A busy start to the month

Editorial

There’s quite a lot of special Days and Months at the start of October – Black History Month, National Poetry Day, Fun Palaces and Libraries Week all on at the same time. The one with the hardest time in these Covid days is Fun Palaces which normally relies on face-to-face demonstrations and crafts. The organisers have done a valiantly good job but it’s impact will be far less this year. The others are more in keeping with having Zoom events and things on social media.

Changes by local authority

• Calderdale – Hipperholme Library under threat.

National news

• Black History Month in Libraries – Libraries Connected. Lists what various library services are doing: so far Hertfordshire, Lambeth, Manchester, Newham and Oldham and mainly (obviously) online events.
• Books for the future: why we need copyright libraries – Book Riot. “copyright libraries are such an important part of our culture and our national heritage. Preserving knowledge and stories in a way that makes them accessible for future generations is a worthy task, and something the librarians in these libraries take incredibly seriously. “
• National Library of Wales’ finances need ‘urgent attention’ – BBC. “The Welsh Government-commissioned review concluded the library faced a threat to its financial viability. Up to 30 jobs could be lost if the review was ignored, the head of the library in Aberystwyth warned.” … “The report said the library’s income had declined in real terms by 40% between 2008 and 2019. It had also cut its staffing by 23% in that time.”
• National called to verse on National Poetry Day – National Poetry Day. “‘The interactive National Poetry Day map features hundreds of poetry celebrations across the UK, led by local libraries, schools and bookshops: care homes are connecting with school children via Gyles Brandreth’s #PoetryTogether2020 initiative and English Heritage has seized
  on poetry to celebrate untold stories in an unprecedented link between National Poetry Day and Black History Month.”
• Public Library Apparel – KickStarter for public library clothing to support the sector.
• Service recovery toolkit – Libraries Connected. Updates to take into account Track and Trace, facemasks and “rule of six” for group of activities/events.
• SoA calls for increase to ‘meagre’ PLR – BookSeller. “Sheila Bennett, head of libraries strategy and delivery at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has written to the SoA to pass on the recommendation that PLR is increased from 9.03p to 9.55p. The increase reflects a reduction in the estimated number of loans of books that are registered for PLR”
• Solus UK acquires Boopsie Mobile App Division from Demco, Inc – Library Technology Guides. “All Boopsie customers will be migrated to the latest Solus Library App at no additional cost to their existing subscription.”
• UK Libraries have loaned out 3.5 million ebooks during pandemic – Good E-reader. “It is estimated that all branches lent an additional 3.5 million ebooks from 13th March to 14th August.  Chrys Mellor, libraries general manager for North Yorkshire County Council, said ebook and audio were up 78% and 3,000 new members have signed up for cards during lockdown.”
• Webinar – Children, wellbeing, and libraries: an expert-led discussion – Libraries Connected. 22 October 2pm. “Education, primary care, and mental health experts discuss the impact of the pandemic on children’s wellbeing and how public libraries could support recovery.”
• World Book Day plans outreach with book club and library collaboration – BookSeller. “A new monthly book club and greater outreach to public and school libraries are among the World Book Day plans for 2021, the charity’s c.e.o. has revealed at this year’s Bookseller Children’s Conference. “

International news

• Global – Ebook loans, book dispensers: how are libraries adjusting to the pandemic? – Yahoo. US/UK/Singapore.
• USA – Publishers Worry as Ebooks Fly off Libraries’ Virtual Shelves – Wired. “orrowers like Adler are driving publishers crazy. After the pandemic closed many libraries’ physical branches this spring, checkouts of ebooks are up 52 percent from the same period last year …”
  • American classics among most ‘challenged’ books of the decade in US – Guardian. “Marking the start of Banned Books Week, the American Libraries Association (ALA) has reviewed all of the censorship reports it has received over the last 10 years to come up with the 100 books that readers and parents have most frequently tried to have removed from libraries and schools in the US.”
  • Goodnight Nobody – 99% Invisible. Podcast looking at New York children’s librarian who introduced the children’s library but also censored books, bossed everyone around after retiring and, yes, carried a puppet around with her that she pretended was human.
  • A mysterious librarian is the breakout star of Netflix’s “Hilda” – I Love Libraries. “Two years ago, the animated series Hilda premiered on Netflix, and a minor character called “The Librarian” (voiced by Kaisa Hammurlund) quickly became a fan sensation. Although she only appears in about three minutes of the show’s first season, this feisty librarian has been mentioned in 20 fanfiction stories on Archive of Our Own and has a Tumblr blog dedicated to her.”
  • Reopening, Reimagining – Brooklyn Public Library podcast. “This episode, we ask how the pandemic can help us re-imagine what we use libraries for. Plus, we talk to LA County Library about how extreme weather is impacting their reopening, and dig into the science of how we are keeping you (and your books) healthy.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeenshire – Book returns set for local libraries – Grampian Online. “The library van will be visiting various locations across Aberdeenshire where users can return items to drivers “
• Angus – Forfar leads the return of swimming as library services also set to resume in Angus – Courier. “Meanwhile, the authority has announced the return of drop-in services at local libraries for people who cannot access the council’s services online or by phone. Arbroath library will be first to offer Access services from October 5, followed by the other burgh libraries in the coming two weeks.”
• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – Minister visits Bournemouth to hear how libraries have adapted during the pandemic – BCP Council. “During a walk and talk around the library facilities, the Minister heard how the library’s services had received national recognition for its online services during lockdown. Access to E-books and audio has seen a 156% increase on last year as residents turned to online resources whilst at home. More than 70 library staff were redeployed to help support vulnerable residents and the popular home library service was reintroduced in June for more than 500 residents.”
• Bradford – Libraries week to be celebrated online – Telegraph and Argus. “The free online events include talks by A.A. Dhand (crime author), Milly Johnson (romance novelist) and Kate Fox (poet and stand-up comedian). For children aged 4-14 years there are interactive small animal workshops with Zoolab and online drama workshops with Hoglets Theatre including Pandora’s Box and Persephone’s Story.”
• Bristol – Vacancy: Local Studies Librarian – Bristol Council. £28-32k, full-time and permanent.

