Coronavirus and libraries

So, unless there’s a centenarian reading this (if so, hi there!) none of us have lived through a time similar to what we have now with Coronavirus. So far, the library response can be summed up as searching for hand gel supplies. putting up notices and waiting for government and councils to tell them what to do. Some enterprising souls – no services as yet I have seen – are promoting e-books on social media but it’s all a bit mooted. All those events planned for near/medium term are looking a bit questionable too. It promises to be an interesting week. Let’s hope it ends in anti-climax.

Impending pandemic aside, the news this week has largely been World Book Day. It’s all been rather wonderful. Less so has been the ton of librarian in-fighting on social media, with CILIP in the firing line once more. I’m not going to go into it now but just to say that social media is once more proving to be the most polarising medium there is and shouting loudly is not the best way to hear other people.

Finally, I cannot let the public relations speak of Derbyshire go un-noticed. The council that brought you the policy of not allowing their staff to renew books over the phone is boasting loud about how innovative they’re being by forcing libraries to be taken over by volunteers. Good grief, Derbyshire, get a grip and respect your staff and your public a bit more.

Changes by local authority

• Aberdeen – £40k cut: co-locations.
• Derbyshire – Woodville to be come first of 20 (out of 45) to become volunteer.
• North Ayrshire – Cuts expected.

National news

• Bans will result in equality being replaced by inequality – Evening Telegraph. “These events are generally held in libraries and public spaces across the UK and are an entirely opt-in and voluntary option for parents to educate their children on LGBT inclusion.” Writer then points out evangelic Christian banned from speaking while drag queen story time allowed.
• Covid-19 isn’t just flu. It is time to take this virus seriously – Telegraph. “Public libraries are putting away children’s toys. Supermarkets are running low on loo paper …” Behind partial paywall.
• New Words – Time To Read. “New Words is an innovative public library and small press partnership from Time to Read. The North West’s independent publishing scene is thriving and in 2020, New Words presents books and special events from five North West independent publishing houses in public libraries across twenty two North West library authorities from Cheshire to Cumbria, including all of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire. You’ll also find bold new artwork, commissioned for the project from Oldham artist and designer, Kim Hubball, all with support from Arts Council England.”
• Public library service annual reports 2018 to 2019 – Welsh Government. Resourcing and staffing an area of concern for many services. Only one professionally qualified librarian for all of Blaenau Gwent, very few also in Cardiff.

“We are thrilled to let you know that our regional Children’s Reading Partners Roadshow will be taking place at Bath Guildhall on 12 May 2020 and Adult Reading Partners Roadshow will be on the 13 May 2020. Every year we go to a different region so we are excited to visit the South West but librarians for across the UK are welcome to join. We have found that reader development, school and stock librarians have found the day particularly useful in the past.

The annual event is designed for publishers and librarians to talk directly to build relationships, to share ideas and create opportunities for new book or author promotions. Every librarian will have the opportunity to hear from attending publishers about their new titles and authors. This will be followed by a series of face-to-face meetings to discuss particular opportunities and to tell publishers about your library and the readers you support. The day will run from approximately 9.30am to 4pm. We request that librarians commit to attending the whole day so that you can hear from all of the publishers and then speak with the publishers in small groups during the afternoon. Admission is free and lunch will be provided. Please do share this invitation within your region and delegates can confirm your attendance by using the booking form by 10 April (but this is dependent on capacity). 

Kimberley Sheehan| kimberley.sheehan@readingagency.org.uk [kimberley.sheehan@readingagency.org.uk]

The Scottish Poetry Library made brave stand, Lionel Shriver and Father Ted writer say – Times. “The novelists Lionel Shriver and Joan Smith, and the Father Ted writer Graham Linehan are among more than 150 signatories of a letter expressing “whole-hearted support” for the Scottish Poetry Library’s stand against the “Orwellian” takeover of language by gender activists.” Partial paywall.

