Alienating times
Editorial
It’s Libraries Week so there’s a lot going on in libraries, although far less than there was a few years ago when it was started more as a protest against library cuts than a celebration of the sector. Those cuts may not be a thing of the past as talks from the Prime Minister suggests a willingness to consider cuts to the public sector in order to pay for tax cuts to business and the wealthy, but nothing is confirmed as yet. Finally on the subject of cuts, St Helens, which announced they were planning to close seven libraries, has backtracked perhaps only temporarily due to a backlash. Other councils meanwhile are utilising their libraries as warm spaces if people find it difficult to heat their homes. Finally, the culture war over gender still hasn’t blown over, with Hertfordshire being criticised for daring to have an alien as a pro-reading mascot. One activist criticised the decision that the alien should be described as “they/them” while the library service pointed out in return that it’s, well, an alien.

Changes by local authority
National news
- Ayub Khan MBE reflects on 100 days as Libraries Connected President – Libraries Connected. Diary.
- Carbuncles and King Charles: was the royal family’s meddling supertroll right about architecture? | Architecture – Guardian. “Birmingham city centre was damned as “a monstrous concrete maze,” with a library that looked like “a place where books are incinerated, not kept”. The brutalist National Theatre on the South Bank was “a clever way of building a nuclear power station in the middle of London”. The British Library looked “more like the assembly hall of an academy for secret police”.”
- Culture Minister unveils new funding to support Scottish libraries – National. “Culture Minister Neil Gray unveiled the £450,000 funding package, as part of the 2022/23 Public Library Improvement Fund (PLIF), on Wednesday while visiting Rutherglen Library.”
- Dozens of libraries in England and Wales may become “warm banks” for people who need shelter. – Literary Hub. “There’s no shortage of reasons to love libraries, and here’s another: a new survey from the UK shows a significant number of them are planning to serve as “warm banks” this winter for people who need to take shelter from the cold.” … “Libraries shouldn’t have to do this. (Who am I to say all this? Just someone who loves the library.) Still, when they do—and they inevitably will, because these problems aren’t going anywhere anytime soon—they deserve what we all do: the time, financial resources, and supportive climate to do their excellent work, serving everyone who walks through the door.”
- Libraries to offer shelter to the vulnerable during UK’s cost of living crisis – Guardian. “Libraries in England and Wales are responding to the cost of living crisis by abolishing daily late fees for books and getting ready to become “warm banks” to help the vulnerable this winter.”
- Libraries – working in partnership with heritage and archives – Libraries Connected. Webinar, 6 October, 2pm. “A webinar that will explore how heritage and archives can deliver against all the universal offers and support the work of libraries beyond culture and creativity.”
- Little Wartime Library – CILIP PMLG. Free “with Kate Thompson author of The Little Wartime Library. The event will be a pre-recorded zoom interview with Kate featuring illustrations, chat and soundbites, with 15 minutes for a live Q&A .”
- Please Miss, there’s an elephant in the Library – CILIP ILIG. Zoom, 26 October. Sri Lankan librarian explains what she did when an elephant walked into the library. “She explains how she overcame prejudice and obtained funding for the School in the Sky. “
- Reading Friends impact overview 2021-22 – Reading Friends. “Read about the difference Reading Friends has made, working with public libraries in 2021-22. This is an overview ahead of the full impact report.”
International news
- Australia – Pop-Up Libraries Are Helping Melbourne Move on From Lockdowns – Bloomberg UK. “Small pop-up libraries have taken over abandoned shops in areas that were aching for some love following the crippling impact of six lockdowns over 19 months. Where a mens’ retailer once stood in the boutique clothing and cafe mecca of Little Collins Street, changing rooms have been transformed into cozy mirrored reading booths.” … “While the success of the library project — about 40,000 people have visited them since the program’s launch at the end of last year — isn’t solely enough to revive the center, the council is betting that it’s a sign of a comeback.”
