Choosing the correct future
Editorial
I was listening to a podcast while walking the Schnausers this morning on the history of libraries. What do you mean, you already knew I was a library nerd? Anyway, a few good points stuck out from it. One was that a public library without books becomes a council community centre or social work building, and not a library. And, another related point, was that printed books appear to be here to stay despite repeated predictions to the contrary – remember the extinction timeline that said the last public library would close in 2019? The book has already seen off microfilm and CD-ROM as challenges and it looks reasonably certain now that the latest contender for the extinction-event for the printed page – eBooks – is instead a complementary technology. So that’s good for us that like printed books but less so for those who appear to think that the future of libraries is entirely without them. A point that stuck with me was that public libraries try to plan for the future but, because no-one can know what it looks like, often end up planning for the wrong one. So perhaps keep hold of those paperbacks for now. Also, another thing that sprung to mind was that a thing one can be fairly certain that the fines-free movement is on the right side of history. One hopes that more services will be able to afford it soon.
Finally, well done to Scottish libraries which took part in the “Keep the heid and read” campaign , which has resulted in over 456 thousand minutes or reading being pledged. It’s a fine example of a national publicity campaign. Such campaigns have also been successful in Ireland but, for some reason (the one often cited is that the country is too big), have not been a factor in England as yet.
Changes by local authority
National news
- Artefacto announced to develop ‘Digital Leadership for Libraries’ eLearning modules – CILIP. “Artefacto will work with CILIP, and a team of sector experts, to develop five open-access eLearning modules as part of ‘Digital Leadership for Libraries’. These modules are intended to create engagement with the principles and values of being a digital leader.”
- CILIP Conference – CILIP. “It’s back and we are so looking forward to seeing the library and information community come together face-to-face under the same roof on 7+8 July in Liverpool.”
- Cultural venues to receive £128 million to improve access to arts and culture – Gov.uk. “Local library services to be improved with £15.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund”. “will transform library services in England by helping them upgrade their buildings and improve digital infrastructure. Local authorities can bid for the money on behalf of their library services.”
- Director, Libraries, Arts Council England – Arts Council England. Vacancy. “You will also have national leadership and accountability for libraries, leading a team of specialist staff and Relationship Managers distributed across the country and helping to shape and deliver their policy work.”
- Duchess Camilla takes on patronage from Prince Philip – Geo.tv. Book Aid International. “Duchess Camilla is very well known for her personal love of reading, for championing the importance of books and for supporting causes promoting reading and literacy for all.”
- Empathy Day – Empathy Lab. 9 June. “You’re invited to join our sixth annual celebration on 9 June 2022. Help us to grow our powerful new book-based empathy movement and inspire children and young people to learn more about empathy, have transformational experiences through stories and put empathy into action. Our aim is to reach over 1 million children a year by 2026.”
- Government Property Agency – Libraries Connected. Webinar, Thursday 26 May, 1pm. “The GPA is looking to make Public Libraries their preferred option for spaces to meet, work and hold events”
- Libraries: Supporting new arrivals – Libraries Connected. “With the help of Dr Ludmila Pekarska, Shevchenko Library and Archive and The Association of Ukrainian Women in Great Britain, we have put together two leaflets – one in English and the other in Ukrainian – which libraries can print off to help anyone seeking vital public services. “
- Platinum Jubilee book to arrive in primary schools from mid-May – Gov.uk. [Confirmed via email that this will not be distributed to public libraries or home educated – Ed.]
- Succession star Brian Cox backs ‘Keep the Heid and Read’ campaign – STV. “‘Keep the Heid and Read’ has been backed by Succession star Brian Cox and is helping to highlight the positive impact reading can have on mental health and wellbeing. Run by the Scottish libraries and Information Council, it’s encouraging everyone to donate six minutes of their time a day to reading.” see also Pop-up library at The Kelpies becomes massive success ahead of ‘national reading moment’ – Daily Record and Renfrewshire residents urged to read for six minutes – Gazette.
- UKeiG 2022 Members’ Day and Annual General Meeting by Zoom – CILIP. 9 June 1pm, Zoom. Includes “The library technology ecosystem- where we are now and what does the future hold?” by Ken Chad.
