Not a website: £3.4m for a Single Digital Presence announced
Editorial
It looks like good news for the much-waited-for Single Digital Presence for public libraries, with Arts Council England and the British Library announcing a £3.4m project to deliver a new platform, live to the public in 2022/3. What that platform actually will be is a bit less clear – definitely not a website, apparently – but rather a place where library services can upload content for all to see. I have sent a pile of questions (sorry British Library!) about the project to get some more information and I hope to report more fully soon. But the fact it is going ahead at all, with funding, is good news as it was first considered over a decade ago.
Changes by local authority
- Croydon – No libraries will close (previously 5 under threat): turning branches volunteer still an option.
National news
- Arts Council announces £3.4million to support public libraries around the UK with online engagement, in partnership with the British Library – British Library. “This phase of the programme is funded for three years, with launch of the new platform expected in the second year. During that time the British Library will investigate how the platform can be improved to make sure it continues to address the needs of library users in years to come.””
- ACE announces £3.4m fund for national library website – BookSeller. “Arts Council England (ACE) has announced a £3.4m fund to get the next phase of the “single digital presence” (SDP), a long-planned national website for all public libraries, off the ground. The work will be conducted in partnership with the British Library, which is developing the new platform. The SDP aims to improve public access to the collections, exhibitions and online events of libraries around the country, and was first suggested in William Sieghart’s 2014 Independent Library Report.” … “This next phase will see a public-facing version of the platform developed and live-tested, with £1m of the funding ringfenced to help libraries in England upgrade their IT capabilities to be compatible with the platform.” … “It will host library-curated content and services, promoting two-way traffic with local library websites and giving national visibility to local events and collections” … “launch of the new platform expected in the second year”
- Celebrate your love of libraries with brand new festival – Oldham Evening Chronicle. “Manchester City of Literature’s inaugural Festival of Libraries, supported by Arts Council England, is due to take place from Wednesday 9 to Sunday, June 13, 2021. The Festival is a brand-new county-wide celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries, of which Oldham make up 12. A vibrant programme that highlights the Greater Manchester library network’s full offer, across wellbeing, culture and creativity, digital and information, and, of course, reading will be on offer.”
- Celebrating innovation through CILIP’s new Changing Lives Seminar Series – CILIP. 21 July. ” a programme of virtual events celebrating innovation and thought leadership in the library, knowledge and information sector. Curated alongside our Diversity Networks and Community, Diversity and Equality Group (CDEG), the Changing Lives Seminar Series will invite ‘lightning talks’ from new and diverse voices in sector and a keynote from an established professional.”
- CILIP Bang! Blowing the lid off the CILIP Yorkshire & Humberside committee – CILIP. 9 July 10am to Noon. Includes “Keynote Ian Stringer – CILIP Bang! Ian will share more about the international working opportunities he has had with CILIP”, including being held at gunpoint.
- Community engagement solutions – Local Government Library Technology. “This briefing paper outlines the challenges public libraries face in reshaping their community profile. It highlights how emerging community engagement solutions may help target existing and potential users in repositioning public libraries and refreshing their services”
- Get ready for Libraries Week 2021 – CILIP. “Taking place between the 4th and 10th October, the campaign will showcase how libraries are supporting local recovery, delivering services to meet the diverse needs of their community and helping to combat loneliness and improve wellbeing.”
- In-House vs. Outsourcing Your Digitisation Project – What are the Pros and Cons? – TownsWeb Archiving. “Jess Sturman-Coombs at TownsWeb Archiving talked to Abby Matthews, Archive and Family History Centre Manager at Sutton Cultural Services, and Julia Parks, Project Manager at Signal Film and Media, about the alternative options available when it comes to digitisation.”
- Libraries Connected Awards 2021: Nominations now open – Libraries Connected. “Has your library service increased engagement with your users? Improved existing services? Made your library service more inclusive? Created innovative partnerships?” … ” The awards are open to all except heads of service. We are looking for individuals or teams working in public libraries who have had a positive impact on the library service, library users or the local community. This could by introducing an innovative new idea or by going the extra to mile to provide an outstanding service.”
- A Single Digital Presence for libraries – Arts Council England. “what if your library card also offered you a golden ticket to the collections, events, business support, exhibitions and more that other libraries across the country, indeed across the world, can offer? From your living room you could view those collections and exhibitions, take part in live events and activities and hear talks by leading thinkers and writers, all because you have that little plastic card. That is the concept behind the Single Digital Presence (SDP) for libraries, which, together with the British Library, we’ve been working on for quite some time now.” … ” it’s not a website. It will be a platform for uploading content which will be accessible to library services in the UK as the programme develops. “
- Tell us the Novel That Shaped Your New World – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected is creating a list of the 100 novels that readers have found escape, solace and comfort from during the pandemic and/or a book that has given them hope for the future.”