- Canada – Libraries play important role in promoting democracy – Toronto Star. “Another important part of a healthy democracy is access to unbiased information to help people engage and make informed decisions. Toronto Public Library, like public libraries everywhere, continues to support a vibrant democracy by supporting civic engagement and providing access to information.”
- Canada/USA – Aging in (Third) Place with Public Libraries – Public Libraries (PDF). “We are excited by the
possibilities a movement from library as third place to library as social infrastructure facilitates” - Ireland – Fingal reactivates libraries’ Twitter account after Green Party complaint – Sunday Times. “The council temporarily suspended the account last Wednesday after a councillor complained it was following prominent people with known gender-critical views. The account was following the bestselling author JK Rowling, the barrister Allison Bailey, Maya Forstater, a British business and international development researcher and Genspect, an international alliance seeking care for gender-distressed young people, which says it has concerns about the “gender affirmative” approach.”
- USA – The strain of censorship on public libraries – 1A. “What future do public libraries and library workers have in this climate of unprecedented censorship? And what role do larger, out-of-state libraries play in combatting it?”
- Provision of health-related information for immigrant patrons in public libraries in a large US city – Emerald. “Public libraries can help immigrants adjust to life in the USA, including maintaining health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to understand how immigrants use public libraries and how library staff provide health-related information and services for immigrant audiences”
Local news by authority
- Blackburn With Darwen – Children’s festival, in aim of improving UK’s literacy levels, is back for 2022 – Yahoo News. “The festival director, and founder and patron of Blackburn with Darwen Libraries said: “We are all so excited about meeting the children ‘in person’ once again. “We ran a complete virtual festival in 2020 which was a great success, reaching over 3000 children and families but nothing can replace the interaction of meeting in person.”
- Bracknell Forest – Borrow a tablet from your local library – Bracknell Forest Council. “Bracknell Forest Libraries are introducing a tablet loan scheme to boost digital inclusion in the borough.”
- Bradford – Getting creative to transform Keighley Library – Keighley News. Arts Council England funded project. “”Keighley Library is one of the pilots for our new service model which sees us tailoring each library to the needs of the communities served. We have been working closely with the communities of Keighley to find out what they really want to be happening, both creatively and culturally, in their library.”
- Brighton and Hove – Lots on offer for Libraries Week – Brighton and Hove Council. Stencilling, webinar on OED, and various other events.
- Buckinghamshire – ‘Dismayed at proposed library cuts’ – Bucks Free Press / Letters. “Last week I saw a notice informing the public that the authorities propose removing all hard copies of all the magazines and newspapers from all the libraries. Yes, that means all hard copies of your paper The Bucks Free Press will be cancelled too. I thought you and your readers would like to know.”
- Cheshire West and Chester – Cheshire West libraries to become ‘Warm Hubs’ as crisis worsens – The Standard. “”Libraries have always provided a safe space and warm welcome to our communities. We know how much people are already struggling with rising prices across the board, and this network of warm hubs is just a part of our response.”
- ‘Significant’ renovation needed to save treasured Cheshire library – Cheshire Live. “Structural investigations are being carried out at the premises with more in-depth inspections to take place in the coming weeks. New scaffolding will be put up to stabilise the building in preparation for a full refurbishment of the building. Cheshire West and Chester Council is working to identify a temporary home for library services and events. A decision on the location will be made in October.”
- Derby – Normanton library celebrates with a week of events – Derby Council. “Normanton library is holding a series of events to celebrate its diverse offering and service beyond books.”
- Devon – Libraries open their doors to support local residents this winter – Devon Council. “Libraries across Devon and Torbay will provide warm welcoming spaces, where people are welcome to join and spend time in the library, and to use the free WiFi and computers if they wish to. There are many free events and groups that people can attend, and some libraries will be hosting sessions providing help and advice about energy efficiency, debt advice and other topical subjects.”
- Pop up library on Exeter High Street – Exeter Council. “The former GAP store has been transformed into an art studio in which local sculptor James Lake is creating a life-size cardboard tree. The piece will take around six weeks to finish – from Tuesday 20 September to Monday 30 October – and will eventually be installed in Barnstaple Library. While the sculpture is being created, the shop has become an interactive public space, and passers-by are being invited to watch James at work and take part in a variety of drop-in workshops and exhibitions. There is also a pop-up high street library for people to sign up to the library, browse and borrow books.”
