Ian Anstice

417 libraries (326 buildings and 91 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below.  The librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries could be under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

Actions you can take

• Attend the Lobby for Libraries event on Mid-day 13th March at Central Hall, Westminster, London.  #librarieslobby hashtag.
• Book the singer of the “We Need Libraries” song to promote the cause at a place near you.
• National Libraries Day, 4th February 2012 – Organise an event or publicise an existing one on the excellent NLD website. 

News

• Don’t sneer if a Big Mac encourages reading – Independent (Terence Blacker).   “Yet the real tough choices are not for Tories – toughness is part of their marketing package, after all – but for decent, good-hearted liberals living in difficult times.”… “The McDonald’s chain is aggressively marketing its £2.20 Happy Meals by offering free books, nine million of them, as incentives.”

“Local councils are closing libraries. The minister responsible, Ed Vaizey, is being utterly feeble. Bookshops are losing their place on the High Street. It is children in relatively deprived areas who are paying the highest price, slipping into a world in which the imagination never extends beyond a computer game. Where are these readers most likely to be found? Scoffing Happy Meals, of course. If a hard-eyed corporation cleverly exploits the fact that children are being deprived of all that books and stories offer, then to oppose it, from a position of privilege, is hypocritical and snobbish.” 

• Libraries: where does the future lay? – Winstonsdad’s Blog.   “… we maybe need some new ideas like shops having libraries or communities banding together ,with uk literacy at 99% but the truth is one in five people have trouble reading .We need free access to books for the most of the population so even if they don’t want to read I m not a dreamer but if  they are there people have the chance to access them and borrow a book !!”.  

Changes

• Brighton and Hove – Community groups asked to take over running of mobile library.
• Calderdale  – Bailiff Bridge Library will be moved into community centre c.Jan 2013. 
• Croydon –  New Addington Library appears to be closing (not counted on PLN as a closure yet), with some books from the old branch being transferred to the “foyer” of CALAT building. Bookfund down to £250k p.a. (was £1m at one time). £250k set aside for privatisation costs.
• North Somerset – New closure threat – Banwell Library to close.  Weston Library will “soon” move to Town Hall. 
• North Yorkshire – Opening hours cuts consultation. Masham Library closed, to be reopened as volunteer-run in February.
• Shropshire – Four homework clubs to close in March (£20k p.a. cut).

Local News

• Brighton and Hove – Mobile library to be scrapped – BBC.  “Geoffrey Bowden, the cabinet member for culture, said keeping the libraries open was an “important victory”. Mr Bowden said the mobile library was expensive to maintain and would cost more than £120,000 to replace. A consultation on changes to the library service begins on Monday and lasts until 10 February.”
• Brighton mobile library closure hits vulnerable – Argus.    “The cabinet wants to save £62,000 a year by stopping the service completely. It is used by 865 people.According to cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, Geoffrey Bowden it would cost in excess of £120,000 to replace the vehicle.”
• Calderdale – Village library saved by community group – Halifax Courier.  “The decision to move the library between Calderdale Council and Bailiff Bridge Community Association has prevented the library from potentially closing as part of the budget cuts and could even result in longer opening hours.”
• Croydon – Is selling off library books ready for privatisation – Inside Croydon.   “Yet moves are already well advanced to close the branch library on Central Parade, New Addington, with Bashford – not for the first time – contradicting her own statements by confirming the plans to move some of the branch’s books into the CALAT building, where the book shelves will share space with adult education and job centre advice services. Town Hall sources suggest that New Addington’s library may occupy no more than the foyer of the CALAT building.” … ““We do not know what the square footage available will be in comparison with the library,” Bashford said, confirming that this may not be the best thought-out piece of council work ever undertaken.”.  Bookstock appears to being cut in many branches.
• Lancashire – Brierfield Library to close for £500,000 facelift – Pendle Today.  “County Coun. Mike Calvert, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “Unlike many other councils, we are not closing any of our libraries. “In fact we are continuing to invest in the service wherever we can. This will help to ensure our libraries not only remain open but provide modern, flexible resources, fit for the 21st Century.”
• North Somerset – Council plans for library cash cuts unveiled – Mercury 24.  “Several community libraries will be open up to eight hours less a week, while Banwell will see its facility close, as recommended in 2009.”… ““We want to continue to provide library services to communities that currently get them. For us to do this we are proposing some changes to opening hours and different ways of working, but this is better than closing libraries completely.””
• Nailsea library opens for less hours – Nailsea People.   “Self-service terminals could also be introduced in most libraries and the local community involved. The council has to save a total of £47.3m.”
• North Yorkshire – Library hours cuts debated – Wetherby News.   Sherburn-in-Elmet and Tadcaster libraries may have hours cut after consultation. 
• Shropshire – Library homework clubs face the axe – Shropshire Star.   Government funding for homework clubs removed so clubs likely to close in March.  “Between 150 and 180 families get vital help from four after-school homework clubs based at libraries in Harlescott in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Market Drayton and Craven Arms. Three of the clubs were launched in 2004 with Oswestry opening a couple of years ago.”.  Clubs cost £20k per year.

