Thought for the next four (five?) years

Editorial

After the US election result, I tweeted “Well, it’s been pretty tough being a librarian in the UK this last decade or so but I think I’d still prefer it to working in a US library for the next four years”. There have been strong moves towards censorship in the USA and that is likely to greatly strengthen during Trump’s return. But this is not to say American libraries are not well-funded – see the report below on Austin’s lovely libraries to see this is not the case. It’s just to say that even the most beautiful library misses the point, and worse, if it is not allowed to show the books its community needs.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the case of Croydon gives more evidence, following the horribly disappointing budget last week, that nothing much has changed. The Secretary of State, who campaigned for libraries while in opposition, is declining to intervene, stressing it’s up to the local council and any cuts due to local budget is therefore, of course, nothing to do with her. New boss same as the old boss?

Please send any news, views, convincing evidence that library policy will change, and biscuits to ianlibrarian@live.co.uk. Thank you.

Changes by local authority

• Stockport – New Marple Library being built (co-location)

National news

• 1,400 libraries now helping patients access NHS App – Healthcare Leader. “Around two in five public library services have signed up to the scheme (64 out of 151), with more expected to join ‘in the coming months’, it added.”
• Community Libraries – Scottish Parliament. “Numerous constituents have contacted me to raise concerns about the proposed closure of seven community libraries in towns and villages across Perth and Kinross as a direct result of budget cuts by the Scottish National Party-run Perth and Kinross Council. “

“This was a new variation on what some may recognise as the Fine Free Libraries map. The main takeaway is really that library overdue fines are not necessarily about being fine-free or not. They are about how much, and the expense varies considerably. Being charged 20p for a book being a week overdue, and getting a timely reminder to bring the book back seems to be a service aiming to ensure responsible lending from users. Charging 50-60p per day, and waiting a week or so to remind users seems more about extracting money from users. If you can’t go fine-free, try to be the service that uses fines for the benefit of users.”

Fine Free Libraries

• Practical Tips for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries – Facet Publishing. “This exciting book will equip readers to assess their own library, talk about challenges with more confidence and make concrete changes to improve diversity and inclusion.”
• Report finds ‘shocking and dispiriting’ fall in children reading for pleasure – Guardian. “National Literacy Trust finds only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their spare time, a sharp drop on last year to the lowest figure yet recorded”
• Shadowing – Carnegies. “Every spring, CILIP invites reading groups from schools, libraries, and homes to join the exciting process of shadowing the Carnegie Medals. This experience gives young readers the chance to follow along with the official judging process as ‘shadowers.’”
• The Summer Reading Challenge celebrates 25 years of encouraging young readers – Reading Agency. “With yearly themes spanning from the inaugural year’s ‘The Reading Safari’ to 2024’s ‘Marvellous Makers,’ the Challenge, which encourages children to log their reading and earn rewards over the summer holiday, has created 15,649,232 reading journeys between 1999 – 2023. “
• Turning the page: understanding the barriers to library use and how to encourage engagement – DCMS. “we spoke to people who had not used a public library service in England in the last 12 months to understand their views. The research involved 22 focus groups, 20 depth interviews and an online journal task completed by 12 participants who took part in depth interviews and did activities via a mobile app to familiarise themselves with a local library.”: limited awareness of library services, poor interiors, lack of time, services offered by others”

• Why aren’t children reading in their free time? – National Literacy Trust. “The research, which was taken from our Annual Literacy Survey 2024 of more than 76,000 UK children and young people, revealed that only 1 in 3 (34.6%) 8 to 18-year-olds say they enjoy reading in their free time.”