- Dorset – Future of Dorset’s libraries up for discussion again – BBC News. “Dorset Council is seeking opinions from users following its first review into libraries earlier in the year. That received more than 7,500 responses and found support for libraries to become “family hubs” – places of work or somewhere to seek advice – as well as a venue to borrow books. The latest consultation runs until 22 December.”
- Dorset libraries cut emissions to save £40,000 a year – Dorset Echo. “The measures – that range from highly efficient LED lighting to advanced building management systems – form part of the council’s response to the climate and ecological emergency and are expected to save over £40,000 a year in electricity and gas costs and reduce annual energy use by more than 275,000 kilo-watt hours (which is over a quarter of the energy used last year across all 15 sites).”
- East Renfrewshire – East Renfrewshire libraries host Halloween costumes and welly swaps – Barrhead News. “East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure libraries will be hosting two “swaps”, one for wellies and one for Halloween costumes, as part of The Root Cause project which launched earlier this year.”
- Hertfordshire – Library blasted for swapping reading bear mascot with gender-neutral alien – New York Post. “A mother w her baby daughter @HitchinLibrary @HertsLibraries Rhyme time (aimed at 0-5 year olds) messaged me: ‘Book Start Bear has been retired and replaced with Talia, a ‘trans’ bear, with they/them pronouns.’ ‘I cannot express how upset I feel. Why do children need this?’” Hitchin Library, one of the county’s libraries, hit back with a response. “Just to confirm – Tala isn’t trans, they are an alien.” “Tala is a storytelling alien from outer space, so neither male nor female,” the library added.” see also Outrage over ‘trans’ Herts libraries children’s mascot Tala – Watford Observer. Person who tweeted worry over new mascot “received hundreds of retweets and thousands of likes.” and Gender critical activist Maya Forstater rages over gender identity of cartoon alien – Pink News.
- Highlands – Highland libraries set to open new chapter in health and social care with a public access ‘Near Me in Libraries’ scheme pilot – Ross-shire Journal. “Building on the existing ‘Near Me’ video consulting service, which is already widely used across Scotland with around 45,000 consultations being held every month, the ‘Near Me in Libraries’ pilot results will set the groundwork to inform further rollout for public libraries across the Highlands, and the rest of Scotland.”
- Lancashire – Local college project aims to get people back into Lancashire’s libraries – Business Lancashire. “Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL), part of the Nelson and Colne College group, have reignited their Library Ambitions project, in the hopes that the local community will rekindle their love for Lancashire libraries. As part of the enterprise, LAL are running over one-hundred courses, all free of charge! This offer was taken on by thirty-five libraries last year and is available to all sixty-four sites in Lancashire.”
- Leicester – Learn something new during Libraries Week – Leicester Council. “Libraries across the city will showcase a varied programme of free events and activities, including computer skills, writing workshops, author talks and craft activities, plus free taster learning sessions from the city council’s Leicester Adult Education service.”
- Manchester – Manchester’s Libraries to celebrate Black History Month – Manchester Council. “This year’s headline event is the ‘We are Carnival’ celebration at Central Library on Thursday 27 October. The event, run by the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre based in Central Library, will feature a live music session with a DJ, a book display, spoken word poetry by local artists, food and a craft session for families”
- North Yorkshire – Delve into the digital eBook library for chance to win an iPad – North Yorkshire Council. “all eBook borrowers will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad, donated by eBook supplier BorrowBox.”
- Victorian Crime on the North-East coast one of the highlights of Libraries Week – Scarborough News.
- Nottingham – Another major award for Broad Marsh Car Park, Bus Station and Central Library development – My Nottingham News. “It was named the Overall Winner after scooping the Sustainable Development of the Year and Commercial Development of the Year prizes at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022.”