International news
- Global -ENSULIB announces 6th IFLA Green Library Award 2021 Shortlistin Two Categories – IFLA. “Any type of green library or any outstanding green library project, initiative or idea was invited to apply for the IFLA Green Library Award. Libraries with a small budget but a great impact were explicitly invited to participate in the competition.” 33 submissions. None from UK mentioned.
- Palestine – Arbroath woman joins efforts to rebuild library and bookshop in Gaza – The Courier. “Kelly Bennett is calling on friends, family and members of the community to donate their own books, which will be used to rebuild the premises in the Palestinian territory.”
- USA – You are not a patron. So act like it. – Mean Laura. “Never claim that you somehow know how patrons will behave on your library’s website, unless you can back it up with metrics or testing. There’s no other way to know for sure and, even then, results can often only be generalized.”
- Before and after photos show New York Public Library’s dramatic $200M renovation with 1978 interiors transformed into a bright space with 400,000 books, a 42-ft atrium and rooftop terrace – Daily Mail. “The library, renamed the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), boasts 44,000-square-feet of open, general public library space with double the seating as its original model.” … “One of the building’s main features is the ‘Long Room,’ a five-level space for book browsing complete with a 42-foot high atrium; two connected floors of classrooms, education and programming spaces; meeting rooms and consultation rooms.”
- Bob Dylan album returned to library 48 years late – Independent. The very late book story strikes again.
Local news by authority
- Borders – Councillor calls for reopening of libraries – Southern Reporter. “A Galashiels councillor has called for the reopening of the region’s libraries, as the Borders, despite moving to level one of Covid-19 restrictions tomorrow, remains the only local authority in Scotland not to have any open”
- Caerphilly – Caerphilly libraries set to welcome back residents to browse – Wales 247. Browsing by booking only.
- Croydon – Council gives residents say on Croydon library service options – In Your Area. “In response to public feedback from an initial consultation phase, the council has already confirmed it will keep all 13 of its libraries open.””In response to public feedback from an initial consultation phase, the council has already confirmed it will keep all 13 of its libraries open after rejecting options that would have involved branch closures.”. Five were considered for closing. Turning branches volunteer is still an option.
- Devon – Libraries get ready for new chapter after lockdown – Sidmouth Herald. Borrowing and reservations as normal from 1 July.
- Fife – Fife re-opens more libraries than almost any other Scottish region post-lockdown – Fife Today. “A total of 30 out of the Kingdom’s network of 35 branches are up and running again after lockdown, with four single-staffed venues to be opened soon.”
- Glasgow – Save Our Venues: Glaswegians protest closures of city venues – Glasgow Evening Times. “Those protesting hope to stop Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life from permanently closing 59 of the city’s community sport and cultural venues. Organisers said: “People make Glasgow, sadly it’s up to us to remind the council of this fact.” Pictures show campaigners at today’s action. “
- Manchester – Manchester book project receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – In Your Area. “Gorton Imagination Library is a book-gifting project affiliated with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.” … “It provides a free age-appropriate book posted each month to children aged from birth to five years old”
- Milton Keynes – Milton Keynes library celebrates its 40th birthday – MK Citizen. “The library reopened this week on Tuesday (June 1), after months of being used as a Covid testing centre.”
- North Yorkshire – Scarborough: volunteers needed for reading challenge – The Scarborough News. “North Yorkshire County Council library service is looking for enthusiastic young people aged between 13 and 24 to get involved in Wild World Heroes, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.”
- Powys – Lateral flow devices to be made available for self-testing – My Newtown. “Powys County Council is making the devices available from a number of libraries across the county from 7 June., including Welshpool Library.”
- Staffordshire – Volunteers praised for efforts to support local libraries – Lichfield Live. “more than 1,000 people lend a hand at libraries across Staffordshire.”
- Suffolk – ‘It’s amazing what libraries can do for the community’ – East Anglian Daily Times. “As part of the East of England Co-op’s #EastTogether campaign, Suffolk Libraries CEO Bruce Leeke explains the importance of libraries as community centres that enrich education, nurture wellbeing and champion creativity. “
- Swindon – Three libraries to offer Covid home testing kits to residents across borough – This is Wiltshire.
- Tameside – Writers’ Day With Comma Press – Tameside Council. Thursday 17 June. “If you’ve ever wanted to get into creative writing, or have something that you’ve put your heart and soul into that you’d like to get published, this day of free virtual events with Manchester based publisher Comma Press is perfect for you. Tameside Libraries are delighted to have been given the opportunity to partner with Comma and there are 4 fantastic sessions via Zoom to join in with.”
- Wandsworth – Battersea, Tooting & Wandsworth libraries offer covid tests – Sutton and Croydon Guardian.
- Warrington – Praise for LiveWire staff for Covid pandemic volunteering – Warrington Guardian. “Also donating her time as a Covid tester was Andrea McCready, lead LiveWire advisor at Culcheth Library.” … “Community librarian Matthew Entwistle volunteered as a steward at St John Henry Newman Catholic Church”
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