A normal news week, sort of

Editorial

Windsor and Maidenhead, the” tax avoidance capital” and one of the wealthiest parts of the UK, is considering cutting library opening hours by a quarter in order to save money. Elsewhere, Kingston has also announced a consultation but it is avoids mentioning if this is simply cover to cut funding or not. A new library has opened in Waltham Forest and another in the Vale of Glamorgan has closed for extensive refurbishment. Meanwhile, the troubled Library of Birmingham has been earmarked £3m of the £10m it needs just for maintenance. That place sucks in money. So – good news – this almost sounds like a normal news week pre-Covid.

A librarianship MA student is researching the use and purpose of volunteers at Oldham Libraries for her dissertation and is looking for information professionals to share their thoughts on the topic. The study will involve information professionals completing a survey about their experience and knowledge of volunteers. If you find the project of interest and would like to participate in this survey, please contact the researcher, Nicola Semple. Her email address is nicola.semple@stu.mmu.ac.uk

Changes by authority

• Birmingham – Library of Birmingham needs £11m maintenance over ten years: £3m to be spent on it over 3 years.
• Kingston – Consultation.
• South Gloucestershire – Filton Library closed for repairs.
• Vale of Glamorgan – Penarth Library to be extensively refurbished inc. makerspace.
• Waltham Forest – New Wood Street Library opens.
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Consultation on cutting opening hours by 26% /123 hours from current 475.5

Whichbook

I’ve been a fan of Whichbook for years and so was delighted to see that this one-of-a-kind book recommendation site has been radically improved. Rachel Van Riel, the Director of Opening the Book, the creators of Whichbook, very kindly agreed to answer my questions about it …

What is Whichbook?

A new way to choose a book where the reader is in control. Searching books sites and catalogues usually means keying in an author name or book title. But if you know the name already, your search is likely to turn up books you already know about. No surprises there. Whichbook starts instead from the reading experience you are looking for. Are you in the mood for something funny and optimistic or beautiful and a bit sad? Mix the mood sliders to match what you want and see what comes up. You can choose the race, age, gender and sexuality of the main character or spin the globe and pick the country your book is set in.

What is it like now?

This site is in a completely different league from the old one. The old one had the central idea but it was dated in design, you needed to be keen to use it. People still were keen – we averaged 35,000 a month – but this new one is so juicy and tempting – I defy anyone not to get sucked in to look at just one more possibility – and then another ….

So what’s actually new?

It’s dynamic and not linear. When you change the mood sliders, the book covers instantly rearrange to match, it’s magic. When you choose a main character, you can pick Asian and see a big choice, then choose gay, the book covers change instantly to show that. It’s a celebration of the richness of book cover design and a visual feast. Everything is intuitive – instead of a drop-down menu of countries to choose from, you can spin a globe and land anywhere and see which books are set there. And it is designed to work on tablets and phones as much as PCs and Macs. That’s been a huge job with such a complexity of interaction. But we knew that more than half of users access by mobile phone so it’s essential.

Is it free?

Yes, it’s completely free. For the first time, we have added a donate button as the site has had no public funding since 2003. We have looked at using ads too but they do spoil the design so we’d rather not.

How are the book choices made?

We concentrate on books which may fly below the radar – first-time authors, quirky titles and knock-out covers. Any user can suggest a book. We don’t include the big bestsellers as they don’t need any help to be found. Another great new feature, though, is that you can pick a current bestseller you enjoyed and see a selection of whichbook titles you might like to try next. That could be very useful for libraries with a big waiting list for bestseller reservations.

What’s the library connection?

Click on any book cover to get the book details and you can then Borrow or Buy. Borrow brings up a choice of UK library services with a link that goes straight to author/title level so you can see which branches hold it. The other big connection with libraries is that whichbook readers mostly work in libraries. We have just started a training programme with 10 new readers in Leeds Libraries.

National news

• Annual Report to Parliament on public libraries activities from April 2019 to March 2020 – Gov.uk. “This report provides a review of library activity from April 2019 to March 2020 by government and a number of library stakeholders.”