- Oxfordshire – Warm libraries to be offered to vulnerable – Henley Standard. “The council says it will offer warm places, such as libraries, to people who are not able to heat their homes adequately this winter.”
- Richmond Upon Thames – Celebrate your local libraries this Libraries Week – Richmond Council. “From performance storytelling to creating comics and digital library workshops there’s something for everyone.”
- Sheffield – Sheffield Libraries Podcast – Anchor FM. “From our librarians, archivists and fascinating friends, join us to delve deeper into the subjects, stories and collections that we find interesting, and hope that you will too…”
- St Helens – All St Helens libraries to stay open past October 31 as council reconsider closure plans – St Helens Star. “Council will review its decision to close six of the borough’s libraries after its decision caused a public backlash. Senior council members voted to back one of the biggest changes to the local library service at a town hall meeting in July, which would have seen the borough’s 13 libraries reduced to 7. The council announced that from October 31, 2022, it would no longer run libraries in Billinge, Garswood, Parr, Peter Street, Rainford, and Rainhill.” … “It has been recommended that a six-week public consultation should take place, with the results of this to be presented to a cabinet meeting next year, where a final implementation plan will be decided.”
- Stockport – Celebrate Libraries Week with events at Stockport libraries – Stockport Council. Two fun palaces plus other events.
- South Gloucestershire – Thousands of South Gloucestershire children celebrate reading challenge success – South Gloucestershire Council. “Six thousand children have taken part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at South Gloucestershire Libraries, reading almost 100,000 books over the school summer holidays … South Gloucestershire Libraries also supported the Holiday Activity and Food Programme, which helps keep children fed and active through the summer break by working with South Gloucestershire Playscheme, Juice Community Project, Unique Voice and Fit for Sport to bring the Summer Reading Challenge to children taking part across the district.”
- Suffolk – Lowestoft Library joins the Wild Mural Trail – Suffolk Libraries. “The heron is the seventh in a series of murals painted by street artist ATM in the town on prominent buildings. “
- Over £2,000 raised from successful cycle fundraising challenge – Suffolk Libraries. “Four keen cyclists took part in the Skyline London to Brighton cycle challenge on Sunday 11 September to raise money for Suffolk Libraries.”
- Tower Hamlets – Bethnal Green Library 100 Years Celebrations – Idea Store. “We will hold author talks, art events and other activities to show the outstanding impact Bethnal Green Library has given to our community over the last 100 years.”
- West Berkshire – Over 3,000 children took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge – West Berkshire Council. “2,969 children visited a West Berkshire library to take part in the challenge to read six books over the summer holidays, while over 200 more joined in digitally via the Summer Reading Challenge website. All of the children who completed their challenge received a certificate and a medal to celebrate their achievement. There were also 421 pre-school children that took part in a Mini Challenge and 751 people that took part in the Grown-Ups2! challenge. Those who completed the grown-ups challenge were entered into a prize draw to win a wifi tablet. “
- West Lothian – West Lothian author discusses mental health and drug addiction at library event – Edinburgh Live. “This event is part of West Lothian Council Library Service’s ‘Libraries can Do It’ project, which is supported by the Scottish Government Public Library COVID Recovery Fund.”
- Worcestershire – Library numbers up to 12,500 visitors as Redditch labour group battle to save it – Redditch Standard. “Plans put forward by Redditch’s Towns Fund Board – and backed with £4.2million in Government money – would see the current library building demolished and the facility re-located, with Redditch Town Hall the lead candidate as its new venue.”
- Libraries hosting activities to celebrate Libraries Week – Evesham Observer. “a wide variety of activities will be taking place for children, businesses and Shared Connections groups.”
- Wrexham – Community ‘warm places’ coming to Wrexham libraries – The Leader. ““Initially, the warm places will be our libraries, but we’re hoping to add more community buildings as we progress. Anyone who wants to, is very welcome to come inside to be warm and comfortable in a friendly environment. These are very worrying times for many people, and we hope the warm places can help to ease some of the pressure our communities are feeling.””
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