LibraryOn

Editorial

So now we know. After far-too-long-a-time calling the proposed web presence for English public libraries “The Single Digital Presence”, it’s been decided that the official name will be “LibraryOn”, presumably pronounced like “Librarian”. Well, it could be worse, it could have the word “hub” in it. The logo looks a bit dated to my eyes but, again, there’s far worse out there. And, yes, Libraries Connected, I’m looking at you. So now all that needs doing is to, um, actually deliver. LibraryOn is still in the beta testing stage and does not promise to be as universal as some had hoped but it will be great when it’s actually online and publicly advertised. I had wondered sometimes if that day will ever come, and still do occasionally, but this is a vital next stop.

In other news, Arts Council England have announced big funding decisions, securing BookTrust and boosting library services such as Gloucestershire and York Explore. That’s all good. Elsewhere, I’m loving the pavement illusion in Dublin, a new wood-lined interior for a library in London and the adult reading scheme in Nottinghamshire (especially the video). And, finally, Warm Spaces continues to be a huge thing for libraries, with more services announced, although some just seem to be the normal public library offer.

Finally, a new DCMS report says positive things about public libraries. We will see what this means in practise but it at least doesn’t suggest negative stuff. And at a time when councils are again looking at deep cuts, this is welcome.

Changes by local authority

• Cumbria – Millom Community Hub / Library opens.

National news

• BookTrust awarded £17.3m and recognised as National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England – Book Trust. “BookTrust’s new status as an NPO is an endorsement of the transformative power of reading and an investment in the creative development of young people. The £17.3m funding from ACE, spread over three years, will play a key part in the national strategy to deliver better outcomes for children through culture and creativity.”
• East Lothian and Inverclyde libraries triumph at SLIC awards – Bookseller. “East Lothian scooped the Library Service Excellence Award for its activities on the theme of “championing the local community”.” … “Inverclyde triumphed in the Project of the Year category for its focus on sustainability ahead of and linked to the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year. “
• Government urged to negotiate with public sector workers over pay – Public Finance. ““We’ve got nurses, librarians and teaching assistants going to food banks – we’ve got a hospital that’s set one up for its staff. People can’t afford to feed their families. If I’d have said this would happen 10 years ago no-one would have believed me. That’s now a reality.””
• Green Libraries Webinar – CILIP. Friday 25 November, 1pm. “The Green Libraries Webinar is an hour long meet to showcase the recent work we have published for the Partnership. We will discuss the Partnership’s aims, what work is currently going on and what has taken place earlier this year. We will hear from two libraries that were featured in our case studies and what work they are doing for their library services to be more sustainable and have an impact in their communities. There will be a short Q+A towards the end.”
• Libraries Celebrating Black History Month – DCMS. “Each October, libraries across the country mark Black History Month through events and recommended reading.  Here are just a few examples.  It is a longer read than usual but we wanted to highlight the variety of activities libraries run to bring together their communities.”: Staffordshire, Gateshead, West Sussex.
• Library chiefs call for DCMS to ‘stem the tide’ of service cuts – BookSeller. “Library chiefs have called for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to “stem the tide” of service closures and staff cuts by providing more support, with several libraries across the country under threat due to rising inflation and increased energy costs. Nick Poole, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP), told The Bookseller the organisation is “deeply concerned about the current fresh wave of reductions in library services being proposed in a number of local authorities, including some of the most deprived wards in the UK”.”

