Ian Anstice

Editorial

Some weird news from Slough, where the Curve, which only opened in 2016 at a cost of £22m, that the council may be considering closing it cut costs. If so, this shows the weird current financial logic forced upon councils by reduced funding from central government combined with increasing social care costs where costs are more important than value or previous investment. There’s a hardening of attitudes towards library budgets in some councils. For instance, more news this week of councils reducing staff pay by introducing staff-less technology. I remember the days when allowing the public in through card-and-pin-entry was seen as an addition to normal opening hours. Not so much any more, the gloves are off.

Interestingly, in Birmingham which recently announced perhaps the deepest cuts in local government history, the opposition to library closures appears to be coalescing around keeping the service alive through alternative service models rather than protest/volunteering/demand for return of budget. Such trusts have been a bit hit and miss if combined with Leisure, apart from with GLL, which is big enough to have obvious economies of scale. Stand-alone library trusts – Devon (Libraries Unlimited), Suffolk (Suffolk Libraries) and York (York Explore) – have had a far more positive record while no less than seven single-council leisure-and-library trusts have been forced back into council control.

Changes by local authority

• Lewisham – Lewisham Library to be remodelled (consultation).
• Pembrokeshire – Opening hour cuts in 7 libraries. Some town councils funding hours, staffless technology to reduce staffing in Pembroke Dock.
• Redcar and Cleveland – £400k cut, volunteer-supported Laburnum Road Community Library may become community centre.
• Sheffield – Opening hours increased.
• Slough – Curve to close.
• Surrey – Camberley and Egham libraries have staffless opening.
• Westmorland and Furness – Roose Library still closed with no firm new plans after arson in May 2023.
• Worcestershire – Wythall, Pershore, Bromsgrove, Hagley, Alvechurch, Rubery, and Warndon and St John’s libraries have staffless opening.

National news

• Books and beyond – Municipal Journal. Sponsored content. “GLL, a co-operative and charitable social enterprise, has diversified and grown over the past decade, to become the largest single provider of public library services in the country.” … ” visitors to some of our libraries don’t just have the option to borrow books, they might borrow a sewing machine, power washer or a drill.” … “The Literary Foundation will support authors who are local to the libraries that we operate, helping them to create their brand, deliver events and reach a wider audience. It will provide library users with the unique opportunity to see stories written, attend author-driven events and read diverse books authored by home-grown talent.”
• British Library cyber attacks: Lessons learned – Arts Professional. see also The British Library looks to the future as it reveals the incalculable damage of its ransomware attack – Diginomica. ” Despite that, library visits are dwindling in the UK – down to 100 million annually in 2021-22 from 299 million ten years earlier, but that is partly because nearly 800 libraries have closed since 2010, due to austerity. Even so, those attendance figures still outnumber those for cinema and football combined, so don’t write off libraries just yet – though Statista data suggests that the most common age group for users is 45-64.”
• Daily Mail Comment: Fund our libraries, not diversity tsars – Daily Mail. Councils “have almost doubled their spending on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) roles that most council taxpayers would regard as superfluous in such straitened times. In the great gamut of public spending a rise from £12million a year to £23million may not seem enormous. But with libraries closing and social care being squeezed it shows a warped sense of priorities.”
• Expression of interest: Ukrainian–UK public library twinning programme – Libraries Connected. “here is a strong appetite for twinning with Ukrainian libraries to show solidarity, exchange skills and experience and connect audiences.”
• Libraries Connected Awards Shortlist 2024 – Libraries Connected. Nominations for the various awards, including brief descriptions.

• Protecting Local Libraries: Designing a New Strategy Placing Public Libraries at the Heart of Communities – Public Policy Exchange. “In the five years to 2020/2021, the number of statutory libraries open 10 hours or more a week in England, Scotland and Wales fell by 681, leaving the total number at 3,064. In the same period, the number of annual library visits fell by 59% and the number of print books issued fell 40%. “
• Public Library Forum 2024 – National Acquisitions Group. Thursday 16 May, London.
• Pyjamarama is back for 2024 – Booktrust. 17 May. “Thousands of children all around the country – in schools, nurseries, community groups and at home – will spend the day reading, enjoying, and sharing stories all in the comfort of their pyjamas to raise vital funds to help every child enjoy story time”
• Review into Arts Council England spending announced – Shropshire Star. “The use of public money by Arts Council England (ACE) will be reviewed by the Government. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced on Friday that Dame Mary Archer, the wife of Lord Jeffrey Archer and former chairwoman of the Science Museum Group, will lead the review.”

