Ian Anstice

369 libraries plus 27 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
– Blackburn with Darwen – reduced opening hours (hours not part of headline count)
– Sandwell – some libraries may be closed (not added to count as numbers unclear)

News
37 separate articles in the press, local and national, since the last post.  The plus side to this is that libraries have probably never received this much attention.  The down side – well, the down side is fairly obvious. Still, today, New Year’s Day, let us focus on the bright side.  There’s a lot of love out there for libraries.  Here’s to the harnessing of it in 2011.

Blackburn with Darwen – libraries to have reduced opening hours – Lancashire Telegraph
Buckinghamshire – Govt spending cut in line with council plans so more volunteer libraries – Bucks Advertiser
Buckinghamshire – Winslow library – second meeting announced – Buckingham Today
Bury – Saddened by loss of Unsworth – Bury Times
Croydon – libraries moved to different department – This is Croydon Today
Dorset – Charmouth faces closure – View Online
Gloucestershire – 4000 sign petition, and rising – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – instead of a library, have some books in a doctor’s waiting room – Stroud News & Journal
Gloucestershire – sign up to campaign or lose libraries forever – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – petition to save Hester’s Way – This is Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire – (long) list of media coverage so far – Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries
Herefordshire – misjudging the volunteer role – Kidderminster Shuttle
Isle of Wight – Closures plan in detail – Ventnor Blog
Isle of Wight – Save the libraires by paying fee? – Isle of Wight County Press
Lancashire – fines amnesty for returned books – Burnley Citizen
Middlesbrough – young people like libraries, will be consulted on cuts – Gazette Live
North Yorkshire – fight to save Ryedale libraries – Gazette & Herald
North Yorkshire – Friends of Easingwold Library
Nottingham – concerned over future of Booktrust – My Nottingham
Nottinghamshire – opening hours cuts affect least affluent areas the worst – Eastwood Advertiser
Oxfordshire – Philip Pullman and Colin Dexter call closures “Shameful” – Oxford Mail
Sandwell – some libraries may be closed –  Halesowen News
Sheffield – Central Library plans in spotlight – Sheffield Telegraph
Somerset – 5000 petition being collected – This is Somerset
Somerset – Glastonbury closure unfair – This is Somerset
Somerset – Ilminster closure being fought – View Online
Somerset – MP Tessa Munt waiting for answers about libraries – This is Somerset
Somerset – have say on libraries closures – This is Somerset
Somerset – Stand up for Shepton group warns about vital library meeting – StandUp4Shepton
Stoke on Trent – “Talking Tots” owner wants libraries to be saved – This is Staffordshire

Democracy’s failures – resources in common like libraries are being forced into the free market – Guardian
Ed Vaizey – no hidden agenda, volunteers are for expanding hours – Witney Gazette
Letter attacking North Yorkshire closures – Times (behind paywall) 1st Jan – link to most are here
Libraries important in areas of social deprivation – Voices for the Library
Our society is not big enough for Cameron – Independent
Several letters in support of libraries – Times (behind paywall) 31st Dec
TUC – it’s going to be a horrible year with cuts in “high profile services such as libraries will cause widespread anger” – Politics

(USA) Library Renewal – a new group fighting for libraries in the online age

369 libraries plus 27 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
Changes to the running total are –
Plus 3 – Bexley – “People are still waiting to hear details of other cuts such as the identity of the three libraries whose futures may be under threat”
Plus 1 – Renfrewshire – Lochwinnoch library is to be closed then merged with community centre.

News
As the numbers of libraries under threat grow, so too do the number of campaigns.  The Telegraph today complains about the effectiveness of the campaign to save BookStart. A new video here and a new website there are signs that the Big Society does work and it is mobilising itself in order to stop closures.  These campaigns are not political and they are not organised by external agitators.  They are spontaneous responses by local people to the removal of a resource that they value and that helps make society, big or not, function.

Bexley – three libraries threatened – News Shopper
Cambridgeshire – Over 5600 complete libraries consultation (28% volunteer to help) – Cambs Council
Darlington – users surveyed on future of libraries – BBC
Durham – libraries “most at risk” – Teesdale Mercury
Gloucestershire – Petition date drawing near a close – FoGL
Gloucestershire – author Alice Jolly lends support – FoGL
Hampshire – MP welcomes Localism Bill as volunteers could save libraries etc – This is Hampshire
Isle of Wight – Save the Libraries on the Isle of Wight – Save The Libraries
Leeds – closing up to 20 libraries will produce eight benefits for city – Leeds Council
Middlesbrough – choose the budget as libraries etc face uncertain future – Gazette Live
North Yorkshire – councillor campaigns for Barlby Library – Selby Times
Renfrewshire – Alasdair Gray and others campaign to stop merging Lochwinnoch library with community centre – Youtube
Somerset – Keeping Somerset’s libraries open – To Know We Are Not Alone
Somerset – Consultation “Any communities that do not take that option would see their library close” – Somerset Council

BookStart – the chattering classes get their way, reprieve is “sign of weakness” – Telegraph
3 million children have no internet access at home – Guardian

365 libraries plus 27 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)

News
For those who do not think that campaigning works, have a look at what has happened over BookTrust funding over the last few days.  All funding is announced as closed – there is a national uproar – then funding is restored.  Wonderful news and a late Christmas present for all who care for literacy.

