Storyteller, library names, a strike and a book thief

Editorial

It’s great to see mention of the combined Sidcup library and cinema, “Storyteller”, in Bexley. Some co-locations of libraries with other services don’t work – you can normally tell which by the prominence of the library or otherwise when you enter the building – but combining a library with a cinema or, as in the case of the similarly named Storyhouse, with a theatre, strikes me as a natural combination. Seemingly also naturally combined at the moment are announcements of cuts and refurbishments all in one week. Ah, the joy of an atomised public library service. Much of the bad news is down to further cuts in funding for local government. It is to be hoped that the extra funding announced this week will help. Or doing this website is going to get pretty depressing in 2024.

In other news, thanks to a reader of the previous post who sent me a list of libraries named after men. Of course, the biggest number of all – Carnegie – is almost so big as to be invisible (like water to a fish) but apart from him we have:

• Haringey – Marcus Garvey Library, named after a Jamaican political activist (his life story is fascinating) who moved to London.
• Hull –  Fred Moore Library, named (I think?) after a councillor.
• Lambeth – Minet Library. The Minet Library was built by William Minet and opened in 1890. Minet was a descendant of French Huguenots who immigrated to London in the 1700s, and 1889 he also gave 14½ acres of land to the London County Council to create Myatt’s Fields Park.
  • Durning Library, Kennington, also in Lambeth. Durning Library is a public lending library in Kennington, London. The Durning Library was built in 1889, designed by Sidney R. J. Smith the architect of Tate Britain, in the Gothic Revival style. It was a gift to the people of Kennington from Jemina Durning Smith.
  • Brixton Tate Library, yet another in Lambeth. The Brixton Library (also known as the Brixton Tate Library) is a public library in the London Borough of Lambeth in Brixton, South West London. It was built in the 1890s by the sugar magnate Sir Henry Tate and is a Grade II listed building. Also Tate South Lambeth Library so that is no less than four libraries named after a man in one service.
• There are also several Passmore Edwards Libraries, including one in Shepherd’s Bush and in Newton Abbot. Built and funded by John Passmore Edwards, a philanthropist that paid for no less than 24 libraries.

Changes by local authority

• Barnsley – Royston Library being refurbished.
• Bexley – Sidcup Library combined with cinema in Storyteller building 
• Bracknell Forest – Home Library Service may end. 
• Bradford – Close to declaring bankruptcy. 
• Bristol – Repeated library closures due to staff shortages
• Enfield – Cuts expected.
• Highland – Mobile Library Service may be cut 
• Oxfordshire – Didcot Library to be refurbished.
• Nottingham – Cuts expected.

National news

• Britain faces a literacy crisis that could make us fatter, less employable and depressed – Standard. “One fifth of public libraries in Britain, moreover, have closed in the past ten years”
• How to lose a library – Public Books. “On October 31, 2023, the British Library suffered a massive cyberattack. As of publication, the Library remains physically open, but its digital infrastructure is almost completely disabled.”
• Making more of libraries – BookSeller. “the success of partnerships with retailers can be easily tracked through book sales; collaborations with libraries may offer a more subtle and longer-term halo effect. But the public library network, with up to 4,000 libraries in every part of the UK, cannot be matched for its scale, reach and influence on our reading habits. As the forums demonstrated there is a real opportunity to build the relationship between libraries and publishers and an enthusiasm to see how mutually beneficial partnerships can be established. By working together to help readers explore new or unfamiliar authors and genres, libraries and publishers can foster a more diverse literary landscape – something that will benefit everyone who writes, sells, lends, or reads books.”

• The Reading Agency announces Quick Reads will be gifted for World Book Night 2024 – Reading Agency. “36,000 copies of the 2024 Quick Reads will be gifted through libraries to reach emerging and lapsed readers in settings such as hospitals, prisons, care homes and shelters in the community”
• Volunteers step in to take on cut council services – BBC. “Councils are not legally obliged to run leisure centres or libraries [untrue – Ed.] which means that without the help of volunteers, the library in Wilsden, Bradford, would have likely closed.”. Bradford, “which is close to declaring bankruptcy” says “”We have a lower budget for libraries than many other places so are grateful to these and other great volunteers who run the 15 community-managed libraries across the district.”” 
• Where should libraries go now Twitter *HAS* become a wasteland? – Ned Potter. For public libraries: “For all Facebook’s problems (across all demographics except 55+ people are leaving FB, but so many 55+ are on there it is still the biggest social network – and daily use is consistently falling whilst leaping ever upwards on Instagram and TikTok) it remains a really useful tool for Public Libraries. It can act almost as a branch online, and Cape May County Library in the US and Hampshire Library Service in the UK are good examples of places doing that well. However, I think Instagram is the coming platform for this sector”

