Fancy taking the lead?

Editorial

I don’t like mentioning my library service, Cheshire West and Chester, because Public Libraries News and my work on it has no connections with it whatsoever but I’ll make the exception this week and point out that there is a Lead Librarian vacancy there at the moment. This is basically a joint deputy chief librarian position for the borough’s public libraries. Cheshire West is in a lovely part of the world with great transport connections and the internationally known Storyhouse. So if you fancy a move, do please have a look. That plug done, I’d also like to point out I’m doing a survey of which library services are offering free reservations. Please let me know of any if you can, thank you.

Otherwise, it’s been a quiet (no shush jokes, please) week in public libraries news, with services returning to normal and doing the Summer Reading Challenge.

Changes by local authority

• Derbyshire – Whaley Bridge Library hours to be reduced from 23.5 to 18.
• Portsmouth – Cosham Library refurbished.

Ideas

• Lending footballs – Croydon.

National news

• Are UK public libraries heading in a new direction? – OUP Blog. “In this blog post, Karen Walker, Team Leader at Orkney Library and Archive, Katie Warriner, Information Services Librarian at Calderdale Libraries, and Trisha Ward, Director of Library Services, Libraries NI, discuss changes they have noted during the pandemic and shed light on what purpose, they believe, UK public libraries will serve for the community in “the new normal.”: services keeping click and collect, increase in eAudio usage and social media. No change in core purpose. Increase in loneliness.
• British Library seeks designer for £100,000 branding project – Design Week. For the national Single Digital Presence for public libraries. “The naming and branding of the platform is part of the next phase, which will also see a public-facing version of the platform built and beta tested.” Pitches for business will be made in September and October.
• Don’t let spending cuts ruin libraries – Yorkshire Post Letters – Yorkshire Post. “Opening a “public facing centre” of the British Library in Leeds is pure gesture politics. It cannot duplicate the vast reference collection held at St Pancras. It won’t lend out books. Yorkshire once had some excellent public library services. Like others, they’ve been catastrophically run down in the last 11 years due to the Conservative Government’s spending cuts. Professional staff were slashed and book stocks run down. A former pride of Britain is now a shambles”
• Knowledge and power: real and fictional libraries leading resistance – Book Riot. Some real and fictional examples in the UK and USA. including the memorable book display behind Boris Johnson last year.
• Service operational guidance – July 2021 – Libraries Connected. “he note has been prepared by Libraries Connected in consultation with Public Health England in line with published government guidance. Updated 15.07.21”
• Sustaining Professional Confidence – Webinar Recording Available – British Library. Register to watch recording of free webinar.

International news

• New Zealand – Future of 600,000 books being culled by National Library saved by digital library – 1 News. “The Internet Archive has agreed to have the collection available for people around the world to borrow digitally within two years and is paying for packaging, transport and digitisation costs.”
• USA – Demolishing public libraries from the inside: Niles Public Library is a warning – Book Riot. Rightwing board members cut budget and services in order to cut taxes, fails to understand is not a private enterprise.

Local news by authority

• Carmarthenshire – Children become ‘Wild World Heroes’ in summer reading challenge – South Wales Guardian.
• Cheshire West and Chester – Vacancy: Lead Librarian – Cheshire West and Chester Council. £34-40k full-time permanent. “You will manage the delivery of the Library Service in two Localities as directed by the Libraries Development Manager, to provide leadership, review resource provision and manage operational issues. You will demonstrate strategic insight ensuring the continuous development of high-quality services across the Library Service in Cheshire West and Chester.”
• Croydon – Croydon Social Enterprise celebrates a summer of sport – Sutton and Croydon Guardian. “GLL libraries have launched an innovative new scheme, in partnership with footballing charity Alive and Kicking, to loan footballs from libraries alongside conventional library books. In many poorer areas of London children can’t even access a football for a kick about in their local park.  That’s where the library loan scheme comes in.  But its impact is global.  The footballs for loan are made in Kenya, providing skills and employment for local communities there.  To date the initiative has been a huge success across both nations, with just one library ball not returned since the GLL scheme kicked off.”
• Darlington – Children’s book author and illustrator Liz Million to visit Walney Library – Mail.
• Derbyshire – Derbyshire County Council launches public consultation on opening hours for Whaley Bridge library – Buxton Advertiser. “The proposal is part of a county-wide strategy agreed in 2018 which has also seen some libraries handed over to be run by community groups – but no organisation came forward to take on Whaley Bridge meaning the council had to look at other ways to cut costs.”

