Hack-ney
Editorial
A reasonably quiet week this week, with the only storm cloud being Hackney’s decision to cut £250k from its budget, resulting in protests.
Changes by local authority
- Hackney – £250k cut from £5.6m
National news
- Book prices set to rise as production costs soar, say UK publishers – Guardian. “highly likely that book prices for consumers would have to increase “across all formats” by 10 to 20%.”
- Evaristo and Cadwalladr among 2022 Honorary Fellowship – CILIP. Author, journalist, Bodleian librarian, lecturer.
- Mark My Words – Universal Music Group and The Reading Agency gift books by Black authors to libraries across the UK – Reading Agency. “The titles, including both fiction and non-fiction books for both children and adults, will be donated to local authority hubs across the UK.”
- PMLG Teachmeet 2022 – CILIP. Friday 11 November, all day, West Yorkshire.
- Scotland’s top libraries crowned as ‘outstanding contributions’ recognised – Yahoo. “East Lothian were given the Library Service Excellence award while the team from Inverclyde won Project of the year for their work around COP26.”
- UK councils slashing services to meet £3.2bn budget shortfall – Guardian. “Libraries and children’s centres are closing and home pick-ups for young disabled people being cancelled as councils try to meet a £3.2bn budget shortfall next year.” Library closures in Wirral cited as an example.
International news
- Australia – Newcastle City Library, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia – Library Planet.
- Global – Arenas for conflict or cohesion? Rethinking public libraries as potentially democratic spheres – Information Research. Swedish academic study. “If the notion of libraries as promoters of democracy and inclusion shall not result in upholding the status quo, we must go beyond what we know and make room for pluralistic communities and agonistic conflicts.”
- The impact and concept of public libraries in the twenty-first century – Information Research. Japanese study on Danish library.
- Social reading and the public sphere in Nordic public libraries: a comparative study – Information Research. “The results establish a need for further research on social reading in public libraries, especially concerning the types and nature of activities generally included in social reading and the extent digital solutions are used.”
- Canada – Libraries & Lizards: Playing D&D at Public Libraries Program Framework – YA Hotline. “This program was developed specifically for a group of 3-5 players ages 15 to 18.”
- Norway – Promoting public libraries as democratic spaces through governmental and municipal library strategies: Norwegian library strategies post 2014 law changes – Information Research. Japanese study.
- USA -Digital Resource Use and Accessibility in Public Libraries: A Survey Report – University of Southern California.
- Florida Puts Raging MAGA Moms on Book-Banning Council – Daily Beast. Moves towards more censorship in the Sunshine State.
- Libraries Can Unite a Lonely, Divided Nation – Bloomberg. “But there’s one institution that has long bolstered communities in an open and democratic way: America’s libraries.”
- “No One Told Me:” A Dialog on Preparing Public Librarians to Provide Social Services in Public Libraries – ALISE (PDF). “Findings reveal that the inclusion of social work interview skills, de-escalation training, knowledge of social service resources, and instruction on how to collaborate with and supervise social workers would better prepare students for the realities of working in public libraries.”
Warm banks
- Cheshire East – Cheshire East Council launches ‘Warm Places’ scheme – Cheshire East Council. Includes libraries.
- Cornwall – Libraries in Cornwall warm spaces for residents – Packet.
- North Yorkshire – North Yorkshire libraries to be warm banks as Scarborough Council allocates £10k to support community organisations – Scarborough News.
Local news by authority
- Brent – Transforming Brent Libraries – Author House. Book: “The transformation of Brent libraries was a successful example of public service reform leading to improved outcomes despite a drop in budgets of almost 20%. As such it has been praised by staff in other authorities as well as in government literature . Yet it was extraordinarily controversial. “
- Coventry – Coventry library book returned 84 years late – BBC. Yay.
- Derbyshire – Sandiacre crash leaves car embedded in library – BBC. “A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences following the crash shortly before 07:30 GMT on Sunday.”
- Devon – Local libraries announce movie nights throughout November – North Devon Council. “Libraries across Devon are providing warm spaces this winter, to help provide support for people struggling with rising costs of energy and food. Some are also providing community fridges with free food available, and some have coat rails for people to donate winter coats for others to use.”
- North Devon libraries sign up for free condom scheme – North Devon Gazette. “Devon Sexual Health is delighted to announce that Libraries Unlimited is supporting its C-Card scheme which gives young people aged 13-24 access to free condoms. Libraries Unlimited is now trialling three of its libraries as drop-in sites where existing C-Card holders can pick up condom packs.”
