Written out

Editorial

The recent controversy over the rewriting of Roald Dahl’s books to make them more politically correct, which may or may not have been just a publicity stunt, has got me thinking even more about where we should stand on censorship. And it is censorship, pure and simple. Look at the definition of the word if you’re not sure.

My views on this have changed and hardened recently. The thing is I like being politically correct and, as any reader will gather from my editorials, my views are left of centre. But I think we need to be firm on some things. If one starts changing words then it means that written words can be changed. The moral high ground is lost and it’s harder to work out what was actually said or meant. Freedom of speech is taken away from the dead. And, maybe, if we refuse to recognise this as a line in the sand, then there are others lines we may not notice until it is too late.

My first degree was in History, fascinating subject (let me know if you want a chat on Later Roman military formations) but part of the challenge is working out what actually happened. Far from being the preservers of ancient knowledge like many of us were taught in school, the Early Christians destroyed by some estimates over 95% of pagan writing and a surprising amount of what is left is just extracts in Christian texts of the time, often included solely in order to rebut them. That was a historic catastrophe, in at least two different ways. What I am saying is that the writings of authors need to be kept the same in order to accurately judge them. If they fall out of favour of the times then let them. Of course, as librarians our influence is highly limited (profit wins every time) but at the very least we should not welcome such changes. Or we will be judged in the future for it. That is, unless librarians are written out of history when it is politically correct to do so.

Changes by local authority

• Cheshire East – Opening hours cut
• Rotherham – Mowbray Gardens Library and Brinsworth Community Library have staffless opening hours.

National news

• I hate library phone boxes. By Katrina Robinson – The Oldie. “I’m a librarian – so people think I should love it when people put any old books in any old crate and label it ‘Library’. They think I’m blaspheming against mighty Thoth, the Egyptian god of reading, when I tell them how I feel. I feel the way any worth-her-salt GP would feel if she spotted a rusty first-aid box by the side of the road, with ‘Hospital’ emblazoned all over it – while real hospitals were closing or becoming semi-open ‘community hospitals’ staffed by unqualified volunteers.”

Although there have been library closures, an extensive network of libraries remains across England delivering services including digital to local residents. There has been no assessment made of the impact of library closures on trends in the level of digital exclusion. There are over 2,900 libraries across England, and while there have been closures, they continue to be a well used service, providing a trusted network of accessible locations with trained staff and volunteers, free wifi and public PCs, and assisted digital access to a wide range of digital services.

Based on a dataset of information on public libraries in England, published by Arts Council England, we estimated that around 230 static libraries have been permanently closed in the period 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2021 and have not been relocated or replaced.”

Paul Scully, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Science Innovation and Technology

• Improving the online presence of public libraries with a new grants programme – British Library / Living Knowledge. “The first stage of the LibraryOn digital grants programme will kick off on 1 March 2023. From this date we’ll be inviting library services in England to submit an Expression of Interest form outlining their initial ideas for a funded project.”
• Julia Donaldson ends James Patterson’s reign as UK libraries’ most borrowed author – Guardian. “Patterson had been the most borrowed author for 14 years in the Public Lending Right (PLR) data” … “All of the Top 10 most borrowed titles for the period were fiction, with crime and thriller titles dominating. Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club and its sequel The Man Who Died Twice were in at numbers one and two on the chart, and held the same positions on the most borrowed audiobooks chart.”

• Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) Round 3 – Arts Council England. £10.5m. “This fund will enable library services across England to invest in a range of projects to upgrade buildings and technology so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people are using them.”
• The old book shop going to auction with hundreds of books inside – Wales Online. Nothing to do with public libraries but oh my gosh the books …
• Radio 2 Book Club Library Staff Opportunity – BBC Radio 2. “We’re looking for librarians to join the Radio 2 Book Club panel, to help choose the books that will feature on the show.”
• Shortlist announced for Libraries Connected Awards 2023 – Libraries Connected. “The Awards have six categories which reflect the Universal Library Offers (ULOs) and Promises – the core services and programmes that modern library services provide.”
• A sociological exploration of the library – Glasgow Guardian. “Cicero once said: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” While students may have to replace a garden with a daily walk through Kelvingrove Park, our own private libraries are flourishing. Perhaps at the expense of the public good that public libraries provide.”