International news

• Australia – Branching out: the Sydney street libraries where neighbours swap plants instead of books – Guardian. Plant exchange, even including little free-like plant libraries.
  • Connecting communities through language at our libraries – City of Melbourne. “Meet the librarian behind Melbourne’s diverse language collections.”
• Bangladesh – IoT in Bangladesh Libraries: A Path to Transformation – ACR Log. “While IoT presents opportunities, its implementation also brings new challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is the mindset toward adopting new technologies. Many library professionals prefer traditional systems and are resistant to change, particularly when technology is involved”
• Cyprus – Minister promotes libraries as hubs for mental health – K News. “Vasiliki Kassianidou highlights the role of libraries in fostering critical thinking, social action, and philanthropic activities through the ”Literacy Routes in Libraries” program.”
• Ireland – Why are librarians up in arms over ebooks? – RTE. “There are three main reasons: availability, cost and terms and conditions.”
• Nigeria – Experts Seek Government’s Intervention To Revive Libraries In Nigeria – TVC News Nigeria.
• USA – The true story of a famed librarian and the secret she guarded closely – NPR. Black woman “passed as white” throughout her life.
  • Engines of optimism – Texas Highways. A look at some of the amazingly beautiful and well-funded libraries in Austin, Texas.
  • School District Pulls 425 Books From Its Libraries In Response To Tennessee’s Shitty Book Ban Law – TechDirt. ” the books “challenged” the most are ones that contain anything remotely LGBTQ-related, as well as anything that might portray minorities in a positive light and/or white Americans in a negative light, even if the books factually depict historical events.”
  • Statement From EveryLibrary: “This Election Should Not Determine the Fate of Libraries (But it Might Have)” – Library Journal Info Docket. “he previous Trump administration proposed gutting Federal Funding for libraries every year he was in office. Project 2025’s stated anti-library aims are clear. EveryLibrary has been shouting about the threats to public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, and the people they serve for months. We are committed to working in coalition with local, state, and national libraries and allied organizations to oppose the framework and proposals embedded in Project 2025.”

