August is here

Editorial

A quiet week, as one would expect from August. Enjoy your holidays, those of you who have them … and for the rest, here’s to a good Summer Reading Challenge and a return, however hesitant, to normality.

Changes by local authority

• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – Christchurch Library to be co-location with various council services.

National news

• AMA Conference 2021: 21-22 October – Libraries Connected Bursary Application Form – Libraries Connected. 3 bursaries.
• The Bookseller to publish library-themed edition – BookSeller. “There will be several paid comment pieces commissioned from experts in this area, focusing on themes such as planning during the pandemic and digital content, as well as interviews and an in-depth focus on 10 libraries across the UK. The special issue, supported by OverDrive and Penguin Random House, will be the first ever library-themed edition of The Bookseller and will also survey librarians about their autumn highlights from a typically packed publishing season. “
• Campaign Planning | Libraries Connected Marketing the Library Webinars | 2021 – Libraries Connected, Youtube. Excellent introduction on how to plan a promotional campaign of the kind so rarely seen in public libraries.
• The Future of Libraries After Lockdown – Redbrick. “A combination of callous Tory policies and an unprecedented public health emergency has exerted immense pressure on all our public services. As we finally approach the end of our long trek out of the coronavirus pandemic, we must work to alleviate this pressure and invest all we can into this invaluable, if often overlooked, part of social life.”
• GLL banishes holiday hunger – GLL. ” supporting the national Holiday Food and Fun programme this summer across London, in its Better branded centres.” … “Better branded facilities in Barnet, Bromley, Greenwich, Hillingdon and Wandsworth will also be providing a mixture of exciting physical activity sessions, interactive library-based craft and story sessions together with workshops on nutrition, to support young people to understand the importance of eating healthily.”
• Have faith in libraries, a mark of civilisation – Sunday Times, partial paywall. “These truly civic institutions are in danger of closure. To let them fall would be to betray our children and ourselves” Kenny Farquharson. [Remarkable for Sunday Times to include pro public library piece: it normally ignores the sector – Ed.]
• Programme Manager, Skills and Engagement – Reading Agency. Vacancy. “The Reading Agency is looking to appoint an experienced project manager to lead on the delivery of the Summer Reading Challenge and other aspects of our children and young people’s work.”
• Struggling families will be given free book bags this summer – Open Access Government. “Reading Sparks is a joint initiative between the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and The Reading Agency. Working with 17 libraries across the UK, the free books scheme will run until 2023 and 1,000 book bags will be distributed in the coming months to families who are experiencing hardship.”

International news

• USA – From Alone to Together Again: Using Data to Deliver Value – Public Libraries Online. “The services WL offered through 2020 are largely stand-ins for the familiar library services people want. As people’s preferred services were re-introduced, their use of the substitutes declined. We have concluded that the digital experience of the library exists in symbiosis with borrowing. “
  • Libraries Across The United States Are Ending Fines For Overdue Books – Forbes. Lists several library services going, or who have gone, fine-free, along with their reasons for doing so. This is mainly due to inequality and also people returning books anyway at similar rates if not fined. “The American Library Association passed a resolution in January 2019 stating, “The American Library Association asserts that imposition of monetary library fines creates a barrier to the provision of library and information services.”

