The end of September, 2024

Changes by local authority

• Caredigion – Aberaeron Library to move out of town.
• Cumberland – Cockermouth Library returning to council control from Cockermouth Town Council.

International news

• Australia – Libraries will only exist for as long as we borrow from them. Consider it your civic duty – Guardian. “if you’re a book borrower, don’t feel guilty. You’re tangibly supporting authors with every loan. And you’re supporting your community by using and bolstering a safe and accessible public space.”
• Cambodia – A Study Trip to Libraries and Archives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia – South East Asian Library Group.
• Ireland – Open day at local libraries this weekend – Southern Star. “The role of public libraries in local community life will be highlighted on National Public Libraries Open Day this Saturday September 28th.” … “‘Irish public libraries have a proud and long-standing history of being integral within our villages, towns, and cities in supporting people on an individual and a collective, community basis,’ said head of libraries development for the local government management agency.
  • Explosion of e-lending at Irish public libraries – LMFM. “A total of 931,291 e-books and 1,674,191 e-audiobooks were loaned through branches in 2023, up one fifth on 2022. But the substantial increase has not dented the lending of traditional print books – combined with audio visual material such as CDs and DVDs, they increased to 14.5million, a rise of 18%.”
  • Fórsa salutes Irish library workers ahead of National Public Libraries Open Day – Forsa. Trade union. “There are 330 library branches and 31 mobile libraries in Ireland. All core library services are provided free of charge. There are no memberships fees and no fines for late returns. Nearly 800,000 people are registered as library members and more than 12 million items are available to borrow across the service. “
  • Kildare County Council to mark National Public Libraries Day with free services and events – Kildare Now.

• USA – We Underfunded Our Libraries Once. It Almost Lost Us World War II – Time. “2024 has seen many devastating budget cuts to libraries. Earlier this year, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams proposed to cut more than $58 million from the city’s libraries. (After public protests, Adams walked back his statement and the city’s libraries were spared—for now.) The National Archives and Records Administration has its slimmest budget in nearly three decades, relative to its holdings. The American Library Association recently wrote to its members, “Every librarian knows that funding is under threat for libraries in communities of all sizes and all across the nation.”” … “U.S. intelligence quickly discovered that libraries didn’t have the most basic information that the country needed in this crisis.”

