Queen Elizabeth II, 1926 to 2022

• Libraries Connected statement on the death of Her Majesty the Queen – Libraries Connected. “During her 70-year reign, the Queen visited hundreds of public libraries and formally opened many, including Mansfield Library in her silver jubilee year and most recently Chester’s Storyhouse in 2018. This support – which reflects the vital role libraries play in our communities – has been hugely appreciated by library workers and users alike.”
• Queen Elizabeth II: Where you can pay tribute to monarch – BBC. Middlesbrough Central Library “with people “politely asked to place flowers away from the fire escape steps”, South Bank Library in Redcar & Cleveland, six libraries in Stockton, four libraries in Durham”
• A statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – CILIP. “As our Patron of more than 40 years, Queen Elizabeth was a dedicated and lifelong champion of libraries, literacy and reading. We greatly appreciate Her Majesty’s patronage and the work that she did during her lifetime in support of our profession.””
• Where to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen in the North West – ITV. Book of condolence at Manchester Central Library, Failsworth Library in Oldham, Littleborough Library in Rochdale, four libraries in Bury.
• Cambridgeshire – Cambridgeshire libraries open books of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II – Cambridgeshire Live. In every library.
• Newcastle – Queen Elizabeth II: Tributes paid across on Tyneside – BBC. Photo exhibition and book of condolence at City Library.
• Norfolk – Schools and libraries open but council meetings axed after Queen’s death – Eastern Daily Press.
• Suffolk – Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022 – Suffolk Libraries. All events and activities, including Online Autumn Book Festival. cancelled. Books of condolence at six libraries.

Changes by local authority

• Hackney – £300k likely to be cut from £5.6m budget.

National news

• Beta version of Single Digital Presence will be available by early 2023, British Library says – BookSeller. “The beta version of the Single Digital Presence, a long-planned national website for all public libraries, will be available for users and the sector by early 2023, the British Library has said. However, some trade commentators remain concerned about the time the project is taking to get off the ground, and warn “patience is wearing thin” … “Anyone will be able to browse the site, find out how to access information and reading material from their local library as well as events, news, free-to-access content and reading recommendations from libraries nationally, including the British Library.” … “If it feels like the SDP is taking a long time, that’s because it is tackling the real underlying challenge of digital transformation across the whole public library sector.”
• Greener libraries – BookSeller.”it’s clear why libraries have a place at the table—a role that stretches far beyond the odd recycled coffee cup or tote bag. Because fundamentally, libraries are here to provide equal access to information. In the heart of our communities we offer books, resources and skills. We are a fundamental part of the social infrastructure that can help people understand and respond to the impact we are having on our planet. This is why the work of the Green Libraries Partnership is so important.”

“NAG needs you!

Our NAG Exec committee needs more public library people to provide a balanced and representative group.  As a “thank you” we can provide free NAG Membership for your local authority.  More info: https://nag.org.uk/join-exec/“

The National Acquisitions Group would also like recommendations and suggestions for a workshop for public libraries for NAG Webinar Week 7 to 11 November

• Library Focus 2022: librarians’ choices – BookSeller. “There’s something for everyone in these picks from five UK-based librarians, who share a quintet of titles they are looking forward to in the coming months.”
• Three South East cities named best for book readers – Business Magazine. “Researchers tallied the number of bookshops and libraries in UK towns and cities using OpenStreetMap’s API overpass.”
• Truss urged to invest in libraries and abolish tax on audiobooks – Guardian. ““top of the list is scrapping audiobook VAT”, which he described as the “last remaining tax on reading” … “Nick Poole, CEO of CILIP, the UK’s library and information association, said Truss needed to “invest in a UK-wide programme of building new libraries and redeveloping existing library branches to meet the current and future needs of communities everywhere”.”

International news

• Global – Wonna take over Library Planet? – Christian Lauersen. “Library Planet is to good an idea to just slowly wither away so we are looking for a few good people to take on the job and make Library Planet spin again. “
• USA – Conservatives join liberals in ‘quiet and polite’ Idaho protest to protect their library from book-banners – CNN. Mass read-in to protest that “trustees are facing a recall, because the library’s director just resigned under the pressure, and because a vocal group of activists is demanding the banning of more than 400 books from the library’s shelves. Many of the targeted books are about gender or sexuality. And currently, the library does not stock any of them.”. Area has number of recent far-right incomers.
  • ‘Book It Around Boston’ Had Residents Running To The Library On Saturday – WBZ News Radio. “More than a hundred people grabbed their running shoes and headed for the library on Saturday morning. The event, Book It Around Boston, kicked off with participants at libraries at the four corners of the city with their new Boston Public Library passports in hand. About 150 people ran, walked, and biked to different library branches around the city to get their BPL passports stamped. “
  • Huntsville residents push back after city removes ‘Read With Pride’ display from public library – Houston Public Media. “The removal of a “Read With Pride” display at the Huntsville Public Library, which included a collection of books about LGBTQ+ themes, has prompted outrage from some community members who say they welcome inclusivity and fear discrimination in the small college town an hour north of Houston.
  • “Interview with Jennie Rose Halperin of Library Futures – Knowledge Rights 21. “Library Futures is the think tank for the future of libraries. We have done an enormous amount of work to highlight and engage with emerging issues within libraries and technology, and in particular on how libraries can and should work in a digital environment.”
  • Show and Tell – American Libraries. Key things to bear in mind with library signage.

