Neutrality and Challenges

Editorial

Like many, I have been caught up in the debate about the neutrality of the BBC. Like public libraries that august institution has a duty to neutrality and, like us, comes under pressure from time to time to be less than evenly balanced. And if the BBC sometimes finds this difficult then it’s potentially even harder for something like libraries, which are after all part of a service led by councillors, who are almost all of one political party or another. Ultimately, there’s little that can be done in such instances other than to quote stock policies, national or local, and hope. Unless there’s a well-known television commentator who notices of course.

There’s the usual mixture of good and bad news stories, and continuing rumours of deep cuts coming in some councils, but a story that can always be relied on is the news about the Summer Reading Challenge. This is the biggest promotion that most public library services ever do and has tremendous traction with the public, many of whom remember doing it themselves either as children or as parents. And, of course, the theme this year is sports and games, which ties in well with the Women’s World Cup coming up soon. Hang on, that means we may have tweets from footballers …

Changes by local authority

• Cumbria – Threatened libraries to stay open apart from Peter Street Library

Ideas

• Easter Egg donations for charity – Sandwell
• Public vote on which events to put on – Cambridgeshire.

National news

• Author Joanne Harris calls for more investment in libraries and the arts – Chester Standard. “Ms Harris, author of Chocolat, spoke out after receiving an OBE for services to literature from the Prince of Wales at a Windsor Castle investiture on Tuesday. After the ceremony, she praised William and the Queen Consort for championing causes that promote literacy in the UK, but called on the Government to do more.”
• LibraryOn Grants programme application guidance – LibraryOn.
• A love letter to local libraries – The Know. “while visits have increased by 68%, spending on UK libraries has fallen by 17%. This waning investment comes at a time when libraries are more crucial to our communities than ever before. There are very few places left where people can go to access information, meet others and keep warm – without needing to spend anything.”
• Majority of English councils plan more cuts at same time as maximum tax rises – Guardian. “At least 12 councils are on the edge of “effective bankruptcy”, the survey warns, as they struggle to meet their official obligation to balance their budget while trying to maintain legal minimum levels of core service provision, from adult social care to roads repair, libraries and homelessness.”
• Nooks take centre stage as libraries level up for the hybrid future – Specification Online. “We’ve really seen take-up of Nooks in libraries lift off, with 25 Nook installations in UK libraries and five new installations in the past month alone.”

• Open meeting on Sanderson inquiry into public libraries and Campaign AGM – Library Campaign / Eventbrite. “An open discussion on Baroness Sanderson’s inquiry into public libraries will be followed by the Library Campaign AGM” including guest speaker Isobel Hunter (Chief Executive, Libraries Connected)
  with LC’s analysis of the current library landscape. Saturday 25 March, 2 to 4pm. Unison HQ, London. Teams online option available if book online and say you’re planning to use Teams.
• The Reading Agency partners with Youth Sport Trust for Summer Reading Challenge 2023 – BookSeller. “The Reading Agency has revealed that this year’s Summer Reading Challenge will be “Ready, Set, Read!” The annual challenge encourages children to engage with books during the summer reading “dip”. According to the agency, it reached 723,184 children and families across the UK in 2022, with 608,015 children taking part through their local library service. This year, the agency – in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust – has the dual aim to keep children’s minds and bodies active over the summer break.”
• Should Public Libraries Double Down on Print Book Collections? – Publishers Weekly / Tim Coates. “The declines are serious and suggest that the library’s reputation as a vital community resource is in peril. How serious? I fear these trends could lead to the disintegration of U.S. public libraries within a generation if allowed to continue. And without strategic changes visible to the public, I believe they will continue. Take the U.K. as a cautionary tale … I believe that if just 6% of the money currently in the staff and management budget was spent instead on books, we would begin to reverse the decline in library usage.”. See this page for more figures from Tim.

International news

• Singapore – Public libraries in S’pore will keep original Roald Dahl books for now instead of using revised versions – Mothership. “The general principles of the [national government] guidelines state that publications should “not undermine the national interest, public security or public confidence in the law and its enforcement in Singapore.” Content related to race and religion should also “not denigrate, offend the sensitivities of, or incite intolerance or misunderstanding” among” the main racial and religious groups in Singapore.
• USA – Man Who Painted ‘Groomer’ on Libraries Caught With Child Pornography, Police Say – Vice. “Charles Sutherland was formerly a librarian at Northview Elementary in Bowie, Maryland. In June 2022, police arrested Sutherland for vandalizing two libraries in Maryland—one in New Carrollton, and another in Greenbelt—by painting the word “groomer” across the entrances, and was charged with multiple counts of hate crimes at the time. “

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Save our Cornhill Library – Change.org. “This petition asks Aberdeen City Council to reverse their decision to close Cornhill Library. Please share this petition widely as we try to save this vital community resource.”
• Letter to Aberdeen Council – Sean McNamara / CILIPS. “Aberdeen City already has one of the lowest numbers of branches per population (1.62 per 20,000) and well below the average of 2.04 per 20,000. These changes could leave Aberdeen as having the lowest number of library branches per population in Scotland”