- Welcome to National Crime Reading Month – Crime Reading. “Run by the Crime Writers’ Association in partnership with national charity The Reading Agency, NCRM is a festival that takes place throughout June across the UK and Ireland, culminating in the prestigious CWA Daggers ceremony at the end of the month.”
International news
- Ukraine – Opinion: Attacks on libraries and theatres are a chilling front in Russia’s war – Yahoo News. “It might seem bizarre to bomb a quiet house of books, or crush Kharkiv’s historical tram depot, which is a bit like shelling the London Transport Museum. But Russia knows well how important arts and culture are to a nation’s sense of self.”
- USA – Librarians push back against book-banning – Salon. “The goal of Unite Against Book Bans—which also includes the Authors Guild and prominent publishers such as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster—is “to empower individuals and communities to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read,” according to the ALA.”
- Conservative parents take aim at library apps meant to expand access to books – NBC News. Objections to online e-book providers such as Overdrive not censoring the free eBooks provided to children and others. [In an ultimate act of irony, one library board has banned the Handmaid’s Tale]
Local news by authority
- Coventry – Libraries as digital inspirers – Arts Professional. “By taking VR to libraries, we can democratise this cutting-edge technology and its immersive content, offering it to audiences who might never otherwise have a chance to experience it. Libraries have proved a perfect space for people to enjoy VR – a place where they feel safe and are willing to try something new, and where librarians are trusted guides, able to encourage people and provide a human touch to the experience. This project has proven that there’s certainly an appetite for it.”
- Devon – Exeter Library Lates – Libraries Connected. “A specially curated late-night event, live from Exeter Library. Each Library Lates weaves live music, theatre, and film imaginatively throughout the building, showing you a side to the library you may not have seen before.”
- East Dunbartonshire – Popular digital learning sessions return to local libraries – East Dunbartonshire Council.
- East Riding – Children and families can celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in East Riding Libraries – East Riding Council.
- Fife – Story time in Lochgelly as community campfires take place – Central Fife Times. “Lochgelly is one of four Scottish communities chosen to host a five-day storytelling event run by the national charity, Scottish Book Trust. The Community Campfires project will invite local residents to celebrate the people, places and events that make their town special.”
- Havering – Investigation launched after secret proposal to sell off libraries and community halls leaked – Romford Recorder. “At a meeting on January 24, Conservative councillors heard libraries, community centres, Green Belt and car parks could make way for more than 1,300 new homes, raising £70m. The papers were anonymously mailed to opposition candidates last month.” … “Four libraries were also on the list, of which one would not be replaced. The council spokesperson noted the report was only put forward for discussion and no decisions have been made.”
- Hertfordshire – Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in Hertfordshire Libraries – Hertfordshire Council.
- My Story Festivals come to Hertfordshire Libraries – Hertfordshire Council. “Join us at Watford Central Library on Sunday 29 May and find out more about the My Story project, view an exhibition of the artwork and watch short films produced by participants. We will also be holding ticketed events and activities through-out the day, which will include family theatre and interactive poetry.”
- Highland – Keep the Heid and Read campaign encourages people to read – Inverness Courier. “High Life Highland is challenging people to send in a picture of them reading any text of choice.”
- Isle of Man – Isle of Man libraries charity gets five-year government backing – BBC. “The government has agreed to pay the charity annual sums totalling £475,000 until 2026, when the support will end. It comes after existing taxpayer funding for the libraries had been due to run out in June. Charity director Kurt Roosen said the “pragmatic and structured solution” would allow time to plan ahead. But he warned the libraries now needed to raise “increasing amounts each year” from other sources. Half of their annual running costs of about £250,000 has been covered by temporary government grants since 2017. The remainder has been met through donations and substantial support from the founders of Manx-based online gambling firm PokerStars, the Scheinberg family, who stepped in 2012 after full state-backing was pulled.”
- Lancashire – The Harris to receive Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme funding – Preston City Council. “This award will be used to support upgrades to the Special Exhibitions Galleries “
- Manchester – Festival of Libraries: Sir Lenny Henry announced to lead Manchester celebration of books’ campaign – Manchester World. “The Look For A Book campaign will involve a mass participation search for copies of the TV comedian and presenter’s children’s book hidden all over the city-region.”
