Not a ban

Editorial

Not a big week for news with, sadly, the main theme being the continued issue of difficulties in American libraries. There’s continued pressure in many states to make librarians accountable for the books that children can access, up to an including fines and prison sentences. Not that this is apparently banning books according a large comment free-to-access piece in the pay-to-view Telegraph this week, which is perhaps an unsurprising indication of how that newspaper feels about the subject. Another article, not in a right-wing national newspaper, argues that such banning (of events as well as books) does exist and is showing signs of spreading to the UK. Unconnected with this, perhaps , is the news that there’s also a sign (or rather, no longer a sign) that Norfolk Libraries are not quite the “safe space” for Trans people that they were once advertised as being.

Local news by authority

• South Ayrshire – Troon Library to move into council building, original library to be converted into a nursery.
• Wirral – Wallasey Village Library reopens volunteer-run.
• York – £250k LIF Funding to improve Acomb Explore Library.

National news

• Book banning: warnings the UK must heed – The Boar. ” if you think this is a purely American issue, you are sorely mistaken. As protests sprout here in the UK, we should prepare to fight the growing culture of censorship, lest we lose the right for expression, integrity, and inclusivity that facilitates great literature.” … “the urge to suppress unconventional and under-represented topics remains constant. However, research suggests that these efforts of suppression are much more harmful than the content within the books, particularly for children.”

• Books featuring child sex shouldn’t be in school libraries. That’s not a ‘book ban’ – Telegraph. “there are no right-wing librarians”. USA ““Banned books” is merely a euphemism for a library that is curated in a way that upsets left-wing activists.” There are no banned books because people can buy them themselves what is not in the library.
• Podcast: Meet the librarians who rescued the books the Nazis burnt and plundered – From the Library With Love. “he true story of the Council of Books in Wartime–the WWII organisation founded by booksellers, publishers, librarians, and authors to use books as “weapons in the war of ideas” This book inspired, The Librarian of Burned Books.“
• Practical Handbook of Library Architecture – Facet Publishing. £140.

International news

• Iceland – Akureyri Library Nominated for Green Library Award – Iceland Review. “The project in question, “Frískápur” (a portmanteau of “frí”, as in “free, and “ískápur”, as in “refrigerator”), which is called “Freedge” in English, is an ongoing project just outside the library building with the aim of reducing food waste. Individuals, businesses and organisations with extra food that they might otherwise throw away are encouraged to bring it to and put it in these fridges instead. Anyone is then welcome to pick up this food for themselves.”
• Iran – Transforming Public Libraries into Community Centers: Case of Iran – Public Library Quarterly. ” public libraries can inform people about government decisions and facilitate public debate between the government and citizens.”
• Japan – Civic Collaboration in the Development of 21st-Century Public Libraries in Japan: A Citizen’s Perspective – Ideals. A look at “civic collaboration during the construction of contemporary public libraries in Japan. For the case study, a qualitative content analysis of the Toyohashi City Central Library was undertaken. “
• USA – America’s top librarian says ‘we’re fighting for our lives’ – WBEZ Chicago. Podcast. “Reset talks with the head of the American Library Association on why the county is divided between attacking and protecting libraries.”. Stark increase in bans since 2021, doubling each year. Budget cuts in other places such as New York which has just closed all libraries on Sundays.
• James Patterson’s Latest Reveals the ‘Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians’ (Exclusive) – People. “Just in time to cap off National Library Week, the prolific author shares his thoughts on book bans and the importance of supporting librari”es and bookstores” … “Every year since 2015, Patterson has donated $500 “holiday bonus” checks to librarians and booksellers across the country. And every time he does, he hears from grateful employees who use the money for mostly practical purposes.
• State, local library employees fear jail time under proposed bill – WDHN Dothan. Alabama – Librarians face prison as law means it is their responsibility for what minors read despite segregration of materials between children’s and adult’s.
• The Week in Libraries: April 19, 2024 – Publishers Weekly. Publishers back legal case against book bans in Iowa. Librarians face fines in other states. Some resign. “No one wants to go to jail for giving children a book”.