Local news by authority

• Angus – An Official Opening for the Monifieth Community Hub and Library – Angus Council. “After almost 15 years MCRG has now delivered on its mission to provide a £2.3 million community resource for the 8,000 plus residents of Monifieth as it officially opens the new community facility.”
• Bath and North East Somerset – Babies gifted books to encourage early reading – BBC. “Babies registered in Bath and North East Somerset in July have been given their own copy of the 1926 book Winnie the Pooh to encourage avid readers from birth. Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) has given the books to nearly 300 babies at special events held in the region’s three main libraries.”
• Birmingham – Creative writing academics contribute to ‘protest zine’ against cuts to Birmingham libraries – University of Birmingham. “Luke Kennard, Anna Metcalfe and Bohdan Piasecki wrote poems and a microplay for a new collection of works celebrating Birmingham’s 35 branch libraries.”
  • Birmingham council’s library plans set to make ‘nil savings’ this year despite £1m target – Birmingham Live. “The libraries project had a target of £1.26 million in 2024/25 but a new council report has suggested that it is forecast to make no savings this year instead. “This is due to additional consultation requirements and resulting delays in the implementation process,” the report said. “Previously identified mitigation options through vacancy management and reducing running cost on buildings is no longer possible”. “
• Bolton – ‘No contact’ on future of Blackrod Library after cuts plan – Bolton News. “questions have now been raised at town hall, particularly about the future of Blackrod Library on Church Street with claims that there has been no further communication from council officials.”
• Bradford – Library opening hours to be cut in Bradford – BBC. “Ten council-run libraries will close earlier on Saturdays from spring 2025 and there will also be changes at other times of the week. The announcement followed the end of a public consultation on the issue which 1,656 people took part in. Bradford Council said the cuts were part of a £175,000 savings plan and councillors have been asked to approve the changes next week.”
• Buckinghamshire – ‘I might lose my library job under Bucks Council cuts but I’m told to keep quiet’ – Bucks Free Press. “a staff member in one of the affected libraries said there was a huge ‘discrepancy’ between what the council was saying in private and in public about the plans. The individual, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that the council had tried to limit the number of people who responded to its consultation on the plans, which ended earlier this month. They told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “They said, ‘please don’t discuss details of this within earshot of customers’. It did really feel like they were trying to get as few responses as they could.”” … ” the council could lay off anywhere from 20 to 45 per cent of staff.” … “the current workforce will have to reapply for a completely new list of roles.” … “cenior library bosses are said to have admitted that the council’s plans to extend opening hours were actually ‘unrealistic’ and ‘impractical’.”
• Cambridgeshire – In praise of the local library – Varsity. “one of my favourite libraries to return to is Cambridge’s own Central Library, somewhat bizarrely located in the Lion’s Yard shopping mall. It too reflects memories back at me, instead this time of my local council-run library back home. Like the libraries at the University, they are filled with the loveliest people ready to help when you can’t find a book or the printer inevitably breaks down”
  • New community space opens at March Library and everyone’s invited – Cambridgeshire Council. “Cambridgeshire Libraries launched a new innovative and state-of-the-art community space at March Library. Part of the ‘EverySpace’ project, this new flexible community resource will support people to develop their digital skills and empower local groups to host varied and exciting events and activities.” Arts Council England funded.
• Caredigion – Public opinion ‘ignored’ over Aberaeron library closure – Cumbrian Times. “Almost 900 responses were received during a consultation over cash-saving plans to move Aberaeron’s library ‘out of town’ into Ceredigion County Council’s Penmorfa offices, a meeting has heard.” … “The report said that 896 responses were received – 91 per cent of which disagreed with the planned move away from its current County Hall base.” … “A public meeting held in July met the plans with “anger” and warned that elderly library users would find it hard to access the new facility except by car.” … “Aberaeron councillor Elizabeth Evans called the consultation a “mockery” and “misleading” and said that “every business in the town would be horrified if the library moved.””
• Cheshire East – Cheshire East would not balance its books in adult services this year even if it closed all its libraries, leisure centres and more – Macclesfield Nub News. “Cheshire East wouldn’t balance its books in adult services this year even if it closed all its libraries and leisure centres and didn’t spend a penny fixing roads, a councillor said.” £20.7m overspend.
• Cheshire West and Chester – “Ellies” – the new Ellesmere Port Prize for Reading – Dee Radio. “Libraries Service has partnered with the three high schools in Ellesmere Port to boost reading and library membership amongst 11- to 14-year-olds.” … “Each school will decide who will receive three awards (strongest, resilience and achievement) with each winning student receiving a trophy and a gift token. Each school will also decide on a further five commended students who will receive a gift token. There will also be an award for those who are home schooled.”
  • Libraries Week: Events happening at Cheshire West Libraries – Chester Standard. Advice sessions : “The library service is working with partners including React Now – the Cheshire West and Chester Council Climate Change Team, Citizen’s Advice, Groundwork, Energy Projects Plus and Severn Trent Water.” plus authors, music and ghost stories.
• City of London – London library has service charge hiked from £8k to £40k after having rate frozen since the 1980s – MyLondon. “The site’s landlord, Landsec, said it is not charging the full amount allowed under the lease, and that the company is committed to working alongside the library to ensure it ‘continues to succeed’. The local authority says that it is not anticipating an impact on services.” … “It has also emerged however that when the developer Landsec took over the premises from the library’s previous landlord, Deloitte, it introduced a new service charge five times that initially levied.”
• Croydon – Cabinet approves new libraries model  – Croydon Council. “The new model, approved by the council’s cabinet last night, does include the difficult decision to close four library buildings – Bradmore Green, Broad Green, Sanderstead and Shirley, in order to re-invest into the library service. There will be no cuts to the libraries budget and existing resources will be used to provide a more inclusive, flexible, modernised service that reaches more residents.”
  • Four Croydon libraries set to close ‘won’t actually close’ claims Mayor – except they kind of will – My London. Libraries will become bookable spaces instead.
  • No money, no plan, no honesty: Mayor still closing 4 libraries – Inside Croydon. “since covid in 2020, and the council’s financial collapse later that year, only one of the borough’s libraries, Central, has been operating anything like “normal” opening hours. In 2020, £800,000 was cut from the libraries’ operating budget, making it impossible to staff a proper library service across all 13 libraries.”
• Cumberland – Cockermouth Library Link secures future with Cumberland Council – Cumberland Council. “The valued community resource is set for an important transition as work begins to transfer management and staff responsibilities from Cockermouth Town Council to Cumberland Council.”
• Darlington – Library unveils latest technological addition – Darlington Council. Hublets, funded via Arts Council England.

