(Public) Libraries of Things

Editorial

Similar to the way that libraries are not just the buildings, libraries should also not just limit themselves to lending books. Over the years, we have read about libraries giving out period products, dog poo bags and Covid tests. Libraries have also been known to lend out a variety of things such as fishing rods, skating shoes and Halloween costumes. Libraries of Things take this concept to the natural conclusion and lend out a whole bunch more. My first note of them comes from 2014 but they have been around a lot longer than that and are a perfect fit for public libraries. After all, public libraries already have a computer system set up for labelling and tracking things for issuing and returning, buildings in local communities and a staff used to public service and being non-profit. So it’s good to see recently a couple of services – Greenwich and Essex – going down this route. I suspect that they are among the first of many. Just like in fact those services who are going fines-free, with yet another, South Lanarkshire, joining those ranks this week.

Changes by local authority

• Aberdeenshire – Oldmeldrum Library moves into Libraries HQ
• Bexley – Community group withdraws from Bostall volunteer library.
• Bolton – Little Lever Library moves into new co-location
• North Somerset – Clevedon Library £216k refurbishment, guaranteeing it for ten years.
• South Lanarkshire – Now fines-free

National news

• Engaging the public with research – Libraries Connected. “We’ve developed a new toolkit in collaboration with Carnegie UK to help guide libraries through this process. It draws on evidence collected during the Engaging Libraries programme which ran from 2016-2021. This programme supported public libraries across the UK to develop and deliver public engagement activities.”

“Seven libraries received, I think, £200,000, which brings the total funding through that fund to £1.25 million. We will continue to support public libraries, because we understand the clear role that they play in local communities, in terms of culture and heritage. They also have a wider role to play, and we will be looking to support our public libraries to continue the good work that they are doing.”

Neil Gray, SNP.

Libraries as a statutory service – DCMS. Updated April 1 2022.

• Libraries receive final funding boost for Covid relief – STV. “The sum is the last tranche of awards to be made from the Scottish Government’s £1.25 million Public Library Covid Relief Fund administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council. The fund has supported a total of 30 library community projects since it was set up in October last year. Library services sharing the final funding include South Ayrshire, for its Friendly Faces Cafes to tackle social isolation and Dundee’s Miners, Modellers, and Makers project, which will create eight STEM clubs to improve the “digital divide” – the gap between those who have access to new technology and those who do not.”
• Webinar: Survive and Thrive – Practical Steps You Can Take In Your Library Service – Innovative. “We want local authorities and commissioners to think ‘libraries first’ whenever they need to deliver a service to communities. Experts Isobel Hunter and Susan Wills discuss practical initiatives you can take right now, to make that happen.”
• World Book Night 2022 – British Library. “This event takes place in the British Library Theatre. It will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform.”. See also World Book Night resources.

International news

• Colombia – ‘Legends are to be told’: Colombian library goes beyond books to keep stories alive – Guardian. “Atánquez’s Kankuaka library is more than just a space to house books, it is the centre of the indigenous people’s initiatives to preserve their history and strengthen their identity. A pavilion and mud-brick round houses behind the main building host community gatherings. Youth activities include the petroglyph outings, photography workshops and gatherings with tribal elders.”
• Global – Best Publisher User Experience Award 2022 – Open Athens.
• USA – Georgia mom who was stopped from reading sexually explicit book about slavery called ‘Homegoing’ at school board meeting slams them for ‘intimidating parents into silence’ and says children are battling ‘silent trauma’ after reading the scenes – Daily Mail. Censorship asked for. See also Progressives are resisting rightwing book banning campaigns – and are winning – Guardian.

