Laugh until you cry: the Guardian on CIPFA

Editorial

The summary of the most recent CIPFA statistics in the Guardian is so dead-pan it’s almost a comedic gem. Some of the findings are so obvious as to be hilarious – hey kids, library usage reduced when buildings were locked up; volunteer hours reduced, presumably because not enough of them broke in; librarians numbers stayed almost the same – that would be because they were all furloughed, then. The absolute gem though is that CIPFA reports there are 200 more libraries open than the year before. One more joke too, although more tragic than funny: the report, released normally only from 9 months after the time it reports on took place, has this time been released eleven months late this time. So, on current trends, libraries will have to wait until some time in 2023 to find out the national state of play as of now. Which is a big shame, because I personally can’t wait to see how many more hundred new libraries have opened in 2021/2. To be fair, this is not all CIPFA’s fault – returns from library services are patchy and late – but it does show that the current system of collating and reporting statistics needs to change. That is what no less a body as Libraries Connected says in their reaction to the report and what we can hope takes place.

In other reading, I also loved a book sent to me called “An English Library Journey” about someone who tries to join every library service in England. It’s sometimes eccentric in what it says about each service, and covers about a decade, but it does represent a kind of Secret Shopper report not just on each location but also how things appear to a member of the public nationally. The main messages I take from it is how atomised the national library service is and how difficult some services seem to think it’s necessary to make joining a library, which must be putting off quite a significant proportion of people who walk in through their doors.

In other news, Manchester has announced it is going fines-free, adding it’s prestigious weight to a movement that now has at least 27 library services in the UK.

Changes by local authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – £126k proposed cut
• Gwynedd – £900k Pwllheli Library refurbishment.
• Manchester – Fines-free from April

An English Library Journey by John Bevis

“Over the past decade, I’ve been using libraries all over the country as “offices” where I can go and write. Finding that becoming a member gave me the use of library computers, I got into the habit of joining libraries wherever I went. By the end of ten years, I had a card for every library authority in England (and some in other countries, too). Along the way, with a growing curiosity about the public library system, I took notes on what I saw in and out of libraries, eavesdropped on conversations, admired library architecture, and witnessed countless people of many demographics using libraries for an amazing diversity of needs. These observations make up much of my new book, An English Library Journey.

I joined my first library, coincidentally, in the week of the 2010 general election that gave us austerity. Over the years, I’ve despaired on arriving at libraries that are no longer there, or are closed because they only open 12 hours per week, are understaffed or over-reliant on volunteers, or are on some profit-extracting privatisation mission. But despite the desperate remedies, my abiding impression is of good service, goodwill and enthusiasm. Now, more than ever, I believe libraries are an essential part of our toolbox for a better future.”

John Bevis

National news

• How to Start a Board Game Collection – National Acquisitions Group. Tuesday 1 March, 10.30am. Webinar. ” In this webinar we’ll hear from Andrew and Patrick about how they started their successful programme in Newcastle upon Tyne which loans a wide range of games.  They will cover how to choose stock, including revealing their most popular items, and how to resolve some of the issues you might encounter.”
• Libraries hold the key to boosting our towns – Times, pay-walled. Liz Jolly of the British Library writes ” I have long seen the benefits of libraries in our communities. But since joining the British Library in 2018, responsible for our mission to support innovation and economic growth across the UK, I’ve been surprised by how far the roots of these benefits can spread …”
• Library use plummeted in 2021, but e-visits showed 18% rise during lockdown – Guardian. CIPFA have released April 2020 to March 21 library statistics in February 2022. Libraries closed for long times during this period.. “a drop of 72%, as Covid-19 restrictions shut branches for much of the 12-month period. The closures also led to a major decline in the number of books borrowed by readers, with 72.9m books issued by libraries last year, down 56% from 165.9m in 2020″. Web visits up 18% ” total income of libraries decreased by nearly £20m to £56.6m … Librarian numbers remained relatively static, falling by 85 over the period”. Volunteer hours reduced sharply, for obvious reasons. “One unexpected spark of good news in the Cipfa figures was the report that the number of library branches in the UK increased to 3,842 in 2021. The growth, from 3,662 branches recorded in the year to March 2020”

