Tests of normality

Editorial

Quarantining of books takes a lot of staff-time so, with things stutteringly returning to normal, it is one of those things that library services will have to address. Due to the efforts of Libraries Connected, they have now been given the opportunity, should they feel safe enough to take it, of getting rid of quarantining altogether. It’s not going to be a clear-cut decision anywhere. though, as the guidance now says “books can be wiped down” rather than “should”, and that Indian variant is worrying. But it’s another vital step towards getting services truly back up to the way they were before. This, along with starting events and groups again, are litmus tests for normality.

The fines-free movement had a couple of steps forward this week. Gwynedd became the 23rd service in the UK to completely fines-free and a CILIP survey showed a majority of respondents in favour of getting rid of penalising borrowers for returning items late. Interestingly, the reasons put in favour of retention by respondents are either already questionable (e.g. people won’t return books if there are no fines – which has been shown not in fact to be the case) or sadly very true indeed (e.g. fines represent a vital sort of income, regardless of any other reason for them). Going fines-free was a big trend pre-Covid and it is another test for library services now to see whether it won’t just be “normal” that we return to, but also an improvement as well.

Changes by local authority

• Gwynedd – Goes fine-free
• Southwark – New Walworth Library opens.
• West Sussex – Worthing Library colocated with other services, will reopen in June.

National news

• Changing Lives Seminar Series – CILIP. 21 July. “, a programme of virtual events celebrating innovation and thought leadership in the library, knowledge and information sector” … “We are looking for 4 to 5 speakers to each give a lightning talk at the seminar around the theme of Pride.”
• Community engagement solutions for public libraries – Ken Chad Consulting. “Community engagement solutions for public libraries. Ken Chad and Sarah Bartlett. Local Government Library Technology (LGLibTech) Briefing Paper No.1. May 2021. This briefing paper highlights the challenges public libraries face in reshaping their community profile. It outlines how emerging community engagement solutions may help target existing and potential users in repositioning public libraries.”. Registration needed.
• In praise of mobile libraries – Library data blog. “There may be alternative services like drop off points, book containers, home delivery, but they’re not actual libraries.” but “Many effectively have no online presence. Sometimes a PDF timetable, sometimes a phone number or email address to contact, but never comprehensive online information about them” … “I know there are plenty of services that think mobile libraries are expensive, inefficient, and smelly liabilities. That hardly have any users, and breakdown all the time. And when they need replacing (which they do) they haven’t got the money to do it because a replacement library isn’t part of their budget. But they’re great and they should be invested in”
• Libraries and High Streets – DCMS Libraries. “We also know that libraries are part of the vital social fabric which brings communities together and we wondered about how libraries and high streets aligned. Regular readers will know our data travails, but we were really pleased to enable a piece of work by Dave Rowe, from Libraries Hacked which explores this very topic. Using newly released data from the Ordnance Survey and ONS, Dave has been able to look at the relationship between libraries and high streets with some fascinating results. ” … ” over half of high street destinations in England have a library and 65% of English public libraries are either on or close to high streets. “
• Library Campaign Zooms in on a publicity campaign for libraries Monday 24 May 2021 19:30 -21:00 – Library Campaign. Anyone can attend meeting, not just members. “We’ll focus on following up the ideas that came up in April for a campaign to publicise libraries. The meeting will include a chance to discuss with Nick Poole, the Chief Executive of CILIP (the librarians’ professional body) what they are doing to advocate for libraries, and their plans for this year’s National Libraries Week”
• Service recovery toolkit – May 2021 – Libraries Connected. “Some of the key changes are: Quarantine of books is no longer needed; Libraries may run group events and activities; Home Library Service can now enter people’s houses; Advice on handling cash as well as card payments”

“PHE do not consider there to be a need to isolate returned Library books for 72 hours. This is in line with the advice that shops do not need to isolate returned goods. Books can be wiped down if possible with a proprietary cleaning solution which is effective against COVID-19 (PHE cleaning guidance), especially if they have a protective plastic cover.”