International news

• Croatia – The Reading Challenge at City Library “Ivan Vidali” (Croatia) – Naple Sister Libraries. “Children collect points for every book they read and receive prizes based on the number of points they’ve collected during the summer.”

• India – Admn to foster love for books with 43 public libraries in villages – Times of India. £1.1m to be spent on new libraries in villages in Ludhiana.
• Ireland – Library is a vital resource and hub in the community – Echo. ““Libraries are very strong in Ireland. Community engagement keeps it that way,” said Aoife. “The Clondalkin library is a vital community hub, a resource for the community, there is something for everybody,” said Aoife.”

• Kenya – Kenyan Libraries Should Incorporate Queer Literature Without Exception – Business Today. “… acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals remains a contentious issue in predominantly conservative African societies. Library materials and programs related to sexual orientation and gender identity often provoke controversy, leading to self-censorship among librarians and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ resources. Public libraries, including school and academic libraries, must commit to serving and representing their entire community, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. They should provide welcoming environments and resources that cater to the diverse needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Ultimately, libraries have a responsibility to ensure equitable access to information and services for all patrons, fostering inclusivity and respect within their communities.”
• Poland – Digital Books in Polish Public Libraries: Case Study of Partnership with the Commercial Distributor Legimi – Public Library Quarterly. ” Arrangements for Legimi’s services are negotiated mainly through library consortia. Currently, approximately 42% of all libraries in Poland provide digital books through Legimi.”
• South Africa – Libraries Get Dressed Up for National Library Week – Good Things Guy. “This year, SALW also runs at the same time as Fine Free Week, which means that those who haven’t returned outstanding items can do so without paying any fines—a welcomed sigh of relief for anyone who’s sweated over an overdue book in Cape Town.”

“The beautiful irony of a library after all, is that they are both a place for solitude and community in a single space.”

• Ukraine – No more Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, or Tolstoy: Ukrainian libraries clean out shelves – Le Monde. “Like all the country’s libraries, hers received official recommendations to remove authors who support the invasion or Russian supremacy from its shelves in the name of martial law. “For any educated person, removing a book from a library is a difficult thing to do,” argued the sexagenarian, whose commitment to her country is beyond doubt. Yet she feels like the entire world is watching her. No other war has ever turned literature and poetry into such a minefield.”
  • Book Aid International to Donate Another 15,000 Books to PEN Ukraine’s Unbreakable Libraries Project – Publishers Weekly. “Ensuring continued access to books for Ukrainians who are facing immeasurable challenges must remain at the forefront of this collaboration. I urge more publishers to join this important initiative by donating books, funds and spreading the word.”
  • Why Suppression of Libraries Corrupts a Nation – Library Journal. “While annihilation of libraries has historically featured as a component of war, this war revealed a new form of destruction, where the invader corrupts the library into an instrument of aggression. In occupied Ukraine, libraries are increasingly used as a means of spreading Russian propaganda. The Russian government has spent millions to publish sources justifying the war, to control Ukrainians in occupied areas and also to mobilize the population at home. With the closure of many schools in the occupied lands, libraries also are forced to conduct events celebrating Russia and diminishing the history of Ukraine, encouraging youth to turn away from their roots.”
• USA – Dungeons & Dragons kits coming to WA libraries, with an event planned in Yakima – Yakima Herald-Republic. “Renton-based Wizards of the Coast is donating 75 kits, each including materials such as character sheets, organizer instructions, a demo adventure and a learn-to-play guide, according to the news release.”
  • American Library Association says book ban challenges in 2023 broke new record – Yahoo / The Hill. “The ALA announced Thursday that 2023 saw 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship, up 65 percent from the previous record in 2022 of 2,571 unique titles.”
  • Critics: NYC library systems must slash ‘obscene’ exec salaries to avoid service cuts – Yahoo / New York Post.”New York Public Library President Anthony Marx earns $984,338 [£773k! – Ed.] annually, Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson pockets $652,035 and Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott rakes in $336,953″
  • Libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books, seek new state laws in fight with publishers – Independent. “Librarians in several states have been pushing for legislation to rein in the costs and restrictions on electronic material, which has been growing in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrons are stuck on long waiting lists for audio and e-books, and digital offerings are limited.”
  • Safety Net – Longreads. One of the best articles I’ve ever read on being a US librarian: “I love it because every day requires me to meet humanity face to face. It reminds me that I am actually living in an actual society where I am responsible to other people.”
  • ‘So happy you’re here’: how a librarian became an advocate for mental health – Guardian. ““I grew up in libraries, raised by libraries, loved everything about libraries,” he said in an interview. “It is a place where you can just be as you are, you can come on inside, you can take joy in that as an introvert [or] an extrovert.” … “After months of his fans promoting Threets to PBS, home of the iconic TV series Reading Rainbow, he announced he would serve as the network’s resident librarian for a social media series. “