International news

• Czech Republic – Sustainability in Czech Libraries – CILIP. Webinar, March 22 Wednesday 5pm. ” established SDGs in Czech librarianship and empowered dozens of libraries to become pioneers of sustainable development topics in their communities.”
• South Korea – Exploring the Innovative Community Libraries of Korea – Publishers Weekly. “there is no future for libraries—instead, there are many diverse futures, futures diverse as the communities libraries are designed to serve. And in these futures, librarians shape their libraries around these unique communities, diverse in demographics, needs, capabilities, and locations.” … “Fair warning, these libraries really cannot be replicated. What makes them work is that they are all hand made for their unique communities. “
• USA – Confronting white nationalism in libraries: a toolkit – Western States Center. “This toolkit is designed to help readers counter multiple forms of organized bigotry. This includes organizing that draws on anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous bigotry, anti-immigrant bigotry, anti-Muslim bigotry, antisemitism, misogyny, and anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry.”

Local news by authority

• Bradford – Virtual reality will allow library visitors to step into city’s past – Telegraph and Argus. “There will be six Virtual Reality experiences available using a virtual reality headset and members of the public can expect to find themselves experiencing life as a rebellious teenager as she discovers her mother’s punk past – or they can take part in one of the many South Asian daytime raves that took place across the UK in the 1980s and 1990s, and hear what earlier generations thought life would be like today.”
• Brighton and Hove – Plan to close library on Saturdays released as result of ‘administrative error’ – Yahoo News. “Mr Hawtree, who plans to stand again for the Greens in Central Hove at the local elections in May, said: “Glad to say that reports of a closing day at Hove’s Carnegie Library hours are misplaced. We need hours, librarians – and good book stocks.””
  • Fight to save library threatened with closure as part of council cost cutting plans – Yahoo News. “Two Independent councillors are trying to save a library from closure as the council prepares to decide a number of cuts in its budget for the coming financial year. North Portslade councillors Anne Pissaridou and Peter Atkinson are battling to keep Mile Oak Library open.”
• Buckinghamshire – Bucks libraries fines amnesty set to end soon – Bucks Free Press. The public will be fined again for not returning books by a specified time from 28 February.
• Beaconsfield Community Association fights to keep library newspapers – Bucks Free Press. “The Beaconsfield Community Association has continued to pay for copies of Bucks Free Press and The Week at Beaconsfield Library. The move comes after Buckinghamshire Council discontinued hardcopies of newspapers and magazines at Council-run libraries following a survey it ran in August last year. The Council cited an increase in the use of digital newspapers and magazines as a reason for the change.”
• Cambridgeshire – Cambridgeshire Libraries’ talk on LGBT history proves the importance of remembering – Cambridge News.
• Cardiff – Protesters march through Cardiff to oppose plans for St David’s Hall and libraries – Wales Online. “Protesters marched through Cardiff city centre on Saturday afternoon to oppose plans to cut spending on beloved cultural institutions. Cardiff council’s recent budget consultation survey laid out proposals to privatise St David’s Hall, close the Cardiff Story Museum and cut library opening hours.” … “Speeches from Welsh authors, musicians, conservationists, trade unionists and anti-austerity campaigners followed, including children’s author and poet Mike Church and Alice Shing, who was integral in the campaign to save Cardiff’s Roath library in 2015. Ms Shing spoke of the benefits public libraries offer to new mums, young families and people vulnerable to mental health problems.”
• Cheshire East – Cheshire East hoping reduced library hours will be temporary – Knutsford Guardian. “The proposal to reduce the opening hours and to close on Saturdays met with an angry response from the public during the consultation period. As a result the proposal to close on Saturdays was dropped. At Wednesday’s meeting of the full council, when the budget was approved, Cllr Mick Warren, chair of the environment and communities committee, said: “By reducing the opening hours in our libraries we will be able to make substantial savings in this year’s budget and help balance the MTFS (mid-term financial strategy 2023-7).”
  • Public anger aired over CEC plan to reduce library opening times – Nantwich News. “Apart from issuing books, [the libraries] already process blue badges, bus pass applications, take council payments, undertake DBS checks for taxi drivers, verify evidence for benefit applicants, take homeless enquiries and, of course, signpost residents to other sources of help,” he said. “By increasing our offer of services in libraries in future years, I believe this will enable them to return to full-time hours as has happened in other authorities.””
