Labour in Libraries

Editorial

Wow, so that was a quite a victory for Labour. With such a majority, they have five years now to do what they can before the next election and, given the volatility of the electorate, the possibility of another change in government. There are huge challenges for Labour, including a distinct lack of money and economic weakness, and promises about not increasing taxation made pre-election. This will make it very difficult for them to follow the impulse, more natural to them than the Conservatives, to send money the way of local government and libraries. But it needs to be done. Local councils are on the verge of bankruptcy and public libraries have not had significant investment since, well, the last Labour Government. Hopefully, the capacity of libraries to do all sorts of things all over the country, not least boosting literacy, at cheap prices, means that the needed investment will be made. We can hope so. And perhaps the easiest low-cost maximum-impact way to start would be to find a way of removing late fees for all public libraries. Now that would be fine.

And then we have the problem of staff-less libraries. Back in the old days, a library was staffed by paid human beings. Since that Golden Age, increasing numbers of paid staff have been replaced by either volunteers or by technology, in terms of the ever expanding number of PIN-entry libraries. This lack of labour in libraries removes that chance of social interaction, and of unbiased expert help, that is one of the key selling points of the sector. It was done initially, mainly in other countries, as a way of expanding opening hours but, being the budget for UK libraries is what it is, is increasingly be done here to replace costly human beings. This has led to the Guardian writing an article called “The end of the librarian?” which is worth looking at. I’ve also collated information on the staff-less phenomenon here. If there’s still any human beings out there who wants to look.

National news

• End of the librarian? Council cuts and new tech push profession to the brink – Guardian. “officials in some local authorities are proposing that libraries can be operated at times without any professional librarians, relying on self-service technology, smartcards for entry and CCTV.”. A look at Buckinghamshire and Croydon.

• Libraries give us power. The next government must trust libraries to continue delivering for communities – Big Issue. CILIP CEO article. The public trusts libraries and that can be used.
• Libraries should be at the heart of public life – Financial Times. Richard Ovenden. “The British public library system marks two important anniversaries this year. One hundred and seventy five years ago a debate was held in parliament which led to the Public Libraries Act of 1850, giving local authorities the ability to establish free public libraries through a modest increase in local taxation. Sixty years ago the Public Libraries and Museums Act of 1964 upgraded that law to made it a requirement for local authorities to provide the service.” … “In this anniversary year, it is a tragic irony that the system is now facing one of the most severe challenges in its history.” … “One solution? A distinct Minister for Libraries. A new ministerial brief could help highlight the contribution made by libraries across different areas of the government’s agenda.”

International news

• Ireland – Turning over a new leaf – Irish Examiner. “GIY and Libraries Ireland have come together in a novel food and literacy education programme, beginning in Waterford but with the ambition to see the initiative evolve across Ireland, creating food-growing communities wherever there is a library to be found. Growing your own food is of course a positive climate action and also fosters food empathy and promotes sustainability, so along with the free seeds and information packs, the library will provide the know-how including online videos in this attempt to find a whole new audience for the superlative efforts of GIY. ” See LibraryLeaf.
• USA – Placer County libraries extend hours to provide relief from excessive heat – Yubanet. California.
• ALA 2024: Librarians Rally for the Right to Read – Publishers Weekly. “Freedom to read tops the list of librarians’ priorities, and the American Library Association’s 2024 conference emphasized the existential threats posed by book bans and the populist undermining of public institutions and trust.”
• A Reader Asked for My Ultimate Top Ten Tips for the Most Effective Library Marketing Possible: Here’s the List – Super Library Marketing. Send emails, post only once a day on social media, put a bookmark into every reserved book, short script for staff to say about every event/promotion, talk to one community group per month, review your social media metrics monthly, plan calendar for 6-12 months ahead, speak to staff meetings about marketing, professional media releases, blog, 20 minutes per week to learn.

