Thank you Aunty Hilary

Editorial

A quiet week this week, and all the better for it, really. Whether this is because things naturally go quiet over Easter or because I was internet-free for a week while on a cruise I can’t say. Probably a mixture of the two. So, let me know if I have missed anything via emailing me (ianlibrarian@live.co.uk) or getting me via Twitter @publiclibnews. I’ve also just relaunched the Public Libraries News Facebook page to cover the stranger and more humorous stories in the sector if you’d like to give that a go. And, yes, the cruise was very good (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bruges) and no I couldn’t afford it on my salary – a very kind relative stepped in. So, thank you Aunty Hilary.

Changes by authority

• Calderdale – Volunteers reopen Old Library in Skircoat after asset transfer.
• Dorset – £309k LIF grant for four staffless libraries and iPad lending.
• Oxfordshire – Chinnor Library refurbished.
• Worcestershire – £300k LIF grant for new electric mobile

National news

• The Reading Agency and Manchester Libraries team up with CBBC for the Blue Peter Book Club Live – Reading Agency. “The Blue Peter Big Read is supported with an award of £99,385 through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme.” … “Blue Peter Book Club Live will engage young readers through a multi-faceted approach involving free activities and events both in and outside of traditional reading spaces.”

International news

• Australia – More children shun reading in their free time as libraries also fall out of favour, study shows – Sydney Morning Herald. Paywall. “29 per cent of students had only a few books at home and 7 per cent attended schools that didn’t allow children to borrow library books”
• Turkiye – World’s 1st ‘waterfront library’ opens in Istanbul’s Beykoz – Daily Sabah. “Perched with a panoramic view of the Bosporus, the Yalı Library accommodates up to 120 individuals simultaneously, offering a tranquil yet dynamic space for studying and exploration. With shelves adorned with 11,000 books, including publications sourced from Beykoz Library and Istanbul Library Corner, the space aims to cater to diverse literary tastes.”

