The only big public library trend of 2021

Editorial

I normally produce a review of the year, with the major trends of the year around Christmas time. Well, there was only one major thing happening in 2021, as there was in 2020, and it is the same reason why there was no Christmas PLN post this year. Covid. It has impacted and influenced everything libraries do in a way I cannot believe has been done before in my lifetime, with the possible and arguable exceptions of the digital revolution and austerity. The virus has led to a dramatic decrease in physical library visits, not least because initially buildings were locked up, but then due to limited services and concerns over infection. It has also seen a big increase in digital usage, although not to the same extent.

What will be the most important trend of 2022 will be whether libraries recover their physical usage,a nd to what extent. It may not be talked about much but it’s the elephant in the room. It’s known that at least some library users have found alternative sources than libraries or that they have developed different habits. There is little more disruptive than lockdowns and so expecting usage to come back to the way it was before would anyway be a foolish thing to do. It’s worth noting too that some libraries are reporting usage almost back up to normal already while others are still way down so, as in anything with UK public libraries, the picture is mixed.

Given this change in usage, I would expect most sectors to go all-out with publicity and promotion to remind people that we are once again open to business. Due to the fractured nature of the public library sector, though, and a long-term absence of major national publicity or promotional campaigns, it would be an optimist who would expect such a thing from UK libraries. There is simply no budget, residual skills or serious expectation. Irish libraries can do it, it seems, but not us. There is a hook that we can place such publicity on this year – the long-awaited launch of the Single Digital Presence – and much brilliant that can be said about public libraries, now as ever. But until I am pleasantly surprised. public libraries will be as devoid of effective national publicity as they have been for several decades. After all, lack of marketing and promotional budgets have been a long term trend for public libraries our entire lives, no matter I suspect how old you are. Covid is a newcomer in comparison. And the slow publicity asphyxiation of the sector is having a huge impact, possibly as impactful long-term as the virus is short and medium term.

Changes by local authority

• Dudley – Extra two hours opening in nine libraries per week.

National news

• Support our Libraries: More than half of adults believe digital services are ‘no substitute’ for traditional libraries study finds – Scotsman. “The survey, conducted by the University of Strathclyde partnered with YouGov, found that 57 per of adults disagreed that digital alternatives were suitable replacements for traditional services, while 22 per cent believed they were. It also found that while the number of people using digital library services increased by 11 per cent in 2020 – 2021, from pre-pandemic levels, they still amounted to only a fifth of all library users.”

International news

• Australia – Four years ago, Rabiha’s family fled Afghanistan. This is how she made Melbourne her home – ABC. “”I learned English by reading children’s books, working my way up to novels and became confident as I practised talking to people,” she says.Rabiha also found a new sense of belonging among the pages. “The library was full of all kinds of people and there were so many kinds of books from all over the world in so many languages,” Rabiha says.”
• USA – Book bans turn libraries into latest battlegrounds in America’s culture wars – I. Burning books that don’t agree with viewpoint of a council member one of the suggestions put forward. 330 challenges against books in school libraries in 2 months, six times more than normal. Also, some want any books that may conceivably cause discomfort for their children to come with warnings.
  • Boy sneaks home-made comic into library and becomes national sensation – Independent. “Dillon Helbig, a second grader who created his “Crismis” (Christmas) comic at home last month, admitted to his parents at the end of December that he had left his work in the Ada Community Library in Boise, southwest Idaho. His parents phoned the library to ask for the comic book to be returned but as The New York Times reported on Monday, were informed that it had become a hit – with a waiting list of four years.”
  • New Model Library: Plan for positive change in the midst of challenges – OCLC Next. “the COVID-19 pandemic is a singular, global upheaval that affects everyone who works at and uses libraries.”

Local news by authority

• Ceredigion – Ceredigion libraries to resume public use of computers – Wales 247. Have to book in advance. “We will continue to ensure that the use of the library and the public computers will be as safe as possible, which will include wearing a face mask, maintaining social distancing and hand sanitising on arrival.”