CILIP produced a little Christmas present of their own with the removal of password protection on their campaigning materials.  In other news, reading articles like Thurrock’s below, it is clear that some councils are not announcing cuts until their council committee meetings in February. Not sure how this is going is going to tie in with consultation of the public.

Doncaster – 13 out of 25 branches still in danger – South Yorkshire Times
Gloucestershire – 20 community groups express interest in running libraries – Cotswold Journal (including one group that wants to purchase the land for grazing)
Hampshire – library hours expand – Hampshire Chronicle
Leicestershire – children’s centre joins Anstey Library – In Loughborough
Moray – closure threats lifted – Northern Scot (money saved by moving service to a Trust)
North Yorkshire – fury over closures – Craven Herald & Pioneer
North Yorkshire – Petition for Barlby – Selby Times
Somerset – Interview with Save Somerset Libraries – Radio Somerset (at 1.30)
Somerset – Wells Library set to expand as others close – Wells People
Thurrock – RNIB subscription ends – Thurrock Gazette
Wiltshire – new library built – Gazette and Herald
Wolverhampton – 2 libraries offer Wifi – Wolverhampton Council

A deception of Madoff proportions – Shirley Burnham
BookTrust – u-turn statement in more detail – London Evening Standard
BookTrust – Philip Pulman welcomes rescued funding – BBC
Booktrust – Miliband says funding restored? – BBC
BookStart – authors attack decision – BBC
BookStart – Miliband condemns funding end – Independent
BookStart – This government has set its face against reading – Guardian (the comments below the article show a wide variety of opinions – the most sadly ironic being that there is no need for BookStart as we have so many libraries) and Observer and Guardian again
CILIP – library campaigning materials – CILIP (now free to use and open to all) and here too
(USA) Usage up, uses up – Charleston City Paper

363 libraries plus 26 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
Being the list below represents around a third of  authorities in the UK, the final figure could be from 800 to 1000.

News
The Arts Council will take over the role of the MLA with under £3 million to play with.  The National Literacy Trust fears for its funding after the stopping of funding for the BookTrust yesterday. Eric Pickles calls councils which close front-line services instead of sacking back-office staff “stupid”.  Kent reduces its full-time staffing by 83 and replaces them with over a million pounds of self-service machines. Protests up and down the country.  This has to be the most “interesting” time for public libraries for a century.

Arts Council will have only £2.6 million to take over (non-Renaissance) MLA functions – Arts Newspaper
Bury – more details on plans to close Unsworth and reduce Prestwich – Manchester Evening News
Camden – volunteers running libraries could be challenging – Swiss Cottage Courier
Dorset – closing 20 branches will result in less than a £1 million saving – Bridport News
Flintshire – 5 libraries to go are dated – The Leader and Daily Post
Gloucestershire – 200 sign petition in once day – This is Gloucestershire
Greenwich – libraries to become part of a Trust – 853blog
Hillingdon – library buildings and staffing unaffected by cuts – Uxbridge Gazette
Kent – 83 jobs to go as self-service comes in – Kent Online
Lincolnshire – cuts but no library closures for at least two years – This is Lincolnshire
Middlesbrough – children say yes to libraries in survey – Middlesbrough Council
Milton Keynes – Save Stony Stratford Library – About My Area
North Yorkshire – Campaign to save Easingwold, despite the cold – Gazette and Herald
Nottinghamshire – 30 (half of total) libraries to open for only up to 10 hours per week – Guardian
Oxfordshire – librarian’s job cannot be done by volunteers – Witney Gazette
Oxfordshire – protestor’s lobby of council –  Herald
Renfrewshire – Save Lochwinnoch Library – Youtube
Somerset – Library consultation document – Somerset Council (see Page 5 for closure list, inc “busy” Glastonbury) – put your feedback here

CILIP – what makes a good library? – CILIP
CILIP – response to end of BookStart funding – CILIP
Eric Pickles calls councils stupid if they cannot cope with the greatest cuts in history – Northern EchoHow important are books to you? – The Book Zone
Future Libraries Programme Update – MLA
Libraries are “non-statutory” – EGov Monitor
Localism Bill – key points, question over what council support will be given to those taking over libraries – Guardian
We could be the next to lose funding – National Literacy Trust

(USA) Kick Ass Librarian – LIS News (the library this was filmed in has now closed)
(USA) Libraries delivering life-saving information – ROCnow

363 libraries plus 26 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed (List below “News”)
Being the list below represents around a third of  authorities in the UK, the final figure could be from 800 to 1000.