• Number of libraries rose in 2021 as visits plummeted, disputed figures show – BookSeller. “”It’s worth noting that the reduced levels of income we’ve seen have occurred despite increases in specific grant funding. Without this additional grant funding, we would have expected to see lines of income even lower. The fiscal reality that libraries are facing is bleak.” … ““We don’t know anything about the loans of e-books or any digital material. We don’t know how much the library service was used for events or by children. We don’t know how much was spent on either print books or e-books. Nor do we know how many councils completed the CIPFA form—which is an ongoing concern.”
• Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – National Acquisitions Group. “£5,000 available for a project from a NAG Member library. This grant, launched in 2019, aims to enable public libraries to explore a project without requiring a lengthy application process and with the flexibility to cover a range of circumstances. “
• A sense of community is more vital than ever – Guardian / Letters. “Julian Coman’s article quotes a list, from the Labour’s Covenant pamphlet, of the places we need to invest in “where people from different backgrounds, meet talk, argue and laugh” (Politicians may have forgotten about ‘community’, but British people haven’t, 7 February). While the list is commendable, public libraries are a surprising omission. Many people once saw them as the heart of the communities they served. They provide all the facilities that Coman outlines, but like the BBC they also inform, educate and entertain.”
• Single Digital Presence Head of Delivery – British Library. “To lead the beta phase of a new service proposition for public library users, introducing a new national platform and investing in local websites to transform the reach and impact of public libraries. “… “We are now looking for a team leader to direct and lead the team to develop the next phase of the project, drawing on recommendations from the R&D phase and user research. “
• UXLIBSVI – “The 6th annual international User Experience in Libraries conference, or UXLibsVI, for library staff interested in exploring and responding to the needs and behaviours of their users,”. 6-8 June, Newcastle Under Lyme. [One hopes that having names in code is not part of the recommended user experience – Ed.]
• Why libraries are so keen on apprenticeships and the Kickstart scheme – DCMS Libraries. “In a competitive jobs market it is hard to attract multi-talented and ambitious people – and relying on traditional recruitment channels won’t help to broaden the intake. Apprenticeships can reach out deeper into communities – attracting people keen to develop skills and advance their careers, including those who would never have imagined working in a library. Many apprentices find once they start work in the library, they get the bug and want to build a library career.”

International news

• USA – Generous furries help save at-risk libraries cut off by mayor over gay books – Pink News. “A library system that was denied funding unless it removed LGBT+ books from shelves has raised vital cash with help of the furry community.”
  • Libraries are more popular than ever and library workers don’t earn liveable wages: the state of US Public Libraries – Book Riot. “an expansive view of the state of U.S. public libraries since 1992 Among some of the key findings are that in-person library usage is down while the popularity of library use — thanks to digital access — is at its highest. Libraries rely less on government funding than they ever have before and, perhaps as a result, pay their workers less than a livable wage.”
  • We Are Not Okay: Library Worker Trauma Before and During COVID-19 and What Happens After – Youtube. Recorded webinar. Resources here.