- Dorset – Consultation on Dorset libraries – Dorset Echo. “Dorset Council has launched the second phase of public consultation to inform how the authority develops and delivers the library service in the future with users and non-users all being asked to share their views.”
- East Riding – Get involved in voting for the Booktrust Storytime Prize at East Riding Libraries – East Riding Council.
- Hackney – ‘Absolute disgrace’: Protesters hit out at council plan to cut library jobs – with union set to vote on strike action – Hackney Citizen. “Hackney Council is looking at cutting 76 roles, including weekend assistants, but will create 57 new jobs, putting some people on higher grades and increasing wages and training. It spends £3m a year on staff costs out of a budget of £5.6m and said it needs to save £250,000.”
- Leeds – Rare Book Laced With Deadly Poison Found in a U.K. Library – Inside Edition. “Senior librarian, Rhian Isaac, discovered the copy of “My Own Garden: The Young Gardener’s Yearbook” on the shelves in Leeds Central Library after finding it in the database of The Poison Book Project”
- North Yorkshire – Photo exhibition with powerful message set to tour libraries – North Yorkshire Council. “North Yorkshire’s libraries, said: “This exhibition had a great impact in Skipton and we are really pleased this amazing work will now be seen by a wider audience across the county.””
- ‘Anti-slip slippers’ for older people at Cross Hills event – Keighley News. “The session is one of a series being staged by the county’s libraries service, in conjunction with North Yorkshire Sport and other partners, to help prevent falls amongst the elderly. Loose or worn slippers are a common cause of falls”
- Building society opens new branch in Knaresborough Library – Stray Ferret.
- Northern Ireland – 100 Places for 100 Years of the BBC – Story Maps. “you’ll recognise Belfast Central Library featuring as police HQ in ‘Line of Duty’.”
- Peterborough – Peterborough libraries offer amnesty on fines to recover 22,000 missing books – Guardian. “holding a fine amnesty to try to recover 22,000 missing books. The service, which runs 10 libraries across the area, will not fine anyone for returning overdue books and will clear accounts of debt.”
- Reading – Over 20 complaints made to Reading Libraries about drag story time which was targeted by protestors – Get Reading. “these fringe groups have threatened the company with “thousands” of protestors before, so the fact that only 23 people complained, suggests that they like to exaggerate how many people form part of their group. “
Sheffield – Take ya pick-er! Litter picking equipment now available in local libraries – Sheff News. “Litter pickers, bags and gloves will now be readily available in many local libraries in Sheffield, ensuring that litter picking is more accessible and allowing more people to proactively look after their neighbourhoods. The Council will coordinate the distribution of the equipment to community libraries, after new stock is delivered by Amey to the Central Library.” - Shropshire – Shropshire libraries take Poetry on Loan to reading group – Shropshire Council. “Members of a hospital reading group enjoyed a session with award-winning writer Kenton Samuels through Shropshire Council libraries service’s Poetry on Loan partnership.”
- Science proves children’s reading scheme engineered success in Shropshire – Shropshire Council. “In total 3,302 children in the county signed up to meet the Gadgeteers and rise to the reading challenge while also enjoying access to a range of free materials available from Shropshire’s libraries and online. Events and activities based around the challenge attracted 3,789 visitors, and across the county a staggering 40,052 items were borrowed from libraries and online; and 508 children joined the library to take part.”
- South Lanarkshire – Lanarkshire library becomes ‘go-to’ place for locals unable to access social care services from home – Daily Record. “Locals will be able to attend appointments remotely at Biggar Library which becomes a ‘go-to’ place for video consultations if home is not an option.”
- Staffordshire – Changes and improvements are on the cards for five Staffordshire libraries. – Express and Star. “Burton Library could have a “maker space” and improvements to its audience area for events if a funding bid proves successful, while Cannock’s facility may move to a new town centre “cultural hub” as part of regeneration plans boosted by a £20m Government Levelling Up windfall. To the north of the county another Levelling Up Fund application is being made and proposals include transforming the Nicholson Institute, which is home to Leek Library. Tamworth’s library building is set to welcome Staffordshire County Council staff currently based at Marmion House, And in Kidsgrove discussions are taking place with the Town Deal Board for the library to be involved in the Kidsgrove Shared Service Hub.”