• LibraryOn – LibraryOn. “LibraryOn is a not-for-profit initiative and we put libraries and library ethics at our heart. Funded by Arts Council England, LibraryOn is also managing a £1.1m local grant programme. Co-designed with library services, the grants will help libraries improve their own online presence. While LibraryOn is in development, we will provide information here about its progress.”
• New drive to get books by black authors into libraries – Voice. “The ‘Mark My Words’ campaign will gift libraries titles for both adults and children and will include both fiction and non-fiction books by black authors. “
• Parliamentary report calls for government to support and modernise libraries – Guardian. “Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee report says libraries are ‘an important part of a community’s infrastructure’” … “The report, titled Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda put together by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, recommends that the government should “support the development of a network of hubs providing cultural spaces, workspaces and free, fast internet access in places most in need of levelling up in order to modernise library service provision”
• UK councils slashing services to meet £3.2bn budget shortfall – Guardian. Libraries specifically mentioned, with the example being the Wirral.
• The Yorkshire libraries where you can borrow anything from power tools to party supplies – Great British Life. “this library lends everything from hand tools and powertools, to sewing machines, lawn mowers, carpet cleaners, ladders, party supplies, camping equipment and air mattresses — anything that people use infrequently (say once a month or longer) but would otherwise have to buy new and store at home.”

International news

• USA – Book banners are weaponizing legitimate resources: book censorship news, October 28, 2022 – Book Riot. “Part of the reason these book banning attempts are spreading so far and so quickly is because they share lists online, such as in Facebook groups or shared Google Drive folders, making it easy for a book being banned in Montana today to pop up in a California school board meeting the next day. They share images, rhetoric, out-of-content quotations, and other fodder for the fear machine, and it seems to only collect more targeted books as it goes.” … “Book banners are searching out lists online that are aimed at finding good sources to teach age-appropriate sex ed, or lists of books starring Black main characters, or lists of LGBTQ-friendly picture books, or lists of books to teach social-emotional learning — and they’re using these resources as book banning target practice.”
  • Library Launches a Locally Sourced Music Streaming Platform – EveryLibrary. ” Known as Crescent City Sounds, this platform features 30 local albums spanning genres like brass, soul, hip-hop, jazz, and more. Better yet, the service is free.”

Warm Spaces

• Calderdale – Cost of living: Calderdale libraries double up as ‘warm banks’ this winter – Halifax Courier. “As well as warmth, each site will be offering warm refreshments and free activities.”
• Essex – A Warm Welcome awaits this winter at Essex Libraries – Essex Council. “Additional support will include extra clubs and activities such as advice sessions, arts and crafts and a homework club”

“They think they’re just having fun. That’s very important – children don’t need to know their parents are stressed”

Alexandra Mitchell, 28, on visiting Chelmsford Library

• Cost of living: ‘My children have no idea we’re here to keep warm’ – BBC. Essex. “Having a regular place you know your child can explore and be safe, and be entertained and be warm, is really important,” she says. As a single parent, she cannot afford to take them to a café or to soft play, because everything is “extortionate” at the moment.” …. “Adult education provider, ACL Essex, is working with the library to offer free courses on how to save money on energy bills and cooking on a budget.” … “part of £50m of funding that we [the council] have set aside”
• Lambeth – Lambeth: “Warm spaces” partnership plan to open libraries & community centres for people struggling to heat their homes – Love Lambeth. “Fourteen warm spaces have already opened in the borough including in all our Libraries, and Lambeth is opening more in community centres, estates, and faith groups across the borough. They will also offer a range of services suitable for the space including welfare, debt, income, benefits, and health advice, blood pressure checks, activities for children and others.”
• Norfolk – Norfolk Libraries to provide free warm spaces during the cold winter months – Norfolk Live. Libraries across Norfolk remain open for all and provide a space for people to sit in comfort and access a variety of services on offer. These include reading, doing a jigsaw, playing a board game, or joining in Just a Cuppa or activities.”
• Lincolnshire – Libraries across Lincolnshire becoming designated ‘warm spaces’ – Lincolnshire Live. “”In addition to expanding our activity sessions, we have also invested in more comfortable seating and are hugely grateful to Brakes for their generous donation of tea, coffee and biscuits.” Each library has extended its programme of activities, which now range from reading and crafting groups to board game sessions, yoga classes, and activities for parents and babies.”
• Newham – Council opens welcoming Warm Havens across Newham – Newham Council. “Operating according to the Warm Havens charter developed with residents and voluntary sector partners, the dedicated safe and inclusive spaces will give practical help for anyone needing respite due to the cost of living crisis.” includes 10 libraries.
• Portsmouth – Cost of living: Portsmouth opens up warm spaces – BBC. ” include community centres, libraries and churches”
• Southampton – Cost of living crisis – Where you can get a warm welcome in Southampton – Southampton Council. Libraries “Open to all during usual opening hours.” [! – Ed.]

