Halloween themed week: Possible cuts in Dorset, Gateshead, Hartlepool and Slough

Editorial

There’s some scary news for libraries this week as four library services announce consultations. These tend to include only cuts as options so it’s fairly clear where the direction of intended travel is. The cuts look to be particular severe in Gateshead with a 2010-like 5 out of 8 being under threat. On the other hand, the whole of the island of Ireland is now fines-free, with Northern Ireland no longer forcing its customers to pay for not being able to return theirs books on time, following the example of the Republic of Ireland two years ago.

Changes by authority

• Dorset – Consultation.
• Gateshead – 5 out of 8 libraries (Chopwell, Crawcrook, Leam Lane, Pelaw and Wrekenton) may become volunteer.
• Hartlepool – Seaton Library may close, amongst other changes.
• Slough – Consultation – Langley and Cippenham may close, may have reduced services at Curve and Britwell.

National news

• 10 November – What’s new? What’s next? – Library Campaign. 7.30pm to 9pm, Wednesday 10 November, webinar. “Here’s your chance to catch up on all the news you need to know. The Library Campaign aims to give library users and Friends a complete one-stop update, via Zoom. Plus a chance to discuss it all. A lot has happened in public libraries since our last Zoom in May. More is due to happen in the next few weeks.”
• Children will be forced to do homework in cafes and libraries due to rising energy bills at home, experts fear – I News. “Isobel Hunter, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said public libraries are “gearing up to do much more targeted work with people suffering from destitution… because they know rates of people struggling in their communities have grown”. “
• Embrace it, Design It, Build it: Information Professionals at the heart of Digital Transformation – CILIP. 3 and 4 November, webinar. “Technology is transforming every point in the supply-chain of knowledge and information – from content creation to research, selection to data analytics. These technologies depend entirely on the availability of high-quality, well-structured information, data and metadata to function.”
• Freedom of information and library stats – Library data blog. “Everyone knows this is broken. Leadership organisations are on board, but none have direct responsibility for data. Many services don’t complete data because they can’t afford to receive the commercial reports. Plus the reports are marketed around benchmarking and performance management, which isn’t what library services need. Services need to be able to provide data in the knowledge that it will be widely used and shared for insight, and that they’ll also receive free access to other libraries’ data. Urgent change is needed, ideally in time for 2021/2022 data.”
• Haig, Whitty and McKay awarded CILIP honorary fellowships – BookSeller. “Author Matt Haig, chief medical officer professor Chris Whitty and librarian Amy McKay have been awarded CILIP honorary fellowships for 2021. The trio were described by the UK’s library and information association as “three very different individuals recognised for their contribution to this sector in the face of unprecedented global challenges”. “. Nick Poole says ““This year’s honorary fellows all demonstrate in different ways the powerful role our sector can play in health and social care. Whether it is leveraging evidence to support informed decision-making in the NHS and public health or exploring the role of reading in building empathy and improving mental health – the pandemic has truly shown the power of libraries as the ‘hospital of the soul’.””
• Northumbria research team celebrate library project award win – Northumbria University. “The Death Positive Library Project unites libraries in Newcastle, Kirklees in Yorkshire and Redbridge in London, with a research team from Northumbria University made up of Dr Stacey Pitsillides in the School of Design and Dr Claire Nally in the Department of Humanities.”
• Reading Agency project to bring latest VR technology to 15 libraries – BookSeller. “Called StoryTrails, the project is led by creative producer Professor David Olusoga and will include 15 libraries across the UK and Northern Ireland. It will involve speaking to members of the local communities gathering forgotten and unheard stories, before they are brought to life with the latest technology. StoryTrails will be in libraries from early 2022 and will return again in the summer, offering two-day residencies in each location which will be free for the public to attend. Starting in July 2022, the tour will visit Omagh, Dundee, Dumfries, Blackpool, Bradford, Sheffield, Lincoln, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Newport, Bristol, Swindon and Slough, before ending in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Lewisham in September.   “
• Rise by Maliha Abidi: competition resources – Reading Agency. “This pack contains an PDF sampler of the book “Rise” by Maliha Abidi and a promotional poster for a competition inspired by the book.”
• The U.K.’s Latest Budget Gives Arts Organizations an Impressive-Sounding $1.2 Billion—But It’s Actually Less Than Last Year – Artnet. ” This money is also for libraries, many of which have closed due to austerity policies that predate the pandemic.”