Can you help?

• Book the singer of the “We Need Libraries” songs to promote the cause at a place near you.
• Freedom of information requests to the MLA – If you are wanting to know what information the MLA (the former quango with some responsibility for public libraries), put in FOI requests as soon as possible.  The MLA still has a skeleton staff but this will be wound up shortly and it will be harder to gain the information when it is. Requests to MLA for information about what they know on library closures should be put in early, to allow for time to complain to the ICO before May.  Groups may want to seek informaiton (a) in the form of notes, minutes, memoranda or correspondence relating to any discussions or meetings after [date] with [the relevant authority] concerning reorganisation of the library service and any reports to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport relating thereto, and (b) otherwise as thought appropriate on the facts of the individual case.
• National Libraries Day, 4th February 2012 – Organise an event or publicise an existing one on the excellent NLD website.

News

• Find a library – Culture Grid.  Type in your location, it tells you where your nearest library is.  Simples.
• Libraries are essential, trade tells MP – BookSeller.  BookSeller’s Association says volunteer-run libraries are “unsustainable”.  “Libraries are valued by publishers as a means of developing new audiences and encouraging general enjoyment of reading, thereby complementing the role of the high street. At a time when bookshops are under pressure, this kind of support is crucial.”  Society of Authors says many authors dependent on libraries.
• McDonald’s: UK’s biggest children’s book seller – Telegraph.  Happy Meal will, as a one-off, come with a book (Mudpuddle Farm) instead of a plastic toy.  “Literacy campaigners said it did not matter if McDonald’s decision was prompted by a desire to improve its image. Eight out of ten all families with young children visit the fast-food company at least once over the course of the year, so there was a strong chance they would end up with a book.”
• National Libraries Day – School Library Association.  “The School Library Association is proud to be a partner in this important event and will be announcing various resources over the next few weeks that may be of use to you in your library.”.  Includes poster and ideas. 
• Selfridges to open in-story library – Guardian.  Stores sets up 15,000 book pop-up library as part of its Words Words Words event. At a time when many libraries are under threat, the department store has opened a pop-up branch for the next seven weeks. “Although the temporary nature of the library means visitors will be unable to take the books away, they can use the 3,500 sq ft space as a reading room and as a bookstore. They can also listen to audio books at listening posts, and read works on iPads.”
• Things to cut before closing libraries – Leave Our Libraries Alone.  A list of suggestions, often with a highly humorous twist, about, well, things to cut before closing libraries.

Changes

Swindon – eBooks introduced. Stock fund will probably be cut by 15%, spending on magazines and newspapers halved. 
Warrington – Board members vacancies advertised for Warrington Cultural Charitable Trust, including libraries.
West Berkshire – Newbury Library hours to be cut three hours per week to cut £15p.a. from budget.  

