So it’s the 12th of April

Editorial

So, it’s the 12 April. That, surprisingly, gives public libraries enough time to get ready for what we all earnestly hope is the last time we come out of lockdown. Public libraries are in the same class as “non-essential retail” and means we open up more than a month before our colleagues in museums.

In other news, there’s mention of libraries being available for help with the census, some protests against cuts (notably in Lewisham) and a couple of mentions of reducing or getting rid altogether of fines. This was a definite trend before Covid and it will be interesting to see if it continues now.

Changes

• Falkirk – Libraries returned from leisure trust to council.

National news

• CILIP’s Library and Information Supplier Showcase – CILIP. “This brand new virtual event will bring together suppliers for the library and information sector, showcasing their products and services” 25 March.
• If shops can reopen in April, why can’t museums? – Apollo. “‘If libraries, community centres and department stores can open, so should museums and galleries. It feels like ministers are not making the case for culture.’”
• Keir Starmer lashes Brexit trade deal for ‘holding British businesses back’ – Mirror. “Claiming “rural infrastructure and services” have been “eroded and ignored” over 10 years of Tory rule, he said: “The loss of village shops, post offices and pubs has hollowed out many rural communities, and 150 of the 600 libraries closed in England since 2010 were in rural areas.”
• Lockdown: Boris Johnson unveils plan to end England restrictions by 21 June – BBC. “The second step from 12 April would see major parts of the economy permitted to reopen: Non-essential retail opens, hairdressers and some public buildings like libraries”
• New Words – Time To Read North West. “We’ve just announced plans for our first virtual book festival and tickets are available now.” 1 – 26 March.

International news

• Afghanistan – They Built Libraries to Honor Loved Ones, Women Felled by Bombings – New York Times. ” libraries — one in Kabul, the capital, and the other in Daikundi Province — stand as symbols of the progress made toward gender equality and access to education in Afghanistan”
• Canada – Canadian libraries increasingly scrapping late fees to boost access to services – CBC. “Long considered a tool to encourage patrons to return materials on time, in the past few years hundreds of public libraries have decided that late fees do more harm than good by pushing away low-income and disadvantaged readers. In the past few years, nearly 300 libraries across Canada have recently eliminated late fee”.
• Singapore – Hygge – a new space for wellbeing by NTU Library, Singapore – Access. “unique design encourages self-expression, self-reflection and self-care through the experience of calmness and tranquillity. A reading corner was also conceptualised for the space to provide self-care resources including informational guides on practising mindfulness.”
• USA – Libraries Are an Essential Service. Give Librarians the Vaccine Now | Opinion – Newsweek. “Librarians, too, constantly interact with the public; libraries are high-risk workplaces. But the CDC failed to name librarians and library workers specifically in their vaccine guidance.”
  • Where Are We: The Latest on Library Reopening Strategies – Library Journal.”As the pandemic continues, communication among colleagues and the public is the key to success. “