International news

• Singapore – NLB announces its blueprint to reimagine and transform libraries and archives for the future – Library Learning Space.
• USA – Defiant library refuses to remove LGBT+ books despite pressure from local idiots – Yahoo News. “The Campbell County Library has faced outcry from angry locals complaining that the materials in certain books are “disgusting” and “inappropriate for children”. Prosecutors even considered filing criminal “obscenity” characters against the public librarians over the decision to keep books about sex and LGBT+ issues on shelves.”
  • I Set Out to Build the Next Library of Alexandria. Now I Wonder: Will There Be Libraries in 25 Years? – Time. “When I started the Internet Archive 25 years ago, I focused our non-profit library on digital collections: preserving web pages, archiving television news, and digitizing books. The Internet Archive was seen as innovative and unusual. Now all libraries are increasingly electronic, and necessarily so. To fight disinformation, to serve readers during the pandemic, and to be relevant to 21st-century learners, libraries must become digital.”
  • Sirsi Connections – Conference. 2 to 4 November. “Connections—a free, online conference open to all libraries worldwide —provides opportunities for educational and professional development within time and budgetary constraints. Everyone in your library is invited to attend, including support staff, system admins, executives, directors, and anyone else at your library.”

Local news by authority

• Cambridgeshire – Libraries in March and Wisbech to stock Covid-19 rapid testing kits – Fenland Citizen. “From Monday, home testing kits will be available from March and Wisbech libraries as part of a four-week trial.” [Not sure why a trial is needed – home test kits have been successfully given out in many other council libraries for months – Ed.]
• Cheshire East – Children’s reading challenge encourages hundreds of youngsters to join local libraries – Cheshire East Council. “More than 172,350 physical and digital items were borrowed and 1,685 children became library members. A total of 4,390 young people took part with an additional 326 youngsters participating online.” … “The story walks were more like a treasure hunt where children needed to search for posters of famous book characters and read excerpts of text and respond to questions on their activity sheets. “
• Dorset – Public consultation over the future of Dorset libraries after drop in visitor numbers – Dorset Echo. “It comes after figures showed the number of visitors to Dorset Council libraries during 2020/21 went down by 93 per cent from the previous year – with 1,216,132 visitors recorded in 2019/20 falling to just 83,078 the following year. This was due to significant periods during the Covid-19 pandemic when the council’s library buildings were closed, followed by phased re-opening of libraries, with only limited services available.”
• Gateshead – Gateshead residents invited to share views on proposed changes to library service – Gateshead Council. “We are encouraging residents to help shape the future of their local library service by taking part in a public consultation on proposed changes. Under the new proposals, some library buildings would be transformed into community spaces that bring together key council services, voluntary and community organisations and neighbourhood groups.”
• Hammersmith and Fulham – Case Study: Engagement that Glows – Reflections on running public engagement in Hammersmith and Fulham – Libraries Week. ” have been running public engagement sessions in partnership with Imperial College.  These sessions bring research scientists together with community groups”
• Hampshire – Hythe library reopens for half-term holiday eight days after car ploughed through its wall – Advertiser and Times. “… an Audi’s two occupants escaped serious injury after it ploughed through one of the walls shortly after 11am on Sunday, scattering shelves, books and chairs. Despite managing to get themselves out of the vehicle, they were trapped inside the locked building and had to be rescued by firefighters.”
• Hartlepool – ‘We must really fight’ to keep Hartlepool library ahead of talks over its future – Hartlepool Mail. “According to council reports, the Seaton library building is in need of an estimated £220,000 of investment and renovation.”
