Waiting for the new equilibrium
Editorial
A reasonably quiet week this one, with the most stand out thing for me being Arts Council England producing some nice videos publicising public libraries. Sadly, the other news is more information on the proposed cuts to Slough, which have been fleshed out as being a reasonably massive 33% cut, with the book fund being especially punished apparently because it is too good. Go figure. Meanwhile, the USA, the move towards Fahrenheit 451 becoming a reality moves ever closer with two library board members seriously suggesting books they don’t like should be burnt – never a good look. But here in the UK the ever present question is not which book to burn but rather at what level and when will library usage settle post-Covid. Will the new equilibrium be at 90%? Only an optimist I think would go for 100. And a pessimist may go lower. But it’s still too early to tell, with Covid very much still being around and some library services still not having opened all libraries or even starting events again.

Changes by authority
- Slough – £400k (33%) cut.

National news
- CWA Dagger In The Library – Crime Writer’s Association. “Up to three members of staff from each British library can nominate an eligible author from the list below. The list of eligible authors is selected by the Dagger in the Library judges each year and comprises authors writing in the UK who have had at least six crime books published over a period of 10 years or more, who were not shortlisted for the Dagger in the Library in the previous year and who have never won either the Dagger in the Library or the Diamond Dagger.”
- Libraries Activity Data – Libraries Connected. 25 November webinar. “We are analysing libraries’ activity data on a monthly basis and benchmarking this against broader data from High Streets and other areas. Join us for a discussion on what the data shows, what it means and provide your own insight from the library services to make our analysis a much richer picture.”
- Network of sharing libraries and repair cafes – Scottish Government. “Under the £310,000 reuse and repair scheme, funded jointly with Zero Waste Scotland, more resource libraries will be established across Scotland – a key recommendation of Scotland’s Climate Assembly. The facilities allow people to borrow items such as high quality tools, equipment, clothes and toys rather than buying them. The scheme – overseen by the Circular Communities Scotland charity in collaboration with Edinburgh Tool Library and Edinburgh Remakery – will also see more repair cafes set up to teach people the skills to repair items.”
- Public libraries and climate change – DCMS Libraries. “At the heart of the discussion and debate was recognising the power of public libraries in the communities they are based in, in being able to break down the sometimes overwhelming information and to disseminate this into the community. “
International news
- Ireland – Ireland books in Spydus library management deal – UK Authority. “The five-year deal with Civica for the Spydus library management software will see all 330 branch and 29 mobile libraries receive the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to automate processes such as inter-library loans, lending and stock rotation. LGMA is the Republic of Ireland’s state body for providing local authorities with professional services, including the procurement of technology.”
- USA – Greg Abbott calls for investigation into ‘pornography’ in Texas school libraries after parents complained about ‘obscene’ book on gender identity called Gender Queer: A Memoir – Mail. “Greg Abbott has demanded an investigation into ‘pornographic books’ at school libraries in Texas amid a growing anger over sexually explicit novels being made available to children across the country. In a letter on Wednesday, the Texas governor called on the state’s education agency to notify him of any ‘instance of pornography being provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.'” [In other news, two parents on school committees call, apparently seriously, for burning of books they disagree with – Ed.]
- New Model Library: Pandemic Effects and Library Directions – OCLC. “OCLC Research interviewed 29 library leaders from 11 countries to capture their experiences during the pandemic and understand what they envision for their libraries moving forward. We describe these transformations—how leaders strategically adapted to meet evolving needs and expectations—as movements toward a New Model Library.”
- Public-Private Partnerships Are Quietly Hollowing Out Our Public Libraries – Truthout. “LS&S is a major threat to one of our most beloved, democratic and socialistic institutions. Operating unchecked, LS&S stands to make enormous profits by destroying decent-paying, unionized jobs, de-professionalizing an already struggling profession, and reducing library services to anti-human, vertically integrated content silos that do not reflect the values of local communities, all while remaining completely unaccountable to taxpayers.”
Jacqueline May
“My work consists of 63 individual framed letters and ‘opened’ envelopes. Each letter is addressed to the Minister who had responsibility for libraries in their portfolio at the time the library mentioned in the letter closed permanently. Each letter begins ‘This is just to let you know’ and names the library, where it is located and the date it closed permanently. The timeline of the letters is from 2011-2017 which saw the greatest decline in public library provision in England. Librarians will understand why I have chosen the writer of these letters to be William Ewart.
I wanted to mark and commemorate these libraries, the people who used them and the people who worked in them. It is not a comprehensive list of libraries which have permanently closed and neither is it primarily a political statement. I wanted to name as many libraries as possible over this five year period. There is an inherent beauty in the names of these libraries. They conjure up whole worlds.”
Follow Jacqueline on https://twitter.com/jacannem to see the images on the anniversaries of the closures.