Local news by authority

• Cambridgeshire – Cambridgeshire libraries support independent bookshops hit by Covid pandemic – Peterborough Telegraph. “The mail-order website ‘BookshopUK’ launched last year with the site working to donate profits to bookshops and organisations that support the service through book lists and affiliated websites. Cambridgeshire libraries has become an affiliate of Bookshop and will help promote the site alongside the service’s current reading offer.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – West Cheshire Museums: What does Cheshire mean to you? – In Your Area. “My Cheshire, is a joint project between Cheshire West Libraries and West Cheshire Museums”
• Cornwall – ‘The most Corbusier building in Britain’ listed – Architect’s Journal. “Saltash library was one of a series of five new branch libraries to be built by the council in the 1960s. The others were at St Austell, Newquay, Torpoint, and Helston.”
• Denbighshire – Memory bags designed for people living with dementia are being offered at libraries in Denbighshire – News From Wales. “They contain a collection of books, poems, artefacts and smells designed to stimulate the senses and promote reminiscence and discussion.”
• Dorset – Help available for Dorset residents completing 2021 census – Dorset Echo. “If you’re having trouble completing the form, advisers at Dorset Council’s libraries will be able to help. During lockdown this help is over the telephone, with face to face appointments available if and when Covid rules allow.”
• Falkirk – Membership body criticises council’s decision to take leisure charity back under its control – Third Sector. “Community Leisure UK says it is disappointed after Falkirk Council voted to take Falkirk Community Trust in-house again”
• Fife – Comedian Janey Godley to highlight menopause in OnFife comedy night – Dunfermline Press. “Pause … not Full Stop is one of 16 projects in the UK-wide Engaging Libraries Programme. The initiative enables libraries to interact with their users in new ways while encouraging local communities to engage with research.”
• Leeds – Drag queen hounded with death threats and labelled a paedophile for ‘reading stories to Leeds kids’ – Leeds Live. ““It goes to show that there’s still people in the UK who still harbour these hateful views and its establishments like this teaching people not just children but adults that homophobia, transphobia and racism will not be tolerated.”
• Leicester – Reading Friends connects those who may be feeling isolated in Leicester – In Your Area. “The phone call will be with a befriender from the city council’s libraries service, and will connect readers with up to three others in group conversations. This will give readers the opportunity to talk to each other, share stories, make new friends and have fun.”
• Lewisham – Campaign launched to reverse cut to Lewisham library service – News Shopper. “The council is reviewing the library service to fund cuts of £300,000 to £500,000, £100,000 to £230,000 of which could be made this year.  Part of the cuts includes a hiring freeze as the service’s salary budget makes up 80 per cent of its total budget.   “
  • Lewisham needs libraries more than ever, we can’t have services slashed by up to £500​,000 – Change.org. “the council’s threatened cut will rip the staff along with their skills and knowledge out of the service and dedicated people who’ve spent hard months on test and trace face losing their jobs.”
  • Save Lewisham Libraries statement – 18th February 2021 – Save Lewisham Libraries.
• Norfolk – Norfolk libraries to scrap late fees for children – Eastern Daily Press. “Plans by Norfolk Libraries and Information service to improve children and young people’s reading skills also include universal membership of the county’s e-library through Norfolk’s schools and the introduction of a new ‘1,000 books before school’ reading challenge aimed at under-fives.”
• Northamptonshire – ‘We feel like we have been evicted’: Friends group furious over Northampton library closure – Northampton Chronicle. “Friends of Far Cotton Library has been working since 2019 to run it following Northamptonshire County Council’s decision to shut it. The group was working on a second business plan after its first one was rejected but found the books at The REC Centre were being removed and other tenants ‘are being explored’.”
• North Yorkshire – Library’s book bundle service praised by young readers – North Yorkshire County Council. “Winnie and Valentine Long use the service at Whitby library and rely on it to help with home schooling. In January alone the library issued 201 book bundles to customers.”
• Solihull – Bookworms invited to join in virtual story telling session to combat isolation – Solihull Observer. “Solihull Libraries, The Core Theatre Solihull and Art at the Heart CIC have joined forced to create Solihull Reading Friends – a programme of free events designed to help people connect and combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.”
  • Help for Solihull residents as borough gears up for Census 2021 – Solihull Observer.
• Staffordshire – Hundreds sign petition to block controversial plan to move Burton Library – Staffordshire Live. “More than 500 people have signed a petition opposing £7.3 million proposals to move Burton Library to the town’s market hall. The petition claims there has been a lack of public consultation to the controversial proposal, which could see the town’s library move from Meadowside Drive to the market hall in Market Place, subject to funding.”

“This week will see the third Smallprint Book Festival for children run by our library service. It is timed to coincide with World Book Day each year. So far it has proved very popular and this year it is totally digital, running from 4-6 March. We have an absolutely fantastic programme thanks to our enterprising Readers’ Services Team and talented and tuneful Community Library Officers. All the events will be promoted through our social media channels, where it looks fantastic. The team are trialling one school event which isn’t on this programme, working with local author Laura Fyfe to run a creative writing workshop with Cambusbarron Primary, P6 & P7. They are doing this as a Google Meet on Thursday 4^th March and hope that it will give them a format to use for further events with schools.” Stirling – Smallprint Book Festival – via email. See festival webpage here.

• Suffolk – Suffolk libraries host meet the authors online book festival – East Anglian Daily Times. “This digital event, running between Monday March 15 and Sunday March 21, will incorporate Suffolk Libraries Day – Suffolk Libraries’ annual fundraising event will be taking place on Saturday March 20.”
• Thurrock – Thurrock Libraries reopen for order and collect service and essential computer use – Your Thurrock. “
  • Thurrock – Thurrock Libraries reopen for order and collect service and essential computer use – Your Thurrock. “The libraries in Grays, Belhus, Aveley, Blackshots, Tilbury, East Tilbury, Corringham and Chadwell St Mary will operate under reduced hours and have measures in place to keep residents and staff safe.”
• Wandsworth – Wandsworth Libraries launches ‘A Chance To Talk’ to combat loneliness – SW Londoner. ““I’ve also received a flurry of emails from people who have seen the posters and wanted to say they think it’s a lovely initiative. It’s nice that the community has been super responsive, even if the programme isn’t right for them.””
• West Berkshire – West Berkshire ‘wee libraries’ bring village cheer in tough times – Newbury Today.
• York – York libraries offer help with census forms – The Press. “Explore staff and CVS volunteers have been getting special training, ready to help anyone who has difficulty filling in the forms, Fiona said”