And yet it moves

Editorial

It;s great to see some new mobile libraries being bought and put on the road in a couple of library services. Over the last ten years, while the smallest libraries have been closed or moved to volunteers in many services, there is one exception … those libraries with wheels. They are proving remarkably tenacious, providing equality of service to those in rural and hard to reach areas. Long may they move.

Changes by local authority

• Northumberland – 3 mobiles to be replaced at £220k cost.
• Stirling – New Strathblane Library £1m, paid for partly by crowdfunding.

National news

• The classism of closing libraries – The Boar. “My main takeaway from an exchange like this is that at some point libraries were removed from the weekend itinerary, they blended with the essence of nostalgia rather than staying part of the present; meaning either the person stopped reading, or started  sourcing their books elsewhere. It is important therefore to explore the shift away from the use of public books and reflect on why we choose to buy not borrow, and what that means for everyone else”
• Covid-19 – How are the rules on face masks and COVID passes changing in England? – Sky News. Wearing a mask is now a legal requirement for libraries “and reading rooms”.
• Harry Potter book sells for world record £356,000 – Cheshire Live. “The ‘mint’ condition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was in the first run of 500 printed in 1997. About 300 were given to libraries and schools and the remaining 200 passed into private hands.”
• Let’s Create Jubilee Fund – Arts Council England. £175k grant. “The grant will be distributed by Libraries Connected, and will provide £1,000 for each library service to mark the occasion in whatever way they think will be most relevant and enjoyable for their users and local community. This could be done in collaboration with other library services, or be a purely local celebration. Libraries Connected will contact all eligible library services to discuss the process for delivering the grant, which we expect to be paid in January or February.” [The other £25k (there are are 150 library services in England) is for Libraries Connected take on staff/contractors to project manage, distribute the funding to 150 library services, market nationally, identify additional national/regional partners and manage the evaluation – Ed.]
• Library audio and ebook loans in 2021 reveal unexpected stars – Guardian. “… while Richard Osman might have topped the list of the year’s most-borrowed ebooks, Ellery Adams’s tale of a North Carolina bookshop owner who doles out bibliotherapy over a fresh-baked scone has made a surprising entry on the list. Adams’s 2017 title The Secret, Book & Scone Society, in which Miracle Springs bookseller Nora prescribes the “perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain”, only for one of her customers to be found murdered, was the fourth most-borrowed ebook from UK public libraries in 2021. It was more popular than Booker winner Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, which came in fifth, and Lee Child’s latest Jack Reacher novel The Sentinel, although it came in behind Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club, Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun. The figures come from OverDrive, which provides ebook and audiobook access to more than 3,000 of the UK’s libraries.
• Library closures are cutting off routes into creative life for so many – The Stage. [paywall] “The deaths of two theatre titans, Sher and Sondheim, had producer Richard Jordan remembering how he discovered their work in his local library, and how the closure of libraries around the country is cutting off vital access to theatre careers and so much more …”

The Reading Agency, in partnership with the BBC and supported by the Arts Council, is calling for recommendations for the Big Jubilee Read, a national reading for pleasure campaign celebrating great reads by celebrated authors from the Commonwealth to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Jubilee. Readers are invited to send your recommendations for an expert panel to select the list of 70 Big Jubilee Reads. Recommendations should include author, title, publication year and reasons for recommendation. Books must be published between 1952-2022 by an author from the commonwealth, be considered a great read of a decade, appeal to diverse and inclusive audiences and be available in print or e-book format. Titles can include fiction, poetry and graphic novels but not non-fiction. Books in translation are welcome. They should be emailed to thebigjubileeread@readingagency.org.uk by 16 December.

The Reading Agency, via email

• This “Harry Potter” Title Is the Most Borrowed Audiobook from UK Libraries in 2021  – Muggle Net. “We find it pretty amazing that Chamber of Secrets made it to the top of the audiobook charts. The reason why this specific book in the series was so popular is unclear, but if we had to guess, it’s probably because no one ever gets tired of laughing at Gilderoy Lockhart’s shenanigans. “

International news

• Afghanistan – Children’s mobile libraries return to Kabul after their disappearance as the Taliban rise to power – Lodi Valley News. “The Taliban’s Ministry of Education granted permission to trade mobile libraries again weeks ago, but it took days to reach an agreement with the bus-owning Ministry of Transport, according to Barakati.”