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Celebrating 100 years of public libraries in Bath and North East Somerset – Bath and North East Somerset Council. “People are also invited to submit their favourite memories of the libraries which will be collated into a large public exhibition at the end of the year.”
• Birmingham – Opinions sought over library cuts in Birmingham – BBC. “The proposals recommend a move away from the current 35 community libraries to a mixed offering which would have 25 “building-based library services” along with an expanded mobile library service, virtual library, self-service and libraries at home provision.”
  • Old libraries of Birmingham – a look back at the buildings at the heart of the community – Birmingham Live.
• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – Editor turned councillor cuts newspapers from libraries – Hold the Front Page. Ex Bournemouth Echo editor “recently announced that the authority had decided to cut all physical copies of newspapers in its 24 libraries across the patch, saving around £15,000 a year. The Echo will still be available digitally on a subscription-free basis to library members along with the national titles.”
• Calderdale – Halifax volunteers save 99-year-old library from closure – BBC/Yahoo News. “The Old Library in Skircoat Green Road, described as the first purpose-built library in Halifax, was earmarked to close permanently during the pandemic. A group of volunteers formed to take over the library and submitted a business case to the council last year. A community asset transfer case was approved and the library will reopen on Saturday after being shut since 2020.”
• Cambridgeshire – Huntingdon and Wisbech Library bans for abusive behaviour – Hunts Post. “eight people received bans from libraries run by Cambridgeshire County Council last year, up from two people the year before. Some of the people banned from libraries caused damage to library property, or were threatening and abusive.”
• Croydon – Time is running out to help save our threatened public libraries – Inside Croydon. Prospective Green Party candidate writes “Whatever the council might say about the closed library buildings being taken over by community groups, residents fear they will end up being sold sooner or later and they are anxious about what might happen to the sites afterwards. What, if any, restrictions will there be on future use of the sites?”
• Devon / Torbay – Libraries Unlimited launches ‘Libro’s Friends’ adventure across Devon and Torbay – We Are South Devon. “under-5s will get a similar sticker book and the chance to collect eight unique stickers to find out where Libro the Cat’s animal friends are hiding. Libro is an established character in The Secret Book Quest, created by the illustrator, Emily Fox. Emily is an acclaimed children’s book illustrator whose has created artwork for the covers of children’s classics as well as a compilation of writing edited by award-winning author, Katherine Rundell.”
• Dorset – Four libraries in Dorset receive £300k Government funding – Daily Echo. “Dorset Council Library Service will use its funding of £309,971 to improve accessibility with open-access technology in four libraries – as well as extending its iPad lending scheme across all its libraries to increase access to digital services. The four libraries to benefit from open-access technology are Sherborne, Gillingham, Sturminster Newton and Verwood – which will see their opening hours extended among other benefits.”
• Edinburgh – Make sure to have your say on the future of our libraries – Steve Cardownie – Edinburgh News. “We have an exciting opportunity to create a new Future Libraries Strategy and vision that will provide a framework for service delivery and development for the next five years… We’re asking you to get involved by having your say, helping us to shape a new plan that will ensure the library service is sustainable and fit for the future.””
• Newham – “We come everyday, It’s like a family” – Warm Welcome Spaces. “Join us on a journey into the vibrant world of East Ham Library, where diverse communities —including Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black communities—  come together, weaving connections and discovering a sense of belonging within the Warm Welcome Space. On a recent visit, we delved into insightful conversations with the dedicated space leaders, unveiling their approach to inclusion.”
• North Tyneside – Violence, threats and abuse to North East library staff – North East Bylines. “Police were called to 266 incidents at Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend CFCs between January 2016 and March 2020. They included physical assaults on five members of staff at North Shields CFC, four at Wallsend and three at Whitley Bay.” … ” the former staff member said the council should have taken more measures such as employing door staff (like night club bouncers, they said) and giving staff personal body cameras. They called for an inquiry into why stronger action had not been taken by the council at the time. They accused the council of failing in its duty of care to the staff.”
• Oxfordshire – Refurbished Chinnor Library welcomes visitors once more – Oxfordshire Council. “The new and improved library, which reopened on 25 March, boasts an exciting new children’s area, complete with reading dens, dedicated working and study spaces with charging points, and moveable shelving to allow the space to be used for events.”
• Shropshire – ‘It’s my favourite place’ – celebrations mark library’s 50th birthday – Shropshire Star. “Market Drayton Library opened on Cheshire Street back in 1974, and has been serving the community ever since. Saturday saw a host of celebrations at the library – including a rousing performance from Market Drayton’s Rock Choir.”
• South Gloucestershire – South Gloucestershire Council warned over library cuts by Unison – BBC. “A union says proposed budget cuts to libraries of nearly £500,000 will leave a council unable to meet its legal duty to provide an efficient service.” … “More than 53% of respondents said they would be less likely to visit their local library if staffing hours were cut, while 17% said it would prevent them or their children from going at all.” Cuts called “discriminatory”.
• Suffolk – Suffolk loves its libraries – Suffolk Libraries. “Nearly 6,000 people responded via the consultation survey with 93% of people being very satisfied (61.1%) or satisfied (31.9%) with the service.”
• Telford and Wrekin – Library relaunches as town council takes over – BBC. “Telford & Wrekin Borough Council is passing the running of several libraries, including Newport, to town and parish councils. Newport mayor Ian Perry said: “[I’m] relieved more than anything. It was only six months ago that Telford & Wrekin came to us and said ‘we’re closing the library.'””
• Trafford – Greater Manchester borough will see huge investment in library services – Manchester Evening News.
• Wiltshire – Wiltshire Libraries staff shortlisted for national award – Wiltshire Times. One for help with Visually Impaired and one for Warm Libraries.
• Worcestershire – New electric library bus funded with £300k grant – BBC. New mobile will “also allow the authority to enhance its existing service and enable school visits, digital skills sessions and health and wellbeing sessions