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Spread some Christmas cheer and Gift A Book – Bath and North East Somerset Council. “Bath & North East Somerset Council’s libraries service is calling for donations of new or nearly new books for its Gift A Book campaign, which last Christmas saw around 3,500 books donated by residents and charities.”
• Brighton and Hove – Council cannot confirm there will be no cuts to libraries – Argus. ““This indicated potential budget shortfalls of £13 million in the best case, to £21 million at the midpoint, up to £31 million in a worst-case scenario,” said Councillor Martin Osborne, on behalf of the council.”
• Caerphilly – Popular ‘Managing Money’ event returns to Caerphilly library – Caerphilly Council. “The second Managing Money MOT Day run on November 30th, will include a wide selection of organisations including Caerphilly School Uniform Exchange, Citizen’s Advice, Furniture Revival and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and is looking to replicate its success from September.  There will also be a fantastic budget cooking demonstration with Mrs Shopland, who – along with her talented A-Level Hospitality students from St Martin’s School – will be showing what can be done with Christmas leftover food.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – Northwich Library stabilisation work begins this week – Northwich and Winsford Guardian. “Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) has engaged historic building conservation specialist Recclesia Ltd to undertake the first phase of the work.  They will be working alongside structural engineers, specialist scaffolding engineers, Historic England and qualified health and safety advisors.”
• Cumbria – Millom Community Hub opens with new library for town – ITV. “The Millom Community Hub will now host a library and the town’s adult learning, health and wellbeing team. Copeland Borough Council and Millom School reception will also be based in the hub. New technology and free Wi-Fi has been installed at the library, as well as shelving and a comfortable seating area. A dedicated space for teenagers and a children’s library is also part of the new hub.”

• Derbyshire – Sandiacre: Car still embedded in library 24 hours after crash – BBC. “A car that drove through a library wall is still embedded within books 24 hours after the crash in Derbyshire. The building, at the junction of Albert Road and Doncaster Avenue in Sandiacre, was badly damaged on Sunday morning. The vehicle remains inside while structural engineers assess the extent of damage to the building.”
• East Riding – ‘The Pirates of Christmas Island’: A brand new festive family musical coming to East Riding Libraries – East Riding Council. “Tickets available now from £5.00 (babes in arms go free)”
• Gloucestershire – £750,000 boost for Gloucestershire Libraries service from Arts Council – Glos News. “Gloucestershire Libraries will receive £250,000 a year over the three-year period to help continue its development to provide an ambitious and forward-thinking service for everyone in the county.”
• Guernsey – 140 years of the Guille-Allés Library – Bailiwick Express. “n 1882 they made the dream a reality, creating an iconic Guernsey institution that continues to serve the community today. The exhibition telling the story of the Guille-Alle´s Library opened last night with artefacts on show including one of the rarest, and most expensive books in the world. Visitors to the library can learn more about the origin story and view a vast collection of books and items including James Audubon’s The Birds of America – a collection of hand-coloured prints of every species of bird in North America. “