• Libraries need change from the top – BookSeller. Tim Coates says “Public libraries have been losing the plot for years.” … “and if those currently in charge can’t see or do that, they should be replaced—and very quickly, this autumn. “

• Together We Read – Digital bookclub. “During this two-week program, there will be no waitlists and no holds for the selected ebook. Download Libby to borrow the free ebook from your library using your phone or tablet. “

International news

• China –  Concrete wormhole library – Designing Libraries. “The wormholes, of varying size and intervals, provide surprise and let in natural light. As well as provision for around 10,000 [censored – Ed.] books, the library has bicycle parking facilities, bathrooms and showers.”
• Global – Libraries In Movement – Princh. A look at mobile libraries worldwide including those using donkeys and boats.
• India – Pandemic is the perfect time to build community libraries, here’s why – Times of India. ” news of small community libraries being opened up in different places in Balochistan caught international bestselling author Paulo Coelho’s attention. The idea is to convert unused buildings or places previously misused for drug consumption into small community libraries in towns and villages so that people and young readers get a glimpse of the outside world through stories and books”
• USA/Ireland/ – What’s it like to be a library cat during the pandemic – I Love Libraries. “Library staff know him to be extremely self-sufficient, but during the pandemic people have still been sure to drop by his hut to check in and share snacks.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Aberdeen’s libraries open doors to welcome back readers – Evening Express. “Central and Tillydrone libraries opened on Monday and the libraries at Airyhall, Bridge of Don, Cove, Dyce and Mastrick opened on Thursday.”
• Aberdeenshire – Public access PCs available to book at Aberdeenshire libraries from next week – Evening Express. “Hour-long slots allow 45 minutes use and the chance for staff to ensure hygiene between users, who are asked to wear face coverings.” From 2 libraries.
• Birmingham – Millions to be spent after fears Birmingham library could soon become unsafe to occupy – Birmingham Mail. “Around £3 million is set to be spent on the Library of Birmingham over the next three years.” … “Last week it was revealed that the library, which opened in 2013, risks becoming unsafe to use without £11 million in maintenance works over the next ten years.”
• Bradford – Call for Bradford poets to enter library competition – Telegraph and Argus. “Libraries hopes to produce two books – one book featuring poems and artwork by children & young people under 18 and another with artwork and poems by adults (over 18).”
• Bridgend – Libraries Reopen For Book Browsing – Awen Libraries. “reopened its Aberkenfig, Bridgend, Maesteg, Pencoed, Porthcawl and Pyle branches for book browsing and borrowing”
• Buckinghamshire – Marlow residents urged to contribute to library art – Maidenhead Advertiser. “Bucks Council is urging Marlow residents to take part in the creation of a new art installation for the refurbished library.”
  • 3,000 people still have library books from before lockdown, but be warned – fine amnesty ends this month – Bucks Free Press. “The fines amnesty that has been in place during lockdown will end on September 30.”
• Denbighshire – Libraries across Denbighshire open for appointment visits – Journal. “Visits to browse and choose books are limited to 20 minutes, and computer sessions are currently limited to 45 minutes, and one per week.”
• Derbyshire – Derbyshire’s mobile libraries gear up to return to the road – Derbyshire County Council. “From Monday 21 September both our mobile library vehicles will start operating again for mornings only and following new routes.” … “Appointment times will last 5 minutes, and for the time being people will not be able to select their own books by going onto the vehicle. Instead, they will be asked what type of books they like reading and a selection will be made for them so they can pick them up at their allotted time.”
  • Derbyshire county libraries to be open by end of the month – Derbyshire Council. “A total of 44 of the county’s 45 libraries will be open and welcoming customers to browse the shelves and choose books by 28 September 2020. Only Wingerworth Library will remain closed for the time being.”
• Dorset – Bookworms rejoice as reservation system gets back up and running – Bridport News. “Reservations will be limited to 10 items per library member at any one time.”
• Edinburgh – Edinburgh Libraries phased re-opening – Tales of One City. “The first phase of opening will see a selection of library buildings across the city reopening on Tuesday 13 October.”