Working Internationally for Libraries Grants – CILIP. “A total of 10 public libraries from all over England applied to be considered for the Building Bridges grants programme under the Working Internationally for Libraries project, funded by Arts Council England. The four winners have been selected by a jury consisting of members from Arts Council England, Public Libraries 2030, and CILIP’s International Libraries and Information Professionals group”. Winners are Redbridge, Oldham, Barnet and Oxfordshire.

Zaffre wins Sampson’s debut The Last Library – BookSeller. “The Last Library is the story of shy, reclusive June Jones, who is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save her beloved library from closure, with the help of her unconventional yet dedicated patrons. Zaffre called it “an ode to libraries and the ability they possess to bring the unlikeliest of people together” but also a story “about how the right person, at the right time, can make a huge difference”.

International news

• USA – Information studies prof works to address mental illness among librarians – UWM Report. “… mental health may be an even bigger issue among librarians. One study found that more than half of academic librarians surveyed reported having a diagnosed mental illness. But these mental illnesses are scarcely discussed in the library community”
  • History in Going Fine Free – A Look at the Impact It could Have On Your Community – SirsiDynix. “Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries (FVRL) went fine free in 1970 after doing an internal study that showed the cost of collecting fines exceeded the amount collected. They then took the necessary steps to implement and become a fine free library. This policy has saved their library money, and more importantly, increased the amount of positive interactions with their patrons. They have seen a significant decrease in their overdue materials, with last year being less than 4%.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Aberdeen Budget 2020: Libraries to remain open – Evening Express. “The administration budget approved at the meeting of all city councillors stated all libraries would remain open. Included in the budget is a saving of £40,000 by relocating libraries to within other community buildings.”
• Aberdeenshire – Boost for rural businesses and entrepreneurs as project expands – Press and Journal. “The second stage of the Libraries and Innovation Network Aberdeenshire (LINA) Accelerator will be launched this week. Designed to help existing and start-up businesses grow, LINA has been offering one-day workshops in Peterhead and Banff libraries for the last year supporting individuals with their companies in industries such as jewellery-making, charities, fitness instructing and architecture.”
• Barnet – Safety concerns over checks on Barnet library volunteers – Times series. “Council officers revealed they are unable to carry out DBS checks – which reveal unspent convictions and conditional cautions – on some library volunteers. They stressed volunteers who have not undergone the checks are only able to work under the supervision of members of staff who have been DBS checked. “
  • Concerns over impact of Barnet library overhaul on disabled – Times Series. “An independent evaluation of the borough’s libraries reveals 68 per cent of those surveyed said the changes had a negative impact on them, rising to 75 per cent of disabled people. Most respondents – 56 per cent – said they visited libraries less often than they did before the changes were made. “
• Bradford – World Book Day: How Bradford pupils are celebrating – Telegraph and Argus. Pictures of kids dressing up.
• Coventry – Coventry library to close for City of Culture refresh – Coventry Observer. One week refurb. “‘The Central Library will have a part to play during our year as the City of Culture in 2021 and this work is about making sure this much-loved building is in the best shape it can be. We thank you for your patience while we carry out this work.””
• Cumbria – Poet Laureate invited to town library – Times and Star. Simon Armitage tour: councillor says “Councillor Richard Watson said: “With our library situated only 50 yards from Wordsworth House you’d think we would have a good chance of being successful.” “
• Derbyshire – First county community managed library set to open its doors in April – Derbyshire County Council. “Woodville Library is to be the first of our libraries to transfer over to community management as part of our innovative ‘Libraries for Derbyshire’ programme. The library, on Hartshorne Road, will close its doors on Friday 27 March as a council-run library, and the community group behind the new venture aims to re-open it on Friday 17 April.”
• Gloucestershire – Gloucestershire librarian’s amazing pictures to celebrate World Book Day – Stroud News and Journal. Some very good Bookface.
• Hampshire – March deadline to have your say on our libraries and our hospital – Basingstoke Observer. “Hampshire County Council’s public consultation on how local library services should operate is asking for residents’ views on proposed changes to the Library service and includes proposals that could see the possible closure of Chineham and South Ham Libraries.”
