Third time lucky?

Editorial

Welsh public libraries can reopen, carefully, now, with England a fortnight later and Scotland two weeks after that. I think this is the third time of reopening (I may have lost count) after a lockdown and let us hope it is the last. Apart from the normal news, there’s a fair bit about what the future will look like, with contactless and the need to concentrate on digital as well as physical being unsurprisingly foremost. Away from the news headlines, there is a also a lot of interest in cashless ways of paying fines, with of course the most cashless way being not to charge fines at all.

Changes by local authority

• Derbyshire – Killamarsh Library may move into new sports centre.
• Warrington – Padgate Library £142k refurbishment.

National news

• Commissioning: Future Funding Webinar – Libraries Connected. Recording. “This workshop sheds light on the processes around procurement, with advice on how best to approach these, and the ways that library services can engage with commissioners outside the procurement process. It is suitable for all library staff.”
• Covid: ‘Christmas Day’ for families as Wales lifts travel ban – BBC. “Organised outdoor activities and sports for under-18s can resume and libraries and archives can reopen their doors.”

“Canongate are offering 10 authorities the opportunity to each receiving 1,000 copies of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig for World Book Night, with the aim of reaching adults who don’t regularly read for pleasure or have access to books. We’re inviting authorities to sign up to apply by 1 April, briefly outlining how they can reach those people (we don’t need exact plans as we appreciate it’s next week). All the details are on this form: ”

The Reading Agency

• “Libraries changed my life”: Author Kelly Yang on the mysterious power of reading – Book Trust. “I remember hiding in the library during lunch, crouching in between the aisles, hoping the librarian wouldn’t see me because we weren’t really supposed to be in the library at lunch. The librarian, of course, saw me. She came over, smiled at me — no judgement — and handed me a book. “
• The library dividend – BookSeller. Nick Poole of CILIP writes. “Unless we can find a better way to pay for libraries, chances are we will see hundreds more closures in the next two to three years as we address the cost of public borrowing during the pandemic.” … “It is to address this that CILIP has been funded by the Arts Council England to lead a new Independent Review into Public Library Financing. The Review will explore innovative models for the financing of public libraries while still retaining their core identity as public services.”
• Public Library Recovery: Lessons and Opportunities from the COVID Crisis – Innovative. Including Isobel Hunter from Libraries Connected. Recording.
• Public Library Staff Introduction to materials on personal resilience – Libraries Connected. 8 April, 12 noon. “Using materials developed for the Leading Libraries Programme, we will demonstrate how these may be used locally to facilitate small team sessions.”
• Queers in the Library – The Coast is Queer. Recorded online panel “discusses the potential of libraries as spaces for generating and nurturing queer communities as well as the limits of certain institutional forms of librarianship. Our panelists comprise workers in university and public libraries as well as creators of queer community libraries.”
• UK councils funding crisis threatens essential services – World Socialist Web Site. “From April, the NAO expects remaining special educational needs and homelessness services to be gutted, while more theatres, libraries and community centres face closure.”
• #uklibchat 12th April 2021 – #ebookSOS – UK Libchat. “If you work with e-books in any capacity, you may well have heard of #ebookSOS – a campaign to raise awareness and instigate change in the pricing, accessibility and functionality of e-books. Rachel Bickley and Caroline Ball will be helping us to lead this Twitter chat”