Local News

• Dorset – Libraries seek volunteers – BBC.   Nine branches could close if enough volunteers are not found.  Portland Underhill especially likely to close.  “Tracey Long, head of Dorset Library Service, said if communities were not “ready or willing” to take on the responsibility of running the libraries the council may look to close them” [referred to as “blackmail” in BookSeller article above].  Also, there are worries about the long-term viability of volunteers once the enthusiasm wears off.
• Somerset – Library victory “could prove meaningless” – This is Somerset.   “County councillor Derek Yeomans told Langport town councillors last week that the authority would continue to review all its services and that new consultations on the future of the county’s libraries were likely.” … “Mr Yeomans suggested that the county council would merely do the consultations again, ensuring complete compliancy with equality laws, before reaching the same conclusions. He said: “The libraries will go back to as they were before with the old opening times. “What we will then have to do is have more consultations and address the equalities issues we were pulled up on.”
• Library cuts halted in Somerset – BookSeller.   “A series of funding cuts to libraries in Somerset has been halted, after the High Court found they did not comply with equality laws. The move saves 11 libraries, ensures four mobile libraries will be reinstated and opening hours at 23 libraries will increase, the BBC reports. About £600,000 will be spent on self-service technology.”
• County Council reverses its decision on public libraries – Glastonbury People.  
• U-turn on Burnham and Highbridge libary cutbacks welcomed – Burnham On Sea.com. 
• Swindon – Library to introduce eBook scheme – This is Wiltshire.   “Swindon Council’s library service has recently signed a deal with American firm Overdrive to provide eBooks and downloadable audiobooks from next month.”.  Comment is interesting: “That is great news. Since getting a Kindle I haven’t been to the Library and feel bad about not supporting them anymore. So I can still do it now :D”
• Consultation due to end on council’s planned budget cuts – Swindon Advertiser.   “There would be savings from libraries by bringing down the stock fund by 15 per cent, in line with similar councils, and reducing the range of newspapers and magazines by 50 per cent.” … ““There’s usually one or two areas in the budget that might initiate campaigns but we’ve had absolutely nothing like that this year.”
• Warrington – Board Members advertised for Cultural Trust – Warrington Council. “As board members you will act as non executive directors of the organisations. Meeting monthly initially and four times a year when established with a similar number of pre-briefing sessions. You will champion effective delivery of neighbourhood leisure, wellbeing lifestyle and library services via the community interest company and cultural services via the trust. “
• West Berkshire – Changes to Newbury Library opening hours – Newbury Today.  Library will be no longer open 5 to 7 for two evenings a week but will be open one hour longer on Saturdays.  ““It doesn’t make sense to spend public money on keeping such a large venue open for so few people at the end of Mondays and Tuesdays, but makes perfect sense to extend Saturdays when there is likely to be a demand.
  “The net result will be a reduction in opening times of three hours a week which will also save £15,000 a year to help the council balance its budget, while at the same time meeting public need.”

Can you help?

• Submit evidence/views to Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on Library Closures before Thursday 12th January.
• Book the singer of the “We Need Libraries” songs to promote the cause at a place near you.

News

• British Library hires lobbyist Susan Adams to strengthen voice in Parliament – PR Week.   “As head of advocacy Susan Adams will promote the British Library’s issues, activity and policies to external stakeholder groups, including government and Parliament.” … “‘The library contributes a great deal to the social, economic, cultural and educational life of our country, and I’m looking forward to communicating this wide-ranging impact to policy makers.”
• Dan Jarvis: a very unlikely arts minister – Guardian.  Shadow libraries minister recently served with Special Forces in Afghanistan and had just received a MBE for his military record.  “Jarvis is a confusing proposition as shadow culture minister. On the one hand, there is his self-confessed unfamiliarity with the subject. But that is offset by what is clearly a burning sense of duty, wrought from years in the army, to do a job well. The danger is that as soon as he has assimilated enough to be an effective shadow to Ed Vaizey, he will be reshuffled. Needless to say, he counters this, saying that he hopes he and his boss, shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman, will be doing their current jobs in government in three and a half years’ time.”
• Glad tidings of mood-boosting reading – Guardian.   “As the yearly dump of diet and health titles hit bookshops, here’s another reason to love libraries: branches across the country are promoting “mood-boosting” books through January, with titles ranging from Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie to Tove Jansson’s wonderful A Winter Book. The promotion, says organiser The Reading Agency, follows research that shows reading improves mental wellbeing and reduces stress by over two-thirds.”
• Priceless? A blog on the very idea of measuring cultural value – DCMS Blog.   “The aim of this interactive blog is to consult widely with the cultural sector on issues and concerns surrounding ‘measuring cultural value’, especially the public value of the arts, heritage, libraries and museums.” … “DCMS has a finite budget, and not everything can be funded, so how should DMCS go about deciding what to support with public money? Is the economic case the bottom line?”

Changes

• Caerphilly – New library opened at £2.25m at former Palace Cinema (Risca), £215k spent on upgrading Blackwood Library, new Abercarn Library soon to replace demolished one, Newbridge Memo(rial hall) will have a library inside.  
• Hackney – Dalston CLR James Library to open on 23/1/12, double the size of the old library it is replacing.   
• Liverpool – Bookfund will be halved compared to 2005: £1.3m then, £650k after new cuts. 
• Nottinghamshire – Mansfield Library reopened after £3.4m investment.  Commitment to keep all 60 branches open.  Full £5.3m rebuild of West Bridgford Library has begun.  £8m spent on Worksop Library in 2011.

