A quiet week

Editorial

Not much happening in libraries this week – just the normal council doublespeak, refurbishments and echoes from previous cuts. And my oldest daughter is home from Bangor, where she has just finished at university, so I’m not going to worry too much about writing too much and going to speak to her instead. Have a good week everyone.

Changes by local authority

• Surrey – Epsom Library refurbished.

National news

• CILIP responds to Spending Review 2025 – CILIP. “welcomes the ambitions set out in the Spending Review 2025 to drive productivity” … but … “CILIP is concerned that information professionals, including knowledge managers, librarians, and data specialists, have been overlooked as a strategic asset in delivering these goals.”
• Local authorities “in danger of becoming social care providers with a couple of libraries attached”, says former Deputy PM, urging centralised funding  – Care Home Professional. Damian Green.

“To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will (a) grant libraries the right to archive eBooks and (b) ensure perpetual access to licensed works.” [the answer can be summarised as “no” – Manuela Perteghella Liberal Democrat, Stratford-on-Avon

“Today I am pleased to announce additional funding to support up to 350 communities, especially those in the most deprived areas—funding to improve parks, youth facilities, swimming pools and libraries, and to support councils in fighting back against graffiti and fly-tipping, including in Blackpool South, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent Central, Swindon North, and Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend.” Rachel Reeves The Chancellor of the Exchequer 

• New Reading Well for Families collection Launches in Libraries 10th June – Bury Council. “The Reading Agency, in partnership with Libraries Connected and Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) Cymru, is proud to announce the launch of Reading Well for families, a new booklist available across public libraries in England and Wales from today. The scheme recommends helpful reading to support the mental health and wellbeing of families during pregnancy and the early years (from conception to age two).”
• TownsWeb Digitisation Grant Returns for 2025 – Towns Web Archiving. “Since launching the grant, we’ve awarded over £150,000 to support the digitisation of more than 120 collections.”