Local news by authority

• Barnet – Residents furious as historic North London library to be replaced with one like ‘Tesco self-checkout’ – My London. “Locals in North London are up in arms over plans to replace their 92-year-old library … “It used to have an old town feel, but all these new proposals will change that.””
• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – August reopening for revamped Christchurch library – Advertiser and Times. “The current closure is to create space in the library for BCP Council customer services, including being able to register a birth, apply for a blue badge or meet housing officers.”
• Bradford – Plea to district’s library users as fees are reintroduced – Keighley News. ““Customers are urged to hunt down their items and bring them back to any of Bradford’s libraries, as items returned late will now incur overdue charges.”
• Bury – Bury Council announces extended opening hours for libraries – Bury Times. Returning to normal.
• Ceredigion – County’s libraries are set to open fully in Ceredigion – Tivyside Advertiser. Browsing without appointment from 9 August.
• Cheshire West and Chester – The story of Sir John Brunner’s £700,000 Northwich library – Northwich Guardian. “Some of the good people of Northwich are suggesting that the condition of the town’s library requires some TLC to preserve it for the future. So, it’s time to look at the opening of this library and the closing of its predecessor. Let’s start with the earlier library, which opened on July 21, 1885 …”
• Cornwall – Cornwall’s libraries to host two-week book amnesty – Cornwall Council. “Between August 2 and August 14 people will not be charged for returning overdue items at libraries in Cornwall. The amnesty is taking place at libraries run by Cornwall Council as well as those managed by local town or parish councils.”
• Croydon – Croydon libraries begin phased reopening this summer – In Your Area. “Following feedback from residents, Croydon’s libraries are also piloting paid-for summer holiday camps for children aged 5 to 11. Partnering with the Upper Norwood Libraries Hub, the camps provide the opportunity for budding performers to learn from professional West End artists, discovering new skills, techniques and building confidence as they learn about singing, acting and movement.”
• Devon – DrumbleDrone helps keen Barnstaple coders scoop PiWard awards – Devon Live. “A group of keen coders from Barnstaple Library’s Raspberry Pi group scooped up two awards at the international PiWars at Home competition. The team of eight, known as The Barum Jam Collective, worked together to build DrumbleDrone – a bee-themed robot – to compete in the event.”
• Falkirk – Opinion: Libraries are open again for us all to enjoy – Falkirk Herald. “They may no longer be the place where you are told to “wheesht” but they still remain a valuable resource for us all.”
• Glasgow – Glasgow Life: Whiteinch Library protesters refusing to give in over library closure plans – Clydebank Post. “On Saturday, Save Whiteinch Library campaign group hosted their 14th protest with local artist Frank McNab drawing caricatures. The previous week he hung up a painting of the facility that he had been working on since 2013.”
  • Hundreds join Glasgow Life protest march over closure of community venues – Glasgow Live. “Speakers, including union reps and local campaigners, addressed the crowd, highlighting the value of the venues to the city.”

• Nottinghamshire – Column: Nottinghamshire’s libraries continue to play an inspirational role across our county – Worksop Guardian. “In the five years since the creation of Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, our library services have gone from strength to strength. Not only have we kept our local libraries open at a time when many local authorities were closing theirs, we have managed to grow the offer and increase what’s available to people. We have made significant investments into our libraries and cultural services, making them some of the best in the country.”
• St Helens – First free theatre performance in 18 months to take place outside Thatto Heath library – St Helens Star. Outside.
• Swindon – Gift bags of books for families given out through Swindon library services – Swindon Advertiser. “This is part of the Reading Agency’s new three-year Reading Sparks programme which aims to inspire a lifelong love of STEM subjects in young people and bridge the gap in science capital for families from lower socio-economic groups, teenage girls and BAME communities.”
• West Berkshire – Future of Thatcham Library to feature in town centre masterplan – Newbury Today. “future of Thatcham Library will be up for discussion in a masterplan being drawn up for the town centre, with a senior councillor questioning if the building is in the right place. The Liberal Democrat-controlled town council asked West Berkshire Council for £30,000 to be set aside in its budget in March for the toilet and entrance works. The Conservative-run council turned the bid down though, saying that a review of all libraries was planned this year.”
• Worcestershire – Youngsters urged to take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at Worcestershire’s libraries – Redditch Standard.
  • Sajid Javid visits new business centre at Bromsgrove Library – Bromsgrove Advertiser. “Bromsgrove is one of five new BIPCs being introduced in libraries across the county, as part of the expansion of the British Library’s national BIPC network, with further centres due to open in Redditch, Kidderminster, Malvern and Evesham.”
• Wrexham – Scan your way into this year’s Wrexham Libraries’ Playday fun – Leader Live. “Clybiau Plant Cymru have created Playday posters with special QR codes on them, and you have to find the posters, displayed in various places outside of Wrexham Library to download the QR Code to discover a new play opportunity. The library will also be ‘hiding’ some playful book packs outside of the building which have been donated by Playful Childhoods Wales.”