• Isle of Man – Prizes handed out after summer reading challenge concludes – IOM Today. “craft competition and book reviews”
• Leicester – Job seekers can now find help at more Leicester libraries – Leicester Mercury. “Job seeker support has expanded to cover more Leicester neighbourhoods, after three more libraries joined forces with Jobcentre Plus. St Matthews Centre, New Parks Centre and Highfields Library have joined the list of libraries in the city which offer services to those looking to get back into work, Leicester City Council has announced.”
• Northern Ireland – Anne Hailes: The joy of visiting the library and fond memories of Brendan Kennelly – Irish News. “”The fine was a barrier in the past, people were afraid they might have built up a huge fine. Libraries have changed so much in the recent past, the image of the stern librarian has gone and the 49 public libraries in Northern Ireland are places to meet, learn but also to chat, no longer solitary places where you’re afraid to cough out loud and although there are quiet places to read and study there is plenty of activity as well.””
  • Library fines to be removed – Hargey – Northern Ireland Government. ““Fines, particularly where they accumulate over time, are more likely to impact vulnerable people, including those on lower incomes. This positive move paves the way for customers who have been anxious about overdue fines to return to libraries and avail of the many services they provide.””
• Moray – Moray libraries return to in-person events for Book Week Scotland – Northern Scot.
• Nottingham – Nottingham library £10m refit opening date question mark – BBC. “An opening date for Nottingham’s new Central Library has still not been confirmed, despite the council saying it is “one of its biggest priorities”. The library is part of the new Broadmarsh car park and was originally due to be up and running this year. But money from the sale of the old city centre site has not been confirmed.” A date of 2023 had been proposed but this week the council missed out on funding for the wider Broadmarsh area, including the £10m library refit.”
• Nottingham City Council loses out on £20m bid to complete Broadmarsh shopping centre – East Midlands Business Link. “The Government announced 109 ‘Levelling Up’ bids had been successful following the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget announcement on Wednesday (October 27) but the £20m needed by Nottingham City Council to demolish the Broadmarsh site, and to help fit out the new Central Library was denied.”
• Richmond – Richmond Literature Festival welcomes library lovers – SW Londoner. “The Library ranks number one in the UK for the number of book loans per 1000 people, and has one of the oldest lending libraries in London, making it the ideal place for book lovers.”
• Slough – Libraries Consultation – Slough Council. “his consultation is about proposed changes to Slough libraries statutory services delivered through The Curve, Britwell, Cippenham and Langley libraries, and access to online services.” Langley and Cippenham may close, may have reduced services at Curve and Britwell.
• Southwark – Una Marson: Southwark names new Walworth Library after pioneering black broadcaster and writer – Southwark News. “The new library will be in Walworth, on the north side of the Old Kent Road. It will open in spring next year. This news comes years after a Blue Plaque was unveiled for Una in Southwark,  a scheme run by the News, Southwark Heritage Association and the council.”
• Staffordshire – New Young Poet Laureate chosen for Staffordshire – In Your Area. “The Year 11 pupil from Sir Thomas Boughey Academy in Newcastle-under-Lyme was appointed to the role at a special poetry event organised by Staffordshire County Council’s Libraries service and WORD Stafford. The event was held in Stafford library on Thursday, October.”
• Warrington – Over 900 children take part in annual Summer Reading Challenge – Warrington Worldwide. “this year 934 children too part in the challenge”. Compared to 2009 who took part in 2019.
• Wirral – Four more Wirral libraries to reopen this week – Wirral Globe. “Irby, Pensby, St James and Wallasey Village will open their doors on Thursday and Friday.”
• Worcestershire – Tricks and treats this Halloween with Wythall Library – Redditch Standard.