Don’t mention it

Editorial

Hmmm. It’s been an odd election. Themes which are extremely important to us all such as Brexit and the Environment have had barely a mention. A party to the right of the Conservatives is having the strongest showing of any such party I can remember in a national election. And the main argument appears to be all about taxation rather than the importance of what the taxes are for.

The Conservatives commit to “continuing to support” libraries and, in the same Manifesto, promise to help volunteers who take them over, presumably if councils unaccountably find for some strange reason they don’t have enough funding for paid staffing any more.

The Labour Manifesto, wait for it, does not mention libraries at all. And nor do the Liberal Democrats or Reform. The Greens say that they will keep libraries “open and thriving”, showing one can always count on the Greens to support libraries – after all, re-use is fundamental to what we do. Groovy news, too, with the Psychedelic Movement party who offer to protect libraries if they get in. Thank goodness for that.

Congratulations to those on the Honours List connected to the public library world. Nick Poole, formally of CILIP, Andrea Ellison (Leeds) and Julie Duffy (Portsmouth). To all three of you I say, it’s OK if you’re ever feeling down to go to wherever you keep the medal and handle it a bit while staring at it fondly. Works better than a stress ball.

Changes by local authority

• Surrey – Woking Library to be refurbished.
• Swindon – West Swindon Library reopened after flooding.

National news

• Love of libraries to be shared at city-wide festival – BBC. “Presenter and children’s author Konnie Huq, Salford actor Christopher Eccleston and British poet laureate Simon Armitage will all be involved in the festival.”

• Politicians urged to save UK grassroots music venues and libraries, by urgently investing in the arts – Left Foot Forward. “Actor Christopher Eccleston was among the speakers. Addressing an audience at Stockport Central Library on June 13, Eccleston shared his passion for libraries and books and highlighted some of the challenges libraries face, including funding cuts. He noted how Britian needs to proper arts funding system in place like the French and he hoped that there will be more change of getting arts on the agenda with the new government. “As an actor, words are the tools of my trade. When I was growing up in Salford the local library provided a vibrant lifeline to the wider world. Libraries feed people’s interests and passions and provide access leading to connections being forged,” said Eccleston.”
• Power readers – BookSeller. “Here’s a fun thing to do, download the political manifestos of the leading contenders in the general election, and search for some relevant words, “book”, for example, or “arts”, if you must, or “library”, if you truly want to despair, or “retail”, if you want to go granular. The Conservative manifesto contains three references to books (none relevant to us), one mention of arts (venues), one of libraries, and one tangential reference to retail; the Liberal Democrats have plenty on arts education in schools (good for them), but not a single reference to books, or libraries, or retail. The word “author” is absent from both of them.” [There is no mention of public libraries in the Labour Manifesto – Ed.]
• Why you might struggle to find this year’s International Booker winner in UK libraries – and why publishing suffers as a result – Conversation. Cataloguing quirk means Kairos may not be as easily found as it should be.

International news

• Australia – The importance of libraries in this socially disconnected and democratic world – Medium. “At the end of the day libraries are not just “nice” to have, Cathie remarked, “they are essential for communities and democracy to function well”.”
• China – Does China Still Need Libraries? – Sixth Tone. “Many libraries and bookstores have become popular wanghong spots, where people go to take photos to share on social media” … “public libraries will always be free so they are accessible to people from all social backgrounds” … “In general, the number and quality of libraries in China are on the rise, but there are huge regional differences. For instance, Shanghai has more than 200 public libraries, and they run very smoothly, but in Shaanxi province, it wasn’t until the end of 2020 that we pledged to have a public library in every county.” … “having libraries alone are not enough — people must know how to use them for them to be impactful.”
• Global – The Impact of Social Media in Public Libraries – CS Burns. “This study focuses on what impact the public libraries that are using social media are experiencing and how it is effecting their knowledge management decisions. It expands on previous studies by seeking to confirm the results of those earlier studies, as well as to better explain the reasoning behind the results”
• Iran – Study the Status of Providing Health Information Services in Public Libraries in Tehran – Payavard Salamat. Many public librarians are not aware of what is available.
• Spain – Barcelona libraries open until midnight for Selectividad 2024 – Barcelona Secreta. Public libraries stay open later to help students study for examinations.

• USA – Banishing Captain Underpants: An investigation of the 3,400 books pulled in Iowa – USA Today. Iowa. “districts removed nearly 3,400 books and two DVDs to comply with the law, including nearly 1,000 unique titles.” Books include ““To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the Newbery Medal novel “The Giver” by Lois Lowry and “Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot,” 1984 by George Orwell also removed by several library districts. see also The effects House Bill 710 will have on one room libraries in Idaho – KMVT. “House Bill 710 explicitly states that a book that an adult deems inappropriate, has to be relocated to the adults-only section in the library. For one-room libraries, this poses an issue, of whether they will completely take the book out of the library as a whole or change their policies.”

• With censorship on the rise, Providence librarian says Rhode Island needs to do more to protect libraries – Publics Radio.