Service recovery toolkit

• Should libraries fine users for late return of books and other items? – CILIP. “The majority of those polled disagree with the concept of fining borrowers. There are some compelling arguments from other voters. There is no black and white answer to this question, the resulting discussion points are nuanced and multifarious. While most participants acknowledged some of the principles of having a fines system, ultimately the dominant opinion was that free access to libraries should be the norm.”. Just over 50% against fines, just over 30% in favour.
• What Labour must do to get ourselves in a position to win: a four-step plan – Labour List, Alison McGovern. “The Conservatives in office have shut nearly 800 libraries since 2010. All those towns, villages, places around the country that used to have a small building where kids could do their homework and older people could relax and explore the world of books with a librarian to help. Gone. I think it is criminal.” … ” Children and young people today don’t need the libraries of the 1980s, to state the obvious. They need librarians who can help them with the world of both books and social media, and a world of research and creativity that would have seemed crazy to ten-year-old me in 1991.” … “. As my friends at Get It Loud In Libraries demonstrate, young people need places not just of books but where they can explore the kind of culture that libraries would have sniffed at even in my halcyon days.”
• Working Internationally for Libraries – CILIP. “The project is funded by Arts Council England and will run in partnership with the British Library, British Council, and Libraries Connected. In its first phase, the project will focus on English public libraries to develop a programme of activities including grants & travel bursaries, an international conference, and a showcase of successful international projects.”. Webinar 2 June.

International news

• Australia – Learning From Our Statistics – Public Libraries Online. ” An oft-neglected area of study in librarianship, statistical fundamentals are approached here in a simple rules format with examples. The purpose is to help librarians gather and use statistical information in new and better ways. “
• Lebanon – Rebuilding Beirut’s libraries – CILIP. 15 September webinar. “after the August 4 2020 blast, libraries in Lebanon decided to brush off the dust, remove the rubble and glass, and tend to their injured staff and users. Librarians started looking into best plans for a return to service and the Lebanese Library Association joined them on the journey.”

