Slow recovery continues

Another week of recovery and things gradually returning to normal. Only 6 out of 150 English public library services do not offer either a browsing or click and collect service at the moment, with services also reopening elsewhere in the British Isles. At least two mainland library services are also operating mobile libraries.

In the libraries that are open , and from the library library services I am in contact with, the picture appears to be that of a slow increase in usage week on week (apart from the initial rush) as people become more confident in coming out into public spaces. It’s all dependent on there being no “second wave” of course so cross fingers. And wear a mask, it’s the law.

Changes by local authority

• Derbyshire – New £1.7m library in Belper opens

National news

• Library Open Data: an update – Gov.uk. The big question is what happens next and how do we integrate use of the schemas into everyday business as usual for library services?”
  • Library Open Data. “These pages describe a core dataset for public library open data. Having standard data will enable local services to share data analysis, and build open applications from that data.”
• Our Survey Says…E-learnings from Lockdown – LinkedIn.”First rule of e-content in libraries: Usage always disappoints. ” … “only 9% said they had ‘total control’ over this aspect of their library offer.” … “80% who said that they have no strategy for promoting their library sources to non-users” …” most libraries make little effort to reach non-users and that their e-resources are underused.”
• Quiz: Which librarian from pop culture are you? – Book Riot. “f you are a lover of books and reading, there is a good chance you were obsessed with a fictional librarian at some point. Perhaps you still are! Whether it’s Marian, Giles, or Twilight Sparkle, there are several iconic librarians in pop-culture that inspire admiration.”
• Urgent investment needed to boost mental health recovery – LGA. “Libraries, leisure, housing, money advice and other essential council-run services, alongside statutory mental health services and public health, all play a crucial part in supporting people’s mental wellbeing.”
• What does quality mean for a modern library service? – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected are working with Arts Council England and CILIP to develop an accreditation framework for public libraries. An important part of this work is to engage as many people who care about libraries as possible.” 21 August 2pm.
• What Re-opening looks like in some CMLs and a call for Volunteers – Community Managed Libraries Network.