• Hertfordshire – Hertfordshire’s Community Libraries – Hertfordshire Council. List of the 13 libraries the council no longer pays staff for but instead relies on volunteers. “The county council library service still maintains the buildings, buys the stock, and keeps the IT systems up to date. Library teams provide lots of training and support, as do our highly skilled and committed volunteer steering groups.” …”Why not visit one of these lovely spaces this year?”
  • Hertfordshire Performing Arts Library – Hertfordshire Council.
• Kirklees – Kirklees Libraries first in the UK to win Quality 4 Health and Wellbeing award – Kirklees Together. “They have received the award in recognition of the work of frontline staff and volunteers to improve the health and wellbeing of residents through a targeted programme of outreach activities.”
• Norfolk -Books on wheels: Look back at Norfolk mobile libraries through the years – Eastern Daily Press. Pictures of the mobile library service in years past.
• North Yorkshire – Football fever is about to take over Harrogate library with the arrival of Harrogate Town AFC’s official mascot – North Yorkshire Council. “The library has teamed up with Harrogate Town AFC and Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation to host football-themed activities with prizes, and children can have their photograph taken with the mascot.”
  • Newcastle Building Society opens branch in Knaresborough library – York Press. ““The offer of financial services has significantly increased footfall into Knaresborough library and is encouraging new visitors through the doors.””
• Nottingham – No decision yet on closing three Nottingham libraries as campaigners demand clarity – Nottingham Post. “The authority first revealed at the start of the year that it was planning to close three libraries to save £233,000. But a “restructure of frontline services” means that £154,000 has already been saved to date and that shutting the three libraries would now only save £79,000.”

“With soaring inflation and rising costs in fuel, energy, food and mortgages, Nottingham City Libraries have clubbed together to host ‘Cost of Living Cafes’ in their libraries this November. This will give residents the opportunity to meet organisations who can help with energy use, money matters, wellbeing and much more. Plus, tea and coffee will be available as well as children’s activities.”. Free tea and coffee, lego and colouring for children.

Nottingham – Cafes bring communities together in cost of living crisis – Email update

• Powys – Could your child design the new library card for Powys? – Powys Council. “The competition is open to anyone aged between 4 and 16years old and will be split into two age categories: primary school children (aged 4-11), and secondary school children (aged 11-16), with a prize for the winner of each category. One of the winning designs will be chosen to create the new library membership card.”
• Shropshire – Library’s spooktacular success for Halloween – Shropshire Council. “A Halloween themed party at Market Drayton Library attracted more than 1,000 people through the doors to enjoy a host of seasonal activities – the biggest number ever. The annual Halloween event at the Shropshire Council-run library has gone strength to strength and more and more people are adding it to their social diaries. Hard-working staff and volunteers organised face-painting, games and crafts and a town trail to encourage people to get out and about and explore.”

• Solihull – 1921 census available for free at Solihull libraries – Solihull Council. “Residents who are not already library members can sign up at their local library for free – only proof of name and address are required. “
• Suffolk – Woodbridge Library launches new STEM book collection with Science Fun Day – Suffolk Libraries. “The books and the science event were funded by a generous donation by Brafe Engineering which has its head office in Woodbridge.”. 300 people attended Fun Day.
• Wakefield – Wakefield Council launches new programme for teens at library – Wakefield Express. “Reading Well For Teens” collection
• Waltham Forest – Studio Weave adds wood-lined community space to east London library – De Zeen. “Architecture practice Studio Weave has added a wood-lined community centre to Lea Bridge Library in east London, with a red-concrete colonnade that references the original grade II-listed redbrick building.”
• Warrington – Penketh library set to reopen following £120k refurb – Warrington Guardian. “The transformation of the Honiton Way building includes redeveloping the frontage, replacing external woodwork as well as improvements to the internal decoration and shelving of the LiveWire-run library.”
• Wiltshire – Gadgeteers boost Summer Reading Challenge in Wiltshire Libraries – Salisbury Journal. “The council says 6,206 children across Wiltshire registered for reading challenge – an increase of 39 per cent from 2021. And 3,831 of the children who registered returned to collect their final rewards which included a medal and certificate.”
• York – Arts Council funding boosts culture and creativity at Explore York Libraries and Archives – York Explore [press release]. “Over the next three years, as an Arts Council investment organisation, Explore will be funded to deliver opportunities for people to enjoy even more brilliant, fulfilling culture and creativity in our trusted, welcoming spaces. In these challenging times it matters now more than ever. Explore will be joining up with other Arts Council funded organisations in York – such as the Theatre Royal, Pilot Theatre, National Centre for E”arly Music, Next Door But One Theatre and York Museums Trust – to bring great cultural experiences into our libraries and unlock new creative talent.”