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Special appearance for mobile library in city centre to spread festive cheer – Bath Echo. “Usually seen making sure residents in village locations have access to books and services from Bath & North East Somerset Council, the mobile library will be outside Primark in Bath from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday 8th December, decorated with tinsel and fairy lights. There will be activities throughout the day for children and book gifts for some lucky members of the public.”
• Brent – Wembley: Anger as council ‘bullies’ opposition over library demolition – Kilburn Times. “Demolition has started at Preston Community Library as Brent Council continues to come under fire for “suppressing opposition” to its plan. In January 2020, the authority passed proposals for a replacement library and 12 council homes in Carlton Avenue East, Wembley. “
• Cheshire West and Chester – Northwich and Winsford libraries to close over Christmas period – Northwich Guardian.
• Cumbria – Cumbria library extend Reading Riot deadline until 2022 – The Mail. “The Reading Riot will be continued until January 17, 2021, to give more people time to return their bingo cards after Christmas. The Reading Riot is a young adult reading challenge which was launched in libraries across Cumbria in October.”
• Dorset – Four weeks left to have your 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-19 pandemic have been felt.”
• East Riding – Lion Learners roar back to East Riding Libraries – York Press. “Visitors can join them for an interactive Christmas story, meet the real life main characters and help the animals to sort out their mixed up Christmas gifts.”
• East Sussex – Book reservation fees could be scrapped and services expanded at East Sussex’s libraries – Hastings and St Leonard’s Observer. “The strategy would also see the council expand its ‘Jobs Pod’ offer, which provides library users with a confidential space, a computer and support to take part in online job interviews. The council also intends to expand its Step into Reading adult literacy courses and its employment support services, which provide access to training, skills and qualifications, as well as help preparing for interviews, with a particular focus on 16– 24 year-olds”
• Essex – Essex campaign group seeks reassurances over latest libraries plan – Saffron Walden Reporter. “A campaign group to save libraries is calling on Essex County Council to assure residents plans that “charity shop libraries” have been “quietly shelved” as a new consultation opens”
• Fife – Fife’s new mobile libraries hit road to bring ‘rays of sunshine’ to book lovers – Fife Today. 2 new mobiles.
• Hampshire – Hampshire’s community libraries ‘taking off’ after being axed by county council – The News. “What used to be known as Lee-on-the-Solent Library has since become Lee Hub, and as the name change would suggest it has become far more than just a library.” … “‘We have activities taking place every week centred around children, veterans, wellbeing and so much more.”
• Highlands – Literary lovers in the Highlands enjoy range of activities at High Life Highland libraries to celebrate Book Week Scotland – Inverness Courier. “Literary lovers of all ages were treated to a range of activities as libraries across the Highlands joined in Book Week Scotland. The event is held annually and this year’s theme was celebration.”
• Hull – Food for fines: Have library fines waived and support local communities this Christmas – Hull Council. “From December 1 until January 31, anyone returning books, films and other library materials will have their library fines waived. In return, Hull Libraries is asking users to donate food, toys and toiletries that will then be donated to local charities. Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “We want to encourage people to re-engage with our library services.”
• Leeds – There’s lots on in the Libraries this month – South Leeds Life. Craft sessions, more groups. Most closed from 24 Deccember to 4 January.
• Northumberland – Northumberland’s mobile libraries in line for £222,000 overhaul – Chronicle Live. “Northumberland’s mobile libraries are in line for an upgrade. Bosses have confirmed plans to spend more than £220,000 on three replacement vehicles serving some of the county’s most remote communities.” … “the scheme will be funded from a £353,000 underspend in the local authority’s “Improvement and Innovation” department.”
• Staffordshire – Major update on controversial plan to move library to Burton market hall – Staffordshire Live. “Burton Registration Office would not move to the town’s market hall if a controversial project to shift the town’s library there goes ahead, it has emerged. Burton Registration Office, which holds weddings and is where people can register births and deaths, is currently based at the library and had been due to move the Market Hall in the Market Place if a multi-million proposal is agreed.”
• Stirling – Massive community effort brings £1 million Strathblane library project to life – Daily Record. “Strathblane is set to receive a £1 million library after a successful crowdfunding appeal from locals. The new facility, which is set to open in October 2022, will host a range of community services within the village, as well as replacing the existing mobile cabin which currently acts as the local library. The project will become the first community-owned public library built in Scotland in living memory, with the facility set to be owned and operated by the Thomas Graham Library Ltd (TGLL), which is a subsidiary of the Strathblane Community Development Trust. A total of 270 people donated to a crowdfunding appeal to bring the library to life, with the appeal raising a whopping £985.000.”
• Stockton on Tees – Stockton-on-Tees Libraries teams up with British Library to offer free support to aspiring business owners – Bdaily News. “Officially opened by Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor Kevin Faulks, the BIPC will help people from all walks of life to start and grow a small business with free business databases, market research, confidential 1-1 support, advice clinics and workshops. The new Centre is part of the British Library’s growing national network of over 100 regional and local library-based Business & IP Centres across the UK.”
• Trafford – Free lessons for Trafford residents with English as second language – Manchester Evening News. £21k given by local housing trust.
• Worcestershire – Libraries hosting kids events this Christmas – Worcester News. Coding and lego.