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Council accused of u-turn on promise to protect Bath library – Somerset Live. “While in opposition, Liberal Democrats slammed the previous Conservative administration’s multi-million-pound plans to merge the Podium hub and the One Stop Shop. But the Friends of Bath Library fear an unwanted sequel after proposals emerged to cut £126,000 from Bath and North East Somerset Council ’s libraries budget over the next two years.”
• Bolton – New libraries scheme to boost Bolton businesses – Bolton Council. “‘Build a Business in GM Libraries’ is a new scheme running across Greater Manchester and part funded by the European Union with £1.3 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The programme will offer advice, tailored support and guidance to local business owners and their teams through a series of workshops delivered at libraries”
• Bradford – Wibsey Library temporarily closed due to condition of floor – Telegraph and Argus. “The floor in the library will be replaced and the library will be closed for five weeks.”
• Cambridgeshire – Carer award goes to county library service – Hunts Post.
• Coventry – A new coat of paint for Foleshill Library – Coventry Council. “Foleshill Library is being painted from Monday 14 February to Friday 11 March 2022. The Library will be open for everyone to use whilst the painters do their work but some things will be in different places.”
• East Riding – Reading Well for Children scheme to support children’s health and wellbeing in the region – East Riding of Yorkshire Council. “A team from Caring Together was impressed with the work done by the libraries, including having a dedicated carers champion,  the amount of staff staff attending  the charity’s awareness sessions and their promotion of national and local carers campaigns,  all of which have had an impact on carers and the people they look after.”
• Edinburgh – Mobile library will visit Oxgangs every Monday evening from 5pm – service begins today – Edinburgh Reporter. “As a way of replacing the library at Oxgangs which continues to be used as a Covid-19 test centre, the council will use the mobile library service.”
  • Edinburgh council performs partial u-turn in row over libraries closed to provide Covid test centres – Edinburgh News. “Council chiefs under fire over the prolonged closure of Oxgangs library have performed a partial u-turn and agreed to provide a mobile library twice a week as a stop-gap measure.”
• Essex – Saffron Walden superhero celebration for Love Your Library day – Saffron Walden Reporter.
• Gloucestershire – Go greener with Gloucestershire Libraries – News Anyway. “All libraries in the county now stock a Greener Together collection of books providing information on how to reduce your carbon footprint, along with a wide range of other useful advice on topics including growing your own vegetables and recycling.”
• Gwynedd – Library set to reopen on Monday – Cambrian News. “With a major investment of over £900,000 to update and upgrade both the library and cinema and theatre facilities, staff at the new-look Neuadd Dwyfor look forward to welcoming the public back into the much-loved building.”
• Kirklees – Birkby and Fartown Library is a big hit with the local community – Kirklees Together. “Six months have passed since the official opening the £799K community library in Birkby and Fartown. It’s fair to say, the team of staff and volunteers have barely stopped, and the community has taken the library to their hearts. Since opening in the summer of 2021, the team has welcomed almost 550 new members and issued over 12,000 books”
• Lancashire – Lower entry fees to Lancashire’s museums and plans to put libraries “at the heart” of delivering services – Lancashire Post. “Within Lancashire’s libraries, people with a physical impairment and those who are deaf or hard of hearing will be included in the list of groups who are exempt from charges for borrowing audio-visual materials. That concession is already on offer to the visually impaired and people with dyslexia or a learning disability. Meanwhile, care leavers under the age of 25 will no longer have to pay for the late return of library books, an exemption which currently applies only to people under 18 and to any books borrowed from mobile libraries. Charges for craft activities in libraries will be scrapped in order to “provide equal opportunity for all to take part”, while the reservation charge of 75p for CDs will also be removed.”
• Leeds – Save the Date! Leeds Libraries to launch Leeds Lit Fest 2022 with a day of free events for families and children – Leeds Council. “Leeds Lit Fest will launch at Leeds Central Library on Saturday 26 February, with a full day of free events for families and children. Hear from amazing authors, have a go at crafting, enjoy captivating storytelling sessions and listen to writers in conversation. With events for pre-school children all the way up to young adults, it’s the perfect way to round off the spring half term break.”
• Liverpool – New role for Alicia – Liverpool Express. “Culture Liverpool’s Alicia Smith is taking on a new challenge, after being promoted to Interim Divisional Manager for Arts, Heritage, Libraries and Participation.” … “On the top of Alicia’s to-do list is a bid for a peer review of the service, through the Local Government Association and Arts Council England. An application was submitted last week. Alicia said: “If it goes forward, we’ll be throwing the doors of our libraries wide open to a small team of experts, who will provide challenge, share learning and help us to improve the service even further.””
