The reason for it

Editorial

One of the strange things about covering public libraries since 2010 is seeing how things could have gone with more funding. The Library of Birmingham was one such. Opened in the years of coalition government but planned before, this was seen as a big shining symbol of the city and for the future of libraries generally. But the money ran out. Now it is open only 40 hours per week, areas of it hired out and many other libraries in the city under threat of closure. In an alternate world, the Library of Birmingham is a world leader. Not in this one.

Similarly, there is the movement to going fines-free. The arguments for an against are many and are listed here but a report by libraries in New York last week suggested that if was a big success, with an increase in issues, visits and late books being returned. But fining customers creates income, at least in the short-term and if one ignores associated costs (which, to be fair, like staff, may be built-in to some extent) and so cash-strapped English libraries have started not only stalling on going fines-free but also, this week, one service has returned to charging fines again after being fines-free. The reason Havering gives for this is, simply. financial. Sadly, I suspect, the future historian looking for the reason for the decline of public libraries in the UK – as opposed to success stories like New Zealand or Ireland – may give the same reason.

Changes by local authority

• Havering – Fines reintroduced due to budget shortage.
• Wirral – Hoylake Library was closed in 2022 with intention of it being taken over by community groups: now to be turned into gym.

National news

• Blue Peter Book Club Live to kick off at Manchester Central Library – Literacy Trust. “Local primary school-aged children can come and join Blue Peter presenters and top authors at the free launch event at Manchester Central Library. They’ll enjoy a fun day of stories, crafts and lots of books. A special Blue Peter Badge Trail will also launch on the day, which will challenge families to discover massive Blue Peter Book Club inspired badges at 12 different venues across the city with an additional bonus badge in the Blue Peter Garden in Salford.”
• Development of the residents’ protest campaign against the closure of public libraries in the UK – Bulletins of Japan-UK Education / J-Stage. “This study analyses an intensified residents’ campaign against cuts in public library services（library campaign) in Lincolnshire. “

• Librarians slam Penguin Random House for ‘irresponsible’ Instagram post which claims libraries can provide ‘mental health support’ – and stress they are ‘not therapists’ – Daily Mail. PRH says “‘Libraries offer free public spaces where everyone can feel safe, relax, and find opportunities. Librarians can even provide mental health support and quiet spaces for relaxation.’ 
• Not balancing the books – Morning Star. “Public libraries are low-hanging fruit for cash-strapped local councils.” Looks at Birmingham and Nottingham. Communist Party branches “can join these campaigns and work alongside local communities as they fight to defend their libraries.”
• Public libraries to promote public health and wellbeing: a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling adults – BMC Public Health. “Libraries in the UK have evolved from traditional book-lending institutions into dynamic community hubs, This study aims to explore the potential of libraries to act as community hubs to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing of community-dwelling adults, drawing on insights from both library users and library staff in England.”

International news

• Australia – The State Library of Victoria is in crisis. Is it time to rethink how libraries are governed? – Conversation. Disagreement over stance on Palestine leads to boycotts. “The State Library of Victoria has handled the dispute in a manner that brings to mind fiascos in the corporate world. Non-transparent decision-making, muddled communications, the apparently clumsy attempt at “risk management” that created the problem in the first place: the imbroglio has a distinctly managerialist feel.”
• Canada – Hacker strikes some B.C. libraries – Times Colonist. Ransom demand.
• China – How Public Libraries Drive Economic Vitality in Surrounding Communities – Critical Debates in Humanities, Science and Global Justice, PDF. “Although the findings may be constrained by presence of confounding variables, the limited volume of data, the lack of causational relationship and the weak correlation, the paper still provides valuable insights into the economic importance of libraries, highlighting the diverse impacts they have and the potential opportunities they could offer for investment and commercial developments in the future.”
• Europe – Recipes from three countries – International recipe exchange with sister libraries from Finland, Lithuania and Slovenia – Naple Sister Libraries. “Individuals from each of the three countries eagerly submitted their cherished recipes. We then exchanged recipes and translated them into our languages, allowing everyone to understand them. From traditional family recipes to modern everyday meals, each recipe offered a glimpse into the culinary traditions of Slovenia, Lithuania, and Finland. Together, we have woven a network of interesting flavours, recipes from three countries, which we’ve publish in a booklet (see attached file). Furthermore, we’ve made exhibitions within libraries, where we presented the recipes and exhibit the recipe books.”
• Iran – The role of rural public libraries in empowering farmers – Iran Public Libraries Foundation. Public libraries could empower farmers given sufficient resources.
• New Zealand – Auckland’s libraries standing strong in t”he digital age – Te Waha Nui. “Auckland’s 56 libraries are flourishing in their communities as physical spaces offering vital services, even as their books are digitised for reading online.” … “Our e-collections are hugely popular and represent approximately 28 per cent of our recent borrowing, placing Auckland libraries in 22nd place internationally for e-lending.”
• SLovenia/USA – Library Connections: Think globally, library locally – Harpswell Anchor. “ne of the largest library collections of “things” in Maine, we now have such diverse items as a fermenting crock, a fruit tree harvester, a sewing machine and a pressure washer.”
• South Korea – Exploring older adults’ motivation to use public libraries in South Korea using the attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction (ARCS) motivation model – Library and Information Science Research.