Local News

• Caerphilly – Residents urged urged to visit their libraries – South Wales Argus.  “A new library has opened at the former Palace cinema, Risca, Blackwood library has undergone a £200,000 transformation, while a new facility is set to open in Abercarn and the restored Newbridge Memo will incorporate a library. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries was set up last week, seeking to ensure that public sector cuts don’t devastate the provisions around the UK. But, in Caerphilly county, the future of libraries looks bright.”
• Croydon – Everything’s rosy in Wandsworth – Save Croydon Libraries Campaign.   Regarding Wandsworth deputy leader’s  very pro-privatisation piece in Guardian: no residents suggested privatisation, financial advantage is highest priority in securing deal (not maintaining or improving service).  “Given Croydon’s current situation, now at breaking point, over the running of Upper Norwood Joint Library (UNJL), only a fool would try to negotiate another joint council deal. Yet, despite being incapable of working with Lambeth on UNJL, Croydon was silently setting up this deal with Wandsworth and forge ahead with their plans.”  Analysis of cuts to Croydon and Wandsworth so far does not appear to show future is quite as promising as the headling.
• Gloucestershire – Public meeting for Matson Library’s future – Friends of Matson Library.  “The meeting is not only for Matson residents but for anyone who cares about the future of Matson library. The Council will be publishing their draft proposals on or before the date of the meeting before they go to the council cabinet on 20th January then public consultation on 1st February (ish). It is vital that we let them know our views before it goes to the cabinet.”
• Nine libraries across Gloucestershire have seen their opening hours return to normal following last month’s High Court ruling – Wilts & Glos Standard.   “Last month Gloucestershire County Council’s plans to revamp its library service, including closing libraries across the region, were ruled unlawful by the High Court.” [Interesting definition of “revamp” – Ed.]
• Hackney – New super library set to open its doors – London Evening Standard.    “A new state-of-the-art public library is to open in Hackney, the first to be built in the borough for more than 20 years. Dalston CLR James, set to open its doors on January 23, is twice the size of CLR James library which it is replacing – making it one of the country’s largest.”

“We want this brand new library to be a community hub, somewhere that all residents can make use of whether it’s for books, study space, the free use of computers or to hold community meetings and events.” The building will stock more than 32,000 items – including 9,500 children’s books and 17,000 for adults, as well as more than 1,600 free CDs and DVDs. It also has 20 dedicated study spaces, 57 computers and free wi-fi.”

• Liverpool – Future is ragged trousered schoolkids, says Larry Nield – Liverpool Confidential.  The “Big question is whether the people of Woolton Village will take over running of their doomed village library – I guess they will, and with so many academics and bookworms living in the south Liverpool “brain valley”, the library could end up as the best stocked in the city. “
• Nottinghamshire – Mansfield Library opens after £3.4m investment – BBC.  “Mansfield Library has reopened after £3.4m of investment from Nottinghamshire County Council. The refurbishment to the facility on West Gate included essential repairs to the building which has made it the biggest library in Nottinghamshire.”

“Councillor John Cottee, cabinet member for culture and community, said: “They are the hearts of our communities.You only need to look at the different ages of people using the library in Mansfield and see the different things we have on offer.”

• Somerset – South Petherton Library saved from the axe – This is the West Country.   “A council spokesman said: “The decision to be taken on January 11 would confirm our actions to restore library services in response to the Judicial Review judgement. It would also approve the council’s approach to deciding the future funding of the library service – that elected members should consider taking a fresh decision following a service review scheduled to start in April.””

Can you help?

Everyone – Submit evidence/views to Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on Library Closures before Thursday 12th January.
Surrey – Campaigners are looking for someone who qualifies for legal aid (owns less than £8000) in order to challenge council over library cuts.  Must be a Surrey resident.

News

• Campaign for the Book Newsletter – Alan Gibbons.   Looks at the legal actions Glos/Somerset/Brent, closures, Liverpool cuts and National Libraries Day.
• “If you tolerate this …”: Nicky Wire on library closures – Guardian (Music).  “Libraries were my band’s lifeline, writes Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers. We must fight for them.” … “One of the most amazing things about public libraries remains their utter classlessness. You don’t have to have gone to Eton to make the most out of a library. They aren’t inhabited by the kind of people currently damning them.”

“It’s hard not to feel utterly despondent at the current plight of public libraries. Along with the NHS and the BBC, our libraries are some of the few truly remarkable British institutions left. So often absolutely ordinary in appearance, a good library should offer escape routes down the most extraordinary avenues, pathways into different worlds from the one you’ve left outside. Ridding our villages, towns and cities of libraries, which are essential in shaping a nation’s consciousness, seems like a direct attack on the soul of the country.”