“Thought you’d be interested to know that Hampshire Libraries are having problems with their IT systems resulting in rather a lot of users accumulating overdue fees. On 20 September I received an automated email informing me my books were due back soon. The email was dated 14 September for books due back on 18 September so they were already overdue when I received the notification. I was in Devon at the time (from 19 – 23) at a rural location with no signal so only picked it up on my return Sunday evening at which point I renewed everything online.

On Monday I went into my local library and was told that, because it was a courtesy email, they had been told by the powers-that-be that they couldn’t waived the overdue fees. These were over £8 (I’m an avid library user and usually have quite a few books on loan). Whilst I was there another user was querying her £%+ overdue fees – can’t help wondering how much money they’re making due to this IT problem? I also suspect that a few people will pay their fees and stop using the library because they don’t want it to happen again or some will even just hang onto their books and not return them because they can’t afford to pay late fees – I know from experience that people do both. This isn’t the first time they’ve had IT issues. Recently they were having to send out personal emails to people informing them that their reserved books were ready for collection as they system had stopped doing it … this time Head Office agreed to this action because they were concerned about people paying £1.20 for a reservation and then it being sent back before it was collected. “

Hampshire – email received

• Isle of Wight – Newport’s Lord Louis Library Set To Undergo Essential Works – Isle of Wight Radio.
• Flintshire – Flintshire Councillors launch petition to save Aura’s libraries and leisure centres – Deeside.com. “A petition launched by local councillors in Flintshire to save Aura’s libraries and leisure centres has attracted over 1,000 signatures just one day after its release.”. Council may return Aura services to itself – petitions says “This decision will undoubtedly lead to severe service disruption across the community and could ultimately result in the closure of many libraries and leisure centres throughout Flintshire.””

“Please sign this petition to save library and leisure services. Aura offered to make up the funding gap themselves to save the services and Flintshire has turned them down! Ask your Councillor why.”