Local news by authority

• Birmingham – Charity challenges legality of Birmingham library closures – Arts Professional. “The Library Campaign says Birmingham City Council’s plan to close 25 of its local libraries as part of far-reaching budget cuts would breach the Public Libraries and Museums Act.”
  • Birmingham residents plan ‘resistance’ to possible library closures as budget fallout continues – Birmingham Mail. “Dozens of concerned Acocks Green residents met on Saturday, March 9, to discuss how to fight back if closures do go ahead and how important libraries are to the wider community. The Save Acocks Green Library Campaign says they are part of a “rapidly emerging trend” of grassroots campaigns which have begun to recently emerge across Birmingham.”
  • Hope for Birmingham’s under-threat libraries as ‘alternative model’ explored – Birmingham Mail. “Katherine Iroh, Labour councillor for Billesley, has now seen more than 1,200 people sign her petition to save Yardley Wood Library and said she discussed the possibility of saving libraries through an “alternative model” with cabinet member Cllr Saima Suleman.” … “We are looking at a community asset transfer where a community organisation (or a group of community organisations) sets up a trust which runs the library and applies for grants to help with the costs”

• Cambridgeshire – Libraries and community centres benefit from £5m investment – Hunts Post. “Libraries in Bar Hill, St Ives, Littleport and Whittlesey along with youth centres in Whittlesey (Scaldgate) and Ramsey (Ailwyn) as well as The Horizon Resource Centre in Cambridge will see a range of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly heating upgrades.” … “The projects will be funded by a grant of more than £1.2m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme following a successful bid by council officers.”
  • High Sheriff Dr Bharatkumar Khetani visited Wisbech and March Libraries to spread the word of the excellent work each venue does – Fenland Cirizen. “The purpose of these visits was to spread the word of the excellent work each library does, made possible by hardworking staff and volunteers” … “Both the Mayor and High Sheriff were also intrigued by events for adults, including monthly Engage talks (the most recent of which saw 50 attendees) and tea and tablets sessions, where staff provide assistance to beginners with smart devices.”
• Camden – KFC turns Kentish Town library into a mock-up restaurant – Ham and High. “Fran Bernhardt, of the food charity Sustain, said this move was a “flagrant disregard of local children’s needs” and “an outrageous example where profits have been prioritised over people”. Speaking to The Times, Ms Bernhardt said: “Councils must champion residents’ health by stopping companies like KFC from flooding our high streets with unhealthy foods.””
• Central Bedfordshire – Police install terminals for supermarket shoppers to report crime – BBC. “”When we trialled this in the library we found a high level of people who were reporting domestic abuse,” Mr Akinbusoye said. “For some reason they were not doing that at home or in other areas.””

Conwy – Library protest to campaign against 25% reduction in opening hours – Conwy Herald. “Dr Samah Massalhan, a consultant at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, who lives in Llanfairfechan with her partner Steve Wilson and their two children Carys, six, and Jonathan, three, is organising a “read-in” at Llanfairfechan Library this Saturday 16 March.”

• Essex – Essex libraries honoured with national award for supporting asylum seekers – Your Harlow. Library of Sanctuary. “includes sanctuary library cards, which grant free access to books, online services and computers in any Essex library without the need for documentation. Welcome leaflets, joining forms and membership information have also been made available in 21 different languages.”
• Highland – Caithness Talking Newspapers now delivered to Wick and Thurso libraries – John O’Groat Journal. “Spoken-word versions of the Groat and Courier are now available at Wick and Thurso libraries thanks to a far north charity for people with hearing or sight loss. Hearing and Sight Care has delivered special tape players to both libraries and has arranged for Caithness Talking Newspapers to be delivered weekly.”