Local news by authority
- Argyll – A week of celebrations for Argyll booklovers – Oban Times. “Oban Library is joining in Book Week Scotland’s 10th anniversary celebration by hosting an evening with author Alex Gray on Wednesday, November 17. The event is part of a larger programme offered by LiveArgyll across its libraries in Argyll and Bute.”
- Bradford – Keighley Library to reopen on Monday following refurbishment – Telegraph and Argus. “The listed town centre library building closed at the end of September for the work, which has included repairing the floors, replastering and making good and redecorating.” … “An Order and Collect service has been on offer for some time but now services are gradually returning. It is hoped opening times will be extended and limited PC access and the library will welcome back Story & Rhyme times over the next few months.”
- Brent – Kensal Rise Library’s star-studded fundraiser to pay roof repairs – Kilburn Times. £12,000 needed. “Among those appearing is Ron Cook, Tamsin Greig and Tim Lott with music from distinguished soprano, Janis Kelly.”
- Cheshire West and Chester – Cheshire West libraries to offer free litter picking kits for residents to borrow – Winsford and Middlewich Guardian. “”The adult and junior kits are made up of a litter picker, hi-vis vest and council litter bags.”
- Dorset – Public invited to have their say on future of Dorset libraries – Lyme Online. “The current library strategy is 11 years old. Over those 11 years, there have been significant changes in public behaviour and digital technology, and the impacts of the COVID pandemic have been felt. During the council’s last review of libraries in 2011, campaigners fought hard to save Lyme Regis Library from closure. Charmouth lost its council-run service and now runs a community library.”
- Dudley – Dudley Council Plus centres at libraries are now closed – Dudley News. ” Council Plus centres at Stourbridge and Brierley Hill libraries have been axed as the service goes more phone and online based due to a drop in face to face contacts since the pandemic. The council’s customer service centre in Castle Street, Dudley, and its three smaller centres at Brierley Hill, Halesowen and Stourbridge libraries have all seen a decline in in-person contacts, from 10 per cent pre-Covid to just two per cent, with more and more people moving to online self-service options and the phone service.”
- Hampshire – ‘Dangerous’ Waterlooville sex offender with fantasies of abusing kids used Hampshire libraries in sick search – Hampshire Live. “Police enquiries established that, on a number of occasions between August 31 and October 12, Haire had been using a library card to access the internet. Police went to Haire’s home on October 12 and arrested him. Officers then searched his room, where they found a library card in his name and – more disturbingly – writings about his fantasies of abusing children.”
- Books lovers welcomed to Horndean’s new library as Merchistoun Community Library opens to the public – The News. “Following the closure of Horndean library on Five Heads Road, trustees of the community association have been working in partnership with the Hampshire Library Service at Hampshire County Council to enable the conversion of the garden room at Merchistoun Hall, creating the new community library.”
- Kent – Exciting creative sessions for babies and their families under way – Kent County Council. In partnership with university. “Playground will develop the skills and confidence of artists in Kent to increase creative work with and for very young children and their families. Staff in libraries and Children’s Centres will also develop their experience in this field ensuring creativity is embedded within those services’ future offers for families.”
- Leeds – Leeds Libraries to join with local small businesses and welcome aspiring business owners on Start-up Day – Leeds Council. “Leeds Libraries is encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to join a day of free online talks to hear from successful local start-ups and discover the free business support on offer at the Business & IP Centre Leeds (BIPC Leeds).”
- North Yorkshire – Scarborough Library to Showcase Town Landmarks – This Is The Coast. “Liam Burke, a student at Blueberry Academy in York and regular library volunteer, is showcasing paintings including Scarborough Spa and lighthouse in the exhibition which opens this Thursday.”
- Get fire-wise for Christmas with library drop-in – North Yorkshire County Council. “The library offers an ideal venue to help our partners in the fire and rescue service share this important safety advice.”
- Great big comic giveaway at Skipton Library – Craven Herald and Pioneer. “The giveaway is in conjunction with Yorkshire comic art festival, ‘Thought Bubble’, taking place this weekend at the Harrogate Convention Centre.”
- Malton library marks new chapter after carbon-cutting improvements – York Press. “Windows have been replaced to make the property more energy efficient, thanks to Government public sector decarbonisation funding. … The library has had a major refurbishment which saw the addition of moveable shelving, a dedicated IT space and a new-look children’s area.”
- Nottinghamshire – No plans to close Nottinghamshire libraries, despite significant drop in users – Newark Advertiser. “Derek Higton, service director, transformation and change and service director,place and communities, responded: “Absolutely, we are seeing a significant reduction in physical visits to libraries … In Nottinghamshire, our visit numbers have been largely stable.”
- Slough – Slough Council will stop being a top spender on library books – Slough and South Bucks Observer. “As part of major cuts to reduce financial pressures, council bosses are looking for between 30 and 40 per cent savings in every service in order to save millions of pounds every year. One of the main statutory service cuts that could be made is in the library service where Slough Borough Council aims to save about £400,000, which represents a 33 per cent saving in the service, in the draft 2022/23 budget.”
- Suffolk – Suffolk County Council pledges £12.8m to decarbonise buildings – BBC News.
- Ipswich County Library could get a major £750,000 upgrade – Ipswich Star. “‘Substantial upgrades’ of £750,000 to Ipswich County Library are being eyed by library bosses. The library service has lodged an expression of interest with Arts Council England’s capital investment programme for the six figure sum, which centres around providing additional facilities and technology at the library, as well as public space improvements.”
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