International news

• Canada – Program at Hamilton Public Library shows how libraries can expand the social services they provide – Conversation. ” In partnership with Hamilton Public Health Services’ Mental Health and Street Outreach Program, HPL developed a program to provide on-site social work services at its downtown central library, with two part-time social workers being present, visible and accessible on the first floor.”
  • Ontario public library shuts down most services due to cyberattack  – The Record. “The attack on London Public Library comes weeks after two of the biggest libraries in the world were hit by ransomware gangs. Toronto Public Library — Canada’s largest public library system, serving more than 1.2 million members with more than 12 million items spread across 100 branches — confirmed it had been hit with ransomware in October.” 
• India – Thane gets first-of-its-kind garden libraries at 3 spots – Times of India. “These garden libraries have been started in three parks. The aim is to create a reading-friendly environment in the parks …” 
• USA / Palestine / Israel – Opinion: When libraries like Gaza’s are destroyed, what’s lost is far more than books – Los Angeles Times. Gaza City Library destroyed. “some have accused Israel of deliberately targeting the library. But whether it did or not, the destruction of libraries in times of war and violent conflict is tragically common. It is more important than ever for librarians and the public to stand up against such attacks on knowledge and cultural heritage.
• USA – Controversy over Bethlehem speaker shows again how public libraries have become speech battleground – WAMC. “in this particular case, the local, a local group called Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, booked a room here at the library, and, and they chose to bring in the author”
  • Libraries loaning e-books; There’s the Libby app for that, and a Clevelander made it – Cleveland.com. The history of the “Overdrive” company.

