“Normality” in 2021?

Editorial

Public libraries in England can open for browsing this week after more than three months of being closed. It is possible, what the vaccinations, that this will be last lockdown. Let us earnestly hope that it is and let us also wish the best for those thousands of library workers back in the front line tomorrow. Here’s to the thought that libraries, that will still tomorrow be quarantining items and have social distancing in place, will be able safely at some point this year be able to ditch the security measures and have events and what we used to consider the “normal” buzz of library life. And that the very thought of it does not sound strange. Make a silent wish with me, folks, and open those doors in a properly risk assessed manner in the meantime.

National news

• CILIP to receive £320,000 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund – CILIP. “CILIP is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. This award will enable us to continue to develop a sponsorship programme for the Carnegie Greenaway Awards, invest in our training and CPD offer to support the sector and drive forward our digital transformation programme to ensure that CILIP’s resources, help and guidance are effective and accessibly for all our members.”
• Community book exchanges flourished while libraries were closed in lockdown – I. “With bookshops, libraries and charity shops closed for much of the year, book lovers desperate for fresh reading material took matters into their own hands. Book exchanges popped up all over the country” … “Libraries and bookshops may soon be opening their doors again, but book exchanges are here to stay”
• The Fight for Britain’s Libraries – Tribune / Alan Wylie. “And although there have been some articles written about the great work done by libraries during the pandemic, it’s actually library workers who have done the work – a subtle yet crucial distinction. Working from home has caused its own divisions, with lower-grade staff more likely to be working on the frontline than their higher-grade managers.”
• Library Dividend: Encourage candidates in the May 6th Local Elections to celebrate the #LibraryDividend – CILIP. “CILIP is asking our members to reach out to your local candidates and encourage them to recognise the ‘Library Dividend’ – the tremendous social and economic impact of supporting strong local library services.”
• A Love Letter to Libraries – Varsity. “We must protect libraries, academic and local, if we want to continue to make information, resources, and that indescribable ‘library experience’ – which I’ve been trying so hard to capture – accessible. “
• An open letter to Kwasi Kwarteng – BookSeller. List of suggestions, including “Enhanced support for public libraries via central government, in particular for educational materials (including non-English-language materials to help with the levelling up agenda) and for digital access, ebooks, and downloadable audio.”
• Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – National Acquisitions Group. “NAG are pleased to announce that their Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant for 2021 has been awarded to Wandsworth Libraries with their “Roehampton Kaleidoscope” and Derbyshire Libraries with “Read, Play, Puzzle” and each will receive £5,000 from the National Acquisitions Group.”
• Service recovery toolkit – April 2021 Word – LIbraries Connected. “This Service Recovery Toolkit has been prepared in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Updated 12.04.21”
• Simon Armitage to embark on decade-long UK library tour – BookSeller. “Beginning with the letters “A” and “B” this spring, the tour launches in in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and will visit a variety of libraries during the week, stopping in Belper, Aberdeen, Bacup and Bootle. The week will include a reading from the entrance hall of the British Library featuring Joelle Taylor, founder of the national youth slam championships SLAMbassadors, and Theresa Lola, Young People’s Laureate for London 2019-2020. Readings from the first week of his trip will be streamed live from 26th April to 1st May.”

“It would have been easy to stream these events from my office or garden shed, but at a time when libraries are under threat and have been out of bounds during lockdown, reading from inside their physical structures feels like an act of solidarity — with books, with poetry and with communities.”

Simon Armitage

• Using Hublet at Northamptonshire Libraries – National Acquisitions Group. 11am Wednesday 28 April webinar. “Hublet is a system of self service tablet loan units for public libraries.  The tablet is released from the docking station by showing a library card and typing in the corresponding PIN code …”
  • Quickstart Cataloguing (RDA in MARC) – 19 May 11am.
  • Quickstart Cataloguing: Local Studies Materials – 26 May 11am.

International news

• Global – Rebuild Your Summer Reading Program! Here Are Ten Tips To Boost Participation This Year – Super Library Marketing. Drop library card requirement, make joining easy, let adults do it, add experiences, have an app, use partners, email promotion, targeted advertising, competitions, good public service.
• USA – The spy who came in from the carrel – Public Books. ” “The keeping of these records is itself a kind of warfare,” MacLeish explained. “The keepers, whether they wish so or not, cannot be neutral.””
  • How the New York Public Library Is Equipping Artists With Technology (for Free) as the Pandemic Shutdown Continues – Playbill. “The Library has developed “Tech Kits for Performing Artists,” available to check out for any NYPL cardholder 18 or older. Contents include an iPad Pro with cellular data and a suite of creation-oriented apps, a USB microphone, wireless headphones, a ring light, and a phone tripod stand; those with musical pursuits can also request a 32-key MIDI keyboard.”