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Aberdeen libraries taking part in Year of Stories with series of free workshops – Aberdeen Live. “Tales of giants, selkies and faeries will be explored in a free series of creating writing workshops in Aberdeen. Aberdeen City Libraries will be taking part in Scotland’s Year of Stories and aspiring writers are being offered a unique opportunity.”
• Bolton – Bolton: Central Library and History Centre relocating to Crompton Place – Bolton News. “Bolton Central Library and the History Centre will be temporarily relocating to allow for  multi-million refurbishment work to take place.”
• Buckinghamshire – Cost of living: Buckinghamshire Council asks ‘affluent’ residents to help others – BBC. “The council had started its Welcoming Spaces programme to open up its libraries as places where people can “spend the day somewhere warm and lit””
• Bucks libraries set for digital changes – Bucks Free Press. “A librarian from Buckinghamshire criticised Council plans to cut down vital services. Kari Dorme, a retired Beaconsfield librarian of 30 years, was left shocked, when she picked up a small leaflet at her local library. The upsetting piece of paper said Buckinghamshire Council was planning to discontinue physical copies of magazines and newspapers at all staffed council libraries, and wanted to get peoples’ views on the matter.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – French music showcase to appear at Ellesmere Port Library – Standard.

• Coventry – Dozens of solar panels to be put on Coventry library roof – BBC. “A grade II listed library will have nearly 150 solar panels installed as part of a scheme to save a council about £276,000 annually. Coventry City Council has partnered with Ineco Energy to put more than 5,000 panels on 41 public buildings. Planning approval has been given to put 148 on the city’s central library along with a battery storage unit.”
• Hertfordshire – Watford libraries preparing to become warm banks this winter – Watford Observer. “Watford Central Library manager Angela Hadwin said: “There is a HCC-wide initiative about warm spaces that will be made available to people during the winter to help with the cost-of-living crisis.”
• Highlands – Highland libraries get customer services recognition – John O’Groats Journal. “the teams running the service on a day-to-day basis have retained their Customer Service Excellence award, achieving 100 per cent full compliance with the award’s criteria.”
• Lancashire – Council’s libraries will become ‘warm welcome spaces’ this winter – Yahoo. “This includes turning the county’s libraries into warm banks – places families can go for free to be in a warm space if they cannot afford to turn their heating on during the cold winter months due to soaring energy costs.”

“Since then, Lancashire County Council’s 64 libraries have been identified as places that will provide universal access and have sufficient space to offer a warm and welcome space for residents.

All of the libraries have disabled access and contain highly skilled staff who are well accustomed to assisting customers to access further information and support.”

• Norfolk – Libraries preparing for winter surge of people using them to keep warm – Eastern Daily Press. “Bosses at Norfolk County Council had already announced thousands of packages containing hot water bottles and scarves will be distributed via Norfolk libraries to keep vulnerable people warm amid the cost of living crisis. Council leaders have said they will soon reveal further details of what further measures it intends to take to help people struggling amid rising energy bills.”
• Sheffield – In Praise Of Libraries – Lizz Tuckerman. “An intimate and nostalgic collection of digital collage, sound and photography based on the recorded reading experiences of Sheffielders who grew up during the 1930s 40s and 50s”. From 2017.
• Somerset – Home Library service offering interesting reads – Wellington Today. “Somerset’s Home Library Service (HLS) is run by Somerset County Council with the support of amazing volunteers. It enables people like Claire Harbour from Frome, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, to continue enjoying books for free even though she can no longer visit her local library in person”
• Suffolk – Get Ready for School bags available from Suffolk Libraries – Suffolk Libraries. “The bags contain handy information booklets that cover all the skills that children need to be ready to start school such as developing speech, using the toilet and wearing school uniform. Get Ready for School bags also include three reassuring stories about starting school that children can read with their families. “
• Warwickshire – Visit Stratford Library as it transforms into a community-led Fun Palace on 1 October – Warwickshire Council. “Stratford-upon-Avon Library and Information Centre will be transforming into an exciting and creative Fun Palace on Saturday 1 October 2022” … “seeking community volunteers ready to help to run craft stands on the day “