• Being a Public Librarian Can Be Dangerous Work, Why Don’t We Acknowledge That? – Electric Lit. “How many times had I been called a bitch that week? Five times? Ten? I knew meeting aggression with aggression rarely ended well, but here I was …”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Aberdeen City Libraries extend opening hours from today – Aberdeen Council. “Following the latest update to Scotland’s Strategic Framework COVID-19 Guidance, Aberdeen City Libraries are extending the opening hours of several libraries from today (Monday 28 March).”
• Aberdeenshire – New location for Oldmeldrum library – Grampian Online. “The public library service in Oldmeldrum will be based at Libraries HQ at the town’s Meldrum Meg Way from Monday, April 4.”
• Bexley – Bexley Council looking for new operators to run village library – News Shopper. “The decision comes after the Bostall Library Community group decided to step down in managing the library on Bourne Road. The new operator could be a charity, community organisation, or a group of local residents with a passion for libraries. The successful group will also receive a support grant from the Council to help them run the library.”
• Bradford – Bradford Libraries launches Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories for children and families in the district – Telegraph and Argus. “The festival will launch at the National Science and Media Museum on Wednesday, 6 April, and young people will have the opportunity to work alongside artists and illustrators and explore new creative processes. It has been organised by ASCEL (The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians) and is supported by Arts Council funding.”
  • Wibsey Library to remain closed until June for urgent repair work – Telegraph and Argus. “the Council said it was originally hoped the library would be back open this week, but difficulties in getting hold of contractors at short notice mean it is now not expected to be ready to re-open for around two months.”
• Clackmannanshire – Clackmannanshire librarian named 2022 Bookbug Hero – The National. “Ian Keane, a Bookbug co-ordinator with Clackmannanshire Council, was nominated by colleagues and parents who described the librarian as “a great role model”.” … “earning praise for his engagement with children through books and song. Those who nominated Keane noted how inclusive he made the Bookbug Sessions for wheelchair users, as well as attendees whose first language is not English.”
• Cumbria – Kendal library wants your old toilet frames and commodes – Westmorland Gazette. “Due to supply difficulties, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as a desire to reuse valuable equipment rather than throwing it away, Cumbria County Council’s Waste and Community Equipment Services have joined forces to appeal for people to return equipment such as commodes, toilet frames, bed levers, over-the-bed tables and shower chairs.”
• Devon – Herstory Festival brings communities together through poetry at Exeter Library – Devon Live. “The Herstory Festival brings together poets, activists, librarians, curators and communities on Wednesday March 30. The event is free and can be enjoyed at Exeter library as well as online. Herstory is a partnership between Poet and the City, the British Library, Newcastle Libraries, and Libraries Unlimited.”
• Dundee – Dundee library receives huge covid relief funding boost – Daily Record. “The grant is part of the last tranche of awards to be made from the Scottish Government’s £1.25 million Public Library Covid Relief Fund administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council. The fund has supported a total of 30 library community projects since it was set up in October last year. Library services sharing the final funding also include South Ayrshire for its Friendly Faces Cafes to tackle social isolation.”
• East Lothian – Libraries being temporarily closed due staff absences – East Lothian Courier. ““While COVID-related issues are continuing to present difficulties to council resources and staffing challenges there are different types of staff absence being experienced, as well as some vacancies we are hoping to fill.””
• Edinburgh – Edinburgh libraries calling for local musicians to mark an unforgettable Make Music Day – Edinburgh Live. “Make Music Day, which started 40 years back in France, will once again be held in person this year, after two years of online events forced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Celebrated on June 21, the world-famous day will see libraries across Edinburgh transformed into live performing concert halls, and the organisers are now looking for gifted locals to make the comeback of the event an unforgettable one.”
  • Support Our Libraries: ‘The need for us never went away’ – a celebration of Edinburgh Central Children’s Library – Scotsman.
• Essex – Find Your Active with the Essex Library of Things – Essex Council. Launched September 2021. “The £5,000 additional funding from Find Your Active sees new items — including basketball hoops, football kits and more — added to the current Essex Library of Things stock. The new equipment will help families across the county to get active and encourage healthy living across Essex communities. The Essex Library of Things also helps to reduce waste by encouraging residents to borrow, return and share items, instead of purchasing products.Residents can borrow items free of charge from Chelmsford, Witham, Great Parndon (Harlow), Clacton-On-Sea and Laindon Libraries, as well as the mobile library service.”
