Ian Anstice

Around 150 libraries to close or be given away since 20th October.

Cuts
North Yorkshire – 24 libraries to close or be given away, mobile libraries culled – The Press.  More in Scarborough Evening News and in the Gazette and Northern Echo
Hampshire – mobile library review, services to be reduced – Kestrel FM.
Oxfordshire – self-service in, 11 f-t jobs out – Oxford Times
Barking and Dagenham – 5 libraries to go – Barking and Dagenham Post
North Somerset – 1 library closed, 2 reprieved – Weston Mercury.
Brent – council had spent £600k on two of the libraries they will close – London Evening Standard
Somerset – consultation – Burnham-on-Sea
Lewisham – reprieve, latest news – Alan Gibbons
Nottingham – introduces PC charges – Nottingham council

In Our Defence
Gloucestershire – hundreds in protest march against library closures – BBC
Martina Cole defends libraries – London Evening Standard
Where are the bodies? –  on Tim Coates’ Three Bs – bricks, books and being open – Phil Bradley’s weblog
Joan Bakewell in defence of libraries “In our culture the library stands as tall and as significant as a parish church or the finest cathedral“- BBC.  Podcast of her “point of view” on Radio 4 here.
Librarians militant, librarianship triumphant – Virtual Dave

Fun
“My god, you’re a library martyr” – why you shouldn’t go to library school – Stephen’s Lighthouse

121 Libraries to close – UK closures announced or proposed since 20th October included on Public Libraries News, plus two mobile library services.  Number includes those where the authority has offered the branch to unidentified community groups/volunteers.

Barnsley – up to 8 libraries to close – BBC
Croydon – horror at plan to cut local studies library – Croydon Guardian
Cornwall – cuts already announced (up to 26) get murky – Lanson Boy.  1000 name petition handed in.
Tower Hamlets – library staff have to reapply for their jobs – East London Advertiser
Library closing? Government suggests a co-op – “Local libraries and swimming pools should be controlled by local people, and run in their interest, not just by the service managers.” says Francis Maude. Guardian
Tottenham – £1 million makeover – reveals hidden brook – Haringey Independent
Library issues are actually going up – wannabelibrarian

USA – conservative policy analyst says libraries are worth the tax dollars – City Limits
Dallas – library is privatised, to boos, aim to save $500k – Dallas News
LA – move to restore funding ” “libraries are probably our best crime prevention dollars” – Neon Tommy
Anythink libraries – “I don’t think Anythink is for everyone but I do think rethinking is for everyone” – Library Journal
AK47s and other violence in libraries – American Libraries

Lewisham – local radio interviews protesters against library cuts – Sydenham Radio
Libraryweb – the most comprehensive place for library culture on the web? – libraryweb.info
Ascot – extra hours funded by Durning Trust – Maidenhead Advertiser
Buckinghamshire – it’s plans for cuts explained  and your chance to comment – Buckinghamshire County Council. 
Birmingham – architect of new Central Library speaks – Birmingham Post
Libraries need to be saved, but changed, says The Reading Agency – LGC
Independent library gives same services for half the price –  London Evening Standard.  Even Alan Gibbons likes it.
ResPublica urges privatisation of libraries – Guardian.  The report itself is here

USA – the Library as Amusement Park – City Journal
Australia – State Library of Victoria too loud – Brisbane Times

ThinkTank wants libraries sold off in the same way as council housing was, report launched by minister – UKPA

Gloucestershire – 11 libraries reduced in size, another 11 “offered to community groups” – BBC News. More details here and here
Leeds – Lib Dem leader argues for community groups to run at-risk libraries – Guardian.
Hertfordshire – protest at 30% cut in opening hours – Borehamwood News.  A schoolgirl protests at another library in Hertfordshire – Hertfordshire Mercury
Buckingshamshire – Great Missenden (inspiration for “Matilda”) may close – Bucks Free Press
Norfolk – Tuckswood Library celebrates 50 years open – Evening News 24
Lewisham – decision to close libraries deferred by mayor “I did not seek election as your mayor in order to close down libraries” – newsshopper.co.uk

Using mobile phones instead of library cards – American Libraries magazine
Santa Clarita withdraws from LA libraries system to protect its $400k, gets sued – The Signal.  More here.
Libraries reinvent themselved – shhh is a four-letter word – LA Times
A “Green Library” opens – LAist.  Another one even has rattlesnakes – azcentral.com
Useful (largely US) librarian websites – ALA
Libraries are a great investment – undergroundnewsroom. com