International news

• Canada – Woman dead, six in hospital after stabbing spree at North Vancouver library – Vancouver Sun. Just awful.
• EU – Boosting Digital Skills and Competences for Librarians – Biblio. “The Biblio Consortium is inviting you to join the webinar on 31 March at 10:00-11:45 (CET). The project partners will talk about the new trends and requirements in the professional development of librarians; present the findings of the research on skills and training needs in the library sector”
• Global – The Tech Landscape & Libraries – 2021 – Princh. Suggestions for the future: “Post-pandemic, we must be prepared to offer some virtual programming, and commit to improving the quality of the offerings.”, more digital, more contactless, streaming, VR.
• New Zealand – A last bastion of public space? Why the fight over Wellington’s library was so fiery – Spinoff. “Wellington Central Library has been at the centre of an increasingly bitter dispute in recent weeks, after the city council voted to sell off part of the library building as office space. In response to loud and wide condemnation, several councillors had a change of heart and the library was given a reprieve. “
• USA – The Future of Libraries Is in the Community – Bloomberg. ““Libraries are going to recognize that their role is not just within the walls of their buildings, but it is across the landscape of their community and in people’s homes,””
  • ‘Avoid terms like white supremacy’: Free Library workers furious over diversity training – Philadelphia Inquirer. “a presenter told the nearly 200 attendees to avoid terms like white supremacy and systemic racism because they were overused, distracted from solutions, and focused on just one race. White privilege — which she called “one of the other myths out there” — was another to avoid.”

Local news by authority

• Barnet – Last chance to save old Hendon Library – Change. “The council are now planning to lease the entire building to Middlesex University.   Everything but the façade will be demolished and rebuilt.   “
• Cheshire West and Chester – eBooks: New app to access eBooks for library members in Cheshire West – The Standard. Borrowbox.
• Coventry – Coventry taps into literary heritage with new £97k ‘One Million Reads’ project for UK City of Culture – Coventry Observer. “One million reads in a year – is the target for city book fans after Coventry Libraries and Information Service won the award. An artist will be commissioned to create a One Million Reads Coventry interactive digital read-o-meter installation counting the number of reads completed during 2021/22 building up to a One Million Reads total by May 2022.”

“”Public libraries are also a vital component in tackling digital exclusion. A priority of Coventry Libraries is to create improved access to digital services and increase the digital literacy skills of local residents. During 2019 to 2020 Coventry Libraries in the North East of the City have provided over 70,000 hours and over 100,000 sessions of access to public computers and Wi-Fi services. While reduced service has been provided during 2020, due to COVID 19, they are continuing with plans to increase access to public PCs, install new computers at both Bell Green and Foleshill Libraries and reintroduce computer help sessions, job clubs and benefits, debt and housing advice sessions.”

Carol Dinenage, Minister of State, DCMS.