• Hertfordshire – Libraries for Life to take over Hertfordshire libraries in April – Watford Observer. “Plans to transfer the running of Hertfordshire libraries to a public service mutual are on track for April 1, it has been confirmed. Libraries for Life had initially been expected to take over the running of the county’s libraries on December 1 last year (2019). “
• Merton – Are London’s libraries still alive? By Ana Miletic, Burntwood School – Surrey Comet. “Wimbledon library continues to adapt and thrive alongside technology, but it’s just one of many in London. Smaller libraries with less financial support may find it more difficult to keep up with changing times. It’s therefore vital we appreciate how important it is to have places where people from whatever background can access knowledge freely, a human right that libraries physically embody. Not only are they a place to read, but also a place where you can be part of the community.  “
• Norfolk – Dozens more collection points in Norfolk for free sanitary products – Eastern Daily Press. “The Tricky Period has provided products in all of the area’s 47 libraries and Norfolk Library Information Service, six mobile libraries since 2017 and since April 2018 has supplied nearly 1,500 individual items and 967 packs.”
• North Ayrshire – Libraries, halls and centres could face axe in future as council bean counters eye savings – Daily Record. “A council paper commenting on the plans for libraries, halls and centres said: “…a range of potential options for service delivery should be developed, which will be subject to further consultation with key stakeholders.””
• Reading – Palmer Park Library will re-open next week after heating improvements – Reading Chronicle. Heating improvements.
• Richmond – Volunteers sought for new reading groups coming to Richmond libraries – Sutton and Croydon Guardian. “The ‘Reader Leader’s’ role will involve selecting books, stories and poems that will then be read out to a group followed by a discussion. “
• St Helens – Give a classic fairytale a modern twist in St Helens Library Service writing competition – St Helens Reporter. “Now in its sixth year, the St Helens Super Writers competition requires budding writers, who either live or go to school in the borough, to produce a short story of no more than 500 words – with this year’s theme around classic fairy tales with a modern twist.”
  • St Helens library’s World of Glass move has been delayed – St Helens Star. “Plans to establish a new town centre library at the World of Glass were originally unveiled in 2019. The council originally targeted winter opening of the library but with winter drawing to a close, a firm opening date has still not been announced. “
• Sandwell – Sandwell Libraries Literature Festival returning even ‘bigger and better’ – Express and Star. “Sandwell Libraries Literature Festival is to return later this month with a mix of author talks, history fayres, live music and theatre.”
• Sheffield – Campaign to increase library usage in Sheffield launched – Sheffield Star. “A campaign has been launched to revamp three historic Sheffield libraries, return volunteer-led services back to the council and scrap late-return fees in a bid to increase library usage in the city.”
• Warrington – Double nomination in national awards for town’s leisure facilities – Warringon Guardian. “The redeveloped Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub and Stockton Heath Library have both been nominated for a top industry award. The two facilities, operated by LiveWire on behalf of Warrington Borough Council, are nominated in the Capital Investment category at the 2020 Community Leisure UK Awards. “
  • Is it Westminster and not Livewire to blame for charity’s problems? – Warrington Guardian / Opinion. “another piece of bad news, the row over the so-called community cabin in Orford Park.” – community group forced out by Livewire. “LiveWire’s remit is to provide services as best it can within its available resources. And where does it get most of its money from? It gets it from the council, a council that has also seen its funding from government slashed over the past 10 years”
• West Sussex – World Book Day sees winner of West Sussex Children’s Picture Book Award announced – Bognor Regis Observer. “It wasn’t hard for the West Sussex Schools Library Service to decide this would be the perfect day to announce this year’s winner of the award and I’ve heard that I Am A Tiger is an exciting read.”
• Wiltshire – Police officers and PCSOs are using libraries as new touchdown points – Gazette and Herald. “Neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers have started using their local libraries as ‘touchdown’ points. “
  • Alderbury and Wilton police stations close their doors today for final time – Salisbury Journal. “Although neither have been open to the public for several years, the force made the closures as new “touchdown points” are allocated at libraries across the county. “