• Manchester – ‘Unique’ Didsbury Library to get a makeover and close for over a month – Manchester Evening News. “While the decorating takes place, the library will be shut from Monday February 14 until Monday March 28. The changes will include new carpets throughout, a fresh coat of paint and new furniture, including a revamp of the children’s library.”
  • Crime Festival – Library Live.
  • Overdue library fines to be scrapped – Manclibraries Blog. “From the 1 April 2022 adults will no longer need to pay fines if they return their books later than the due date. If books are never returned, lost book charges will still apply. The decision is part of a bid to encourage more people to use their local libraries, borrow books and enjoy reading – both books and e-books. Children and over sixties already do not pay fines on overdue books. By abolishing fines the council aim to reduce inequalities that exist around libraries and eliminate the worry about being fined.”
• Northeast Lincolnshire – Grimsby Library set to reopen on Thursday 10th February following repair work – NE Lincs Council. “The site was closed to public and staff as a precaution following a routine asbestos management inspection”
• North Yorkshire – North Yorkshire’s home library service continues to supply bookworms with reading material – Scarborough News. 1200 use the service. “In collaboration with Warwickshire Libraries, the SLS supports primary and secondary schools across Warwickshire by offering a subscription-based service at great value to help create lifelong readers and learners in students.”
  • Post office and library in Yorkshire Dales town of Hawes at risk of closing unless locals buy the petrol station – Yorkshire Post. “”We have around 15 months left on our lease and if the petrol station is then sold to a private owner, that puts our other services – the post office, library and bus – in serious jeopardy. Our profits go towards funding the others. It was actually the pension fund who suggested we buy it and they’ve given us a six-month moratorium to raise the investment.”
• Peterborough – Budget: Libraries may stay open – but “something else” must be removed – Peterborough Matters. “Regarding the savings to the library system, the proposal looks to remodel and modernise the library service so that it can cost less.“But we already have a library service that is only staffed for fifteen hours a week so if the plan is to remodel it and modernise it, can I ask what that would entail? Cllr Steve Allen replied saying: “We’re doing a complete overview of the library service – that could include the closure of some libraries, it could include the repurposing and commercialising of some libraries, it could involve staff changes. “Cllr Howard and myself are doing an in-depth study of the libraries and indeed, we’re referring to each ward councillor as we visit the library in their ward.”
  • Half-term family fun in Peterborough at the museum, libraries and Flag Fen – Peterborough Today. “Families with young children can hear stories about pirates, get creative by drawing a treasure map, design their own pirate flag, make an eye patch to wear and hunt for hidden treasure.”
• Shetlands – Shetland Library – Matter Port. Interior Google Maps style photo walk through of the library.
• Suffolk – Tribute to library manager who leaves behind ‘fantastic legacy’ – Ipswich Star. “David Cook became Broomhill Library manager in 2015 but for more than a decade was dedicated to improving and increasing services at Suffolk Libraries. Colleagues called Mr Cook “warm, generous and calm” and passionate about making the library a friendly and welcoming space. He died last week after two years of fighting illness. “
  • ‘Incredibly exciting’ library on site of former middle school opens – East Anglian Daily Times. “The project was funded by Mid Suffolk District Council, with the new library providing a bigger space for events and activities, as well as bookable meeting rooms.”
• Warrington – LiveWire libraries giving free books away on Valentine’s Day – Warrington Guardian. “The book giveaways will be offered on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to one per customer. They will be either from the romance, thriller, mystery or anthology genres and have a teaser description on the front in the style of a dating advert. The books are free and for people to keep, they don’t need to be checked out or returned to the library.”
• Warwickshire – Warwickshire Schools Libraries Service offers support to education settings to get children and young people back on track with learning this year – Warwickshire County Council
  • Keep on reading with Warwickshire Libraries – Rugby Observer. “This year younger children also have the opportunity to get involved in the free Warwickshire Book Bears scheme. Children under five collect a stamp every time they visit the library, and after six stamps they earn a certificate.”
• Wokingham – Wokingham Libraries hosts online events for youngsters later this month – Wokingham Today. “Two creative writing groups and virtual a storytime will be both taking place online.”
• Wolverhampton – Most city libraries back to full open hours but retirement village branch remains closed – Express and Star. “Only Collingwood Library remains closed as it is within the Broadway Gardens retirement village in Bushbury and work is ongoing to ensure it can open safely.”
• York – New Explore library and Reading Cafe for York – letter – The Press. Council portfolio holder says “I’m proud that, at a time when library services across the country are being cut, the council is investing to produce world-class facilities that will make a real difference in our communities.”