• Cambridgeshire – Have your say in arts events at Cambridgeshire libraries in 2023 – Fenland Citizen. “A selection of performances will be published online and in libraries from until March 22 for residents to make their choices. “
• Camden – 20 reasons why Library of Things is great – Camdenist. “As their latest branch opens in Kilburn Library, we’ve put together 20 reasons why you should give these rapidly expanding champions of the circular economy a whirl…”
• Cardiff – Do We Still Need Libraries? In Our Modern World, The Answer Is Yes  – Voice Wales. “At the heart of a library, are the librarians, drawing together all the aforementioned elements into a holistic service that truly caters for all.  Machines can monitor loans, but they tell nothing about how an exhausted mum found a reason to leave the house, how a child learned to clap joyously at songs and nursery rhymes, how a widower became less alone, or how someone borrowed a book that changed their life.  Social connections do not come from data, and cannot be quantified by scanners.  We need librarians because libraries are for human beings in the pursuit of human activities.  “
• Cheshire East – Opinion: “I’m sad the council will be reducing library opening hours” – Northwich Guardian.
• Cumbria – Cumbria Libraries remind communities that they are ‘fine free’ – News and Star. “Cumbria Libraries have been ‘fine free’ for nearly two years meaning anyone returning overdue library books does not receive a fine.”
• Devon – Book sale to boost library charity’s coffers – Mid-Devon Advertiser. “The prices are as follows: £3 for hardbacks; £2 for paperbacks; £2 for children’s fiction books and finally £1 for children’s picture books. All proceeds will be re-invested into Libraries Unlimited”
• Dorset – Barclays Local bank at Weymouth Library and Learning Centre – Dorset Echo. “Barclays Local opened for customers at the Weymouth Library and Learning Centre on Great George Street on Monday, March 6 – just days after its main branch on St Mary Street closed. “
• Essex – The King and The Queen Consort visit Colchester Library – Essex Council. “We are delighted that The King and The Queen Consort were able to visit one of our libraries today and hear more about the fantastic work we are continuing to do through the Essex Year of Reading. “

• Glasgow – Woodside Library in Glasgow reveals opening date after £2.3m refurb – Glasgow Times. Upgrade includes “new, vibrant reading room with study areas, a private kitchen and updated computers. There will also be a range of new books in place.”
• Gwynedd – Gwynedd libraries where you can keep warm and meet people – North Wales Chronicle. “The Gwynedd Library Service Plan – Living Libraries 2023-2028 – was approved on Tuesday, March 7.” … “Reading was still at the the heart of the service offer, with around 60% of users visiting libraries to borrow a book.”
  • Loan books, keep warm, meet people and borrow a drill – Cambrian Times. “The county’s libraries now offered a range of services, with some even lending out items such as gardening equipment, DIY tools, games and toys.”
• Haringey – Residents get access to millions of books as Haringey completes The Libraries Consortium membership – Haringey Council. “Haringey residents can borrow and return items to and from 321 libraries in 23 local council areas across London and the South East from today (Monday 6 March) after the council’s libraries service completed its journey to membership of the Libraries Consortium.”

• Middlesbrough – Hublets bring latest digital tech to town’s libraries – Tees Business. “The Finnish-made high-tech devices are loanable tablets for use in the library using our new dedicated WiFi Network.” from Libraries Improvement Fund.
• Northern Ireland – Great events happening in libraries across Belfast – Northern Ireland World. “Libraries are great places to go to if you’re interested in escapism, housing thousands upon thousands of different stories that you can read and fall in love with.”
  • Appointments of Councillor Members to the Board of Libraries NI – Northern Ireland Communities.
• Perth and Kinross – Seven Perth and Kinross libraries saved from proposed closure – Daily Record. “It is understood libraries in Alyth, Auchterarder, Birnam, Comrie, North Inch and Pitlochry were all under threat as well as Coupar Angus which is currently temporarily closed.” … “Last week councillors committed £173,000 for the 2023/24 revenue budget to keep these libraries open but the council will look at the affordability and sustainability of its assets in the longer term.”
• Sandwell – Donate Easter eggs at libraries in Sandwell – Sandwell Council. “Sandwell Council is appealing for donations of Easter eggs for Santa’s Black Country Toy Appeal.”
• St Helens – Campaigner says ‘libraries are levellers’ as another is closed – Liverpool Echo. “St Helens Borough Council recently announced that Peter Street Library will be closed permanently from the end of March. The owners of the site have decided to hire the space out to another organisation.” …
• Staffordshire – People invited to celebrate British Science Week at Perton Library – Staffordshire Council. “Robot and coding workshops, forensics activities, geology, and even a real fire engine are amongst the activities in this year’s science fair.”
• Stockport – Stockport Libraries have helped over 5,000 people in Stockport with digital skills – Stockport Council.
• Suffolk – Newly refurbished children’s area unveiled at Brandon Library – Suffolk Libraries. “The refurbishment was funded by planner development funding and with the Friends of Brandon Library also kindly contributing £250 towards the improvements.”
  • Haverhill Library launches new photography competition to help create fund-raising calendar – Suffolk News.
  • Suffolk Libraries and Rock Paper Scissors get on their bike for Big Weekender – Suffolk Libraries. “The new art bike has been purchased after Rock Paper Scissors were awarded £11,000 from Suffolk County Council’s Public Mental Health Programme through its Children and Young people subgroup. “
  • Suffolk Libraries needs your views on proposed plans to extend Thurston Library – Suffolk libraries. “The extension would be funded using money from local housing developments which is available to make improvements to the infrastructure of public services through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The results of this survey will become part of the application bid into the CIL funding pot.”

• Worcestershire – Worcestershire Libraries Cost of Living fairs help over 800 residents – Worcestershire Council. “The events were a huge success, with 835 additional people visiting the libraries during the fairs, equating to a 32% increase in visitors compared to the average number of visitors in January and February. The events were attended by regular library customers and those new to libraries, demonstrating the wide appeal and importance of the information and advice available.”
• York – Dringhouses library soon to reopen after being closed because of cold – Yahoo News. “bosses decided to temporarily close the library in the middle of last month because average temperatures inside were only 10 degrees. Health and Safety Executive guidance states that the minimum temperature for working indoors in a library-type environment should be at least 16°C.”