• USA – 2024 Library Systems Report – American Libraries. ” a handful of large organizations with considerable resources—Clarivate, EBSCO Information Services, Follett School Solutions, and OCLC—continue to expand their portfolios, covering multiple business sectors and library types. Middle-tier companies, including Axiell, ByWater Solutions, The Library Corporation (TLC), and SirsiDynix, offer growing suites of products used by thousands of libraries. And finally, a group of smaller companies round out the industry, covering specialized libraries with niche products and services.”
  • Adams Hints $58M Funding That Forced Libraries to Close on Sundays Could Be Restored in Near Future – Westside Spirit.
  • City Libraries Eliminated Late Fees Three Years Ago — How Has it Gone? – The City. “In October 2021, the city’s libraries abolished fines on overdue materials and predicted it would unlock hundreds of thousands of people who had their cards blocked. The result two-and-a-half years later has been a resounding success with a spike in materials taken out, library cards issued, and program attendance, according to officials in charge of New York City’s three library systems. ” … “In New York City, patrons returned thousands of long overdue items shortly after the fines were lifted, the New York Times reported in March 2022.”
  • How Ben Franklin Invented the Library as We Know It – Smithsonian. In the next issue, how the Americans invented soccer and fish and chips.
  • Libraries Without Borders: Using Outreach to Build Community – Information Today. “it’s harder for decision makers to say no or be dismissive when they know your face, your name, and something about you as a human being.” … “When your policies take into account the needs of the community, your library is positioned for maximum outreach impact.” … “The modern library is a place and an idea. Consistently engaging in the improvement of people’s lives through community outreach leads to strong libraries that are part of the solution.”
  • Viva La Library – Nautilus. “Rebel against The Algorithm. Get a library card.”

Local news by authority

• Angus – New display charts town library’s history – Angus Country World. “Arbroath has had a continuous library service since 1797, when its first library, Arbroath Subscription Library, was opened on Christmas Day.”
• Central Bedfordshire – Help shape the future of culture, the arts and libraries in Central Bedfordshire – Bedford Today. Consultation.
• Cheshire East – Cash-strapped Cheshire East could close libraries, campaigners fear – Nantwich News. “It is feared that the libraries at Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley and Handforth are all under threat of closure from next year.” … “The council side-stepped the questions when the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked whether closure is on the cards for the four named libraries and, if so, when.” … “Friends of Bollington Library have launched a rallying call to locals to help save their service.”
• Dudley – Reader in residence events at Brierley Hill Library this May – Dudley News.

• Haringey – Have a Marvel-lous time at Stroud Green and Harringay Library – Haringey Council. “If your children are avid fans of comic books, why not bring them along to Stroud Green and Harringay Library tomorrow (Saturday 4 May 2024) at 12:30pm for the next instalment of their Comics Club”