“Libraries NI, like many other public bodies, proclaims that its resources are tight and that it is short of money. I was therefore very disappointed to discover from the exposé in yesterday’s Belfast ‘News Letter‘ that Libraries NI has thought it appropriate to spend thousands upon thousands of pounds on books promoting the trans agenda, with toddlers no less … Why is Libraries NI in the business of corrupting young people through a trans agenda”

Northern Ireland: They Work For You: Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice 

• Kirklees – Fears for future of eight libraries in borough – BBC. “Cynthia Collinson, chair of Friends of Mirfield Library, told the BBC they feared the library would be left with a lack of support. “We can run day to day, putting books on shelves et cetera, but we do not have the expertise of managing a library of this size,” she said. “My fear is it might have to close, and it would just be cutting off a lifeline for so many vulnerable people.””
• Lewisham – Lewisham Library – Lewisham Council. “We plan to transform the library into an exciting multi-use space for the community. As well as retaining the core library and archive services that we know are so important to residents, the venue will also offer fantastic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, arts organisations and community groups, as well as plenty of space to host cultural events. “
• Manchester – Historic Chorlton Library refurbishment plans unveiled – Manchester Council. “Work to the Grade II listed building will enhance the existing structure of the building and the fabulous dome which has been hidden for years will be unveiled when it reopens as part of the refurbishment plans.” see also ‘Unique’ south Manchester library set for major revamp – with closures announced – Manchester Evening News.
  • View our new virtual tours – Manclibraries Blog. “You can now take 3D walkthrough virtual tours of all 22 Manchester Libraries, enabling you to explore our fabulous venues, discover the nuances and architecture, and find out much more about them before you physically visit, all from the comfort of your screen.”

• North Somerset – Creative wellbeing courses at North Somerset Libraries inspire local residents – North Somerset Council. “North Somerset libraries recently offered several six-week courses in different creative pursuits for adults who may be struggling with their wellbeing”
• Nottingham – Children’s play area opens outside Nottingham Central Library – BBC.
• Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen to step down – West Bridgford Wire. “uccesses such as the opening of the new Nottingham Central Library” … ” an advocate for reading and literacy and have long supported the development of the Nottingham Imagination Library that has given more than half a million free books to children aged 0-5 in our city”
• Pembrokeshire – Library service reductions backed by Pembrokeshire councillors – Milford Mercury. “over the last 11 years of financial austerity, the Library Service has reduced its costs considerably,” listing a wide range of changes including  reducing opening hours of some libraries, working with Town and Community Councils and the local community to create Community Managed Library Partnerships, and negotiating financial contributions from Town and Community Councils to support the running of libraries.” … “Further opening hour cuts in 7 libraries. Some town councils funding hours, staffless technology to reduce staffing in Pembroke Dock.”
• Redcar and Cleveland – Campaign launched to save library from council cuts – BBC. “Redcar and Cleveland Council have proposed turning Laburnum Road Community Library into a community-run centre from April. The move is part of a wider £400k cost cutting proposal which would affect several libraries in the region. One campaigner said that the closure of Laburnum Road’s library would be a “disaster for the community”.”
• Sheffield – New opening times for Sheffield libraries approved by users – The Star. “The new standardised opening times affect libraries in Chapeltown, Crystal Peaks, Darnall, Ecclesall, Firth Park, Highfield, Hillsborough, Manor, Parson Cross, Stocksbridge and Woodseats. They have been increased from 31 to 34 hours a week.” … “Libraries will also close on Tuesday or Wednesday morning one day a month to allow for staff training time. Running training on Thursday, when branches are closed, was ruled out as it would mean full-time staff working six days a week.”
  • Community Hub Libraries to keep five day week opening hours – Sheffield Council. “Following a review of library services, feedback from local residents has been largely positive and resulted in these times being made permanent. The decision was made at a Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee meeting on Monday 11^th March, and will better reflect the demand patterns of library users. Council-run Community Hub Libraries* are now open on the same days and times across the city”
• Shropshire – Oakengates Library to relocate while theatre is redeveloped – Shropshire Star. “Oakengates Library is preparing to move to a temporary location while work takes place on the town’s theatre.”