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Hayden Lorimer: ‘All or nothing’ choice over Aberdeen libraries makes no sense – Opinion / Press and Journal. “Two options are put on the table, formulated as a brutal binary: it’s a case of all or nothing. Option one: confirm closure. Option two: recommission and reopen.” … “If the design of Aberdeen’s library services in the 21st century is truly up for grabs, ramming through a tranche of branch closures in advance makes as little sense in December as it did in March.”
  • Campaigners’ fury as councillors vote to shut Aberdeen libraries – The Herald. “We are bitterly disappointed that Aberdeen councillors voted to confirm the library closures. They will be a huge loss to the communities they served. We’re very proud of what our campaign achieved, bringing attention to the issue, but it’s not the result we’d hoped for. 
• Barnsley – Royston Library to shut for children’s area upgrade – BBC. “The library in Royston, near Barnsley, will shut on 20 December for work to take place on creating a new local history zone and seating areas. The centre is expected to reopen in February with a “fresh new look and exciting features,” according to Barnsley Council.”
  • Barnsley plans first book festival – BBC. “The event will bring a range of authors, poets, writers and artists to the town from 2 February to 23 March. Organised by Barnsley Libraries, there will be a number of family activities and speakers at various venues. New art commissioned for the event will also be showcased.”
• Bexley –  Sidcup library and cinema review – William Morris meets the multiplex – Guardian. Building called “Storyteller”. “You could call the whole endeavour old-fashioned, both cinemas and libraries being building types that have seemed endangered, but their coming together – joining as they do both daytime and evening experiences – does promise genuinely to bring energy to the high street. That it’s achieved with thoughtful and enjoyable architecture contributes to its success.” 
• Blackpool – Blackpool’s £88k library ‘lifeline’ to tackle loneliness – BBC News. “Activities in Blackpool, ranging from adult Lego building to storytelling and creative arts sessions, will “be a lifeline for many”, the council said.The scheme will focus on Central, Revoe and Langdale Libraries, Library @ TheGrange and Laundry Room at Mereside. It is part of the £30m Know Your Neighbourhood fund to increase volunteering and tackle loneliness.” 
• Borders – Majority of Borderers find the library was a welcoming space – Peeblesshire News. “The Scottish Public Library Annual Survey – conducted for the first time in 2023 – was set up to help measure the impact of local library service provision across the country with a focus on learning and skills, health and well-being, library spaces, and the value and benefits of library services.”  
• Bracknell Forest – Bracknell’s home library service could be stopped next year – Bracknell News. “Bracknell Forest Council finance chiefs have suggested ending the service as part of plans to reduce management staff and merge libraries and customer service centres.” 
• Bristol – Dozens of Bristol’s libraries have been closed over the past two weeks – this is why – Bristol Post. “Libraries in Bristol have been suddenly closing at the start of each day due to staff shortages. In the first two weeks of December there have been 76 closures in total in 27 libraries across Bristol, of which 25 were closed for the whole day without any access. The closures are announced on the morning of the day on Twitter and other social media by the council’s libraries team. Analysis of the closures in the first two weeks of December show that out of 27 libraries across Bristol, 23 have been closed in some capacity. Only the Central Library, Fishponds, Knowle, and the St Pauls libraries were unaffected.”
• Cheshire East – Cheshire East council says it faces bankruptcy due to HS2 link cancellation – Guardian. “The council, which reported a forecast £18.7m shortfall in its budget earlier this year, has already introduced a number of cost-saving measures, including charges for green bins, cuts to library opening hours and closing its headquarters.”
• City of London – Libraries offer a warm space to City residents this winter – City Matters. “children’s toy and rhyme time to adult tea and coffee sessions with plans for game clubs and mindful colouring.” 
• Cornwall – Library book about dolphins returned 22 years late  – BBC. Yawn.  
• Devon / Torbay – Libraries throw open their doors and let Christmas in – Torbay Weekly. “encouraging customers to take up its free Christmas gift card offer and collect a library membership card in a specially-designed Christmas card to give to a loved one.”
• Ealing – Northolt Library closes after bedbugs found in returned books – BBC. “Ealing Council said a “small number of bedbugs” were found in the books which were returned to Northolt Library on Saturday. The library remains closed while plans are being made with a pest control team to get rid of them, the council said. It is the second time a library in the borough has had to close due to the insects.”
  • Bed bugs in books close London library – Guardian. “The closure comes weeks after Ealing central library was closed when bedbugs were found in the furnishings. A notice put on its door at the time read: “Due to a pest infestation, we have temporarily removed soft furnishings from public use. These seats are currently being treated with pest control chemicals.” The library reopened a week later.
• East Sussex – Free events taking place this winter across East Sussex libraries – Sussex World. “Events include author talks, festive crafts and activities as well as storytelling experiences.”
• Enfield – ‘Enfield Council library strategy is smokescreen for cuts’ – Times Series. “In its report setting out the reasons to draw up a new library strategy, published at the end of November, the council states that it “must make savings of £39.4 million in 2024/25” and that there is “a forecast budget gap of £118.7m for the five years through to 2028/29”.”
• Fife – Accessible book written by 6 year old donated to Fife school libraries – Fife Council. “The books are unique, not only because they were written by a then 6-year-old, but because they are available as a dyslexia-friendly paperback edition; an enhanced audio description; a British Sign Language version; and soon 4 different types of braille.” 
• Gateshead – Two Gateshead libraries to be refurbished next year – ensuring they continue to be welcoming community spaces – Chronicle. “Both Pelaw and Crawcrook libraries will benefit from improvements to the lighting and decoration, while space for books will remain integral, alongside an improved community activity space.”
• Greenwich – Greenwich library workers vote for strike action over pay – Greenwich Wire. “Greenwich’s library workers have voted to strike, saying that they face a real-terms cut in their pay after having a below-inflation wage increase imposed on them. Some 70 staff employed by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) have agreed to take industrial action in the new year, which could result in widespread closures of libraries across the borough. The Unite union said that GLL had imposed a 5 per cent pay rise on the staff, comparing it with the 11 per cent RPI rate of inflation. Unite claimed that GLL had “completely refused” to negotiate with Unite, something GLL strongly denies.” 
  • Greenwich libraries could be forced to shut as workers plan to strike over ‘very low pay’ – My London.  
• Highland – ‘Significant cost challenges’ spark fears over future of ageing Highland mobile library fleet – Ross-Shire Journal. “High Life Highland will have done little to quell those concerns – not just in Wester Ross but in many other parts of the Highlands after it confirmed the scale of the problem facing the existing fleet extends beyond the one vehicle.” 

• Liverpool – ‘Library of the future’ and community safety drive on key Liverpool high street, thanks to Mayor Steve Rotheram’s £6m Town Centre Fund – Liverpool City Region. “Spellow Library, on County Road, has been transformed from a dated 1960s building into a digitally connected facility with meeting rooms, laptops and advice offered about employment, skills, benefits and the cost-of-living.”
• Northern Ireland – Coleraine sex offender accused of breaching order at town library – Belfast Telegraph. “A convicted sex offender has appeared in court accused of breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order by loitering in his local library.” 
• Nottingham – Nottingham city council plans cuts to libraries, care homes and youth services – Guardian. “Library services would be reviewed,”
  • Nottingham library campaigners back in ‘defensive mode’ as review announced – Nottingham Post. “”I think the Save Nottingham Libraries campaign is going back into defensive mode. What might happen is they might turnaround and say they haven’t got the money to pay for the upkeep of these buildings, but they shouldn’t be closing.”