• Eileen Siar – Western Isles libraries to reopen with ‘Connect & Collect’ – Stornoway Gazette. “The phased reopening will initially involve reduced opening hours at Liniclate and Stornoway libraries which will offer a special ‘Connect & Collect’ service.”
• Glasgow – Glasgow Lib Dem library closure letters ‘untrue’, says Susan Aitken – Glasgow Times. “It is understood that Glasgow Life, an arms-length organisation which manages Glasgow’s libraries on behalf of the council – is facing significant financial difficulties. Despite local concerns and an online petition to “save” South Side libraries, there has been no suggestion that libraries will be permanently closed. But the Greens have said that the council is responsible for causing confusion. “
  • Pollokshields residents frustrated as Glasgow Life removes signs expressing love for libraries – Glasgow Times. “locals in Pollokshields designed signs to hang outside their local hub – but these keep being removed by library staff. Resident Katherine Mackinnon said: “I obviously can’t speak to the reasons other folk put them up but, for me, I put a banner up because I was concerned for the future of our extremely well-used and beloved library.” … “One sign, which was removed, read “Reading is Hope” while another said “Our libraries belong to our communities”.”
• Gwynedd – Library appointments available to book from today – Cambrian News. “As part of a pre-booking system, residents will be able to access the public computers and go to the library to browse and choose their own books.”
• Hampshire – Library opening hour changes to be unveiled in Hampshire – Salisbury Journal. This month. “The 40 county council-run libraries, including Fordingbridge and Ringwood, are set to have new opening hours following  a public consultation.”
• Inverclyde – Inverclyde Libraries has unveiled the new theme for its online discussion group – Greenock Telegraph. “For the next few weeks, readers are being encouraged to choose books with strong female lead characters”
• Kingston – Kingston Council to work with local communities to reimagine local library services – Kingston Council. “The first phase of the transformation process will take place between 1 September and 21 October. “
• Leicester – Five more city libraries to reopen next week – Leicester City Council. “From Monday 14 September, Evington Library, Fosse Library, Knighton Library, Rushey Mead Library and Westcotes Library will reopen to the public.”
• Leicestershire – Thousands of people have visited Leicestershire’s main libraries – including Harborough’s – since a browsing service has been restarted – Harborough Mail. “More than 5,500 people have visited Leicestershire’s main libraries”
• Manchester – More Manchester libraries set to reopen from next week – About Manchester. “Abraham Moss, Arcadia, Beswick, Brooklands, Hulme and North City will all reopen, along with community libraries in Burnage, Barlow Moor, Fallowfield, Miles Platting and New Moston. For the two remaining Manchester libraries where a reopening date is yet to be confirmed, Northenden and Powerhouse, work is continuing to ensure that these facilities can reopen to visitors as soon as possible.”
• Northern Ireland – Libraries in local area return to normal hours – Coleraine Times. “Libraries NI has announce that libraries that were part of Libraries NI’s first two pilot phases for reopening have returned to normal hours including opening Mondays and Saturdays.” … “These libraries are Antrim, Ballymoney, Bangor Carnegie, Belfast Central, Brownlow, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Derry Central, Downpatrick, Enniskillen, Lisburn City, Maghera, Newry City, Omagh, Portaferry and Strabane.”
• North Somerset – More libraries reopen across North Somerset – Mercury.
• Northumberland – Some services could return to Northumberland libraries – News Post Leader. Time limited browsing in some libraries.
• North Yorkshire – North Yorkshire’s home library service resumes – Harrogate Informer. “Home library service volunteers select books and audio books for delivery. All books are left on a pre-arranged date in a secure place and collected and quarantined afterwards.”
  • Libraries welcoming back customers with measures – Northern Echo. “Customers can visit, browse for and borrow books in many libraries, and most are offering access to computers, which allow for two-metre social distancing and are cleaned between each use.”
• Plymouth – All Plymouth public libraries to reopen in the next few weeks – Plymouth Live. “Following the coronavirus lockdown, the council introduced a collection service at Central, Plymstock, St Budeaux and Southway. In a second phase, Central Library in the city centre opened for browsing and pre-booked use of computers.”