• Somerset – Nailsea’s former library building gets a new lease of life – Somerset Live. “Sale of the building follows the library’s successful move to a nearby site on Colliers Walk, previously occupied by HSBC. The move means the library is now in a more accessible and energy efficient multi-functional space, which has already proven popular with the community. This replaces the old building, which could no longer meet the needs of local people or access legislation and would have cost around £1m for the council to bring to standard. Sale of the old building has secured income to support future library costs, ensuring this valued provision can continue for years to come. It has also cleared the way for new owners to refurbish or redevelop the building, offering something new to Nailsea.”
• Suffolk – Maggie is making a difference – Suffolk Libraries. “An intrepid library manager is undertaking a sponsored walk taking in every library in the Ipswich and Kesgrave area to raise money on Suffolk Libraries Day.” … “Suffolk Libraries Day is the annual event to celebrate Suffolk Libraries and raise money to support the work of the library service in the community”
  • Essential lifeline of libraries in rural communities – Rural Services Network. “exemplifies the transformative potential of libraries in addressing mental health and wellbeing within the community. Distinguished as one of the few library services in the UK to offer a dedicated mental health and wellbeing service, Suffolk Libraries actively supports both staff and patrons through comprehensive access to current and trustworthy mental health information and resources…”
  • New opening hours for Kessingland Library – Suffolk Libraries. “Following consultation with customers the hours are changing from Monday 18 March. The main difference is that the library is opening earlier on a Tuesday and Friday. This change is designed to meet customer needs and make the hours more consistent. It also means the library will be open for one extra hour per week with the library closing earlier on some days to enable the earlier opening.”
• Surrey – Surrey Libraires Super Access extended to two new locations – Surrey Council. “Both libraries have been fitted with new technology that allows registered library members, who have had a short introduction to the new system, to access the library during the new, extended opening hours which are in addition to the existing staff hours. “
• Wandsworth – New community space at Northcote Library adds to offer for local community – Wandsworth Council. “Northcote Library has been open to the public since April 2023, but as part of the council’s commitment to investing in local spaces, a new community space has been recently completed alongside the library. This ensures residents have another space to hire for community groups, local businesses and residents, with brand new facilities.”
• Warwickshire – Warwickshire Libraries launches new creative practitioner role to engage with county’s Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities – Warwickshire Council. ” a new commission opportunity for a part-time creative practitioner”, funding as a NPO via Arts Council England.
• Westmorland and Furness – Ulverston’s temporary library to expand in The Coro – Cumbria Crack. “The existing temporary pop-up arrangements in the Ante Room in The Coro and in the nearby Indoor Market Hall will be transferring to the Supper Room, creating a single location for the temporary library, which people said they would prefer to the current split sites.”. Council investigating final solution for Ulverston Library. ““Which ever option is eventually chosen, it will involve significant cost, with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds of public money needing to be invested. We therefore need to make sure we get this right.” see also New temporary library for Ulverston nears completion – Westmorland and Furness Council.
  • Boys to face no action over library fire, say police – BBC. “Three boys who were arrested after a library fire are to face no further action, according to police. Roose Library in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has remained shut since the blaze in May last year.”
  • Ulverston and Roose libraries’ future discussed by hundreds – NW Mail. “On Monday (March 11) evening, hundreds of residents attended the Red Rose Club in Ulverston for a meeting to discuss the closures of Ulverston and Roose libraries. The meeting was organised by councillor Michelle Scrogham who said residents ‘do not want’ a library service to replace their town libraries. “
• Worcestershire – Great news for St John’s library members as Libraries Unlocked launches this week – Worcestershire Council. Continued conversion of libraries to unstaffed technology. Technology to allow library to be open unstaffed – BBC. Malvern Library.

Editorial

Central Government is allowing councils to sell assets directly in order to maintain services. Normally, it would only be able to do this for new initiatives. While of course the Government has doubtless far more nobler ideals for this than simply keeping spending and thus taxes down before the General Election, CILIP has warned it could result in a fire sale of buildings, including libraries, which could have costly consequences further down the line.

One similar attempt to save money, by passing the services to another organisation to manage, have been reversed in a couple of cases just this week. Two library services which were transferred to leisure trusts have returned to their parent council, in at least one case permanently. Warrington has reportedly spent £5m in the full return of Livewire back in to the council and Merthyr Tydfil have brought back Wellbeing Merthyr in-house. In that latter case, they’re looking for a new organisation to take it over. One hopes they settle the strike over pay there first.