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Libraries across Bath and surrounding area to offer Covid-safe browsing – Bath Echo. “residents will be able to browse the resources available at Bath, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton libraries.” … “To ensure social distancing, the number of people entering a library at any one time will be limited, and a dropbox will be available at the entrance to each library.”
• Bolton – Bolton libraries to open on Monday – here’s how it will work – Bolton News. Browsing, full open hours.
• Essex – Residents reminded to pick-up tests from Tendring libraries – Clacton and Frinton Gazette. Covid collection points.
  • Essex County Council candidates asked to back library campaign – Gazette Standard. “The Colchester branch of Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE) is asking all candidates for May’s election to set out their position on libraries. The future of facilities across Essex has been in doubt since 2018 when a County Hall strategy document set out plans to close 25 of 74 libraries and remove ongoing support for 18 more.”
• Falkirk – Falkirk district libraries to reopen and offer click and collect service – Falkirk Herald.
• Glasgow – When Glasgow libraries reopen as lockdown eases in Scotland – Glasgow Live. Branches open at variety of different times and levels from 27 April.
• Isle of Wight – Isle of Wight libraries to extend services next week – Isle of Wight County Press. Browsing.
• Northern Ireland – Consultation on the proposal to extend remote e-lending from public libraries to Northern Ireland – Gov.uk. Allows public lending right for ebooks in Northern Ireland.
• North Yorkshire – Colburn library refurbished to inspire young readers – Darlington and Stockton Times. “About £40,000 has been spent on Colburn’s library which will also feature a community space that will host a variety of events appealing to all age ranges, from a coding club for younger people to a Knit and Natter gathering for those a little older. The refurbishment has been carried out by the charity Catterick, Colburn and Richmond Community Libraries (CRAACL) which was formed in 2017 to take on the running of the libraries when they were threatened with closure by the county council.”
  • Libraries set to welcome customers back to choose books – North Yorkshire County Council. Browsing and computer from 12 April.
• Manchester – Using libraries during COVID-19 – Manchester City Council. More services from 12 April.
  • Manchester’s Inaugural ‘Festival of Libraries’ Announced – About Manchester. “Manchester UNESCO City of Literature’s inaugural Festival of Libraries, a brand-new county-wide celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries, will take place from Wednesday 9th to Sunday 13th June, 2021. The festival, which is supported by Arts Council England, will feature a vibrant programme that highlights the library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information, and, of course, reading.”
• Oxfordshire – The Oxfordshire libraries reopening in May and their Covid rules – Oxford Mail. Phased reopening.
• Peterborough – Peterborough libraries to re-open on Monday – Peterborough Today. Browsing from 12 April.
• Rochdale – Rochdale council opens six libraries to help people complete the census – In Your Area. “Number One Riverside, Alkrington Library, Balderstone Library, Castleton Library, Darnhill Library and Spotland Library have been opened so residents can see someone to answer any questions and access the internet for free to complete the census.”
• Rutland – Libraries to reopen in Oakham, Uppingham, Ketton, Ryhall and Stamford – Rutland and Stamford Mercury. “Rutland Library Service is offering an amnesty on long overdue books and DVDs as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are gradually lifted and buildings reopen.”, browsing, order and collect, computers. ““Many Rutlanders don’t realise that our libraries don’t charge for overdue items, and may be reluctant to return books because they’re worried about late fees.”
• Shropshire – Shropshire announces libraries and facilities reopening for Monday – Whitchurch Herald. “Opening hours will be reduced for the time being and Covid-19-secure measures will be in place in all libraries to help keep staff, customers and communities safe. Library customers will be able to access computers, but are asked to book sessions in advance by contacting the relevant library.”
• South Lanarkshire – Gyms, pools and libraries preparing to reopen – Daily Record. “Following on from the Scottish Government’s announcement on easing Covid-19 restrictions, a number of services will be back up and running from Monday, April 26.”
• Staffordshire – 17 vital questions answered on proposal to move Burton Library – Staffordshire Live. “The group behind proposals to move Burton Library into the town’s Market Hall have answered a series of questions people have been asking about the controversial proposals. Staffordshire Live has now put the 17 questions to the Burton Town Board which came up with the idea to move the library as part of a series of proposals aimed at breathing new life into the town centre.”
• Warwickshire – ‘Grab and go’ rules when Warwickshire’s libraries reopen – Coventry Telegraph. 30 minute browsing.
• West Sussex – West Sussex Libraries reopen for browsing next week – Crawley and Horley Observer. All open for limited browsing and computers.
• Wiltshire – Council reveals opening of Tidworth & Ludgershall libraries – Andover Advertiser. “In line with the Wiltshire Council Roadmap, Wiltshire’s 34 libraries (including mobile libraries) are taking a cautious approach to reopening. As lockdown is eased, opening hours and services will be increased in a phased way over the next few months. For individual opening times and days please check the links below.”
• Wirral – ‘Order and collect’ from Wirral libraries as lockdown eases – Wirral Globe. Order and collect from 12 April.
• Worcestershire – Covid home testing kits now available from local libraries – Evesham Observer.
• Wrexham – Wrexham Library Service: looking forward to welcoming you back – The Leader. Browse, order and collect soon.
• York – Let’s explore together again – York Explore. Browsing and bookable PCs.