• Havering – Havering Council reintroduces library book late return fines – Romford Recorder. ” the authority will start charging a late fee of 42p per adult book and spoken word item per day, with a maximum fine of £10 per book from June 10.” … “Late fee charges were historically in place in Havering before the onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020 when the fine stood at 39p per book per day, peaking at £10 per book.” … “After a review of the library income and given its current financial challenges, the council has decided to bring the fines back.”
• Isle of Wight – Isle of Wight Libraries celebrate World Book Night – Isle of Wight Radio. Free books given to various charities and also shops for public to find and take.
• Newcastle – Welcome to the Library – Jesmond Community Library. “One of the outcomes of Amanda Quinn’s six months as Jesmond Library’s Writer in Residence was an anthology of writing, some about Jesmond Library itself, some about other libraries, and some about books. Copies of the anthologies, called “Welcome to the Library”, are now available in Jesmond Library, price £5.”
• North Somerset – All North Somerset Libraries to close for one day this May – North Somerset Times. “so staff can be trained to use a new computer system.” … “The upcoming closure is part of preparations for a new computer system to be launched by LibrariesWest, a consortium of seven local authorities, including North Somerset Libraries.”
• North Yorkshire – North Yorkshire Library Fines to Increase – This is the Coast. “North Yorkshire Council has increased the fine for an overdue book at its libraries from 30p to 35p per day. The council said it was the first increase in almost a decade and was being made “in the light of increased pressures on finances.””
• Northamptonshire – Events launched to help mental health in pregnancy – BBC. “Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will host free drop-in sessions at libraries across the county.”
• Northumberland – Northumberland Library Service celebrates its success for its 100 year anniversary – Northumberland Gazette. “During 2023, residents borrowed almost half a million physical items from libraries and 321,674 digital items, up a total of 26 percent on the previous year.” Council says Libraries are “a shining-star led by a fantastic team of committed and enthusiastic staff who bring creativity and positivity to everything they do.”
• Nottinghamshire – Newark library windows and equipment damaged by vandals – Nottinghamshire Live.
• Portsmouth – UK library could reclaim £42,500 Harry Potter book sold at auction in US – Yahoo News. “The library service confirmed the book went missing 23 years ago – a month after it was published for the first time – and the book also contained a stamp from August 1997. It said: “Our records show that this book was originally owned by Portsmouth’s school library service and was one of three first editions we purchased in 1997 when the first Harry Potter story was published.”
  • Library exhibition celebrates 500 years of Black British music – Portsmouth Council.

• Staffordshire – Perton Library Science Fair & Spring Festival is back – Staffordshire Council. “The event, being organised by Perton Library and Wild About Perton, is packed full of family fun and is part of the celebrations for Green Libraries Month.” … “Dr Phil Jemmett and his team of scientists from Warwick University will be demonstrating experiments all day”
  • Libraries going green to highlight sustainability and environmental issues – Lichfield Live. “Sessions across Staffordshire include exhibitions, author talks, craft workshops and recycling projects. Among the initiatives will be a trial of biodegradable library cards at Shenstone Library.” … “Green Libraries Month is being delivered in partnership with Staffordshire Community Learning, who are offering taster sessions in things such as upcycling, mini-bug hotels, cress caterpillars, kitchen composters and saving money by growing your own veg. “
• Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries launches daisy chain fundraising campaign – East Anglian Daily Times. “The Make a Difference with a Daisy campaign from Suffolk Libraries is to raise money for the 45 libraries across the county, and projects they run like the period poverty service and warm spaces project.”
  • New base in Lowestoft for East Suffolk’s customer services? – Eastern Daily Press. “East Suffolk Council leaders are set to discuss potentially spending £165,000 to move its customer services from the Marina Centre, in Lowestoft, less than half a mile away to the town’s library.”. Part of plans for new “cultural quarter”.
  • Suffolk Libraries Day book binge is the height of fundraising for Maureen – Diss Express. “Maureen John, who manages Debenham and Stradbroke libraries, read the equivalent of around 18,000 pages, which works out at 5 foot, 2 inches when the books are stacked on top of each other.” She “raised £2,200 for Suffolk Libraries Day last month as a result of the challenge”
  • We welcome our new Environmentalist in Residence – Suffolk Libraries. “During his residency Martin will be working on the development of a project called Seconds of Sound (S.O.S), inviting people to take part in weekly sound walks that connect all 45 of our libraries (plus some of our local prison libraries too).”
• Wirral – Former library set to become gym – West Kirby. “Plans have been submitted to turn the former Hoylake Library into a gym and wellness centre. The building was closed by Wirral Council in 2022 as part of a series of budget cuts, and a bid by community interest company The Life Tree to turn it into a venue for book clubs and events was rejected as not being viable.”
• York – Young Reporter: Explore Libraries are turning 10. Sorcha L, Huntington – York Press. “Explore is an important part of York, with the libraries acting as community hubs and education centres, with multiple around the city. Each library is running its own events. “