All of this, sometimes counterproductive, scrabbling for finance is part of why Irish libraries have started holding their nose while looking at their larger neighbour. John Dolan, who managed Birmingham Libraries back before the Coalition Government, can’t help but see the irony of this. He has emailed with the following, on which I will end this post:

“You may know that one of my earliest and biggest projects as a freelance libraries consultant was indeed in Ireland. In 2012 as a consequence of the 2008 financial crisis, the government abolished the Library Council of Ireland. They retained five staff and took them into the Local Government Management Agency. Some are still in the team.

They contacted me initially to help with a “review” of the state of libraries – somewhat threatening. They then realised there was more mileage in creating a forward development/action plan. I worked with them for almost two years. They were an amazing group to work with, not to mention all the County Librarians and the many staff and user groups all over the country who were engaged in a massive programme of consultation and ideas sharing. We turned the thinking round. The result was a five year Government-backed plan with a ministerial launch. I’m grateful to be credited in the acknowledgments.

The point is that they have kept the momentum and the strategy and are now on the third such plan which supports a nationwide, consistent, coherent, centrally directed, locally delivered library service. This, as you know, is something we’ve never managed in England in spite of several reviews, plans and so on. “

John Dolan

Changes by local authority

• Hampshire – 22% physical stock budget cut, 67% digital budget cut.
• Lewisham – Grove Park Library reopened, managed by S&B Childcare.
• Merthyr Tydfil – Wellbeing Merthyr (formerly Merthry Tydfil Leisure Trust) to return all leisure/library services to council. with alternative provider being sought.
• Surrey – Weybridge Library will move into co-location in new Weybridge Hub.
• Warrington – Livewire Trust (leisure and libraries) brought back fully into council control at cost of £5m.
• Wirral – Pensby Library to be run by charity Pioneer People Wirral.

National news

• The 12th Century Library Thief Who Anticipated Today’s Hackers – Time. “Richard the Lionheart (Richard I) was the king of England at the end of the 12th century. He was also a famous library thief.”. French King made mistake of bringing his government archive to war: “When Phillip lost the battle, Richard absconded with the French archive and transported the French crown’s documents to the Tower of London.” … “From then on, the archive stayed put in Paris”

“The British Library ransomware attack invites us to remember that our most beloved textual collections are not, and never have been, above the fray of politics, power structures, and capitalism.”

Time

• CILIP sounds alarm over ‘fire sale’ of library buildings – Bookseller. “The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), has sounded the alarm over a potential “fire sale” of library buildings following the government announcement of “exceptional financial support” to 19 councils, including Birmingham, Bradford and Nottingham. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that 19 councils in England will benefit from an “Exceptional Financial Support (EFS)” framework for the fiscal year 2024-25, totalling around £1.5bn. CILIP said: “Rather than representing new investment or capital support, the framework allows the councils involved to use capital receipts from the sale of assets or borrowing to cover their day-to-day costs up to this amount.”
• Gen Z may love reading, but that won’t save the UK’s struggling libraries – City AM. “any of the things that make libraries so valued have to be sacrificed: opening hours are reduced, the professional expertise of librarians is replaced with volunteers and, perhaps most devastating for our Gen Z aesthetes, beautiful buildings must be sold. In Norfolk, for example, recent news over the relocation of the King’s Lynn central library from its Gothic-style red-brick home to a former Argos in the city centre – where surely no self-respecting Gen Z intellectual would be caught dead – has caused public outcry”
• Nationwide bedtime routines enhanced as CBeebies Bedtime Stories digital library is created – BBC. “CBeebies Bedtime Stories has launched a new partnership with BookTrust to deliver unique reading corners in libraries across the UK. The partnership launches today with Strictly Come Dancing Star Carlos Gu swapping the glittering Tower Ballroom for the cosy confines of Blackpool Central Library, to perform a live reading in an event hosted by CBeebies House favourites … Across the UK, the partnership will introduce more CBeebies Bedtime Stories legacy reading corners and BookTrust Storytime engagement at libraries in Leeds, Hartlepool, Sandwell, Leicester, Brent and Somerset.”