Local news by authority

• Birmingham – Northfield and Frankley Libraries at risk under city council closure plans – Bromsgrove Standard. “Birmingham City Council has a £10 million backlog of maintenance costs in order to finance the upkeep or necessary refurbishments of its owned library buildings.”
• Bristol – Bristol libraries are closing ‘by stealth’ say users – BBC. “There have only been two days in 2024 that all the libraries in Bristol have met their planned opening hours” … “the council froze recruitment of librarians in an effort to balance its budget.”. Closures always announced less than a day in advance. “If Bristol City Council wanted to shift the library hours permanently then it would have to carry out a public consultation as it is a statutory service – but a last-minute temporary closure does not require this.”
• Croydon – More than 2,500 sign petition to save Sanderstead Library – Inside Croydon. “Sanderstead is one of four libraries earmarked for closure as part of Mayor Jason Perry’s plans to “reorganise” Croydon’s library service.” … “This is not merely a collection of names; it is a powerful testament to the impact that the Sanderstead Library has on the lives of thousands of your constituents.”
• Flintshire – Flintshire Council and Aura’s deal to protect vital services – Leader. “on Friday (April 12), Flintshire Council confirmed that a ‘short-term’ deal has been reached between the two parties.”
• Leicester – New electric library bus launched in Leicester – BBC. “A city’s diesel-fuelled mobile library has been replaced by a new electric book bus. Leicester City Council has stocked the new vehicle with more than 1,000 books”
• Norfolk – Norwich Trans Pride to hold protest at Millennium Library – Norwich Evening News. Library no longer signed as a trans-friendly place. “Members of Norwich Trans Pride will gather at the Millennium Library, in Norwich’s Forum, on Sunday for the demonstration. It follows criticism by Kay Mason Billig, Norfolk County Council leader, of an art display at the venue organised by the group. The exhibition included images of hypodermic needles for injecting testosterone and sculptures of bodies which have undergone gender-reassignment surgery.” … “A spokesman for Norwich Trans Pride said: “It is very sad to see management bowing under pressure from anti-trans hate groups, especially since most of the library’s frontline staff do not agree with this.”
• North Yorkshire – Wellbeing bags now available from North Yorkshire libraries – Hambleton Today. “The initiative was launched in 2019, when wellbeing bags filled with books and activities were first available to borrow. The bags have since been borrowed by library users more than 570 times” … “The new contents include playing cards, a stress ball and notebook, along with a different colouring book, jigsaw puzzle and puzzle book. They also include a book from the library’s Reading Well collection.”
• Nottingham – Calls for volunteers to be able to run Nottingham libraries amid closure plan – Nottinghamshire Live. Lots of informed and ill-informed opinions about how to keep libraries open.
• Shropshire – Con sultation launched to support decision on future of Schools Library Service – Shropshire Council. “the Schools Library Service operates as a traded service, which schools can buy into, and around 65% of schools in Shropshire choose to do so.” … “The service has been operating at a loss for the last two financial years and the council cannot continue to fund any future deficits by Schools Library Service. Any future service, if retained, would require more schools to subscribe to the service, and to pay more.”
  • Decision to proceed with library service cut taken by officers without cabinet member’s knowledge – Shropshire Star.
• Town’s pop-up library service expanded – BBC. “The authorities said Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was present across the majority of the Whitchurch Civic Centre complex, and that the site had major structural issues. They said engineers had advised them that the building was unsafe to reopen”
• South Ayrshire – Troon Library to relocate to the town’s Municipal Buildings – Daily Record. ” to convert the ground floor of the Municipal Buildings, on South Beach. Currently, the space is used for council offices and a housing/benefits applicant reception. Now it will house the library after the proposals were given the green light.”. Original Troon Library will be converted into a nursery.
• South Gloucestershire – South Gloucestershire Council leaders defend library cuts in deprived areas – Bristol Live. “Speaking at a South Gloucestershire Council meeting on on Monday, April 15, cabinet member for communities and local place Cllr Sean Rhodes (Labour, Kingswood) said all £200,000 annual savings from dimming street lights were being used to minimise cuts to libraries” Cut will now be £273k not £473k.
• South Lanarkshire – Labour-run Scottish council faces backlash over cuts to libraries – National. “The CEO of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Pamela Tulloch, has written to council leader Joe Fagan (below) to warn that if the cuts go ahead it would leave the area with the “worst public library provision in Scotland”.” … ” the administration continue to hand over vast sums of money to the Leisure Trust and ignore what SLIC have described as ‘alarm bells’ about how that service is being managed under a business model that is ‘not fit for purpose’.”
• Swansea – Swansea University supports community engagement through campus library access – Swansea University. Libraries Together passport scheme available via public libraries.
• West Dunbartonshire – Balloch Library judicial challenge granted legal aid – as locals fight relocation – Daily Record. “An online petition received more than 2,000 signatures – with opposition to the plans receiving the backing of best selling author Denzil Meyrick – who lives in nearby Gartocharn.” … “Last spring, West Dunbartonshire Council gave the green light to plans to move Balloch Library from its existing Carrochan Road venue to Balloch Campus” in £50k cut causing a 72% reduction in space.
• Wirral – Volunteers hope to bring ‘buzz’ back as library set to reopen – Wirral Globe. “The Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre will look to save and reuse as much as possible as they convert one third of it into the library space, another room into a community space, while a third room will become a dog friendly café. The café will be run by Baked as a branch of their current family run café and bistro at Larton Livery in Frankby with high speed Wi-Fi.”
• Wolverhampton – Get a free health MOT with monitors at libraries and leisure centres – Wolverhampton Council. “No appointment is necessary and the checks are free, self service and confidential, with results printed on a slip of paper for users to take away with them.”
• Worcestershire – Worcestershire libraries set to get new mobile electric bus – Planet Radio.
• York – £750,000 funding secured to extend and improve Acomb Explore Library – Yo1 Radio. “£250,000 has been secured to add to the Council’s committed £500,000 capital investment to extend and redevelop Acomb Explore Library.” … Children’s library and cafe expanded, quiet spaces, Changing Places toilet, improved meeting room and outdoor events space, moveable shelving.
  • Arson attack at Tang Hall Library and Burnholme Nursery, York – York Press. Two men started the fire. “They have set fire to the toilet roll dispenser, which has melted causing damage to the toilets. The smell of the burnt plastic has seeped into the building and the nursery causing them to close while a deep clean is carried out.”