• Gloucestershire – A free children’s play is touring Gloucestershire libraries and venues this summer – Soglos. Everyman Theatre, outside venues. Characters will also be in libraries. “Families will also be able to watch the show online via the Everyman’s website by the end of July 2021. Plus, local charity Read for Good has produced some free drama workshops to accompany the event to keep the kids engaged”
• Hampshire – Kingsclere Community Library receives grant to help transition after being ‘abandoned’ by Hampshire County Council – Newbury Today. “The  chairwoman of the Kingsclere Community Library management committee has said a council grant will help the library bounce back to where it was before it was “abandoned”. The library has received a grant of more than £6,000 to help with its transition to independent status after Hampshire County Council cut its support of the library earlier this year as part of a wider effort to save £1.76m. Since April this year, the library – which has been run by volunteers since 2015 – has stood on its own two-feet, setting up a new custom built computer system to monitor its stock after the council removed its own machines.”
• Hull – Comic fans delight over free festival arriving in Hull – Hull Daily Mail. “Hull Libraries will be celebrating the amazing impact of comic novels with a host of workshops, talks and story times next month.”
• Isle of Wight – Island children invite to sign up for 6-book reading challenge – Island Echo.
  • Isle of Wight Libraries will return to normal opening hours – Isle of Wight Radio. “The council is reintroducing the 60p reservation charge on books from 19 July, but is extending the fines amnesty until the autumn.”
• Manchester – Fun and exciting things to do with your family at cultural venues in Manchester this summer – Manchester Evening News. Includes Summer Reading Challenge.
• Moray – Duck, duck, duck, duck… books! Moray mobile library visited by four feathered friends – Press and Journal. “The four young birds had a look around the facility earlier today, as it went travelling around the Drybridge area. A member of staff took a picture of the brood and posted it on social media, where it has been causing a bit of a stir.”

• Newcastle – Newcastle library book returned 63 years late – BBC. Slow news day in NE England.
• Northamptonshire – Construction begins on Kettering £3.9m GLaM project – Northants Telegraph. “The construction phase of Kettering s £3.9m project, to remodel the Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering Library and Museum has begun.”
• North Yorkshire – Books to the door for those who can’t go to the library – North Yorkshire County Council. ” “Libraries across the county are now open and are safe, but we understand that some people are either not able or not yet ready to venture out and may be missing books to read or listen to.””
• Pembrokeshire – Return to browsing and computer use at Crymych Library – Tivyside Advertiser.
• Perth and Kinross – Scotland’s first Hublet docking station is proving a hit at Perth library – Daily Record. “The tablets can be borrowed from a docking station individually or as a group for class or club events.”. Tablets given by charity.
• Portsmouth – Cosham Library re-opens with more to offer – About My Area. “The library closed last November for major repairs and refurbishment, but is now back in business on weekdays and Saturdays. The former children’s room is now an IT learning zone, and a bigger children’s library has been created at the back of the building. New books and displays are in place to whet the appetite of readers, and there is a large central area for events and activities, providing a valuable community venue in the north of the city.”
• Renfrewshire – Summer reading challenge will help kids become eco-warriors – Gazette. “When they are halfway through the challenge, having read three books, they’ll receive a free swim pass from Renfrewshire Leisure.”
• Sheffield – Library book returned to Sheffield Cathedral, two centuries overdue – Church Times. “The book, The Faith and Practice of a Church of England Man, a treatise for the laity, was first published in 1688. The Sheffield copy is a seventh edition dating from 1704. Inside is the handwritten inscription: This Book belongs to ye Lending Library in Sheffield Church 1709″
• Southend – Young readers can become environmental champions at Southend Libraries this summer – Leigh Times. “Children who complete the challenge by reading six books will be entered into a prize draw with a chance to win Adventure Island wristbands in September.”
• Stockton – A ‘step up’ in services: Changes expected in Stockton from ‘Freedom Day’ – Teesside Live. “the majority of libraries across the the town will begin to open from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm.”
• Stoke on Trent – Carmountside, museums and libraries: New post-lockdown council rules revealed – Stoke Sentinel. “At council-run libraries, summer holiday activities will be taking place. Pre-booking is advised for all popular activities. Perspex screens will remain in place, hand sanitisers will be available throughout venues, visitors are again asked to check-in using the NHS Track and Trace QR code, and public toilets will reopen.”
• Surrey – Surrey County Council launches The Surrey Nature Explorer Passport for children – Surrey News. “The Surrey Nature Explorer Passport holds captivating adventures that encourages families and children to explore our beautiful countryside and amazing libraries with a chance to win exciting prizes.”
• Swansea – Free virus test kits available at Swansea libraries – In Your Area. “Free Lateral Flow Testing kits (LFTs) are now available at libraries in Swansea at Clydach, Brynyfryd, Gorseinon, Killay, Morriston and Pontarddulais.”
• Wirral – Libraries in Bromborough and Eastham to reopen after campaign – Wirral Globe. “The libraries have been closed since last year, though Eastham served as a lateral flow testing centre till April. Due to the wear and tear Eastham has had carpeting replaced. New window blinds are also on order, after requests from Eastham Lib Dem councillor David Mitchell.”