• Islwyn MP joins campaign to save libraries – South Wales Argus.   “MP Chris Evans has joined other politicians in campaigning for Britain’s libraries to be preserved. They helped launch the All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries (APPGL), which will seek to ensure that continued public sector cuts don’t devastate the provision.”
• Library – Rainy Day Mum.   “One of my goals for 2012 is that we make a regular visit to the library. This time last year our local library was under threat of closure – the county were going to close all but 3 or 4 of the libraries – we supported the “Save the library” campaign and attended the Book Start groups for Babies and Toddlers (J was between the two groups at the time), but funding was cut to let the libraries stay open and the toddler group was gone and for some reason we stopped going. Towards the end of the year we started again when I realised that we needed to add books to our collection, so we have decided to make it our goal each week to go and visit the library.”
• Point of View: Why didn’t Harry Potter just use Google? – BBC.  Potter was written justg before the invention of Google. Internet has changed it all: “There is all too little danger of the knowledge currently accumulating in floods – multiply-owned, stored and captured – being lost. Rather, if we are going to make sense for posterity of today’s information-saturated present, one of the things we will have to learn to do is decide how to prune the evidence, and ultimately, what to forget.”
• Universities collected £50m in library fines, figures show – Guardian.   “With fines as little as 10p for each day a book is overdue, it shows that students are returning thousands of books late each year. But many are never returned – more than 300,000 university library books remain unaccounted for.”

Changes 

Calderdale – 1 mobile to end, cuts in opening hours in “Brighouse, Elland, Hebden Bridge, King Cross, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden from 45 to 37 hours a week.”.
Warrington – 6/1/12 Grappenhall Library taken over by volunteers eight months after it was closed: group: Friends of Grappenhall Library. 

Local News

• Bradford – Extended building would accommodate convenience store – Ilkley Gazette. Plan for Co-op store to open, with library.  “There has been a big response to the proposal from the community, including both letters of support for the development and a petition against the plans. The Co-op already has a store in a former newsagents premises on Station Road, Burley, but wants to move to bigger premises. There has been a big response to the proposal from the community, including both letters of support for the development and a petition against the plans. The Co-op already has a store in a former newsagents premises on Station Road, Burley, but wants to move to bigger premises.”
• Brent – Update January 2012 – Save Kensal Rise Library.   “We may not be given leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in which case we will explore other options, and we have other options. We believe this community needs a library and that is the end we are pursuing.” … public meeting soon, “pop-up” library continuing, business plan for running library created.  Artist Jamie Reid has done poster for campaign, to be launched at start of February.
• Brighton and Hove – An unsavoury morsel – Christopher Hawtree.   Conservative MP called Cllr Hawtree (a well-known library campaigner) the Dr Beeching of library services.  Cllr replies “I have urged a continuing, central place for public libraries despite the fact that Mr Weatherley’s own Government is imposing cuts of up to a third on Council budgets over the next few years.” … “What is proposed is to use the mobile library as a temporary one while the adjacent branch library in Woodingdean is rebuilt. For fifty years Woodingdean has had a temporary one but the new one will be twice the size. Pretty bloody good in these times.”.  Priority will be on bookfund.
• Calderdale – “Drop new library and rescue all the others” – Halifax Courier.   “A total of 2,235 people responded to the latest council survey on opening hours and they were equally divided over whether there should be cuts to the six biggest branches.”

“What is the point of spending millions on a new library and archives in Halifax when other library services are being slashed?” said Coun Stout (Ind, Brighouse). “Of course there are some serious decisions to take about cutting costs but it is no good protecting Halifax to the exclusion of everywhere else,” he said.”