• Denbighshire – Welcome back to your local Library and One Stop Shop – News From Wales. “Libraries across Denbighshire will be re-opening their doors from Monday, March 29 for browsing for books, using a computer and printing, and accessing One Stop Shop services. To ensure a safe visit, customers will need to phone their local library to make an appointment to visit.”
• Derbyshire – Councils in talks over bright future for Killamarsh library – Derbyshire County Council. “we’ve been discussing the possibility of moving the library into the newly-refurbished sports centre with North East Derbyshire District Council”
• Essex – Essex libraries on board in new Covid-19 test collection scheme – In Your Area. “From Monday, March 29, Covid-19 testing will be even more accessible and convenient with self-test kits available for collection at 21 libraries across Essex.”
• Gateshead – Phased reopening of leisure centres and libraries – Gateshead Council. From 29 March “The Library Ring and Read service will resume as well as limited access to public computers for essential purposes at Gateshead Central, Blaydon, Birtley, Leam Lane, Crawcrook, Chopwell and Pelaw.” then from 12 April “Reduced hours Library access for a selection of books will resume.”
• Glasgow – Ten Glasgow libraries to reopen for computer access only – Glasgow Live. “Under the Scottish Government covid guidance, public libraries in level 4 areas are allowed to open to provide free computer access only. Following the latest Scottish Government update, a further announcement on the re-opening of Glasgow Life venues will be made soon.”
• Hertfordshire – Enjoy poetry and music online at duo’s fun Easter picnic – Welwyn Hatfield Times. ACE funded.
• Isle of Wight – Order and Collect service to resume at council libraries – Island Echo. “From Monday (29th March), residents can order books by emailing their requests to libraries@iow.gov.uk or by calling 1 of the 6 libraries directly.”
• Lincolnshire – Golden times for Market Rasen library – Market Rasen Mail. “Market Rasen Library will be marking its 50th birthday on April 21 and to celebrate staff are planning to take over the LincsLibraries social media for the week, but they need help from their customers.”
• Midlothian – A fine move by Midlothian libraries to win customers back pre-pandemic – Midlothian Advertiser. “Midlothian Council has agreed to remove library fines and hire charges for CDs and DVDs to encourage users back.”
• Norfolk – Norfolk Libraries appoints new head – Lynn News. “Jill Turrell is taking on the role of head of service, following the retirement of Jan Holden who has overseen Norfolk’s libraries for over 20 years.”
• Northamptonshire – ‘New unitary council must cut £15,300 rent for Kingsthorpe Library in Northampton’ – Northampton Chronicle. “The Kingsthorpe Library saga goes on! The Parish Council has written to the county council asking them to review the cost of the annual rent of £15,300, but as yet, has had no reply. Members of the Parish Council spoke to the councillor for Kingsthorpe North, who had spoken to the council, but they were entrenched in the £15,300 rent for the library.”
• Redbridge – Redbridge Library hosts film premiere on grief during pandemic – Ilford Recorder. “It is part of its “Death Positive Library” project, which is looking at the use of libraries as spaces to start conversations about death, dying and loss.”
• St Helens – More libraries in St Helens to reopen for essential computer use – The Reporter. “Parr, Eccleston, and Newton-le-Willows libraries will join St Helens and Chester Lane libraries in offering IT support, available to book by appointment for up to 45 minutes at a time during opening hours to assist with essential tasks such as study, access to benefits, searches for work and training opportunities.”
  • The St Helens Libraries set to reopen on April 12 – St Helens Star. “Chester Lane, St Helens, Eccleston, Newton-le-Willows and Parr libraries, which have the space to reconfigure layouts in the interest of social distancing, have been identified to reopen first on April 12.”
• Solihull – Return all Solihull library books as click and collect services restart – Solihull Observer. “Solihull Council say it does not matter how long these books have been on loan for, or what condition they are in – they just need to be returned to a drop off trolley at any library branch from March 29.” Click and collect to start.
• Staffordshire – Libraries in Lichfield and Burntwood preparing to host events as part of Staffordshire Day celebrations – Lichfield Live. “The event takes place on 1st May and will feature online chats with local authors, poetry readings, history talks and family quizzes.”
  • Library seeking artist to transform outdoor space – East Anglian Daily Times. “The aim of the project, which is Arts Council-funded, is to turn the space into a garden and attractive outdoor space for the community to enjoy. “
• Suffolk – New research highlights the impact of Suffolk Libraries Lifeline service – Suffolk Libraries. “Suffolk Libraries created Lifeline, supported by Suffolk County Council and the East of England Co-op, as a response to the first lockdown to help lonely and vulnerable library customers. Between March 2020 and July 2020 library staff made over 6,700 calls to ‘check in’ on library customers and have a chat. The reach of the library service’s network enabled staff to focus on older people and those who are particularly isolated or vulnerable. The service has continued during subsequent lockdowns and has now made over 10,000 calls. The social impact team at Moore Kingston Smith carried out research into Lifeline which calculated an impressive return on investment for the service of over £4 for every £1 spent.”
  • Artist paints unseen moments from Suffolk libraries – East Anglian Daily Times. “Suffolk Libraries joined forces with local illustrator and printmaker Sandy Horsley, who spent a year regularly visiting 13 Suffolk libraries to capture unseen moments between customers and staff.”
• Warrington – Proposed Penketh Library improvements welcomed – Warrington Worldwide. “The exact extent of the work to be done isn’t finalised yet, but external work is expected to include repairs and repainting of the facias, window frames and door frames. Double glazing is not included. Internal gutters, which have caused leaks in the library, will be replaced with external gutters.”
  • Warrington library set to be modernised as part of £142,000 revamp – Cheshire Live. “Padgate Library on Insall Road, Warrington, will be renovated next month ahead of its reopening following lockdown” … “Priorities include making the library frontage brighter and more attractive. The work also aims to provide more flexibility of space for library and community activities.”