Sara Mogel OBE, Chair of Aura

• Haringey – Haringey Council plans to cut opening hours at its libraries – This is Local London. “friends groups have raised concerns that the move could lead to a “future of library closures” due to reduced usage, and that children and young people had not been consulted. “
• Herefordshire – Date Hereford’s new temporary library will open confirmed – Hereford Times. “The building near Hereford Cathedral, which has long housed a small museum upstairs, is being converted to provide the city with a state-of-the-art museum and exhibition space.”
• Kirklees – Kirklees Council would be making a mistake by cutting libraries – Yorkshire Post Letters – Yorkshire Post. “My experience of using volunteers is mixed and is useful but isn’t as reliable as having paid staff.” Writer suggests council cuts “back of house” rather than libraries.
• Leicester – Leicester libraries mark Black History Month with free cultural events and great book suggestions – In Your Area. Author, reggae pioneer, exhibition.
• Leicestershire – Get a wriggle on to new children’s reading festival – Leicestershire Council. “Inspired by the libraries’ regular story and rhyme sessions, Wriggly Readers, the new festival will be across the 16 county council run libraries and will provide learning and entertainment for families with babies and children under five. “
• Liverpool – Liverpool library visit turns spooky with discovery of tampered occult book – Daily Star. Reporter notices some pages cut out of book at Liverpool Central Library and makes a news article of it.
  • Staying professional in a storm – CILIP. “What happens when a library is attacked by far-right rioters? Denise Jones, Acting Customer Services Manager, Liverpool Central Library, explains how the library service and the community reacted to events at the Spellow Library Hub in Liverpool.”
• Northern Ireland- Experience of culture, arts and heritage by adults in Northern Ireland 2023/24 – Northern Ireland Government. Includes spreadsheet with detailed usage of libraries.
• Northumberland – Northumberland’s library service branded ‘best in the country’ – Chronicle. Councillor in charge of libraries says it is one of the best. “As of the first quarter of 2024, there were 52,298 members of the county’s library service – a 13.9% increase on the same period. Libraries up and down the county also saw 8,319 people attend various events – an increase of 237% on the previous year.”. Library at South Beach reopened “supported y a pretty impressive volunteer network”
• Nottingham – Lace making history on show online and in library – BBC. “Available through the website of LibraryOn, a programme supported by Arts Council England to improve libraries’ online presence, Nottingham City Council said it will “present an insightful snapshot into the rich history of Nottingham lace”.”
• Perth and Kinross – ‘Save Birnam Library’ protest shines light on Perth and Kinross closure fears – Courier. “The Birnam demonstration came as library users across Perth and Kinross are consulted on ‘alternative models of provision'”.
• Powys – Powys set to celebrate Green Libraries Week with roadshow – Brecon and Radnor Express. ” Powys libraries will be hosting recycling roadshows where you can find out how to make the most of your recycling boxes at home and help the environment by making sure you recycle as much of your waste as possible and make sustainable choices.”
• Renfrewshire – Paisley Central Library finalist for the AJ Architecture Awards – Herald Scotland. “the community facility features a vibrant children’s library, and a storytelling area and a unique play structure complete with a climbing wall and slide”
• Sandwell – Celebration of Tipton history sees library packed out – Express and Star. ” Tipton Town Libraries Local History Group welcomed community groups, former Tiptonian of the Year award winners and the public to Carnegie Library in the town for a morning of exhibits and a chance to meet up with old friends.”

• Somerset – Wellington Library welcomes community back to its historic Fore Street location – County Gazette. “The library, which has been a cornerstone of the community since 1969, underwent significant upgrades while temporarily housed on North Street.”
• Suffolk – Vibrant new bins installed in community following children’s competition – Ipswich Council. “Two bins outside libraries in Ipswich have had a colourful makeover thanks to local school children taking part in the Brighten our Bins competition.”
  • Suffolk – Wild Reads is returning with even more nature activities for families – Suffolk Libraries.
• Warrington – Warrington Library Network Forum – Warrington Council. “The Warrington Library Network Forum has now been established to replace the former Library Partnership Board which was set up to ensure Warrington’s library service was dynamic, comprehensive, universal and sustainable for all Warrington residents. The Board oversaw the refurbishment programme across the libraries which has now been completed. The Warrington Library Network Forum will support and encourage engagement in a strong modern library service within the Borough, ensuring service users and the wider public have a voice.”

• Warwickshire – Enjoy free Fun Palace events at selected Warwickshire Libraries on 5 and 6 October – Warwickshire Council. Knitting, music, Diwali crafts, art.
• West Sussex – West Sussex Libraries Host Free Events to Support Positive Ageing – West Sussex Council. “A joint initiative between West Sussex County Council’s Library Service and Public Health”. Free slip-safe slippers, advice.
• Wigan – Library card scheme opens a new chapter – Wigan Council. “All reception pupils will be given the cards to encourage more residents to visit the borough’s amazing library network.” … “It is part of the council’s Progress With Unity approach, which includes a focus on reducing educational, health and financial inequalities by creating fair opportunities for children and families. It will be paired with a similar scheme that will see parents offered a card for their new-born baby when they register the birth.”
• Wirral – Library set to reopen with new café after transformation – Liverpool Echo. Wallasey Village Library: “Following the decision to close it, neighbours, volunteers, a nearby primary school, a café, and Wallasey councillor Ian Lewis came together to form a new charity that would take the building over and run it for at least the next 25 years. In February this year, they received the keys to the building and have been working on the building since.” … “The Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre is converting one third of the building into the library space, another room into a community space, while a third room will become a dog friendly café”