- Norfolk – National Centre for Writing and Norfolk library service get arts funds – BBC. “Norfolk’s public library service has also been awarded £159,410 from the same Arts Council programme. It will be used by the county council to fund an electric vehicle to deliver resources to schools, hospitals, and care settings.”
- ‘I come to the library to keep warm’: Norfolk residents battling fuel poverty – Guardian. “This winter the library introduced free Keep Warm and Go bags packed with everything someone may need who was struggling to keep the cold away, including gloves, thermals, a scarf, blanket and a hat.”. Member of public says ““I only have the heating and hot water on for an hour in the morning and then I get out in the garden and dig,” she said. “I go to bed early with an electric blanket. If I didn’t have that it would be terrible.”
- North Yorkshire – Yorkshire dialect revisited for libraries and museums project – North Yorkshire Council. “The public can join officers from the dialect and heritage project at a series of drop-in events.”
- Readers continue to take advantage of thriving home library service – North Yorkshire Council. “The service began to flourish during the coronavirus pandemic when libraries were forced to shut their doors. The highest monthly total was recorded in March 2021 when 1,065 households were receiving regular deliveries. Although the county’s libraries resumed a full service last year, staff and volunteers have continued to go the extra mile for vulnerable and hard-to-reach residents.”
- Nottingham – Completion of multi-million pound central library in Nottingham to be detailed ‘later this month’ – Nottingham Post. “Proposals to finally fit-out the multi-million pound central library in Nottingham are to be detailed ‘later this month’. Fears however do remain over the future of three neighbourhood libraries which are still facing closure.” … “Councillor Eunice Campbell-Clark, former portfolio holder for leisure and culture who represents Bulwell Forest, says the council will act to be “fully transparent” in its discussions over the future of the libraries. She said: “We have received in total 2,807 individual consultation submissions.”
- Nottinghamshire – Fears over Hucknall Library’s future again raised at county council – Dispatch. “Coun Jason Zadrozny (Ash Ind), was speaking at a full council meeting on May 12 of Nottinghamshire County Council, where he leads the Independent Alliance, and said he had ‘concrete evidence’ discussions had taken place about relocating Hucknall library services from their current town centre location to the proposed new Cavell health centre for the town.”
- Powys – Brecon councillors welcome transferal of old library to college group – Brecon and Radnor Express. “The old Ship Street Library and Watton Mount have both been transferred from Powys council to the NPTC college group with the aim of turning them into a campus for the town centre.”
- iPads now available to borrow from Powys libraries – Brecon and Radnor Express. “Powys residents can borrow an iPad for free, from their local library, thanks to support from the Welsh Government Circular Economy Fund. Devices are available to members of the Powys library service aged 18+ and must be booked in advance.”
- Slough – Slough libraries set to host events to celebrate Platinum Jubilee – Slough Express.
- Staffordshire – Libraries in Lichfield and Burntwood give people the chance to join Big Jubilee Read – Lichfield Live.
- Suffolk – Long-lost library book returned from Croatia to Ipswich… 64 years late – ITV.
- Somerset – Free creative writing workshops start at Burnham-On-Sea library – Burnham On Sea. Creative writing.
- Surrey – Eleven libraries announce Jubilee Big Lunches – Surrey News / Council. “To ensure that everyone has a chance to get in on the Big Lunch fun – Surrey libraries have organised some Big Lunches in selected libraries to enable people to get together. “
- Warrington – Health walks a breath of fresh air for Padgate and Culcheth Libraries – Warrington Worldwide. “A qualified Wellbeing Walk leader meets walkers at the selected meeting point and guides them through a pre-planned route. Remember, sturdy footwear, a bottle of water and water-proof clothing is essential for walking. All walks are designed for a wide range of abilities but they may include muddy and uneven ground or stiles”
- Wiltshire – Wiltshire libraries celebrate Local and Community History Month – White Horse News.
- Worcestershire – Get together starting at Bromsgrove library for Ukrainians settling in the district and their hosts – Bromsgrove Standard. “Ukrainian Connections will take place every Monday from 2pm to 4pm at Bromsgrove Library. The friendly drop-in sessions will give the Ukrainians and their hosts the chance to have a chat over a hot drink.”
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