- Suffolk – Woodbridge Library launches new STEM books collection – East Anglian Daily Times. “Woodbridge Library will now have in its selection 50 books for 8–10-year-olds that cover the subjects of science, technology engineering and maths. The library hosted the free library science fun day that included Lego building challenge with prizes, marshmallow 3D shape-building, display and experiments by ‘It’s all Rocket Science’, as well as mega blok mayhem. “
- Wandsworth – Holocaust-denying bishop holds hate services in London library – Jewish Chronicle. “The notorious Holocaust-denier Bishop Richard Williamson has been conducting rabidly antisemitic “services” in a London library, the JC has discovered. The cleric, who is a founding member of a fringe Catholic movement called the Society of St Pius X Resistance, also has a YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers.” … “Earlsfield Library, where Williamson held his services for almost a decade, is owned by GLL, a charitable social enterprise. After being contacted by the JC, a spokesperson said the bishop’s comments were “disgraceful and unacceptable”. They added: “We have terminated all the group’s bookings with immediate effect.””
- Wirral – Wirral library faces demolition amid £20m budget cuts – BBC. Higher Bebington – “A decision on the demolition has been postponed until the new year when other options will be presented at a committee meeting on 25 January.”
- Two libraries saved as council moves to let community groups take over – Liverpool Echo. “Pensby Library will move into the hands of Pioneer People and Prenton Library into the hands of St Stephens’ Church after councillors gave the go ahead for final talks.”
- Worcestershire – Public consultation for Redditch Library relocation gets go ahead – Redditch Advertiser. “Residents will now get the chance to have their say on proposals to relocate the library from its current site into the Town Hall which will be transformed into a community hub.”
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about 2 years ago
The PLR calculation implies that public library lending (of both print and eBooks) fell by 64% during the Covid lockdowns
At the same time we know that reading of books increased both for pleasure and for education
Funding of public libraries was not reduced during lockdowns.
about 2 years ago
Just a word of caution on those figures (“public library lending … fell by 64% during the Covid lockdown”).
I saw a significant number of library services describe during the pandemic that they were auto-renewing loans, rather than letting them go overdue. Both PLR and CIPFA count renewals and issues together (creating a combined ‘loans’ figure).
I’ve always thought this was a bit of nonsense, as choosing a book and borrowing it is in no way the same as simply renewing it for a little extra time, or in the case of the pandemic, the library service setting up auto-renewal policies.
So, the figure is probably “at least 64%, but it could also be 80% or 90%, ignoring books being renewed”.
about 2 years ago
Dave
Of course you are right – library lending of print and eBooks probably fell by 80-90% during the pandemic.
All the polemic (propaganda) about how successful libraries were, particularly with eBooks, was nonsense. Somebody should tell the DCMS and Libraries Connected …. tim
about 2 years ago
It is perhaps worth remembering that library doors were physically locked shut during this period so a fall in print lending is perhaps, well, to be expected.
about 2 years ago
Ian – yes of course, but during the pandemic other book providers found ways of offering home delivery and collection to the extent that, as we know, book reading went up, not down. Both for pleasure and for education.
Libraries were not starved of funds.
The library websites and delivery services were and are very poor. Within library management there is no mechanism for change that brings improvement.
For once let’s admit the truth – instead of always defending – and set about making improvements.
about 2 years ago
Tim, a lot of library staff were moved – as you know – to other council support services. I myself spent half my time phoning people shielding to make sure they were still OK. For once let’s admit the truth – instead of always attacking – and accept that public libraries are not private companies.
about 2 years ago
Just because libraries aren’t ‘private companies’ doesn’t mean that they should not be able to organise themselves in order to provide the service that the public needs
I’m not attacking – I’m pointing out the truth, without which management will not face its problems
The figures that there are imply that use of public libraries is now 5% of what it was 20 years ago; the mechanism for producing data has stopped, because libraries would not comply with the requirements. There is no evidence of significantly rising use after the pandemic.
In England the public library service is a disastrous failure – and yet the public are paying a fortune for it. And a large part of that has come because no one will tell the truth about what has happened.
about 2 years ago
Library staff were often redirected, because they were council assets, during lockdowns. Despite this, there was a major pivot towards digital resources. It’s hard to tell what else they could have done? Remember, libraries were literally prohibited from opening. As such, I’m not surprise locked libraries were at a lower level than when they were (ahem) open 20 years ago.
Obviously you call public libraries “a disastrous failure” is not attacking in any way. Um … what would you define as an attack by the way?
I would agree library data has to be significantly improved. As you know, Tim, you were basically the only private individual that could afford the ridiculously expensive CIPFA statistics beforehand. And CIPFA produce them late, without checking, and without any requirement for services to actually return them. In my opinion, this is not going to change until the Government forces change. But of course they are showing no sign of doing so.
Right, no more replies from me for your comments from now on, on this post but I will of course approve your, um, “pointings out of the truth” (hints of “Fake News” there, Tim, watch yourself) if you choose to continue.