• Cheshire West and Chester – CWAC libraries ready for World Book Day 2023 – So Counties. “Library teams have been busy organising fancy dress swap events and are now getting ready to exchange thousands of new books on Saturday 4th March. The vouchers will be given out for free to children in schools, nurseries and other settings across the borough on Thursday 2nd March 2023, which is World Book Day.”
• Derby – Roar-some reads for all the family – Derby Council. “Let’s go on a dinosaur discovery adventure with Derby Libraries’ Big Family Read. Join in from Mon 20 Feb to Sat 1 Apr with the Roar-some reading theme of dinosaurs! This reading challenge aims to encourage families across Derby with children aged three to 11, to read for fun with events, activities, and a book competition.”
• East Lothian – New app for library users allows you to choose your next book ‘on the move’ – East Lothian Council. Spydus.
• East Riding – Flotsam and Jetsom wash up in East Riding Libraries at Willerby, Haltemprice, and North Bridlington in March – East Riding Council. Lempen Puppet Theatre.  Adult £6, Children £3.
• Gloucestershire – Gloucestershire libraries to celebrate World Book Day – Gloucester Bid. Author events, fancy dress.
• Greenwich – Free mobile sim card boost for hard-up Greenwich residents – London News Online. “sim cards to eligible residents through Greenwich Supports, the council’s cost of living campaign, and the Good Things Foundation, which promotes digital access for the disadvantaged.  “
• Gwynedd – Council invests cash in library services – Cambrian News. £60,000 from the Welsh Government’s Library Transformation Capital Fund. “a space to better display books and the public computer section has been moved. The Children’s Section has been transformed” … “Petha Penygroes service has been launched at Penygroes Library. ‘Petha’ is a new project in Gwynedd which seeks to establish a Library of Things in three communities throughout the county,”
• Haringey – Alexandra Park Library to reopen following improvement works – Haringey Council. “Library users will benefit from an improved and more accessible local library with a new lift, accessible toilets, new lighting, IT upgrades and redecoration of all interior spaces, including a revamped children’s library. A new electric piano has also been installed as part of Haringey Council’s partnership with Casio to introduce electric pianos in all the borough’s libraries”
• Inverclyde – Port Glasgow Library closing for maintenance work – Inverclyde Council.
• Jersey – Library launches new pet therapy scheme – BBC. “Staff said the event on Thursday was a success, and hope it will become a regular service. Run by Therapy Dogs Nationwide, their work is aimed at helping people with loneliness, anxiety and stress by sharing time with the animals. Ed Jewell, chief librarian, said “anyone can pop along” – and pick up a book at the same time.”
• Kirklees – World Book Day 2023 Live Lesson comes to Batley Library – Kirklees Council. “Production company The Connected Set will be at Batley Library on Wednesday 01 March, when the library is usually closed, for rehearsals before the live lesson is broadcast the next day.  The library will be closed to the public on Thursday 2 March for filming. The Library will reopen on Friday 3 March for business as usual.”
• Lambeth – Smart borrowing for jobseekers – Love Lambeth. “Brixton Library and ihateironing laundry and drycleaning service have relaunched their partnership to help low-income residents dress for success in  job interviews.”
• Lancashire – Kirkham Library temporarily shuts its doors for roof repairs – Lancashire Council. “The temporary closure is due to essential repair work being undertaken on the roof of the library. This is to allow stage one of a two-stage repair of the roof to take place.”
• Manchester – Manchester rated ‘Excellent’ by UNESCO as a Creative City of Literature – University of Manchester. “The city’s annual week-long Festival of Libraries was described as “a most impressive initiative… [attracting] great attention both locally and internationally”. “
• North Somerset – Join the celebration at North Somerset libraries this World Book Day – North Somerset Council. “Children who have not received a £1 World Book Day token at school will be able to collect one from their local library. Children aged up to four years old will be able to collect a free book at a North Somerset library when they borrow books on their library card.” Themed rhymetimes and storytimes.
• North Yorkshire – Join online library chat with best-selling thriller writer – North Yorkshire Council. Simon Scarrow.
  • North Yorkshire Under-Fives week: Libraries to host events – Gazette Herald.
  • Scarborough Man’s Club Find Temporary Home as Library Closes – This Is The Coast. “£450,000 will be spent on Scarborough Library during a major refit which will include work to the Children’s Library, a new IT area and a community and exhibition space.”
• Northern Ireland – Celebrate World Book Day 2023 with Libraries NI – News Letter. Events.
• Nottinghamshire – New £741,000 Library Learning Facility for Nottinghamshire town – West Bridgford Wire. “The Library Learning Facility project is one of six regeneration projects being funded through the £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund. The existing town library, owned by the County Council, and run by Inspire will be remodelled, creating more space for new entry level skills education and training, allowing residents with little or no formal qualifications to take their first step, within their local community, on their lifelong learning journey.”