International news

• Australia – Snapshot of Australia’s public library services – Public Libraries Connect. ” in 2018-19, there were more than 273,000 public library programs country wide attracting over 7.4 million attendances, an increase of approximately 23,000 programs and 400,000 attendees from the previous year.” … “Other key highlights include total expenditure on public libraries has increased from $1.14 billion in 2015-16 to over $1.32 billion in 2018-19, and access to public library services provided through 1,683 service points – an increase of 13 service points from the previous year.”
• USA – Blackstone’s $4.7B acquisition of Ancestry raises privacy questions – Med City News. ” privacy experts said more consumer protections are needed, when the world’s largest real estate owner — which has an ownership stake in Change Healthcare, Hilton, and several other large brands — is buying a genetics company.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeenshire – New click and collect service for north-east library – Evening Express. “Bookings for a click and collect and doorstep delivery service for a north-east library will be available from Monday.”
• Bedford – Council dismisses Bedford Central Library ‘for sale’ conspiracy – Bedford Independent. “The post, which caused panic amongst some members of the group, claimed there was a “rumour” the library in Harpur Square would “permanently close in about two weeks.”
• Bradford – Ilkley, Wyke and Laisterdyke libraries added to ‘order and collect’ service – Telegraph and Argus. “The service was launched in early July and Bradford Council says nearly 3,000 people pre-ordered and collected books in the first three weeks.”
• Bury – Libraries begin to reopen next week in Bury – and there’s no fines – This is Lancashire. Click and collect from 3 libraries.
• Camden – Welcome to Request and Read – Camden Council. “To start with, this service is only available from Swiss Cottage, Holborn and Highgate Libraries.”
• Carmarthenshire – New approach to borrowing at Llandeilo and Ammanford libraries – South Wales Guardian. “In addition to the click, collect and delivery service people can now access IT services by appointment at Ammanford, Llanelli and Carmarthen and branch libraries in Llandeilo, Llwynhendy and Burry Port. Ammanford library’s makerspace is also open for 3D printing by appointment. “
• Cheshire West and Chester – More libraries to reopen in west Cheshire – with face coverings required – The Standard. “Following the successful opening of the first sites, a further five libraries will now open. Helsby, Lache, Little Sutton, Sandiway and Upton Libraries will reopen with reduced opening hours and a limited service offer on August 10. From August 24, Barnton, Frodsham, Great Boughton, Hope Farm and Weaverham Libraries will also reopen.”
• Cumbria – Select and collect from Cumbria libraries – The Mail. “Library staff can create a selection of up to six items, and whilst they are currently unable to offer a request service for specific titles, they will choose books by your favourite authors, or particular categories of books which you enjoy.”
• Derbyshire – New Belper library to open its doors for the first time – Derbyshire County Council. “Our new library will welcome its first customers on Monday 10 August 2020, with the added bonus that people will be able to browse the shelves for the first time since lockdown when all county libraries were temporarily closed due to the pandemic. The new £1.7 million library in Derwent Street will replace the library in Bridge Street, and is part of a wider council development which includes a new care centre for older people, the Ada Belfield Centre, next door.”
  • Chesterfield library set to relax measures and allow readers to browse shelves – Derbyshire Times.
• Devon – Holsworthy Library working well under new conditions – Camelford Today. ” The new service is completely contactless and had been working well so far.”
• Doncaster – Library services update – Doncaster Council. “Libraries will be looking at expanding the services offered on a phased basis when it is safe to do so “
• Durham – Pick and Collect Library Service Rolled out – Newton News. 19 libraries click and collect, no PCs or browsing.
• East Riding of Yorkshire – East Riding Libraries will reopen for browsing with new systems in place on Monday August 10 – Pocklington Post. “East Riding Libraries are pleased to announce that they will be opening their doors for browsing from Monday August 10”
• Gloucestershire – Share your lockdown experiences for future generations – Wilts and Glos Standard. Lechlade volunteer library reopened on 1 August.
• Greenwich – Secondary glazing enhances Plumstead Library refurbishment – PBC Today. “The secondary glazing makes Plumstead Library more thermally efficient and creates quieter spaces for the local community user groups”
• Hampshire – Basingstoke library set for 28 per cent opening hour cut – Basingstoke Gazette. “A consultation that will set the future opening hours of the county’s libraries has been launched, and could see Basingstoke Discovery Centre have its hours cut by 28 per cent. Hampshire County Council are asking for the public’s views over the next two weeks on the future opening hours of libraries, after a review of the service saw eight libraries across the county close and the others to open for an average of 20 per cent less.”
  • Gosport council working to save Lee-on-the-Solent Library – The News. “Ahead of the council’s announcement, a consortium between the Lee Residents Association, Lee Business Association and Cllr Graham Burgess began developing plans to try and save the library.”
• Hertfordshire – Browsing returns to Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage and St Albans libraries – Welwyn Hatfield Times. “libraries have announced the next phase of reopening plans which will see 13 of the county’s libraries allow customers to browse bookshelves for 15 minutes.”
• Isle of Wight – Isle of Wight Libraries to reopen to visitors – Island Echo. “Cowes, Lord Louis, Ryde, Sandown and Ventnor Libraries will open their doors to customers for book borrowing during week beginning 10th August, while Freshwater Library will do so a week later from Tuesday 18th August.” PCs not available for first couple of weeks.
• Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries events for August 2020, with talks, competitions, homework help, book chats and more – Brixton Buzz.
• Lancashire – Fulwood and Leyland libraries to be open for longer – Blog Preston. Longer opening hours, “The browse and borrow service means customers can visit the library for a pre-booked 30 minute period, and choose up to 20 books”. Some PCs available.
  • Chorley, Fulwood, Garstang & Leyland Libraries Will Have Extended Opening Hours – Preston Hub.
  • Home Library Service Is Providing A Lifeline To Lancashire Residents Again – Preston Hub. “A socially distanced delivery service is provided by library service drivers, at a time arranged with the customer.”
• Leicester – Libraries and children’s centres to reopen in Leicester next week – Leicester Mercury. “Four of the city council’s libraries and two of its children’s centres will be opened up for the first time in almost five months on Monday (August 10).”
• Leicestershire – Public libraries in Market Harborough, Lutterworth and Broughton Astley have re-opened – Harborough Mail. “There will be an online booking system, allowing members to book a 25-30 minute slot at their preferred library.”