• Calderdale – Anger at ‘systematic destruction’ of public services in Calderdale ward – Halifax Courier. “A councillor has hit out at proposals to close his ward’s local library, claiming they amount to a “systematic destruction” of his ward’s cultural and public provision.” … “Coun George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) has begun a petition to save Hipperholme Library and argues its closure is unacceptable following the decision to close nearby Bailiff Bridge Library.”
• Cumbria – Libraries are set to re-open – Times and Star. “Cumbria County Council has announced that it will be re-opening twelve branch libraries on October 21 – although there will be some changes.”
• Essex – Plan for post office to move into Prettygate Library criticised – Gazette News. ““At present, only four users are allowed in the building at any one time – this already creates some delay for library users at busier times, as well as pressure to leave as fast as possible … Once post office customers are added, library users and post office customers will be queuing together and competing for entry, which is worrying for both groups, especially as winter sets in and people are left waiting outside.”
• Flintshire – Aura Libraries welcome readers back across Flintshire – The Leader. “Visits to browse and choose books are currently limited to approximately 15 minutes, and computer sessions are currently limited to 45 minutes, and once per day.”
• Glasgow – More Glasgow libraries are reopening – here’s all you need to know – Glasgow Live. “As of Tuesday 6th October Possilpark, Bridgeton and Royston Libraries will once again open their doors to the public. So far, Ibrox, Shettleston, Pollokshaws, Partick, Easterhouse, Drumchapel and Gorbals libraries have also reopened after closing during the coronavirus pandemic.”
  • Opinion: Ann Fotheringham -Where would we be without libraries? Not in a good place… – Evening Glasgow Times. “More than 5000 new members have joined Glasgow libraries alone – and almost 160,000 e-books, e-magazines and e-audiobooks have been downloaded – since March, according to figures released last week. Long may that trend continue.”
• Hampshire – Hampshire council’s library closures plan ‘far too hasty’, Unison says – BBC. “A council is being “far too hasty” in its plans to close eight libraries and reduce the opening hours of those remaining, a union has said. Hampshire County Council wants to save £1.76m from the library service, putting 50 jobs at risk. Unison union said it had been “inundated” with complaints from staff.” … “In a “mandatory” consultation form, seen by the BBC, all library service staff are being asked to state their three preferred library locations, as well as set out their skills.”
• Hertfordshire – Celebrate Libraries Week 2020 virtually with Hertfordshire Libraries – Hertfordshire Council.
• Isle of Wight – Head to an Isle of Wight Library for Libraries Week: Your Passport to reading – On the Wight. “including online readings, book chat, grab bags with a comfort read novel selected by local library staff, plus some refreshments to wash it down”
• Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries celebrate Black History Month and National Libraries Week in October 2020 – see listings here – Brixton Buzz.
• Lancashire – More Preston and South Ribble libraries reopening this week – Blog Preston.
• Leicestershire – Melton Library users don’t need to pre-book from Saturday – Melton Times. “a  queuing system will be in place from this weekend with a need still to restrict attendance numbers to ensure social distancing procedures are followed.”
• Norfolk – Celebrate Libraries Week with free books for children and new online offers for adults – Norfolk County Council. “Libraries are also inviting everyone to take part in a Libraries Week Big Read. Matt Haig’s ‘How to Stop Time’ is a wild and bittersweet story about losing and finding yourself, about the certainty of change and about the lifetimes it can take to really learn how to live. “
• Northamptonshire – Higham Ferrers library to be turned into building firm’s office – Northants Telegraph. “The final chapter in the long-running saga of Higham Ferrers library is about to be written as it is set to become home to a local building company. East Northants Council’s planning officers have recommended the application by owners Snowdon Homes Ltd to turn the library into its office, is approved. The Jacobean-style library was one of 22 libraries put into jeopardy by Northamptonshire County Council two years ago as part of cost-cutting measures and moves to transfer the running and ownership of the buildings in community hands.”
