And, wow, there’s books in them too
Editorial
The last week has basically been a period of mourning for the Queen, with most, but not all, public libraries closed for the funeral on Monday. So not much news apart from that Martin Lewis has commissioned CILIP to create guidance on how best to set up warm banks. The speed with which the public libraries sector (notably Libraries Connected and CILIP) have seized on the warm banks idea is really impressive and is having instant political benefits. Council are realising that libraries – buildings with heating and, crucially, staffing already in place in local communities – are perfect for this sort of thing. This has taken the pressure off, and indeed added potential funding streams, to many public libraries which otherwise would be worried about the reduction in usage many have experienced compared to before lockdown. And, wow, there’s books in them too.
National news
- Drag queen called ‘groomer’ by vile protesters says anti-royal arrests expose a double standard – Pink News. “A drag queen who faced death threats from far-right protesters says it’s “insulting” to see police arrest anti-royal demonstrators when they did nothing to protect her.” … “Aida says one officer told her people are only arrested for breaching the peace “as a last resort”.” … “For Aida H Dee, the arrests prove something she’s suspected for a long time: “It’s one rule for us, another rule for them.””
- Nosy Crow to Launch U.S. Company – Publishers Weekly. ““Of course, the North American market is bigger,” Wilson said, “and there is a more lively and better-funded institutional market in the U.S. In the U.K, libraries are lamentably underfunded. “
- The Power of Pictures: the illustrations that inspired our new Writer in Residence Nick Sharratt – Book Trust. “, these are some pictures that really resonated with me as I was growing up. The memory of them is precious to me for numerous reasons. Were there pictures in the books you looked at that have the same kind of power for you? I bet there were. And isn’t it important that all children have the opportunity to develop their own picture-linked memories like ours?”
- Reading and ideology: the case of the free public libraries movement – Taylor Francis Online. “This article examines social debates on mass reading in Britain, linking them to the free public libraries movement of the mid-19th century.”
- Reading Well for teens launches in public libraries across England and Wales on 10th October 2022 – Reading Agency. “A new Reading Well for teens collection will launch in public libraries across England and Wales on World Mental Health Day 2022 (10th October). The scheme – run by national charity The Reading Agency – will support the mental health and wellbeing of teenagers, providing information, advice and support to help them better understand their feelings, handle difficult experiences and boost their confidence in a post-pandemic context.”
- The value of digital and physical library services in UK public libraries and why they are not interchangeable – University of Strathclyde. “This study reports on a series of focus groups of UK public library users to understand how the forced closure of UK libraries caused by the COVID pandemic and the increased use of replacement digital services affected their library use. We specifically focus on digital exclusion and whether this increased as the result of physical library services being inaccessible. “
International news
- Global – A monthly newsletter to explore all the magical facets of libraries – Of Course, Libraries. Free newsletter including “Stories about uncovered sides of public libraries; Interviews, opinions and facts; Inspiring projects and future trends; Thought-provoking things to read, listen, watch”
- Iran – Public libraries and crisis management: Iranian public libraries and the dust crisis – Sage Journals. “The findings show that public libraries can take on educational, cultural, executive, and informative roles in the pre-crisis stage, executive and informative roles in the during-crisis stage, and executive and documentation roles in the post-crisis stage.”
- USA – Book ban efforts surging in 2022, library association says – Independent. ““I’ve never seen anything like this,” says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.”
- Banned Books Week Censors Dissent – Catholic Vote. “Banned Books Week has become a thinly veiled propaganda campaign. Ironically, in fact, it’s a campaign that is itself very much in the spirit of censorship, and demonizes Americans who dissent from Leftist dogma.” but ” parents simply want input on what books go on their schools’ shelves” … “The ALA expects parents and patrons to either celebrate progressive ideology or stay home. But every American taxpayer has a right to inhabit the public square and bring his or her convictions to the debate floor.”
- Huntsville residents push back after city removes ‘Read With Pride’ display from public library – Houston Public Media. “We are ashamed of and concerned by the fact that any city leader or employee would be involved in censoring a book display or the books themselves without due process and hearing from all sides on the matter,” Huntsville Texas Pride said in its statement. “The library is a place for everyone and one or two individuals should not and cannot be allowed to dictate what can or can’t be done in a public space based on their own beliefs or prejudices.”
- Librarians go radical as new woke policies take over: experts – New York Post. “Libraries, for decades the ultimate safe spaces, have become ground zero in the ongoing culture wars, with battles over banned books, drag queen story hours and free access to porn raging all over the country … “The average person has no idea of this but librarians have been targeting children in recent years and trying to turn them into political activists,”
- Library exhibit shows ‘glimpse of humanity’ in lost items in books – SBS. “Over a period of 10 years, a team of librarians has been collecting little items found in returned library books. There are now more 350 items which are being featured in a physical and online collection.”
- US libraries face ‘unprecedented’ efforts to ban books on race and gender themes – Guardian. “The challenges came from conservative parent groups and others. In some cases, the group says, librarians and elected officials were threatened with violence by members of the Proud Boys and armed activists at school board and library board meetings.”