• Orkney – Business set to boom at the Old Library as revamp gathers pace – Orcadian. “The much-loved Old Library in Kirkwall is in the midst of a major but sensitive overhaul and revamp, as it moves from a former retail site to the newest business facility in Orkney’s portfolio.” 
• Oxfordshire – Didcot Library to benefit from new county council upgrades – Herald series. “The new refresh will see 25 additional workspaces with power sockets, new shelving fitted for younger readers, teenagers to showcase books more effectively and new furniture including sofas and chairs.”
  • Oxfordshire libraries eBook short story competition reaches its 10th year – Oxfordshire Council. “Past winners have been some of the most popular downloads of the year, so this is the perfect chance for new writers to get their story published and enjoyed by others.”
• Sandwell – Last chance to donate presents to Black Country Toy Appeal in Sandwell libraries – Sandwell Council. “Gifts must be new and unwrapped. They will be collected by elves who will give them to Santa so that he can distribute to children and young people in Sandwell and the Black Country.”
• Sheffield – Roadmap to establish future of Central Library and Graves Gallery building to be decided – Sheff News.” At a meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee on 21st December, councillors will consider a proposal for new feasibility studies to be completed to develop a vision for a 21st-century central library for Sheffield, and to explore the potential for the building to become a flagship gallery and arts venue.” 
  • Sheffield councillor champions her local library as an important social hub – Star. “Frecheville is one of 16 libraries in the city that are now run by voluntary and community groups following council cuts to library services. Coun McGowan said: “It’s the one I went to as a kid, it’s right close to my heart. “It isn’t just a library, it’s everything else they offer in there, and it’s what it means to the community, so I don’t want to lose that by moving it somewhere else and lose that.”“ 
• Shropshire – Photos from Market Drayton library’s Christmas party – Shropshire Star. Santa, face-painting. 
• Solihull – Meriden Library to temporarily close for essential works – Solihull Council. “This is to allow for essential building maintenance works to be carried out including updating the current fire alarm system.”
• Somerset – Somerset Libraries wins award two years in a row – Somerset Council. “The libraries service accepted the award for their Thermal Imaging Camera Loaning Scheme. In 2022, the team won it for their Pop Up Library at Glastonbury Festival. ”
  • Porlock Library now in small group with visitor numbers beating pre-pandemic level – West Somerset Free Press. “The library, run as a community library partnership (CLP), has become one of only a small group where footfall has passed the numbers which were being seen before the pandemic.”
• Southend – Westcliff Library petition launched over threat of closure – Echo News. “544 residents signed a petition calling for Westcliff Library to be protected as Southend Council looks to tackle its £10.7million deficit. The council has proposed to close two libraries and slash the opening hours at three others in a bid to save £200,000.”
• Suffolk – Explore Together: new telephone support service launches – Suffolk Libraries. “Suffolk Libraries is launching a new telephone support and signposting service. The Explore Together service will match volunteers with people who are feeling lonely or isolated or are looking for some guidance finding support or a new activity. The volunteers will make regular phonecalls and listen and help people find local organisations, groups and activities.”
• Surrey – Banstead Library Launches New Magic Table for Adults with Dementia – Surrey Council. “The Tovertafel (Dutch for “magic table”), is a ceiling mounted projector that projects light games onto a standard table surface. These games are interactive, immersive games that can be played sitting down by a group of people, they encourage social contact, movement and are both relaxing and fun”  

• Torfaen – Greenmeadow Primary School pupils visiting Cwmbran Library – South Wales Argus
• Warwickshire – Enjoy free festive activities for all ages at Warwickshire Libraries this winter – Warwickshire Council.
  • Brazen thief stole books from Warwickshire libraries and sold them online – Coventry Telegraph. “In what was dubbed an ‘unusual crime’, John Nicolaides travelled across the country and used fake names to take out the expensive books. But, after loaning more than 900 more and flogging them online, he was finally caught when he turned his attention to libraries in Warwickshire” 
• Westmorland and Furness – Town’s library petition reaches House of Commons – BBC. “Ulverston’s library building on King’s Road has been closed since September after electrical problems were found in the building. The Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell, who presented the petition on Wednesday, said the library was a “true community hub”. Westmorland and Furness Council said options for the library were being explored, but would require “significant investment”.“ 
• Wirral – Upton Library reopens following repair works – Wirral Globe. “Upton Library based on Ford Road, Upton closed on September 12 for 12 weeks due to required buildings works.”
  • Wirral libraries reveal their ‘seven man-made wonders’– Wirral Globe. “Wirral Libraries have released the list exploring their choices for the seven man-made wonders of the borough.”