Local news by authority

• Birmingham – Library cuts will devastate people in Birmingham, say campaigners – Rayo. “Proposed cuts to library services in Birmingham could be devastating for the city and increase inequalities, according to a libraries campaign group. Birmingham Loves Libraries has written an open letter to Birmingham City councillors, demanding all cuts to be paused.”
• Blackburn with Darwen – Thousands ‘inspired’ by Children’s Literature Festival – Lancashire Telegraph. 6th Children’s Literature Festival. Christina Gabbitas: ““I would like to thank all the staff in Blackburn with Darwen Libraries for their amazing support, and all who have helped fund the festival; Darwen Rotary, Lloyds Trust, Darwen Town Council, and Spot On Lancashire.”
• Bridgend – Awen Launches First Countywide Adult Reading Challenge – Awen Cultural Trust. “Free ‘bingo sheets’ can be collected from Awen Libraries and prizes* will be awarded after 7, 14 and 21 books have been read.” Prizes while stocks last.
• Buckinghamshire – Bucks Council slammed for library cuts set to dramatically reduce staffing – Bucks Herald. “Kari Dorme, aged in her late 70s, warned that new cost-cutting measures, including the roll-out of self-service technology, would further erode the vital function the county’s libraries play in society. The former branch and area librarian for Beaconsfield and High Wycombe said: “These cuts will, in time, kill off the whole ethos and character of what library work is about.”” Staffless opening.
• Croydon – Croydon locals rally to save Shirley Library from closure – Sutton and Croydon Guardian. “Residents have called for Croydon Council to reconsider plans to close Shirley Library, claiming it would receive more footfall if it was open more often. This comes following the news that the council could be closing three other libraries due to a poor post-Covid slump in visitation as well as the overall costs of running all 13 libraries in the borough.” 1800 signature petition.
  • ‘Our Croydon library is on 5 London bus routes so increase its opening hours instead of closing it’ – MyLondon.
• Dorset – Libraries to help keep children’s minds active over summer holidays – Dorset Echo. Marvellous Makers. Minimal offering.
  • New library hours come into force across county – BBC. “There has been some backlash to the new hours, with hundreds of people signing a petition urging the council to reverse the changes in Swanage, where Saturday opening hours will be cut from six-and-a-half to three.”
• Essex – Former library goes up for sale for £2.6m – BBC. “Delaware House, in Shoebury, Essex was previously home to a library on the first floor and a blood test clinic on the ground floor alongside a nursery. However, it has remained empty for several years.”
• Hackney – Innovative art programme to transform libraries into cultural hubs with training for artists – Hackney Council. “Art at Heart was developed in response to feedback from around 8,500 Hackney residents, and residents expressing that one of their top desires is for libraries to become dynamic centres for creativity. This summer, the project will train early-career artists through paid residencies in libraries across Hackney, collaborating closely with local community groups. ” ACE funded.
• Havering – Summer Reading Challenge – Havering Council. Marvellous Makers. Minimal offering.
• Hertfordshire – Children invited to free reading Challenge at libraries this summer – In Your Area. Marvellous Makers. 20,000 took part in 2023.
• Kent – Children challenged to become ‘Marvellous Makers’ in KCC Libraries summer reading challenge – Kent Council. Free events plus publicity video.
• Leicestershire – Challenge encourages children to read over summer – BBC. Marvellous Makers. “Children taking part in the challenge can also receive free entry to Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, as well as the 1620s House and Garden at Donington le Heath.”
  • New play project at libraries rolled out – BBC. “Sixteen libraries are now hosting the Pop-in Play Library project, run by not-for-profit organisation Boromi, with the original pilot funded by a Leicestershire County Council grant.”
• Lincolnshire – Multi-sensory room opened at Cleethorpes Library – BBC. “Equipment in the room include an astronaut star projector, sensory fidget tubes, a weighted blanket and a white noise machine.” Can be hired.
• Norfolk – Breathing Space with Xenia Horne at Norfolk libraries as bereavement cafes are being put on – Lynn News. “The bereavement cafes are part of a Norfolk Libraries project called Know Your Neighbourhood and this particular event is in conjunction with Creative Arts East”
• Oldham – It’s time for stories to come alive – Oldham Council. Storyfest with various author events. and Marvellous Makers.
• Oxfordshire – Children encouraged to get creative at Oxfordshire libraries this summer – Oxfordshire Council. Marvellous Makers. Minimal offering.
• Renfrewshire – Paisley Central Library wins silver at design awards – Gazette. “The new building is housed in a former High Street shop and is spread over four floors and has a reception area, children’s library, and storytelling area with a play structure that includes a climbing wall and slide which are co-designed with Scottish artist Claire Barclay.”
• Rotherham – Rotherham Libraries and Neighbourhood Hubs participate in the “Marvellous Makers” Summer Reading Challenge – Rotherham Council. Set a personal reading goal, rather than 6 books. “a celebration ceremony will take place on Sunday 20 October at Magna Science and Adventure Centre.”
• Sheffield – A decade ago, over half of Sheffield’s libraries lost their staff. Against the odds, they’ve thrived – Sheffield Tribune. Behind subscription paywall.
• Stockport – Stockport library cuts ‘deeply concerning’ – Stockport Nub News. Staff-less opening. “Stockport council was asked for a full breakdown of the new staffed hours and how this has changed for each library, but it has not provided one, citing restrictions due to the pre-election period.”
• Suffolk – New cancer and wellbeing books donated to Suffolk Libraries by SmartestEnergy – Suffolk Libraries. £2,000 donation by energy company.
  • LinkedIn Learning – a new free service for library users in Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries. “LinkedIn Learning is a collection of over 16,000 online courses in business, computer technology, software and creative skills, all conducted by experts in their fields.”
  • Reading Quest starts soon – sign up from 13 July – Suffolk Libraries. In-house SRC. “Children will be encouraged to take part in activities and experiences across the summer rather than read an expected number of books. These ‘quests’ will range from ‘reading under the covers with a torch’ to ‘choosing a recipe book and ‘making something together as a family’.” Nursing agency Advantage Angels is sponsoring £20k over 2 years for this.
  • Suffolk Libraries can help you get ready for school – Suffolk Libraries. “The bags contain handy information booklets that cover all the skills that children need to be ready to start school such as developing speech, using the toilet and wearing school uniform.”
• Torfaen – Torfaen’s Summer Reading Challenge kicks off in libraries – South Wales Argus. Marvellous Makers. “Aside from the reading incentives, a £100 Smyths Toy Store gift voucher will be awarded to one lucky participant selected in a prize draw at the end of the challenge.”
• Walsall – Marvellous Makers – Summer Reading Challenge 2024 – Walsall Council. Minimal offering.
• West Dunbartonshire – West Dunbartonshire libraries unveil summer activity plans – Clydebank Post. See here for events, mainly crafts and story-times.