• Dudley – Library to close while asbestos is removed – Stourbridge News.   ““Although it is unfortunate the library has to close for one week, it is necessary to ensure the asbestos can be removed safely. The housing office located on the ground floor of the library will, however, remain open as normal while the work is carried out.”
• Hampshire – Cuts in services loom again – Gazette. A further 8% cut to all services, following a previous 8% cut last year.  Cuts of “£4.7m in libraries, museums and country parks.” … “Library opening hours have also been cut. The council is aiming to make the savings it needs to in two years instead of four as a result of the Government squeeze on spending.” [presumably to have extra boasting points while cutting services prematurely by two years? – Ed.]
• Hertfordshire – County Council axe school library service – Advertiser 24.  “A plea to save the schools’ library service has been snubbed after the county council agreed to axe the resource aimed at boosting literacy among all children and young people throughout Herts.”.  Service cancelled because it was not making a profit. 
• Liverpool – Letter from Council Leader – Liverpool Echo. “It is by being imaginative that we have brought forward proposals which will retain 85% of our libraries despite a cut in the budget of a quarter.” … “Cllr Kemp suggests placing libraries in schools. We have done this at West Derby and would have liked to do it with more schools as part of wave six of Building Schools for the Future, but unfortunately his government axed the scheme.”
• Middlesbrough – Thousands sign petitions over Middlesbrough council cuts – BBC.   17000 signed peition against cuts.  “The planned closure of youth centres and libraries has also prompted about 800 letters to the borough council.”
• Nottinghamshire – Kipper the Dog set for library opening – This is Nottingham.   “Improvements include a computer area with free wi-fi, dedicated children’s, local studies and professional gallery areas, a Discovery Room for courses and training, a new theatre space and thousands of books for all ages.”
• Suffolk – Can you help with the future of Suffolk libraries? – Haverhill Echo.   “Community groups are being asked to nominate members to join an organisation being set up to run Suffolk’s libraries.”.. “Mr Fox said: “I’ve taken on this challenge because I believe it is the way forward for public services. To reflect local priorities, communities themselves must be fully engaged and sufficiently empowered to ensure the service delivers what they want. They must take responsibility for shaping their own destiny and making sure the services they receive are right for their communities and not just based on a single, ‘one size fits all’ solution.”
• Board members sought for library enterprise – Bury Free Press.   “Letters went out this week to the county’s 44 libraries plus local groups who had expressed an interest in running them inviting nominations for the four other interim board positions, by January 22.”.  Will be in partnership with council.  “The IPS will be registered and appoint its interim board this month then, between February and May will apply for admission to the Local Government Pension Scheme and consult on and transfer employment responsibilities from the county.”
• Warrington – Grappenhall villagers win campaign to take ownership of former council library – Warrington Guardian.   “A group of campaigners in Grappenhall have been handed the keys to the village library – nine months after it closed. The Friends of Grappenhall Library, a group of volunteers, won the right to take ownership of the building after the council closed it as part of budget cuts.” … “We already have a good mix of 3,500 books to fill the library from fiction to non-fiction and adult to children’s.” 
• Worcestershire – New year timetable for Worcestershire mobile libraries  – Shuttle.   “Rural communities are being urged to make the most of Worcestershire County Council’s mobile library service, with a new year timetable available.”

News

• Challenging government cuts: library closures – Law Think.  “Challenging the substance of a cuts decision is difficult for two reasons. Firstly, one has to establish that in making the decision the local authority was either irrational or acting outside of the statutory provision which requires them to provide services. However, almost all such statutory provisions are broad, allowing discretion to the authority.” … “Secondly, challenging the substance of a cuts decision is difficult because the decision on spending is for the local authority and not the court. In the Brent case, Mrs Bailey “accepted that in these times of economic difficulties, economies have to be made and decisions are primarily for democratically elected local authorities”. The court only can ensure the decision was taken by a legal means.”

“With the cuts affecting public services all over the country, this is certainly far from the last decision on the issue. Many of the issues that arise in these cases are similar. However, as long as a local authority follows the correct procedure in making a cuts decision and keeps good records of how that decision was made, then can probably fend off any legal challenges to their decision.”

• Demise of the Public Library – International Herald Tribune.   Writer felt proud of British public libraries when visiting Pakistan where they do not have any and often buy cheap pirated books instead.  “I had no idea then of the crisis facing British libraries. Over the last year or two, you’d have had to be living under several rocks not to notice.” Concentrates on the closures in Brent, highlighting the need for libraries to be local and free, continuing to provide free printed books and internet access to those who would otherwise not be able to access them.
• Retro Library – Annoyed Librarian (USA).  “As the new book world order comes to pass, libraries can make themselves more attractive by obsessing less about the popular. Let’s face it,  the blather about libraries being the cornerstone of democracy and all that is a little hard to take when one of the biggest challenges is making bestselling novels available to library patrons. If the bestsellers aren’t freely available, democracy – such as it is –  will survive, or at least the absence of free bestsellers won’t be the cause of its demise.”  See also If libraries didn’t exist, would publishers be trying to kill book lending? (Tech Dirt).  “A familiar pattern emerges. Small, innovative publishers who are ready to adapt, reap the benefits by meeting the growing demand for ebooks at local libraries – and doubtless picking up knock-on sales as a result. Meanwhile, big, sclerotic publishers resist trying out new business models, preferring to make the use of digital formats for lending as “inconvenient” as possible – in the forlorn hope that readers will just give up and buy something. We all know how that story ends.”
• Thoughts on library membership charges – Information Twist.   “Apart from  Central Government funding cuts, another reason local councils are having to save money is because Council Taxes were capped. This ensured local residents didn’t have to stick their hands in their pockets any deeper to pay for local services. Membership schemes like this mean that residents are still going to have that money taken out of their pockets anyway… If you have more money you’ll receive more library services. This is at odds with the ethos behind public libraries, which provides services for free because it’s recognised that some people can’t afford or don’t have access to these services/resources via any other means”
• Times: Lawyer of the Week Daniel Carey acted for campaigners in case on cuts to library provision – Public Interest Lawyers.  “What were the main challenges in this case and the possible implications? Both councils paid lip service only to their equalities duties but the challenge was to ensure that an effective remedy was granted for this. Injunctions stopped the library closures from taking effect, allowing the judges to later quash the decisions outright. He said that it was important for the rule of law to do so.The case has implications for every local authority in the UK, which must now reappraise their planned cuts to library provision. Since the judgment, the Commons Culture Select committee is investigating the issue nationally.”
• Windsor Public Library eliminates overdue fines in 2012 – CBC News (USA).   “”You don’t want to penalize people for reading. Sometimes you’re really into a novel and it takes you a little longer to get through it. As it happens, you return a book two or three days late. It’s not a big deal. We can get over that,” Maghnieh said. “It’s a way of really rewarding our patrons for using the library.”
• Writer Maggie Gee vows to carry on libraries fight – London Evening Standard.  Regarding Brent. “The 63-year-old, who was the first female chair of the Royal Society of Literature and was short-listed for the 2003 Orange Prize for her seventh novel, The White Family, was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list.” … “Dr Gee said: “Libraries matter because they are the seedbed of literature. They are where people read our books, it’s where children find out they can read.”