• Hertfordshire – From comic arts masterclasses to magical, interactive, fairy tale retellings – discover the many activities taking place in Hertfordshire libraries over the Easter holidays – Hertfordshire Council.
• Lambeth – Lambeth Libraries – what’s on for April 2022, including exhibitions, local history and book quizzes – Brixton Buzz.
• Lincolnshire – Stamford Library will reopen following roof repairs – Stamford Mercury. “”The pitched roof replacement was the first phase of repairs to the library building, and over the coming months further work will take place on the site’s flat roof, windows and stone frontage. Thankfully, these works can go ahead without closing the building and should be completed later this year.””
• Neath Port Talbot – First look inside the new swimming pool and leisure centre being built in Neath – Wales Online. “”This project will deliver leisure, wellbeing, shopping, learning and childcare facilities for the town centre featuring a swimming pool, gym, health suite, retail space and a modern library.””
  • The Welsh town still blighted by brawling women and street drinking but desperate to embrace change and fulfil its potential – Wales Online. ““The leisure centre and the library will be good for the town, but we thought it was going to be a shopping centre, that’s what we need here.””
• North Somerset – Clevedon Library transformation project – North Somerset Council. “North Somerset library servicehas been awarded a grant of £215,900 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, delivered by Arts Council England, for building improvements at Clevedon Library. North Somerset Council is providing additional in-kind support and other funding, and the project is supported by Clevedon Town Council. The project funding safeguards the future of Clevedon Library for the next ten years.” … “Clevedon Library will close in June and reopen in the autumn”
• North Yorkshire – Ripon library offers much more than just books to loan – North Yorkshire County Council. Children’s library to be refurbished. Volunteers wanted.
  • Better eBooks service at North Yorkshire libraries – York Press. Borrowbox.
  • Leading judge Baroness Hale supports Bedale Library – Darlington and Stockton Times. “Friends of Bedale Library chair Susan Perkins thanked Lady Hale for taking the time to attend the event and talk about her interesting life and unusual cases. Sixty our people attended, along with several new members. Raffle prizes were donated by local businesses. The raffle raised £226, which will be match funded by Barclays Bank to make £452.  “
  • Let a pair of slippers from the library help you stay on your feet – Gazette and Herald. “Malton library will hold a Slipper Social in April at which older people can pick up free anti-slip slippers. The slippers have rubber soles and are wide fitting to make it easier for people with restricted mobility to get them on and off. They also have a good Velcro fastener so they will not slip off.”
  • Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories in North Yorkshire libraries – North Yorkshire County Council. “During April and May, the county’s public library service will take part in a regional festival called Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories. It’s a celebration of children’s book illustration, comic and visual art and will be delivered through a series of events and workshops.”
• Nottingham – Book lovers have the chance to stock up on reading matter thanks to Nottingham City Libraries | Hucknall Dispatch – Dispatch. Big book sale due to Central moving to smaller space.
  • Fears young people ‘left behind’ in Aspley where library and children’s centres could close – Nottingham Post. “All three of which have “low usage” at a high cost, the authority has said. And the plans, if they go ahead, are expected to save £233,000. But the proposals have triggered staunch objection from protestors and campaigners alike who have gathered outside the council’s Loxley House HQ calling for the authority to reverse its intentions.”
• Pembrokeshire – It’s time to return any overdue library books – Tenby Observer. “During the pandemic, Pembrokeshire Libraries have not been charging overdue fines but from today, April 1, 2022, the charges have been reinstated. Overdue books will be charged at 15p per book, per day for adult customers (10p per book, per day for concessions) up to a maximum of £5 per item. There is no overdue charge for Children’s books borrowed on a Child’s Library card.”
• Renfrewshire – BorrowBox: New e-book app available from Renfrewshire Libraries – Gazette.
• South Lanarkshire – Library fines in South Lanarkshire cancelled by leisure authority – Daily Record. “The cancellation of fines will begin tomorrow and apply at all libraries, and this includes existing fines. South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s general manager, Kay Morrison, said: We hope people will see this as an opportunity to reconnect with their library.”

“With the cost of living crisis impacting on so many people’s finances, we recognise another cost, although small, is the last thing that anyone needs.”

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s general manager, Kay Morrison

• Stockport – Hopping mad fun at Stockport libraries this Easter – Stockport Council.
• Swindon – Swindon Central Library to host fundraising concert for Ukraine – This is Wiltshire.
• Warrington – Warrington Museum and Library To Relaunch After £360k Renovation – Broadway World. “The maintenance work has focused on the repair of the Grade II-listed building’s roof but there will also be some new things to look out for such as­ an update of the collections in the local history gallery, a bespoke mural in the archives search room and three new exhibitions.”