Local news by authority

• Bridgend – Porthcawl Library receives a fresh new look – News From Wales. “A grant from the Local Government Cultural Service Fund (Welsh Government Culture and Sport Division) has been used to reconfigure and redecorate the front-half of the library, increase the size of the children’s library, and to improve the area featuring public computers so that it offers greater privacy and easier access to other resources such as printers.”
• Camden – Remembering Myra Schehtman: A hero of Camden’s libraries – Ham and High. “Myra Schehtman spent more than 40 years as a “kind, gentle and positive” worker and volunteer for Camden libraries in Primrose Hill and Belsize Park. Nicknamed the “Library Lady”, Myra was instrumental in fighting to save Camden’s libraries from closure a decade ago.” … ” she was renowned for Rhyme Time sessions, book clubs, developing the Silversurfers in Camden, and putting on a Mad Hatter’s tea party in 2018. One of her longstanding desires was to have a bench installed outside the Belsize library in legacy of local and leading illustrator Arthur Rackham. “
• Cardiff – Cardiff Hub activities to resume – Wales 247. Indoor events start next week. ” a phased approach this summer starting with digital inclusion volunteering in Central Library Hub next month and expanding to more services as appropriate.”
• Ceredigion – County libraries to reopen with pre-booked slots – Tivyside Advertiser. “”Slots of 30 minutes will be available to browse, return and collect books, an [sic] slots of 45 minutes will be available to use the public computers.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – Cheshire West: Residents without covid symptoms urged to test twice a week – Standard.”Test kits to do at home can also be collected at these locations, as well as at Northwich, Neston, Frodsham and Ellesmere Port libraries, Dee View Distribution Hub near Chester Retail Park and the mobile library van at Tarporley, Tattenhall, Malpas and Tarvin. “
• Dudley – Residents urged to be vigilant as lockdown restrictions ease – Stourbridge News. “The borough’s libraries will be open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday…although Netherton Library is closed on Saturdays”
• Flintshire – Become a Dementia Friend with your Flintshire library – The Leader. Online sessions on how to become a Friend.
• Gwynedd – Gwynedd libraries scraps its overdue fines – North Wales Chronicle. “During the pandemic, a decision was taken to automatically extend return dates, which meant that books could never be late. The decision by the Council which will be in place from 1 April 2021, means that library users will no longer be penalised for late returns. Fines on books for children and young people under the age of 18 ended in Gwynedd a number of years ago. This was introduced as fines were seen to be a barrier to young people and families accessing the library – the same principle now applies to books returned late by adults.”
• Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries restart services as lockdown eases – details – Brixton Buzz. Browsing.
• Liverpool – Paedophile used library computers to find ‘Harry Potter erotica’ – Liverpool Echo. “Melissa Wilson, whose name was given in court listings as “Paul Wilson, also known as Melissa Wilson”, managed to bypass security systems at Liverpool Central Library and Toxteth Library, later confessing to the crimes in a letter from her alter ego, Dan Thompson.” … “Wilson’s probation officer received the letter from Wilson’s alter ego, Dan Thompson, detailing how she had bypassed library security systems.”
• Northamptonshire – 19 Northamptonshire start-ups win £1,500 and free support after making Dragon’s Den-style pitch – Northampton Chronicle. “Isabel Oswell, head of business audiences at the British Library, said: “At the British Library we’re proud to be working with a growing network of public libraries across the country to ensure that anyone with an idea can walk into their local library and take the first steps to start and grow a successful business. “It’s wonderful to see how our partners at Northamptonshire Libraries have tailored our national Reset. Restart programme to their local small business community through the Small Business Grants.”
• Rotherham – Go with the flow at Rotherham’s libraries – Rotherham Advertiser. Covid-testing kits being given out at nine branches. “Each kit comes with seven individual tests and instructions.”
• Salford – If Labour is to thrive, it needs to bring back its radical values – Guardian. ” Salford has seven more libraries than we had at the start of the coalition government’s austerity measures in 2010, and we’ve retained all five of our local authority-owned nurseries.”
• Shropshire – Oswestry mayor helps launch ‘great’ library dementia project – Oswestry Advertizer. ““We’re delighted to offer local people the opportunity to borrow helpful items free of charge, including games, song books, memory bags, fidget widgets, books and much more.”
• Southend – Southend: Twice a week testing even if fully vaccinated – Basildon Echo. Test kits available at five branches.
  • Southend libraries help support mental wellbeing through the power of reading – Yellow Advertiser. “The ‘Read, Talk, Share’ campaign will see every library in Southend provided with books from the Reading Well collections to support mental health for children, young people, and adults. There are also e-books and e-audio books available to read and listen to online through the library’s digital service, BorrowBox.”
• Southwark – Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library launches – News Shopper. “the launch of Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library was attended by a limited number of guests that included Southwark Pensioners, Walworth Society and Dawes Tenants and Residents Association. Visitors can browse 20,000 new books in the children’s and adults’ library and view 300 historical artefacts and artworks. “
• Swindon – Volunteer Development Coordinator – Swindon Libraries. £23k pro rata 20 hours per week. “The Volunteer Development Coordinator is responsible for the development, recruitment, training and oversight of library volunteers across the five core Libraries, as well as ensuring the smooth running of our Home Library Service.”
  • More Swindon library services resumed as lockdown rules relax – Swindon Advertiser.
• West Sussex – New-look Worthing Library – date set for opening – Worthing Herald. “The custom-designed building will reopen at 9am on Tuesday, June 22, bringing together a number of county council services, including an enhanced library service, under one roof. The Richmond Road site will be home to West Sussex County Council registration services, children and family services, and Find it Out and youth emotional support services.”
• Worcestershire – Bookworms can access more library services as next lockdown lifting stage reached – Worcester Observer. “The new guidance that allows up to six people to meet indoors will mean small social connecting groups such as reading groups and Knit and Natter can once again meet in library spaces”
• York – World Turned Upside Down 2020 #haiflu edition – Explore York. Haikus about lockdown turned into book, launch event. “Early this year we got to work reading the haiku, matching them to doodles and deciding where to place them within the book. “