Changes

Herefordshire – 20 communities have “expressed an interest” in running their own library.  Garway has new library in its village hall run by residents.
Liverpool – 3 libraries (Edge Hill, Woolton, Great Homer Street) and mobile library service to close (or be taken over by community groups). 76 of 210 jobs (more than one-third of the total, including 27 managers and other senior staff) to go.  Opening hours reduced (inc. 12 libraries to be only open four days per week).  Closed libraries will have stock moved into other council services. 
Torbay – £170k cut (10% off £1.7m budget): possible loss of six posts, opening hour reductions, loss of one library, extra charges, encouraging book donations.  (Somewhat limited option) library consultation here. Group: Friends of Brixham Library, Friends of Paignton Library.   

Local News

• Brent – Is a Rotten Borough 2011 – Preston Library Campaign.   Brent’s “Library Transformation Team” has won a Private Eye Rotten Borough Award for its work pushing the closure of half of the council’s libraries in the teeth of fierce local opposition. There’s a nice picture of the team, with its (presumed) leader, appropiately enough, holding a Kindle at the front, with some remarkably depressed looking team members behind.
• Shamed Council takes down Wall of Shame – Preston Library Campaign.   “Yesterday, contractors pulled down the Brent ‘Wall of Shame’ hiding Preston Library. This follows a sneaky move to empty it of books and equipment last week, before any injunction to stop it could be issued.”
• Essex – Library fines to be chased by debt collection agency – BBC.   Called a “gentle nudge”.  “”To even be approached and warned this company might contact you, you would need to have at least four items out of the library for several weeks beyond their due date. You would have had two warnings as well to remind you to bring them back.” … “Unique Management Services (UMS) said it had recovered about $250m (£156m) in unpaid fines and lost items for libraries in North America, Australia, New Zealand and the UK since 1996.”
• Will debt collection firm be worth taxpayer’s money? – This Is Total Essex.  “Where local authorities are facing significant cuts in funding from central government, any efforts to increase income should be welcomed. However, such initiatives need to be implemented properly, otherwise the promise of additional income will come to nothing. In this instance, only time will tell whether the money the council forks out on UMS will prove to be well spent.”
• Herefordshire – Garway village library to host new library – BBC.  “It is being opened as part of Herefordshire Council’s Future Libraries project, being run in conjunction with Shropshire Council.”… “”Some 20 communities in the county have already expressed an interest in running their own library and we are working with them to see how the library service can support their plans by providing regular stocks of books and simple systems for them to track where any borrowed books are.”
• Liverpool – Libraries in Liverpool to shut and jobs to go in restructure – BBC.   Cuts announced, will soon be formally agreed in council.  Cuts include library closures and opening hours cuts.
• Time to turn the page on library cuts – Liverpool Daily Post (Leading Article).   “Whatever happens, we must hope this is an end to the cutbacks in this particular sector of the city’s activities. The service will take a huge hit, if these proposals are introduced – and so will the loyal clientele from all sections of the community who have patronised the city’s libraries for so many years.”
• Three Liverpool libraries closed, 76 jobs lost and opening hours cut at 17 more as council makes £2.2m savings cuts – Liverpool Echo.  “The council said the libraries earmarked for closure require £3m investment it does not have to bring them up to standards required by the Disability Discrimination Act. It will hand the builings over to community groups to operate them on a voluntary basis if it can find groups willing to run them.”… “More than 4,000 people returned questionnaires and 71% of respondents preferred reducing opening hours to keep more libraries open.Only 19% supported libraries being run by a charitable trust, community group or social business.”
• Libraries are vital to city – Liverpool Echo (Leader).   “But money does need to be saved and nettles grasped, which is perhaps why the idea of community organisations potentially becoming involved could be relevant. To many this might sound, perhaps uncomfortably, like the Big Society – but, in these tough times, if all else fails when it comes to saving libraries then perhaps the Big Society isn’t such a bad idea after all.”
• Cuts to hit Liverpool library service – BookSeller.  “Libraries campaigner Desmond Clarke said he was in “no doubt” a campaign group would rise up in Liverpool to fight the closures as they had done in other areas across the country threatened with library caulaties, such as Somerset, Gloucestershire, Brent and the Isle of Wight. Clarke said: “The agenda is not being set by professionals or the government but by library protestors. The public is saying ‘we are not happy about libraries being closed’ and that is putting it in the spotlight.”