International news

• Australia – Perth library trials social worker program to help people in need – ABC. “The City of Cockburn is trialling a social worker program at Success Library, after noticing an increase in people using libraries as a safe space. The WA Local Government Association is calling on the state government to increase funding for libraries to better reflect the services they offer. “
• USA -Drawing Up Community for Comics in Libraries – Publishers Weekly. “Comics have long established themselves in libraries with steady circulation rates, bringing patrons to branches to pick up the newest in a favorite series and to commune with fellow fans at library-sponsored events and clubs. Sims has personally made it his mission to transform the library so it “grows with the community’s needs,” he says. This work includes building book collections that speak to and reflect the experiences of patrons of color.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Changes in library opening hours – Aberdeen Council. “Five libraries in Aberdeen are to see their opening hours revised, including at weekends and evenings.  “
• Aberdeenshire – Arrangements for continuation of library services agreed – Aberdeenshire Council. “The new arrangements for the Cruden Bay, Inverbervie, Macduff, and Newmachar libraries were supported by Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee on Thursday (Jun 5), alongside a wider update of work underway in other communities. “
• Birmingham – Birmingham Council accused of ‘disingenuous doublespeak’ after major change to key service – Birmingham Live. ” opening hours for ‘council-led statutory library provision’ total 763 hours per week – a 27 per cent reduction from 1,049.” … “A council’s post on social media about the change said the city’s library and neighbourhood advice services had been “transformed”.” see Changes to Saturday opening hours of library buildings – Birmingham Council.
• Bromley – West Wickham Library set to reopen with new facilities – News Shopper. “West Wickham Library will reopen to the public on Friday, June 27, following extensive works that include a modern café, business lounge, and an expanded children’s library with outdoor space.”
• Caerphilly – Councilor suspended from Labour group for opposing library closures – Nation Cymru. Cllr Brendan Miles. ““I believe I made it clear at joint scrutiny that the planned closure of libraries on August 31 was harsh and unnecessarily disruptive for groups who use the buildings.” see also Council ‘could be in breach of legal duty’ if it shuts libraries – Nation Cymru.
• Cheshire West and Chester – Volunteers sought for libraries for Northwich and Winsford – Northwich Guardian. “youth volunteers are to promote the reading challenge and to promote reading in general over two months.”
• Devon – Library charity launches ‘Cancer Care Collection’ – Teignmouth Today. “The Cancer Care Collection consists of 43 physical books made up of a mixture of adult, young adult and children’s books.”
• East Riding – Live ‘n Loud returns to East Riding Libraries in 2025 – East Riding Council. “Live ‘n Loud at Flemingate will return, bringing free entertainment to the centre of Beverley. Jellyfish Theatre will be performing ‘The Dragon Wagon’ on the green, and a circus skills workshop will be provided by Magic Carpet Theatre …”
• Edinburgh – Ratho nursery pupils enjoy Julia Donaldson adventure – Edinburgh Council. Ratho Library. “Each child who attends the early years centre adjacent to the new library was given a copy of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by publishers Macmillan Children’s Books to celebrate its opening.”
• Fife – Summer Reading Challenge 2025 launched in Fife libraries – Central Fife Times. “Mr Coelho, a celebrated poet, author, and playwright, joined OnFife Libraries and more than 2,000 schoolchildren for the virtual event.” Story Garden.
• Glasgow – Partick Library celebrates 100 years telling locals to ‘come in’ and see how much has changed – Glasgow Live. “These days, the Glasgow Life facility is more than just a place to read books; it’s a resource anyone can visit, a place to socialise with others in the west end community. However, 100 years ago, the local landmark was very different. The library would have been a place to be on your best behaviour, rather than somewhere to go for fun.”
• Isle of Man – Library facing closure ‘a lifeline to families’ – BBC. “In May, directors of the Isle of Man’s Family Library said the facility would close on 31 July due to expected annual losses of £100,000 as a result of rising costs and declining incomes.” … “Since full funding was pulled by the then Department of Education in 2011, following a revision of the island VAT income, the services have been run as an independent charity.” … “As well as the Douglas facility, the charity also operates a mobile library in rural areas, with a home service available for those who are housebound.”
• Manchester – Manchester’s Central Library and Town Hall to close this summer for ‘major upgrades’ – The Manc. “The ICT project will update the Local Area Network (LAN) and the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), ensuring that the Central Library and the Town Hall Extension have a flexible ICT network providing ‘seamless connectivity’.”
• Monmouthshire – Join Monmouth Library’s Hooked on Books Reading Group – Monmouthshire Beacon.
• Newham – Newham Libraries – celebrate a blockbuster month – Newham Council. “Hot on the heels of the award for Library of Sanctuary, Newham Libraries picked up another prestigious title, named as winners in the ‘Information and Digital’ award at the Libraries Connected Awards. The award recognises the work of Natasha Nelson, Shibu Raj and Muireann Mcmenamy in the digital inclusion team – which has been working to break-down barriers that stop residents accessing online and digital services.”
  • Grassroots repowering of London sees solar boost for libraries – National News. “Ms Begum was encouraging residents, a third of whom are muslim, to become investors in the solar panels for three local libraries – putting up a minimum of £50 ($67) with the possibility of a three per cent return every year. The initiative, which raised its £120,000 target in three months, was part of Repowering London, an NGO that won the Ashden Awards for climate solutions on Wednesday.”