• St Helens – Letters in lockdown initiative praised after engaging with 180 isolated residents – St Helens Star. ” sending hand-written letters in stamped addressed envelopes to residents registered with the library service’s Home Delivery Service.”
• Shropshire – Million-selling author at online libraries event – Whitchurch Herald. “Lesley Pearse will give the talk to Shropshire on Wednesday, September 17 at 6pm to complement the Libraries from Home initiative from Libraries Connected”
• Somerset – Book lovers invited back to browse at Somerset library – In Your Area. “The county council in Somerset rolled out a phased opening of libraries by offering an order-and-collect service and now Wellington is one of the first libraries to let the public back in to browse the shelves for themselves – all done with strict social distancing and infection control measures in place.”
• South Gloucestershire – Leader’s column: Libraries are now fully open again – Gazette series. “All customers are required to wear face coverings. Opening times are shorter than normal hours with all libraries closing at 4pm. The number of people using a library at one time is limited and IT users are encouraged to book in advance to ensure a PC is free at the time they want to visit.”
• Southend – Southend Council re-opens libraries today – Clacton Gazette. All now open.
• Suffolk – Online coffee mornings for new parents – Ipswich Star.
  • Browsing returns to Suffolk’s libraries in September – Suffolk Libraries. “Around half of libraries have reintroduced browsing already, with one-way systems in place and limitations on the number of customers allowed in library buildings in any one time.”
• Vale of Glamorgan – Penarth Library to undergo extensive refurbishment project – Vale of Glamorgan Council. “Brand new computing facilities will replace the current IT suite. The space will also house a makerspace, a location where library users can gather to co-create, share resources, work on projects and network.”
• Waltham Forest – New Wood Street Library building opens – Waltham Forest Echo. “Originally supposed to open late last year, the new building in Troubridge Square on the Marlowe Road Estate is open seven days a week, for double the hours of the previous library building. The former Wood Street Library site will be sold for redevelopment to fund both the new library and part of the extension of Lea Bridge Library. Many residents have mourned the loss of the original building, which dates from the 1950s and is set to be demolished.”
• Warrington – Padgate and Penketh libraries latest to reopen – Warrington Guardian. “Warrington’s remaining closed libraries, Birchwood and Westbrook, are provisionally scheduled to reopen in late October.”
• Warwickshire – Whitnash and Lillington libraries are now open for click & collect services for first time since lockdown – Kenilworth Weekly News.
• West Berkshire – Funding pledge to support Thatcham Library for another year – Newbury Today. “Town councillors agreed to pay West Berkshire Council the sum, which amounts to around £24,000, at a meeting last week. The district council had proposed to close libraries as part of budget cuts. But after strong protests and the Government saying it couldn’t, the council asked town and parishes to help cover a £150,000 shortfall to keep eight of its nine libraries open.”
• West Sussex – Share a Poem of Hope with West Sussex Libraries – District Post. “The poems are being requested as part of an online campaign to celebrate National Poetry Day which takes place on Thursday 1 October.”
  • Lesley Pearse to give free online talk through West Sussex Library Service – The Argus.
• Wiltshire – Further eight libraries to reopen – including Amesbury – Salisbury Journal. “From Monday, September 14, libraries in Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Calne and Marlborough will open, followed on September 21 by Royal Wootton Bassett, Westbury and Melksham. People won’t be able to drop-in and browse at these libraries but an order and collect service has been set-up providing access to books.”
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Windsor and Maidenhead library hours could be slashed to save money – Royal Borough Observer. “It is proposed to reduce opening hours during the week by 123 hours – which RBWM believes it will still deliver a ‘comprehensive library service’ and deliver savings at the same time.” … “The borough currently has 475.5 total library opening hours a week – the most in the Berkshire area.”
• Wrexham – Wrexham Library Service: research your ancestry for free – The Leader.