“There is much that can be done other than simply taking the axe to library services. For example, Westminster Council expects to reduce its operating costs by £1.1 million by merging its library service with those of two neighbouring authorities. We don’t need to have 151 separately managed authorities in England, a 50% increase in the number of authorities that existed just fifteen years ago! We can make better use of technology and improve further operational efficiency. And if we need to develop volunteer supported libraries, we must develop a workable model which ensures that the service is sustainable and can be supported by librarians. This is the time for imaginative solutions and making the optimum use of available resources to the benefit of those who rely upon public libraries. Fortunately, there are some councils that are doing just that.”

• Somerset – Councillors say Somerset Library cuts should halt – BookSeller.  “Councillors have told Somerset County Council if it does not halt cuts to its library service it could be held in “contempt of court”.”
• Library services to be reinstated – Yeovil Express.   “users in Somerset are celebrating after council officers recommended that all services which had faced the axe should be reinstated.” … pleased that the council will forget closures rathen than just try again.  ““Our library is a vital community facility. The idea that busy parents would be willing to drive or get the bus into Taunton to visit the library is unrealistic.””
• Reprieve on the cards for Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Libraries – Burnham on Sea.com.  
• South Ayrshire – Libraries leap into future – Ayrshire Post.   “South Ayrshire’s library team are now working on launching their very own app for smartphones in the early months of 2012.” … ““Times may have changed but people still want their libraries. And it’s not just about reading – you can go in and access computers and get any information you want from all around the world. Our libraries should always be a democracy and that’s the motto we work by.””
• Suffolk – Your library: pain ahead? – Caroline’s Woodbridge page (Liberal Democrats).   Worries about the funding for libraries (only guaranteed for two years), reliance on volunteers.  The Council also seems to suffer from problems in keeping an open debate going.  “It was only opposition councillors who stood up and asked searching questions .  In reply, Cllr Terry directed extremely aggressive and insulting remarks at them.  Sadly, I have heard similarly rude and insulting remarks regularly at Suffolk County Council meetings -not only from Cllr Terry, but other Portfolio Holders too. Why doesn’t the Chairman intervene and stop such objectionable behaviour? “”
• Torbay – Friends step up in fight to save library in face of funding cuts – This is South Devon.   “The local authority has told the library service across the Bay to make 10 per cent cuts to its £1.7million budget which would mean slashing about £170,000. The cut could lead to the loss of up to six library jobs, reduced opening days and some fear even the loss of one of the Bay’s four libraries. Opponents say the cuts could lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of closures.”
• Wandsworth – Opens the competition to save London’s libraries – Guardian Local Government Network.   “In Wandsworth our big idea is to look at competitively tendering our library and heritage service. We believe a new and competitive market of library service providers has emerged with the potential to improve delivery and reduce costs. If another organisation can do a better job, we will open the door.” … “If an external bid is successful then both councils will remain in control of their libraries. As with all outsourced services the contract specification will tightly define every aspect of delivery including opening hours, free access to books and free IT provision. All of the new ideas and improvements developed during the process will be written into the contract and closely monitored against clear performance targets.” … negative comments, highlighting danger of giving long-term contracts.
• Westminster – One Stop services move into communities – Westminster Chronicle.  “New One Stop Express services are available at 19 locations, including all of the borough’s libraries, and give free access to the council’s website, allowing card payments, for example for council tax and parking permits, and providing more information about what is happening in the borough.”