“I very much hope that people will take up offers at public libraries. An Age Concern report looked at digital availability for the over-70s and found that people who went to the library were far more able to get online. I thank Lloyds Bank, which is bringing its online training to Barnstaple library; anyone who would like to join should contact my office.” Digital Exclusion debate, Westminster Hall, Parliament

Selaine Saxby Conservative, North Devon

• Northern Bookshelf Live – Meet Authors Rose Wilding and Karen Powell – Bury Council. “The Northern Bookshelf is a new scheme from New Writing North which connects the best writers with libraries and readers across the North of England. These events are an opportunity for book lovers to meet quality northern writers.”

• Public Libraries 2023: Netloan Customer Survey Results – Lorensbergs. “Almost 80% are seeing increases in support needs for employment related queries, benefit applications, other government services, or basic digital skills” … “Nearly 40% of libraries are seeing increased in-person activity driven by factors beyond general post-Covid recovery” … “Average PC session time offered to adult library users is 120 minutes. ” … “95% of libraries felt printing was essential or very important for meeting users’ needs;”

“only a quarter felt councils are regularly thinking ‘Libraries First’ for digital access and skills development. Yet nearly 80% report helping customers sent to them by numerous departments for this purpose”

Public Libraries 2023: Netloan Customer Survey Results

• Why public libraries are essential – Scottish Booktrust. “Scottish Book Trust programmes come to life when they are delivered by enthusiastic, skilled people across Scotland and many of those people work in libraries. Read on to find out about just some of the ways that Scottish Book Trust team has the privilege of supporting public libraries across Scotland. “

International news

• Canada – CBC Report: “1 Million Books and 4 Months Later, Toronto’s Library Recovers From a Cyberattack” – Library Journal. “In the case of the Toronto Public Library, victims include the employees themselves. Cybercriminals not only encrypted library files, but stole employee data, including social insurance numbers, home addresses and copies of government-issued identification documents that they’d provided to their employer. The library is still investigating the full extent of the data breach, including whether any customer, donor or volunteer information was taken.”
• China – Rural libraries open exciting chapter for children – China Daily. “a new place to spend their winter vacation — a library in a karst cave built by a local charity group. Located in Banwan village and blending in with the surrounding landscape, the library became a must-visit place for tourists ”
  • Snohetta opens the Beijing City Library, containing the world’s largest climatized reading space – Arch Daily. Sixteen images. “At its center, a 16-meter-tall forum welcomes visitors and serves as the main circulation artery within the building. Surrounded by curved stepped terraces, the forum mirrors the landscape of the nearby Tonghui River. The terraces serve as an informal zone for relaxing, talking, or reading while staying connected to the larger space. Smaller semi-private reading areas are embedded into the ‘hills.’”
• France – Atelier WOA creates long timber-framed library in France – De Zeen. “Large wooden beams frame the interiors of L’échappée, a multimedia library in France designed by local practice Atelier WOA as an alternative to “institutional and cold” public buildings. Occupying a long narrow site in Herblay sur Seine, L’échappée – meaning “escapade” in English – faces a road to the north with a stone and glass facade and opens up to a field to the south with a large wooden colonnade.”. Design ” aligns with the French government sustainability law to ensure all new public buildings are built from at least 50 per cent timber or other natural materials.”
• India – How Noida’s Public libraries are providing a haven for competitive exam aspirants – Hindustan Times. “As a new, swanky public library opened in Noida earlier this month, the staffers expected some fiction-loving bibliomaniacs to be one of the first visitors at the place. However, a group of five adolescents looking to refer to books about quantitative aptitude and calculus walked in and made themselves comfortable.”

• Ireland – Clare Library’s Grow In Popularity With 360 Thousand Items Borrowed Last Year – Clare FM. Radio interview here.
• Kyrgyzstan – More than 4.8 million people visit public libraries in 2023 – Akipress. “The libraries of Kyrgyzstan kept 19 million 485,725 books in 2023, which is 64,892 books more than in 2022, the Ministry of Culture reported …”
• Ukraine – Russia destroyed 131 Ukrainian libraries – Odessa Journal. “The Russian army has destroyed 131 public libraries in Ukraine, and nearly 750 more are in need of repair. This was reported by the chief librarian of the National Library of Ukraine” … “According to her, 156 libraries have been restored in Ukraine so far. She also mentioned that when libraries are destroyed, their premises are converted into village councils, churches, modular buildings, and so on.”