• Portsmouth – Portsmouth librarian shortlisted for prestigious national award – Portsmouth Council. Libraries Connected Awards: “Portsmouth librarian, Julie Duffy, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award for the innovative work she has undertaken in Portsmouth City Council’s libraries for over 20 years, making them more accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired.”
• Rotherham – Rotherham: Libraries begin self-service trial – BBC. “Mowbray Gardens Library and Brinsworth Community Library in Rotherham will open on a self-serve basis at times when they would normally be closed.”
• Sheffield – Backlash over transgender cartoonist with a fetish for nappy art who is set to speak to teenage children and families at library about her book ‘The Best of Assigned Male’ – Mail. Conservative MP and newspaper furious at adult author event where 13+ can attend. see also Sophie Labelle Sheffield: Trans cartoonist who made ‘diaperfur’ art responds to MP’s concerns over event at library – Star. “Ms Labelle previously tweeted: “I made some diaperfur art. I have a kink I indulge responsibly and I refuse to be shamed for it. The people shoving my art and my life into everyone’s face are bad-faith actors looking for an excuse to attack a trans woman.”
• Solihull – Solihull librarian shortlisted for prestigious national award – Solihull Council. Libraries Connected Awards: “Solihull Heritage and Local Studies librarian Tracey Williams has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award which celebrates the achievements of library workers.”
• Stoke on Trent – Celebrate World Book Day at Stoke-on-Trent Libraries – Stoke On Trent Council. Storytimes.
• Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries’ wellbeing champions shortlisted for prestigious national award – Suffolk Libraries. Libraries Connected Awards: “Laura Parker, Suffolk Libraries’ Director of People and Culture, and Jane Cox, Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager have been jointly shortlisted under the Health & Wellbeing category for their work to coordinate and energise Suffolk Libraries Wellbeing Champions staff group.”
  • Paws-itivity campaign gets a big boost from a mystery local artist and a new sponsor – Suffolk libraries. “The Hat has generously created and donated a wonderful piece of Labrador-shaped artwork called Cyril, wearing a signature style hat. Suffolk Libraries are hoping the sale of the artwork will boost the total money raised when this and the dog sculptures are auctioned at Trinity Park on 12 October.”
• Swindon – Old Town Library 2017 to 2023 – Community Libraries Network. Volunteer library has increase in staff and loans. New library planned. Multiple events.
• Telford and Wrekin – iPad Lending Library comes to Newport – Telford and Wrekin Council. “Anyone over the age of 18 who has a Telford and Wrekin Library Card can borrow an iPad from Newport or Southwater Libraries, free of charge, for up to four weeks at a time. The loan also includes data too, so borrowers won’t incur any costs.” … “The Library iPad Lending Scheme is part of a wider project, supported by £326,000 funding as part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s £28million On Your Side investment, to address digital exclusion and help more people in the borough access the internet.”
• Warwickshire – Visit Warwickshire Libraries this half-term to enjoy a week packed full of children’s dinosaur-themed activities – Warwickshire Council.
• West Berkshire – ‘Staffing is so lean that casual cover is needed for every staff absence’ – Newbury Today. “West Berkshire’s libraries are at breaking point because of lack of funding and an over reliance on volunteer staff. A report to the council’s executive committee says the current funding model, which relies on voluntary contributions from parish and town councils in order to deliver a balanced budget, needs to be urgently reviewed. The libraries budget and staffing reduced in 2017 by 44 per cent. The revised budget for libraries was set at £1,046,000 for the new library service, a cut of £690,000.”
• Wiltshire – Wiltshire libraries provide warm space during cost-of-living crisis – Salisbury Journal. “So far more than 1,000 packs have been provided; each contains a hot water bottle, blanket and thermal mug.”. Council-funded.
• Wirral – Proposals to close Wirral libraries and playgrounds thrown out by councillors – Liverpool World. “The proposals will now be debated by all councillors on February 27 and looks likely to pass with support from the Liberal Democrats and the Greens who voted to move the budget forward with Labour.”
• Worcestershire – No market, library relocation and Parkinson’s audit – This weeks Redditch Standard letters – Redditch Standard / Letters. ” Mr Dormer has to listen to all of the residents of Redditch who are saying they do not want the library to be demolished. By moving it to the Town Hall, it is way from any meaningful footfall but most of all they will be diminishing the library space on one single reason – they have not allowed any space whatsoever for the provision of computers. But they are still saying that the space will increase.”