Local news by authority

• Bristol – Two-metre bar crashes through glass ceiling at Bristol library narrowly missing readers – Bristol Post. “2m bar fell through a glass ceiling at a library in the centre of Bristol narrowly missing readers. Multiple eyewitnesses told BristolLive it landed close to people reading. The bar, described as around two metres in length, took out a glass panel from the historic roof. Work is currently being done on the roof of the library, which was built in 1906 and is a Grade I-listed building.”
• Caerphilly – Community groups could be offered chance to run libraries at risk of closure – Caerphilly Herald. “If any of those sites are recommended for closure, then a Community Asset Transfer could be a path towards their survival.”
• Ceredigion – Ceredigion Library promotes new books for teenagers – Cambrian News. “Ceredigion Library has received a grant from the Welsh Book Council to promote the ‘Reading Well for Teenagers’ scheme across the county.”
• Cornwall – Help for Loan Shark Victims: Cornwall Libraries to Host Support Sessions – Cornish Stuff. “. Cornwall Council’s Library Service is partnering with the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) to bring this vital support directly to local communities.”
• Croydon – Labour minister Bryant rejects public’s pleas to save libraries – Inside Croydon. “Bradmore Green, in Old Coulsdon, together with three other public libraries in Croydon – Sanderstead, Shirley and Broad Green – are being closed” … DCMS refuses to intervene … “It seems that the bar has been set impossibly high, though, as the outsourcing of austerity by central government looks to be continuing into its 15th year.”
  • Croydon library closures spark devastation after ‘sham’ consultation process – SW London. ““They’ve cut the staffing, they cut the stock, they cut the hours. “They’ve basically tried to kill the service and still people go and use it.”
• Denbighshire – Rhyl Library selected to host national writing workshop – Rhyl Journal. “The library was victorious in the All Stories national competition, earning a fully-funded writing workshop aimed at supporting aspiring writers from underrepresented backgrounds.”
• Denbighshire libraries to host series of author events – Rhyl Journal.
• Devon – Exmouth Library welcomes Littleham CofE Primary School – Exmouth Journal. “Littleham is the only neighbourhood out of 81 in East Devon that falls within the 20 per cent of most deprived areas in England.”
  • Axminster Library launches “Dyslexia friendly” backpacks – Midweek Herald. “funding from Axminster Care Services to create “Dyslexia Friendly Backpacks” which will be borrowable to local families.” … “Initially, the library will have three different “Dyslexia Friendly Backpacks” for different ages: 0-5, 5-8 and 8-12 which will contain games, coloured overlays, parent/carer support books, electronic reading pens, headphones and lots of dyslexia friendly books.”
• Dorset – Borrow an iPad for free from Dorset Libraries – Dorset Council. “thanks to support from the council’s Cost of Living fund”
• East Sussex – “No more books” urges community library after deluge of donations – Argus. ““In the last year it has been used as a dumping ground. A few weeks ago, we had 150 books dumped in one go. I’s becoming unusable “
• Enfield – My local library made me who I am today – it must be saved – Enfield Dispatch. “So I’m horrified to hear that Southgate is one of eight libraries earmarked by Enfield Council for possible closure.” … “Instead of closing libraries, Enfield Council needs to advertise what amazing things they are”
• Flintshire – Flintshire leisure and library services have reopened – Leader Live. “The council has confirmed services are now operational and thanked people for their understanding.”
• Glasgow – Glasgow library’s new ‘piece of the jigsaw’ in famous Madeleine Smith murder trial – Glasgow Times. Mitchell Library special collection.
• Greenwich – Eltham Library paired with Kyiv’s Central Library to support Ukrainian refugees – News Shopper. “The south-east London library was paired with the Ukrainian capital’s library by the charity Libraries Connected. The twinning is part of a national initiative aiming to connect more than 20 areas of the UK with Ukrainian libraries. The aim is to share information and skills, develop joint initiatives, and celebrate British and Ukrainian language, literature, and culture.”
• Gwynedd – Former library in Gwynedd demolished to make way for council-built homes – Daily Post. “The scheme has seen the removal of the old Llanberis library, which had been vacant since closure in 2017, one of four libraries in Gwynedd which were shut as part of a major shakeup of the service to save money. Now, the site will be used to build three homes which are being developed through Cyngor Gwynedd ‘s Ty Gwynedd scheme.”
• Hounslow – Hounslow among best areas in the country for library access – Hounslow Council. “63 percent of Hounslow residents had a library within a 15-minute walk of their home. One of the highest proportions in the country placing Hounslow 21^st out of 318 local councils”
• Kensington and Chelsea / Westminster – Gamers unite in local libraries for a week of play – Kensington and Chelsea Council. “This time last year the bi-borough Games Library initiative was launched to make tabletop games more accessible, provide regular events and activities for all age groups, and create valuable work experience opportunities for young people. “
• Kirklees – Islamophobia Awareness Month 2024: Seeds of Change – Kirklees Council. Poetry, talks, displays.
• Leicester – New website launched for Leicester Libraries – Leicester Council. “The website – at bookfinder.leicester.gov.uk – allows library members to search for, reserve and renew books, submit book reviews, read book news and access the online library catalogue for ebooks and other resources.”