“Coseley, Cradley, Gornal, Kingswinford, Long Lane, Lye, Netherton, Sedgley and Wordsley libraries will now open Monday & Thursday 10am – 5pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm.  That’s an extra two hours per library per week”

Dudley – Email from GLL

• Edinburgh – Edinburgh council to write to UK and Scottish governments, saying libraries used as Covid test centres must be handed back now – Edinburgh Evening News. “Deputy council leader Cammy Day has formally asked the city’s top official to tell the UK and Scottish governments that the four Edinburgh libraries currently operating as Covid test centres must be handed back for use as libraries with immediate effect.” … “Normal services have been suspended at Leith, Oxgangs, Sighthill and Newington libraries while the buildings are used to offer PCR tests to people with symptoms of the virus. Residents in Oxgangs last week called for their library – one of the busiest in the city – to reopen as soon as possible. It has been shut for nearly two years, first due to lockdown, then repairs and now because it is a test centre.”
  • Edinburgh council to spend £400,000 to replace outdated software in public libraries – Software Testing News. “… the city libraries were still using Microsoft Windows 7 as it has continued to receive extended support for it. However, the operating system will stop being available after July 2022 and the computers are getting too old to be compatible with later versions of the OS.”
• Highlands – Old laptops and PCs can now be handed in to more than a dozen High Life Highland libraries in a bid to give more children access to technology – Inverness Courier. “High Life Highland (HLH) libraries are accepting donations having teamed up with Wick-based Budding Engineers to create the scheme. The company hopes to give young people access to digital technology and encourage interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects.”
• Lancashire – Lancashire County Council to explore ‘fresh vision’ for libraries and museums – Blog Preston. “Lancashire councillors will assess the role of museums and libraries in county cultural life at a cabinet meeting this February. Councillors will consider approving a ‘fresh vision’ for two distinct library and museum strategies at the county council’s next cabinet meeting on Thursday 3 February. The Library and Museum Strategies 2022-25 set out how the services will evolve over the coming years to inspire learning, keep people healthy and connected, and preserve the county’s diverse heritage.”
• Leeds – Leeds Libraries: where to borrow books near me – and how to get a library card for free – Yorkshire Evening Post. “They do not charge fines for the late return of books, however items not returned will be treated as lost and charges may apply to replace them.”
• Liverpool – Liverpool libraries to reopen fully in April – Liverpool Echo. “Liverpool Council officials said they are “quite confident” that as authority services continue to recover from the impact of Covid-19, services at libraries across the city will be at full strength by Spring.” … “Workforce planning has ensured a number of younger staff are due to come on stream to mitigate the older workforce that has stepped away since 2020.” [Seriously, that is how it is worded – Ed.] … “Full IT suites and meeting rooms being made available to users from April will be subject to Liverpool Council’s protocols around Covid-19”
• Norfolk – It’s Time to Talk about mental health – Norfolk County Council. “Norfolk Libraries support the Read My Mind project – a series of podcasts that encourage men who are experiencing depression or low mood levels to take part in social reading activities”
  • Libraries to inspire next generation of tech gurus in West Norfolk – Lynn News. “DigiFest 2022 will give children aged four to 14 the chance to get hands-on with fun digital tech from Tuesday, February 1”
• Northamptonshire – Raunds library offering packed events programme despite threat of closure – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “A full programme of events have been put in place for the community, including half-term activities for children taking place from Monday, February 14. The fate of the library will be decided by the members of Raunds Town Council in their roles as the Raunds Library Working Party.”
• North Yorkshire – Libraries boost young people’s wellbeing with self-care toolkits – North Yorkshire County Council. “There are 50 toolkits available to borrow which include books from the Reading Well Shelf Help collection, colouring, journaling and origami, fidget toys and information on support organisations. The toolkits, funded by Libraries Connected Yorkshire & Humber, are free to borrow and request from any North Yorkshire library aimed at individuals or groups aged from 11 to 25.”
• Nottingham – Give us your views on proposed changes to Nottingham City Libraries – My Nottingham News. “Launching on Monday 31 January, the consultation recommends a number of changes to buildings and ways of working, including the closure of three libraries that have some of the lowest usage and highest costs – and that have better, more modern facilities located nearby.”
• Peterborough – Opinion: ‘Time to re-think Peterborough’s unfair Council Tax’ – Peterborough Today. “Children’s services and adult social care are going to be hit and our much-valued library services are under threat. We know that libraries are vital for encouraging children from less wealthy backgrounds to read and expand their horizons.”
• Portsmouth – New website helps residents to rediscover libraries – Portsmouth City Council. “The new website also has information on upcoming courses, details on the range of reading groups across the city and events for both children and adults, including all the details of Portsmouth Bookfest 2022. There is even a section listing special offers for library card holders, such as 20% discount with Hovertravel.”
• Redbridge – Step into a story at Redbridge Libraries for National Storytelling Week – Yellow Advertiser. “While libraries across the country have had to close their doors due to government funding cuts, we are so proud to not only have kept the doors of Redbridge’s 12 libraries open, but also invested in and upgraded them.”
• Warrington – LiveWire libraries hosting Harry Potter events – Warrington Guardian. “An online quiz is being held as an annual celebration of all things related to The Boy Who Lived.” Plus craft events.