Local news by authority

• Bolton – Bolton Library to celebrate Festival of Libraries this week – Bolton News.
• Bristol – Toy library helps parents save money ‘and the planet’ – BBC. “The library was set up by Ms Berryafter she returned from living in New Zealand, where toy libraries are common.”
• Calderdale – Refugee Week: Films, football matches, cooking sessions and more as Calderdale celebrates kindness to refugees – Halifax Courier. Virtual reality experience of entering Heathrow in 1968 with their passport being refused.
• Dorset – Litter Free Dorset expands beach toy library with Weymouth Town Council – Dorset Live. “The toy library allows visitors to borrow and reuse toys for free, helping to reduce waste and prevent plastic from entering our oceans.”
• Denbighshire – Why three people were banned from Denbighshire libraries – Denbighshire Free Press. Drugs and alcohol.
• Falkirk – Falkirk Library staff want you to help them make music – Falkirk Herald. “The days of not making a noise in libraries is long gone but next Friday, June 21 the Hope Street venue will be hosting an event as part of Make Music Day.”
• Flintshire – Authors John Connolly and Adele Parks at Mold Library – Leader. £5 each.
• Highlands – North-west primary children write to Highland libraries head over ‘missing’ mobile library van – North West Times. ““It has been missing since before Christmas and no one seems to know why it is still away or when/if it will be back. “I believe it went into the garage for some reason and just never returned. There has been a small hire van coming round with a few boxes of books in it, but the children have to stand outside, often in the rain, and you can’t see the books properly and it is a very small selection of books.”
• Hull – Open a book, open a world: children’s reading conference set to ignite curiosity – Hull Council. ” The James Reckitt Reading Conference has been launched in conjunction with the year’s celebrations, commemorating 100 years since Sir James Reckitt died, in March 1924. The conference is aimed at a range of professionals involved in young people’s reading; including teachers and teaching assistants, literacy coordinators, school and public librarians, and those responsible for encouraging reading in a learning environment. It will take place on Monday (17 June) in the Big Top at Malarkey Park, in East Park.”
• Merton – Merton Libraries launch The Merton Big Read for 2024 – Merton Council. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. ACE funded.
• Knowsley – Knowsley’s libraries host a summer of authors – Knowsley News. Free.
• Lancashire – Chorley Library closed for essential repair works – Lancashire Council.

• Manchester – Manchester City Council and Zeus 360 bring virtual tours to all 22 of authority’s libraries – Prolific North. “funded by a £20,250 grant from the Arts Council England’s LibraryOn programme.”
• Newcastle – Support for people and carers living with dementia – Newcastle Council. All libraries dementia-friendly, book and picture collections, Tovertafel, music list.
• Northern Ireland – More than 30,000 library accounts suspended due to overdue books – Belfast Telegraph.
• Nottingham – Buyer found for Angel Row library in Nottingham is an ‘established operator’ – Bridgford Wire. ” Holding costs for the vacant property currently amount to £162,000 annually, with potential increased insurance costs estimated at £319,000. The sale is expected to mitigate these costs”
• Oxfordshire – Oxfordshire to offer free period products in new trial – Herald Series. “The scheme proposes to provide period products in 18 libraries and eight children and family centres across Oxfordshire on a trial basis.”
• Portsmouth – King’s Birthday Honours List: Every Portsmouth and Hampshire individual recognised by King Charles III – The News. “Julie Kay Duffy. Vision Impairment Services Officer, Portsmouth Library Service. For services to Public Libraries and to the community in Portsmouth.”
• Reading – Town centre library building sold in homes plan – BBC. “Reading Central Library opened on Kings Road in 1985, but now most of its collection is set to be moved into an extension to the borough council’s offices in Bridge Street. The authority’s policy committee has agreed to instruct a sales agent to begin marketing the site ahead of its closure next year.”
• Somerset – Get active in the library – Somerset Council. “A huge variety of fun activities will be on offer over a ten-month programme, with ‘taster sessions’ which may include gentle stretching, Tai Chi, Yoga and …” … “The sessions are funded via Sport England “
• Southend on Sea – ‘Psychedelic Movement to bring Southend cannabis cafes’ – Echo News. Psychedelic Movement parliamentary candidate promises “protecting local libraries, offering psychedelic therapy …”
• Suffolk – New Suffolk Libraries weekly session set to start in Beck Row near Mildenhall – Suffolk News. ” hour weekly pop-up session paid for by Section 106 funding.
• Surrey – Public invited to preview library improvements – BBC. “The venue is to get a more flexible layout, including a performance space, new furniture and toilets and more study space.” … “Other improvements include meeting rooms and the library being added to the list of those offering Super Access, external, where technology is used to offer longer opening hours to registered members.”
• Swindon – Flood-damaged library set to reopen – BBC. “West Swindon Library, which is located at the Link Centre, closed suddenly in September when flood water damaged most of the building.”
• Wiltshire – Wiltshire Libraries see changes in reading habits – Salisbury Journal. “In 2011, the number of these books loaned totalled at 2,589,982 but in 2023, the number sat at 1,514,665.” 40,000 ebook loans.”1.8m books borrowed in 2023-2024, up 9.8 per cent on 2022-23″
• Worcestershire – Crime authors to host ‘thrilling’ talks at county libraries – Malvern Observer. Caz Frear, Rachel McLean, Sue Watson. Free attendance.
• York – Explore some more activities at your local York library – York Press.