• North Lanarkshire – Airdrie Library embracing the future with launch of state-of-the-art immersive room – Daily Record. “The immersive room, open by appointment, offers a fully interactive 360-degree digital experience.”
• North Somerset – Council considering almost £500,000 of library cuts – BBC. “Funding for libraries in North Somerset could be cut by almost £500,000, according to the local authority. North Somerset Council will spend around £2.25m in the next year on its library services, but it said it must make cuts of at least £443,000 over three years starting from 2026, a cut of around 20%.”
  • North Somerset’s libraries – help shape the future – North Somerset Council. “the council is proposing to launch a public consultation this summer, asking residents for their views on the future of local libraries. The council’s Cabinet will decide whether to move forward with the consultation at a meeting on Wednesday 18 June.”
• Northern Ireland – Libraries NI launch Big Summer Read – Northern Ireland World. “Libraries across Northern Ireland are inviting children of primary school age to take part in this year’s Big Summer Read, a 66-day challenge designed to get young people reading for at least 15 minutes a day throughout the school holidays.”
• Northumberland -‘Petal Library’ launches in Hexham Library to reduce waste – Hexham Courant. Seed library. “the Seed Library was ‘received very positively and is well used already’, and she hopes the Petal Library can help to reduce waste.”
  • Libraries attend to the business of economic growth – Northumberland Council. “Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) North East” highlighted.
• Oxfordshire – Libraries staff win prestigious award for making the most of every day conversation – Oxfordshire Council. “Library managers in Witney and Hook Norton have scooped a prestigious award for Oxfordshire County Council linked to a programme that focuses on making the most of everyday conversations with library users. Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is a programme that has seen library staff seek to improve the health and wellbeing of local people by signposting them to important services as a result of chats that happen in libraries.”
• Salford – The Partnership Between Salford Libraries and Salford Jobcentres – DCMS Libraries. “partnership between Salford Libraries and Salford Jobcentres” … ” Salford Libraries regularly provide their schedules to local jobcentres” about jobs clubs, skills workshops, etc. Jobcentre uses libraries for sessions such as ESOL. Training library staff in understanding benefits.
• Shropshire – Shropshire Libraries launches Reading Well for families collection – Shropshire Council. ” The collections have been bought with donations from the Friends of the Libraries groups in Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and Church Stretton.”
  • Drug-taking and vandalism spark library fence plan – BBC. “A security fence could be erected at a town’s library to protect staff and users following years of anti-social behaviour near the site, according to council documents. Shropshire Council has applied for planning permission to install the 3m-high barrier to the rear of Oswestry Library.”
• Staffordshire – Young readers invited to explore the Story Garden at Stone Library – Little Bit of Stone.
• Suffolk -Woman thought BEM honour was jury summons – BBC. “Charlotte Clark, 47, has worked at Suffolk Libraries in Southwold and Reydon for the past 22 years.” leading numerous initiatives.
• Surrey – Epsom Library welcomes community with week of activities to celebrate refurbishment – Surrey Council. “urrey Libraires is holding a Taster Week at Epsom Library to celebrate the completion of its extensive refurbishment. Running from Monday 16 – Saturday 21 June, the week will offer a variety of activities for the whole community to enjoy. Residents are invited to explore the newly transformed library, now a vibrant and modern Library Hub in the heart of Epsom town centre.”
• Telford and Wrekin – Telford and Wrekin Council launches app for e-books from libraries – UK Authority. “The move has come with an update of the council’s digital library to make over 2,500 e-books and around e-magazines available.”
• Thurrock – Call goes out for young volunteers to help share the experience of reading at Thurrock libraries – Your Thurrock.
• Vale of Glamorgan – Penarth Library secures funding of over £78,000 – Penarth Times. “Penarth Library is set for a major upgrade following the award of £78,452.94 in funding from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Transformation Capital Grant Programme. The grant will be used to refurbish the library’s first floor, transforming it into a modern, versatile space that better serves the local community.”
• West Dunbartonshire – West Dunbartonshire Council Joins National Campaign to Commemorate 80 Years Since WWII’s End – West Dunbartonshire Council. “Clydebank Library and Museum was one of 80 venues around the UK awarded £15,000 to participate in the Our Freedom: Then and Now campaign. The campaign, led by Future Arts Centres in partnership with Libraries Connected, will involve working with local communities to develop activity throughout the year.”
• West Sussex – Trailblazing Worthing librarian honoured with blue plaque – West Sussex Council. “Marian Frost was a trailblazer and passionate innovator who dedicated her life to championing books and the power of libraries. Starting as an assistant librarian in 1897, by 1919 she was running the largest public library in the country at Worthing, staffed entirely by women. The plaque was organised by the Worthing Society …
• Wirral – Two senior Wirral librarians look back over their 21-year partnership with Shared Reading charity The Reader – Birkenhead News. “Liverpool-based The Reader started working on a five-week Get Into Reading pilot project in 2002, initiated by the charity’s founder and now retired director, Dr Jane Davis.”