• North Yorkshire – Broaden your bookshelf during Black History Month – North Yorkshire County Council. “Around 3,000 people joined the library service over the lockdown period and there was a big increase in the number of e-books and e-audio books borrowed. Customers can join the online reading group Book Chat on Facebook to discuss titles from its digital Read, Learn, Act – Black Lives Matter collection.”
  • Enter the Fun Palaces at county libraries – Harrogate News. Several physical activities.
• Oxfordshire – Vacancy / Service Manager (Libraries and Heritage) – Lis Job Net. £60-66k, full time permanent.
  • More of Oxfordshire’s libraries will reopen this month – Oxford Mail. “Libraries which are opening this week (from Monday, September 28) include Faringdon, Sonning Common, Watlington and Goring libraries will reopen. Next week, Chinnor, Woodgreen, Charlbury and Wychwood libraries will open again.”
• Pembrokeshire – Pembroke, Narberth and Saundersfoot libraries join the Order and Collect service – Western Telegraph. “libraries in Narberth, Pembroke and Saundersfoot will begin accepting orders for the service. The Order and Collect service, launched in July, is already available at libraries in Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Tenby.”
• Reading – Reading Borough Council announce reopening of libraries – Reading Chronicle. “The aim is to reopen three of the library service’s six branch libraries before the end of the year.”
• Sheffield – List and reopen Tinsley Carnegie library, Sheffield – Change. “We the undersigned petition Sheffield City Council to list the handsome Tinsley Carnegie library building, and to apply for funding to reactivate it for its originally intended purpose, to provide a much needed free library for the area of Tinsley.”
• Somerset – Burnham-On-Sea Library marks National Libraries Week by reminding users it’s open – Burnham on Sea.com. “Each day during libraries week, staff in libraries across Somerset will be posting videos, book reviews and other fun content online.”
• Staffordshire – Kinver Library services resuming after re-opening – Stourbridge News. “The library team say they aim for a return to full services soon and plans are afoot to resume the book reservation service from other Staffordshire libraries from October 1.”
• Stockport – How Stockport’s new town centre library at ‘cultural hub’ could look – Manchester Evening News. “As well as a lending library, there are also plans for children’s and reference libraries, displays and artefacts from Stockport Museum and public computers” … “Plans for a much larger £14m facility in the former BHS and M&S stores is dependent on government funding and would be unlikely to open before 2023.”
• Suffolk – Mystery writer Elly Griffiths talks to Suffolk libraries – East Anglian Daily Times. “The talk will go live at 11am on Thursday October 8 in Suffolk Libraries’ new book group, ‘DiscoverReads’ which you can find on Facebook linked to the Suffolk Libraries Facebook page.”
• Surrey – Surrey libraries celebrate start of national Libraries Week by extending opening hours – Surrey News. “from 5 October, 17 of these libraries will be opening for longer periods each day to mark the start of Libraries Week,”
• Tameside – Libraries, gallery and popular Portland Basin Museum to reopen ‘Covid-safe’ in Tameside – Manchester Evening News. “The remainder of Tameside’s libraries along with its gallery and popular Portland Basin Museum are to reopen in a ‘Covid-safe’ way this month.”
• Warrington – Libraries Week – more important than ever this year – Warrington Worldwide. “• Take a photo of yourself reading something – perhaps your current read or perhaps an all-time favourite? Describe your favourite book in six words (remembering say what it is!) Reveal the most unusual place you like to read. Perhaps describe the plot of your favourite book using only emojis”
• Warwickshire – How villagers in Harbury have recorded their experiences of community spirit during the Covid-19 lockdown for future generations – The Courier. “The book was unveiled at an event at Biblio’s Café at Harbury Village Library on Wednesday September 30.”
• Westminster – Vacancy: Service Delivery Manager – Westminster Council. £33-37k full-time permanent. More information: “Service Delivery Managers in Westminster Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea lead and manage service delivery primarily in a single library and work as part of a team of Service Delivery Managers and Service Improvement Managers across Bi-Borough.”.