Editorial

There’s a classic progression that happens when a council announces library service cuts:

  1. Cuts are announced, normally involving lots of library closures
  2. Protests against these cuts occur
  3. Council reduces cuts, often changing closures to being run by volunteers or reductions in hours.
  4. Cuts happen, with sometimes the protesters being co-opted as volunteers.

And, sadly, if you have stuck around the library scene long enough, as I have, then you see the cycle repeating. So, this week, Aberdeenshire is at (3); Perth & Kinross, Rutland, Coventry and Newport is at (2); Clackmannanshire is at (1, turning into 2). Meanwhile, Birmingham appears to be at (3) but when you look, the actual budgetary reduction is the same as before so basically no reductions have been made other than in their manner. The city has gone through the cycle a few times before so the heady days of the Library of Birmingham opening a decade ago appears to be well and truly gone. It’s notable as well that if a Scottish library cut is announced then the public protest, especially national Scottish protest, appears to be higher than South of the border. And heaven knows what’s going on in North Northamptonshire. This was one of the two councils created from the wreckage of Northamptonshire, and it looks like there’s still more destruction happening.

Right, now the good news. Thurrock has increased its opening hours due to Freeport funding, and Arts Council England funding is kicking in with a few places being currently refurbished. I’m also liking the report on eBooks, although its conclusions appear fairly self-evident. Anyone who has had to consider whether to buy a library eAudiobook or eBook for £50 or even £70 will know how painful digital lending is and it needs to improve, and this report will hopefully help do that.

Being less parochial, it’s sad to learn about the reduction in public library provision in Denmark but good to hear about things in Malaysia and to salivate over pictures of Swiss libraries. Hurricane Trump has started to hit US public libraries, with fears national funding will be stopped and what appears to be a purely revenge-driven sacking of the chief of National Archives. I also noticed a week ago that state cases against attempts to censor public library books have been entirely dropped. The storm is still growing there and we are likely to see more wreckage for quite a while to come.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • In a world of overwhelming choice, I love the whittled-down book selection at my local street library – Guardian. “the library is the same – the masses of books too frequently inspires inertia” but a street library reduces choice and inertia. “I still buy the latest releases; I still use my library card. But there is something nice in the quietness of the local little library”
  • Invest in libraries, invest in communities: the cost of cuts is too high – North Edinburgh News. Open letter from Alison Nolan, chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC). “Did you know that over the past decade, 53 public libraries across Scotland have closed their doors for good – without replacement?” … “No other community asset can deliver the vast economic and social benefits that a thriving public library service can, and so we would urge decision-makers to prioritise investment in their communities.” see also Library chief in plea to prevent council cuts` – We Love Stornoway.
  • The National Archives to establish new hub for community-led research in the cultural heritage sector – Wired Gov. “This important work will connect our museums, archives, libraries and galleries more closely to the communities around them. Thanks to this grant from the AHRC, we’ll be able to support outreach work, so that more people are able to enjoy our cultural history.””
  • Report: cheaper ebooks for libraries could “revolutionise the promotion of reading” – Libraries Connected. Arts Council England funded report. Increasing eBook lending increases access to reading [fairly obviously – Ed.], prolific book borrowers are also prolific book buyers. Call for more flexible licensing to allow eborrowing for book groups, author talks and literary festivals. Just 7% of registered library users are ebook borrowers.
  • Val McDermid praises inspirational libraries ahead of campaign launch – National. “The author, who is best known for her Wire In The Blood series and Karen Pirie novels, was visiting the library in Kirkcaldy Galleries ahead of the launch of the Love Libraries campaign. The campaign, which begins on February 14 and runs until October, is designed to encourage more people to join libraries and make use of what they have to offer, and focuses on the benefits librarians bring to communities throughout the country.”

