month during 2019 – showing how popular the initiative is with encouraging library users to try new books. “
• West Lothian – West Lothian library hours to change – Linlithgow Gazette. “The changes to opening hours at libraries will save the council £50,000 by reducing staffing levels, and the council has sought feedback from library users. The changes include a reduction in opening hours overall and more reliance on customer self-service. Self-service checkouts already account for 67 per cent of library transactions. “
• Wokingham – Wokingham libraries encourage youngsters to join reading challenge – Maidenhead Advertiser. Winter Mini Challenge.
• Worcestershire – A new strategy for libraries in Worcestershire – Tewkesbury Admag. Basically a reprinted council press release. “Ambitions for the service include; finding new ways to sustain all of our library provision, doing more to support our county’s businesses and supporting people into work. “. It’s hard to tell from the PR-speak but it looks like libraries will lose space to community groups and self-service machines expected.
  • Rubery Library will not close says Sajid Javid – Stourbridge News. Council says no aim to close any libraries.