Changes to the total

News
Gloucestershire – consultation and campaign – This is Gloucestershire
Moray – libraries are safe – Press and Journal
Northamptonshire – fears expressed over cuts – Evening Telegraph

Day of action planned against library closures – Guardian
Cuts to services, including to libraries, is wrong – This is Bristol

List of cuts by authority (click on name of authority for link to relevant report)

Aberdeenshire – some
Angus – 4 libraries closed this year (April) to be possibly replaced by a mobile
Argyll and Bute – 3 libraries and mobile library.
Barking and Dagenham – 5
Barnet – some – public consultation here
Barnsley – up to 8
Bedfordshire – 1 mobile to go
Birmingham – 39 (three libraries lose hours so Tower Hill can remain open)
Bolton – Up to 8
Brent – 6 (out of 12)
Bristol – some may be staffed by volunteers
Buckinghamshire – up to 14 to close or be staffed by volunteers
Bury – 1 (1 other reduced hours) – Manchester Evening News
Cambridgeshire – some
Camden – several plus one mobile library (£2 million cut)
Central Bedfordshire – one mobile library to go
Conwy – 7 (out of 12)
Cornwall – up to 23
Croydon – 6 plus 1 local studies
Devon – (mobile stops cut)
Doncaster – 13, (may also be taken out of council control)
Dorset – up to 20 (out of 34) to close or be given to community groups  (£143k off bookfund).  Dorset is the sole council to receive an actual increase in funding for 2010/11.
Dumfries – 7
Durham – some
Flintshire – 5 and at least one mobile
Gateshead – some (school library service, music library, AIRS talking newspaper under threat)
Gloucestershire – Up to 25 and 6 mobiles  – 11 to close or go to volunteers. 7 to close if they don’t find a partner.  A further 11 reduced to 3.5 hours a week (this is just a small figure I include them under “closed”), 6 mobile libraries to go. 
Hampshire – (58 FTE jobs to go) (and mobile library review)(libraries merged with IT/property etc)
Harrow – (34 FTE to go)
Hartlepool – 1 confirmed to close (another to merge with community centre, all library’s hours cut)
Hertfordshire – (opening hours to be cut by one third – from 2236 hours down to 1575) – At least one library (Borehamwood)  faces a 40% cut
Highland – (Wick Library to close and merge with school library)
Hounslow – some (£869k p.a cut – reduction in hours,12 FTE to go, 1 IT skills suite closed)
Isle of Wight – 9 (out of 11)
Kirklees – at least 1
Leeds – Up to 20 (out of 52)
Leicestershire – all libraries could be privatised, put to trust or shared (merge of lending/reference- 14 FTE jobs lost)
Lewisham – 5
Liverpool – some
Merton – (2 libraries will have reduced hours)
Milton Keynes – 2
Newport – 7
Northern Ireland – 9
Northamptonshire – 8 out of 38 may close, 2 mobile libraries to end. Cuts to management and support also.
Northumberland – some 
North Lanarkshire – 1 (closed March 2010)
North Norfolk – some (c. £1m reduction)
North Somerset – 1 closed, 2 proposed. Weston Mercury update
North Yorkshire – 24 to close or be staffed by volunteers, 9 mobiles to go off road.
Nottingham – (80 FTE jobs to go, 75% off bookfund, 30 libraries have less opening hours)
Oldham – (increase in volunteers, merging, cuts)
Oxfordshire – 20 – list of those under threat here, Oxford Central hours extended to 7 days per week
Redbridge – 5 out of 12 may close, another may relocate.
Renfrewshire – (2 libraries to move into smaller sites in community centres)
Richmond – 1 (£351k cut)
Rochdale – (some library managers to to go in first phase of cuts)
Sefton – 3
Sheffield – (30% cut expected)
Shropshire – 1 (reference library to merge with central library)
Somerset –  20 (out of 34) will be offered to community groups. 4 (out of 6) mobile libraries will also go.  Ten other libraries will have a 10% reduction in hours. List of closures here .Consultation period ends on 14th Jan.
Stoke – 2 and 1 mobile library, (ends RNIB service)
Suffolk – up to 2
Swansea – some
Thanet – some
Tower Hamlets – (staff made to reapply for their own jobs -23 library staff replaced)
Wakefield – at least 2
Walsall – at least 8 (30 FTE). More details here 
Walthamstow – some
Wandsworth – 1 (mention in Guardian here) plus reduction in hours in others.
Warrington – 2 and 1 mobile library
West Sussex – Some (5 FTE lost, some librarians pay reduced to library assistant)
Wigan – Up to 15 out of 17  (£1.1m cut off £4m budget)
Wiltshire – (26 FTE posts to go inc. 9 out of 13 community librarians)
Worcestershire – some

Authorities which have announced no library closures
Brighton
Devon (may have reduced opening hours, less mobile stops, no new Exeter Library)

Hillingdon
Moray – (may move to being in a Trust) 
Staffordshire
Wirral