• Newport – Libraries in Malpas, Ringland and Rogerstone re-opening – South Wales Argus. “The buildings in Malpas, Ringland and Rogerstone will reopen for 20 hours a week, Newport City Council has announced, after preparations concluded to make the libraries safe for customers and staff. The council reopened the city’s Central Library in John Frost Square for booked appointments last month and intend to roll-out the system at other libraries.”
• North Ayrshire – New click and collect service in North Ayrshire while libraries closed – Irvine Times. “local residents will be able to borrow up to four books, for four weeks.”
• North Yorkshire – Chairman’s first visit celebrates reopening and future of libraries – North Yorkshire Council. “Cllr Clark saw how Harrogate library was welcoming back customers to browse for books while maintaining social distancing and hygiene guidance in the latest phase of the reopening of the service across the county. He spent time talking to volunteers, who have returned to support the library.”
• Oxfordshire – Wantage Library reopen with new rules – Oxford Mail. Libraries reopening for browsing.
• Pembrokeshire – Pembrokeshire library members urged to return books – Western Telegraph. “Although library buildings have not re-opened yet, an appointment system was set up in early July enabling people to return books to drop-off points at libraries in Fishguard, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Tenby and Haverfordwest (The Riverside). More than 1,980 books have been returned, but over 16,000 are still currently on loan.”
• Portsmouth – Cosham Library to Reopen This Month – About My Area. “The re-opening of Cosham library follows after the successful re-opening of Central, Southsea and North End libraries on 6 July.”
• Somerset – Mobile library will visit Street Library during refurbishment – In Your Area. “The Street Library and Parish Rooms are currently being refurbished and the new community facility will re-open towards the end of the year. In the meantime, the mobile library will be at Street Library from 10am to noon on alternate Mondays.”
• South Lanarkshire – East Kilbride Central Library to open doors to bookworms once again as lockdown eases – Daily Record. “East Kilbride Central Library will open its doors from Monday, August 10 with reduced hours and safety measures in place”
• Staffordshire – Story walks to get children reading launch in Cannock – Express and Star. ““Included in the trails will be ideas for silly activities, stories, competitions and signposting to online family events, so there’s plenty of fun for all the family.”
• Torfaen – Torfaen library service extended to Pontypool and Blaenavon – South Wales Argus. Click and collect: “From Monday, August 17, the service which has been operating from Cwmbran Library will be extended to Pontypool and Blaenavon Libraries.”
• Wandsworth – Putney librarian’s delight at continued demand for libraries – Wandsworth Times. ““Books can now be ordered via a click and collect service, and computers are available for 30-minute slots.” … “she said the library has had 100-200 requests for books a day. “
• Warrington – Culcheth Library reopens – Warrington Worldwide. “These new reduced opening hours are in line with guidance and designed to help ensure the safety of customers and staff at the site.”
• Warwickshire – Big increase in digital resources use at Warwickshire libraries – Leamington Observer. “More than 1,300 people have joined the library service in Warwickshire since lockdown began and downloads of eBooks and eAudiobooks have now passed the 50,000 mark – a 100 per cent increase in the number of downloads when compared to the previous three months – with over 2,500 residents signing up for BorrowBox.”
• Wiltshire – Three Wiltshire libraries reopened this week – Wiltshire Times. “This week the three largest libraries in Chippenham, Salisbury and Trowbridge opened their doors for the first time since March 20, with new safety measures.”
• Wrexham – Wrexham Library Service: free audio books, and order & collect – The Leader.
  • Gwersyllt Library offers click and collect service as it re-opens its doors – The Leader.