The Double Library: things should stay changed, only more so

Editorial

Once upon a time, libraries were entirely physical entities. Everything the library could offer was inside a physical building, nothing outside it, and if one could not get to it within specific times, it could not help you. Then digital came along and some services such as reference and books were available online, but not events. Then Covid came along and the physical was gone but the digital was beefed up, with events too. That’s where we are as of today.

Looking into the post-lockdown world, I would argue that we need to go further than this and, as the physical comes back, we cannot forget the digital. Both things need doing equally. We need to be able to offer every physical service online and every online service physically. So, yes, rhyme-times will come back but they should be on Facebook too. Author talks should be physical but also streamed. Reading groups should be physical but also on Zoom, etc. And, yes, online reference should be available in print. Because it is clear now that to do anything else is discriminatory. To only offer either the digital or the physical is to create a bar to one group. Some people don’t like or don’t have access to the internet. Another group, far larger, won’t be able to get to a particular place at a particular time.

Libraries need to examine everything they do and ensure it is available in both physical and online formats. Because the world has changed and, like a receding tide before a tsunami, it has revealed things to us. And if we don’t take note of these things and act upon them then, well, we sadly know what happens to those who don’t prepare for tsunamis. OK, that’s not a perfect metaphor – people who rush out and examine suddenly dry bits of coast don’t tend to do well a few minutes later – but I genuinely think the last year was earth-shattering. And libraries should shatter the earth with their response.

I expand a bit more on this in this short recorded zoom conversation.

National news

• ‘Cancel Culture Gone Mad’: Fans React as ‘Captain Underpants’ Book Pulled Over Racism Concerns – News Week. “Publishing company Scholastic pulled a graphic novel based off the popular “Captain Underpants” series over “passive racism” concerns, prompting reactions that overwhelmingly ridiculed the move.”
• CILIP Supplier Showcase – Innovative Interfaces – Vimeo. Ian Anstice from Public Libraries News [Yes, me – Ed.] talks about the experiences of the last year and possibilities for the future.
• Letting the Community In: Putting audiences at the heart of library projects – British Library. 4pm Friday 30 April. “Using the Engage2020 project as a case study, Hannah and Martha will explore good practice for engaging audiences successfully and reflect on how to make the library a safe forum for community conversation and expression. Find out how they adopted a “history in the making” approach and gave young people a voice for their lived experience.”
• Library Campaign Zoom meeting 14 April 2021: 19:30 -21:00 – Library Campaign. “Activities – and campaigns – are very local affairs. They build on local resources, local tastes, local facts. But they also develop great ideas, arguments, insights, artwork, leaflets and posters, quotes, contacts… and much more. The Library Campaign is holding a Zoom meeting to discuss how all could benefit by sharing some of these. We have our ideas. Now we’d like to hear yours”
• When do libraries open in 2021? – Metro. Summarises the various rules throughout the UK.
• Why we should prioritise imagination in early years learning and medical education – RSPH. ” the hub provides technology and guidance for users to help develop their skills and confidence. The aim is to find out what people want to know and give them one-to-one help. ” Dr Rigler is a keen advocate for the role of public libraries in providing health information.