International news

  • Denmark – The necessary nearness – an ode to bookmobiles – Christian Lauersen. A look at Danish mobile libraries. ” Currently, there are 15 bookmobiles in Denmark, down from 52 in 2000. The same trend can be seen in the number of library branches, where there were just over 1,000 branches in the 1980s, a number that Statistics Denmark reports has dropped to 420 in 2023.” … “in 2009, there were just over 13,000 weekly opening hours with staffed personnel, but this number had dropped to 9,400 weekly hours by 2023.”
    • Next Library Pilot Projects – The Changemaker Award 2025 – Next Library. “We’re seeking projects that ignite innovation and bring the Next Library concept to life between events. Whether it’s a brand-new idea or something you’ve already been experimenting with, it should have the potential to scale and inspire change in other libraries. Your idea should focus on practical, actionable change with a meaningful impact on your library’s community—something that can also be scaled or replicated across countries.”
  • Malaysia – Public libraries now modern knowledge hubs – Sun. “Many centres feature cafes, lounges, activity spaces, auditoriums, gyms and jogging tracks: Librarians Association”
  • Pakistan – Libraries fail to promote literary engagement – Express Tribune. “According to sources of the Express Tribune, out of 41 districts in Punjab, just 11 libraries are scattered across seven districts including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Bahawalpur alongside 100 e-libraries.”
  • Switzerland – The most beautiful libraries in Switzerland – Swiss Info. “Libraries are thriving in Switzerland: the GGG City Library in Basel recorded over two million loans last year.” Those shown appear not to be public libraries but are rather nice.
  • USA – National Library Lovers Month is a call to action by all Americans who value freedom – Davidson Local. “he Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency that is a primary funder for 123,000 public libraries and 35,000 museums in all 50 states and U.S.territories, has been called “unessential” by our current administration, and is threatened with elimination or with far-reaching cuts to staff, services, and funding sources.” … “Libraries are also under threat by organizations, such as Moms for Liberty (M4L), a well- funded organization bent on removing books and materials they consider unacceptable” … “I still love my books. But these days, loving the library means speaking out, making certain our leaders understand that the heartbeat of our American freedoms is our ability to learn, to know, to explore.”
  • Barnes & Noble will open 60 new bookstores in 2025, breaking last year’s record as bookstore revival ramps up – Fast Company. “2025 marks a new era for Barnes & Noble and other bookstores thanks to a few factors, including digital fatigue, TikTok’s #BookTok, the loneliness epidemic, and a rise in so-called third spaces”
  • Trump dismisses head of the National Archives – NBC. “President Donald Trump dismissed the head of the National Archives, a White House official said Friday night, following through on a vow last month to change the leadership atop the agency, which was involved in the criminal case that had accused Trump of mishandling classified documents.” Colleen Shogan says ““This evening, President Trump fired me. No cause or reason was cited.”. Archives had provided some documents to lawyers in cases against Trump.

Local news by authority

“It’s now more than seven months since there was a fire at Oundle’s public library and the building only reopened to offer a reduced service on 30 September after there had been quite a public outcry at the delay. All these months later and still there is no sign of that situation changing because the building still has no IT. This means: No computers are available for customers to access the internet; No tablets for visitors to use to access e-library services (although this seems to be a county-wide issue now); Staff working on small and inadequate laptop computers; No self-service units for customers to easily borrow or return books.

Last year’s fire (12 July 2024) was originally said to have started in the IT cabinet in the staff room and the room’s contents were destroyed. The building’s electricity and heating system have been repaired but the work to restore the staff room cannot happen until someone decides where and how the IT will be installed. It’s a Catch-22 situation and until decisions are made and expenditure is approved the public library remains in limbo, only able to provide a partial service.

Oundle Library serves a large rural area across North Northants, yet the Library Service and North Northamptonshire Council expect residents to travel to Corby or Kettering to access computer services. And despite customers asking time and again about when the IT will be restored at the library, no-one is prepared to give a date or even tell people what progress is being made. The lack of information and engagement with residents is startling, and many people are beginning to wonder (again) if this is a signal that the library will never reopen to offer a full service or that this is a prelude to its opening hours being reduced. What makes the situation worse is that the leader of North Northants Council, Jason Smithers, is the councillor for Oundle Ward.”

North Northamptonshire – Email received
  • North Tyneside – World Book Day 2025: Hundreds of Free Books on offer for Children in North Tyneside – North Tyneside Council. “North Shields and Wallsend Community Hubs and Libraries will be official token exchange hubs, giving away hundreds of books to encourage children to read.” … “To add to the celebrations, North Shields Library will host a special ‘meet the author’ event for local schools, featuring Jack Jackman, author of Maisie vs Antarctica.”
  • Northern Ireland – Sight and hearing information points launched at libraries across Mid Ulster Council area – Northern Ireland World. Deafblind UK and Libraries NI “are introducing dedicated information points in libraries across Mid Ulster, linking people living with sensory loss to vital resources and guidance.”
  • Perth and Kinross – John Swinney backs fight to save Perthshire libraries – Courier. “The First Minister says SNP-run Perth and Kinross Council could use additional Holyrood funding to invest in closure-threatened libraries.” … “The First Minister said he “stands firmly” with the Save Our Rural Libraries campaigners. And he is suggesting Perth and Kinross Council use the funding boost it’s about to receive from the Scottish Government to invest in library services.”
  • Peterborough – Street-cleaning and libraries staff reject pay offer – BBC. “About 80% of GMB Union members at Peterborough Limited, which provides services including street cleaning and libraries, turned down the latest offer. Union regional organiser Gordon White said the salary was less than the Real Living Wage, of £12.60 an hour, and members felt “unloved and unappreciated”.” … “The company is wholly owned by the council and its services also include museums and leisure centres.”
    • Library group calls on council to bring in experts – BBC. “the Friends of Woodston Library group said the council did not have the “resources or experience” to carry out the assessment in house.” … “Woodston Library and others locations remain on the council’s community assets review, which lists buildings that could be closed, sold or repurposed.”
    • Plans to cut library size recommended for approval – BBC. “Plans to cut the size of a library so it can double as a dementia resource centre have been recommended for approval. Peterborough City Council wants to convert Bretton Library in the Cresset Centre to accommodate the facility, which needs a base as the authority is selling its current building. Campaigners have said the library would no longer be fit for purpose if its floor space is reduced.”