Local news by authority
- Buckinghamshire – Reader letter: What’s going to happen to our libraries – Bucks Free Press. “After lockdown I wrote to MP as libraries were far too slow to reopen and allow computer access again … Please bring all these much needed opportunities [such as events] back… as a council tax payer let’s do everything not to make this a winter of discontent.”
- Cambridgeshire – EverySpace project in two Cambridgeshire libraries moves step closer – Ely Standard. “Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) has signed an agreement with Jan Kattein Architects to develop flexible and inclusive spaces at Cambridge Central and March libraries as part of the EverySpace project. A public consultation will take place shortly to determine designs for the spaces and installation work will begin in spring 2023.”
- Cheshire West and Chester – ‘Cheshire’s archives: a story shared’ drop in session – Birkenhead News. ” An online training programme has also been produced for library staff to help them develop their knowledge about the local history collections in their libraries and to support people who visit libraries to research family and local history.” … “The new service will see two new history centres being established in Chester and Crewe, alongside improved service delivery in libraries …”
- Coventry – More than 100 solar panels to cover roof of listed Coventry library – Coventry Telegraph. “A Grade II-listed building in Coventry will have its rooftop covered with solar panels in a council-backed bid to save carbon and cut energy costs. The city’s Central Library is set to have 148 black monocrystalline panels installed on the roof and will also get a battery storage unit.”
- Darlington – Makeshift library in this Darlington venue until Crown Street reopens – Northern Echo. While Crown Street is refurbished “customers will be able to visit the Dolphin Centre on Horse Market at various times during the week to select and collect books, join the library, and learn about services on offer.”
- Glasgow – Save our Venues : Vision for Glasgow public libraries to be drawn up after reopening – Yahoo News. “As well as books and computer access, libraries across the city could be used to also host toy and tool libraries and repair and skills workshops. A public consultation exercise is being carried out to find out what people want their local library to be able to do.” … ““An online public consultation process will take place, supported by the opportunity to access physical copies of the draft vision and make comment.”
- Hampshire – North Baddesley Community Library thanks visitors for book sale funds that help keep the centre open – Hampshire Chronicle. “A library forced to relocate due to unaffordable rent costs hosted a book sale at its new home to help keep the community base open.”
- Highlands – Sutherland bookbugs are up to the challenge – Northern Times. “A total of 1,032 children took part in Highland across 47 libraries, reading 5,260 books overall.”
- Lancashire – Lancashire’s libraries to open up as “warm hubs” for locals this winter – and the search is on for other buildings that could do the same – Lancaster Guardian. ” County Hall is also planning to extend other support available in its libraries, which could benefit those taking advantage of the warm hubs service, including digital, health and employment sessions. Meanwhile, county council officers are currently working with district authorities to collate information about voluntary, faith and community groups in their areas which could get involved with the main project.”
- Nottingham – Developers for old Nottingham Central Library ‘ready to be appointed’ – BBC News. “Nottingham City Council said it was ready to appoint architects to turn the Angel Row site, which closed in 2020, into “a flexible workspace for creative businesses”. A new library will be part of the Broadmarsh redevelopment, and is expected to open next year.”
- Call for Nottingham’s under-threat libraries to be used as ‘warm havens’ this winter – Nottingham Post. “A campaign group is calling on Nottingham City Council to refrain from potentially bringing the axe down on three of its libraries so they can be used as “warm havens” this winter. Despite new Prime Minister Liz Truss revealing plans to cap energy bills at £2,500, many households will still struggle over the winter months, with bills having risen from £1,277 just a year ago. As such, libraries may therefore be the only places available for some to keep warm. ”
- Former Central Library transformation takes a step forward – West Bridgford Wire. “The Angel Row scheme is being funded from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, following a successful bid for £12.5m by the council announced last summer.”
- Warrington – Warrington breathes life back into its libraries – Warrington Guardian. “Libraries Week kicks off on October 3, and it runs until October 9 – it is being run in Warrington by LiveWire across its locations … “
- Warwickshire – Which services are closed or reduced in Warwickshire on the Queen’s funeral day? – Stratford Observer. “All the county’s libraries will be closed”
- West Berkshire – West Berks library invites local authors to showcase their work – Newbury Today. “Newbury library will be holding an event in November to bring together writers in the West Berks area who have had work published, giving them a platform where they can showcase their work.”
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about 2 years ago
I’m not convinced about the positives of positioning libraries as warm banks, and in some cases, of asking for additional funding (funding not explicitly for library purposes) simply to keep libraries open during rising energy costs.
Councils who are on top of their building energy usage may decide that the library building isn’t the most efficient building to heat as a warm bank. In that case, rather than open the libraries, why not divert funds to heating buildings or rooms that are more efficient?
If I were a council energy manager and I was asked whether more money could be dedicated to a service primarily for the purpose of keeping people warm, and it was an inefficient building, I’d immediately look for alternatives.
Of course libraries should be kept open, and kept warm. And welcoming to all as they always have been. With the reason being that they are libraries. Asking for funding on the basis of them being turned into warm banks is potentially very dangerous.
Library organisations will spot the chance for a pot of money and jump at that opportunity because they are desperate. But these aren’t reliable funding streams, and using them to fund the core service will backfire. They’re not even funding sources for things libraries do well, or are qualified to deliver.