• Monmouthshire – New use to be found for library that is home to town’s ‘most famous spelling mistake’ – South Wales Argus. 1905 Carnegie former library building could be leased or sold off now it is no longer used for children who aren’t attending mainstream schools.  ” The stone mason accidentally spelled Abergavenny with three n’s.” “
• Moray – Moray libraries celebrate Book Week Scotland – Moray Council. Author Lin Anderson visits.
• Newport – Bettws Library in Newport gets new home in service shake-up – South Wales Argus. “The current library building in Bettws will shut down on November 25, and its books, furniture and other equipment will be moved to their new home, in Bettws Community Centre, which will reopen on December 2.”
• Northern Ireland – Carrickfergus Library: learn how to research your family tree using online census – Northern Ireland World.
• Northumberland – Northern Poetry Library finds a new home in Morpeth – Northumberland Gazette. “The Northern Poetry Library is now fully accessible and based at the new library at Morpeth Sports and Leisure Centre.”
• North Northamptonshire – Oundle Library re-introduces its popular weekly events – North Northamptonshire Council.
• North Yorkshire – Knaresborough and Ripon libraries launch support sessions to help people apply for bus passes – Harrogate Advertiser.
  • Scone residents holding protest against potential closure of town’s library – Daily Record. “A spokesperson for Save Scone Library said: “We previously had a very successful community meeting on October 3 with over 135 people attending.” The library is considered “vital” by the community and provides books for the local primary which does not have its own library.”
• Perth and Kinross – Hundreds of people sign petition opposing closure of Comrie Library – Daily Record. “A campaign to save a closure-threatened Perthshire library has attracted more than 500 signatures opposing the move. Comrie Library is among seven PKC libraries whose future is in doubt following a decision by councillors to spend £8.7m on a new community campus in Pitlochry, relocating its library to Pitlochry High School.”
• Peterborough – Community centres and libraries could be sold as Peterborough City Council battles cash crisis – Peterborough Telegraph. “libraries in Stanground and Woodston”. Council says ” many on this list are for consideration only. However, repayment of debt, funded from capital receipts, will support the council’s financial position and help to balance the budget.””
• Sheffield – Stocksbridge Library relocates to new venue – Welcome to Stocksbridge. “Stocksbridge Library has begun its preparations to move to a temporary new space in December as part of the Town Investment Plan to redevelop Manchester Road, which includes a new modern library in the heart of the community. The existing building will close on 10 December 2024 and relocate to nearby IKON Church, where it will remain until the new Stocksbridge 519 building opens in 2026.”
• Shetland – National award success for Shetland Library – Shetland News. “It won the library service excellence prize at the SLIC awards in Edinburgh today (Friday). SLIC – the Scottish Library and Information Council – said the Shetland Library team won the award for their “commitment to maintaining their library service as a relevant, worthwhile and modern resource for people of all ages and walks of life”.”
• Stirling – Stirling Council could auction off thousands of languishing library books in bid to free up space – Daily Record. “safeguards would protect anything of local or particular significance and it was a process for managing redundant stock.” … “Officers had sought approval for a further review of the collection by an auction house to identify books of interest and removal of these titles for sale, noting that all items with a local connection would be excluded from the process and retained by the service.”
• Stockport – Temporary library opens as work progresses on Marple Community Hub – Marketing Stockport. “A new temporary library has opened in Marple Scout Hut as part of work to deliver a new community hub and leisure centre for the village.” … “he new Marple Community Hub will have a brand-new ground floor library with a small café, a five-lane swimming pool, a 60-station fitness suite, shared community spaces, and the relocated Marple clinic.”
• Stoke on Trent – Boost for learning as library numbers soar in Stoke-on-Trent – Stoke on Trent Council. “Compared with the same period last year between April and June, library visits have increased this year from 60,694 to 64,186. This amounts to an increase of 6% and means the city council is on track to achieve our annual target of 250,000 visits in 2024/25.”
• Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries and other Ipswich cultural organisations come together to celebrate world class festive lineup – Suffolk Libraries. “Suffolk Libraries is proud to be part of ‘We Are Ipswich’, an independent collective of nationally acclaimed arts and heritage organisations, which bringing the festive spirit to Suffolk like never before this Christmas.”
• Surrey – Surrey’s warm hubs to return this winter – BBC. “Eighty-four locations including libraries, charity shops and churches have offered their help to residents”
• Warwickshire – Interesting items on show at Warwickshire Libraries’ local studies collections – Warwickshire Council. “two events showcasing some of the most interesting items from the local studies collections at Leamington and Rugby Libraries”
  • Stratford Chatterbooks scheme plots its way to national recognition – Stratford Observer. “Warwickshire Libraries’ Chatterbooks programme, aimed at engaging with school children who may otherwise never attend their local library, has achieved national recognition. It was one of three case studies from across the country presented to MPs at Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals’ latest event, Libraries Change Lives by Creating Opportunities.”