International news

• Sri Lanka – “Libraries shouldn’t shush, they should roar” – Sunday Times. ” A passionate advocate for promoting libraries, she has done a TEDTalk about the power of libraries, and their importance as spaces for people from diverse walks of life to come together.”
• USA – Libraries offering services to seniors during Covid-19 Pandemic – Book Riot. ” a pen pal program in collaboration with area senior living communities” … “a “hotline” number that seniors can call, on their own time, to hear a new recording using different library materials for content each week” … online events for dementia.
  • Beyond Books: Salt Lake City Library Creates a Community Garden – SirsiDynix. 7 April, 6pm webinar. ““The Plot” in Salt Lake City, Utah is a community garden that serves as an extension of the city library, allowing patrons to learn sustainable ways of gardening, grow their own plants, and cultivate an appreciation for community resources. Join Garden Coordinator Rikki Longino as they share how “The Plot” has uplifted the community by offering avenues for creativity and innovation.”
  • Libraries Are Key Tools For People Getting Out Of Prison, Even During A Pandemic – NPR. “You don’t have to show an ID. Nobody asks why you’re there. But if you need help, getting an email address, looking for a job, people are there to help you”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeenshire – Click and collect and doorstep delivery library services restarts in Aberdeenshire – Grampian Online. “customers will also be able to collect hearing aid batteries from the NHS, food waste caddy liners, battery recycling bags and photocopying.”
• Bradford – Keighley Library in pilot project as service bosses vow: “no libraries will close” – Keighley News. “Setting out the model until 2025, the spokesman added: “The library service will be developed with a focus on enhancing wellbeing and tackling a number of key priorities including addressing poverty and social isolation, supporting people to develop their skills and employability, and helping children get the best start in life.”
• Brent – Barham Libraries books – Brent and Kilburn Times. “A community library in Sudbury has been gifted 60 boxes of new books as it prepares to reopen after lockdown.”. Reopening 12 April.
• Bridgend – Libraries to reopen in Bridgend county – In Your Area. Browsing, IT, study.
• Cardiff – Cardiff Hubs & libraries to open for appointments only – Wales 247. Click and collect. “Access to the libraries and hubs will be on a pre-booked appointment basis (except in urgent cases) for Into Work, housing, benefits, money advice services and public access computers.”
• Cheshire East – Cheshire East libraries launch new e-reading service – Cheshire East Council. Borrowbox.
• Cheshire West and Chester – Services Begin to Reopen From 12 April – About My Area. Selected libraries open from 12 April. ” Children aged 0 to 12 years will no longer be charged for any overdue items and any pre-existing late charges will be removed from their accounts. “
  • Where to pick up a home Covid-19 testing kit – Northwich Guardian. “New locations to collect a kit include Cheshire West and Chester Council’s no-symptoms testing centres and several libraries across the borough.”
• Conwy – What is open in Conwy following the partial lifting of lockdown rules – North Wales Pioneer. ““Customers can make an appointment to visit their local library to select books. Appointments to select books will be limited to 45 minutes.”, computers.
• Devon – New look for Honiton library – In Your Area. “As well as new signs outside the building – which people can already see now – the children’s area has been completely redesigned. Staff and office areas have also been given some new carpet and redecorated.  “
• Essex – Essex libraries offer take away self test Covid kits – Saffron Walder Reporter. “Essex County Council has received an initial stock of 199,000 tests to start the scheme and further tests, and potentially more libraries will be available as more tests become available from the government.”
• Flintshire – Everything you need to know as Aura Libraries reopen in Flintshire – The Leader. Browsing and computers.
• Gwynedd – Gwynedd libraries open again after easing of Covid-19 restrictions – Cambrian News. Browsing by appointment.
• Hertfordshire – Hertfordshire Libraries – My Story Creative Writing Sessions – Hertfordshire Council. ” artists John Prebble and Alex McIntyre will be hosting a duo of online workshops exploring storytelling, and encouraging participants to tell their own story through speaking and listening, writing and visual arts activities. “
  • Tender for Branding Consultancy and Creation – Hertfordshire Council. “We are excited to offer the opportunity to work with Hertfordshire Libraries and our key partner, Nysa Projects, to develop branding and design logos for our Culture and Creativity Offer and My Story arts project.” £3500.
• Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries events April 2021: Select & Collect resumes, Dostoevsky in Love, an Anarchist in the UK, and more – Brixton Buzz. Click and collect and IT. “Liverpool City Council’s new ‘Reading Friends’ scheme will encourage people to connect – virtually – in group sessions using books, magazines, newspapers and poems. People will not be expected to read anything,  if they don’t want to, they can just join the session tochat to someone new and have a laugh.”
• Manchester – Children’s library refurb planned at Manchester’s Central Library – About Manchester. “Plans for the refurbishment are currently being finalised, with potential features including quiet space, a high-backed story-telling chair and “cosy corner”, where children and their parents can sit together to discover new books.  Portholes, allowing children to climb through different sections, could be incorporated, as could a blackboard wall for displaying posters and art, while the current garden theme will be retained.”
  • Manchester Libraries. The Next Phase – MancLibraries Blog. £100k refurb of children’s library. ” Parents said that they were keen to see a larger, more flexible space, with more comfy seating.  “
• Monmouthshire – Libraries reopen across Monmouthshire from this week – Free Press. Browsing, not computers.
• Norfolk – Libraries can play ‘key role’ as Norfolk recovers from Covid pandemic – Diss Mercury. “Beyond the books, we have seen each library become a hub for local groups and services that are a lifeline to so many.”
• Pembrokeshire – Selected libraries in Pembrokeshire reopen including Haverfordwest and Milford Haven – Western Telegraph. Some libraries open for browsing and computers.
• Sheffield – Time to turn the page on lockdown as community libraries across Sheffield get ready to welcome readers back – Sheffield Telegraph. “Some community libraries have already been using a ‘click and collect’ servicing, allowing residents to order a book for collection online, whilst many others have not been open at all. A number of them, including Totley Library, will reopen for ‘limited browsing’ in April, and people are ‘very excited’ to step foot in the library once more.”
• Somerset – Former Somerset library headquarters to become town centre homes as plans approved – Somerset Live. “Morgan House will be converted into ten flats, with the ‘Old Library’ building being converted to provide an additional nine flats.”
• Staffordshire – Libraries get set for Staffordshire Day celebrations – In Your Area. “Zoom calls with local authors, poetry readings, history talks and family quizzes  are some of the online activities being organised by the county’s  libraries service for this year’s Staffordshire Day”
• Warrington – Library improvement programme held up by Covid – Warrington Worldwide. “Lockdown has forced the closure of libraries and impacted on staffing capacities at both LiveWire – who had been forced to place many staff on furlough – and the borough council, who had diverted to staff to work on Covid related matters”
  • Concerns over future footfall at town’s libraries – Warrington Guardian. “In respect of the library service, it is difficult to predict the longer-term impact of Covid on user levels and engagement, but there is a risk footfall numbers will not recover to the level they were pre-Covid.”
• Worcestershire – Get your home Covid test kits from Worcestershire libraries – Redditch and Alcester Advertiser. “Testing kits are also available to anyone who works in a related occupation such as school and public transport bus drivers and other childcare providers”