• USA – Viral TikTok Librarian Resigns Over Mental Health Concerns – Complex. “Threets became popular for sharing videos about his life as a librarian and spreading what he calls “library joy.””
  • Cleveland Public Library’s new Woodland Branch brings excellent design to city’s struggling East Side – Cleveland.com. “Numerous public surveys show that Americans take a dim view of institutions from healthcare to the courts, policing, local government and the media. Public libraries, however, are largely exempt from the general odium. A national poll of 1,000 voters across the political spectrum conducted by the American Library Association in 2022 showed that nine in ten respondents viewed librarians positively …”

• Libraries (Yes, Libraries) Are Leading the Crusade for New Music Discovery – Spin. “In an age where small clubs have dwindled and our digitized culture keeps us plugged in and inside, it’s near impossible to discover new, local, independent musicians. But libraries–one of the last bastions of community connectivity–are taking on this culturally essential task, creating opportunities for independent musicians, and introducing us to the next “big” thing.”

• Meet the Boston Public Library’s chef in residence – Axios Boston. “The Boston Public Library launched a chef-in-residence program to help locals learn how to make nutritious, simple meals without straying from their cultural traditions. Why it matters: Glorya Fernandez, the chef-in-residence, isn’t an award-winning chef from an elite culinary school, but a master in making cooking accessible for Bostonians. Driving the news: Fernandez started her one-year residency this month in the BPL’s Nutrition Lab.”
  • The Week in Libraries: March 1, 2024 – Publishers Weekly. Censorship – “this legislator introduced a bill to stop ALA from giving money to local libraries to buy books because he doesn’t like the books”” – ” “Will [libraries] become arms of the state, only communicating those messages that a political actor believes is appropriate?” ; legal moves to make eBooks cheaper and more available; popular librarian quits after online bullying.
  • Why David Byrne believes libraries are vital for thriving arts – Far Out. “While discussions often revolve around the preservation of music venues, cinemas, and other artistic spaces, Byrne emphasises the crucial role that libraries play in fostering creativity, knowledge, and community engagement. Libraries serve as hubs for learning, exploration, and cultural exchange, making them essential assets that deserve support and protection.”

Local news by authority

• Birmingham – Save Kings Heath Library – Change.org. “Of the 35 community libraries in Birmingham, Kings Heath is ranked 4th by estimated footfall, has the 7th highest membership, and the 3rd highest number of books lent and relent. It is a thriving, successful library, and a valuable community asset. If libraries need to modernise, it could be adapted more easily than others due to its high membership and footfall. ”
  • 35 Birmingham libraries at risk amid Birmingham City Council cuts – full list & how you can you help save them – Birmingham World.
  • Rallying call for Brummies to ‘stand up to £367m budget cuts’ at mass weekend protest – Birmingham Mail. “A rallying cry has gone out to residents, shoppers, affected workers, unions and culture buffs across Birmingham to join a mass demo against council cuts. It’s the first big protest since the city council unveiled devastating cuts to services affecting children and families, libraries, youth services, roads and parks and the arts.”
• Cambridgeshire – Daniel Zeichner MP visits Cambridge Central Library to support digital inclusion – Cambridge Network. “All Cambridgeshire County Council’s Libraries are registered as digital inclusion hubs with the Good Things Foundation and offer a range of services to support digital inclusion. Your local library can provide access to the National Data Bank, offers digital advice, connectivity, devices, and support to anyone who requires assistance with gaining digital skills and confidence”
• Ceredigion – Concerns over plans to move town libraries and halve mobile service – Cambrian News. “Plans to scrap a school library service, halve the amount of mobile library vans, and move town libraries into shared buildings have been approved as part of Ceredigion’s final budgets despite councillor concerns.”
• Cheshire East – Cheshire East Council agrees budget plans to protect vital services – Cheshire East Council. “The budget outlines £30m in savings across council services to ensure financial sustainability. For example, it will look at ways to generate income from assets such as libraries, review the costs to its garden waste scheme and reduce council office accommodation. “
• Cheshire West and Chester – Cheshire Constabulary working hard to keep women and girls safe across the county – Cheshire Police. “More than 200 venues – such as libraries, leisure centres and train stations – across Cheshire have been certified as safe space champions, with training provided to these venues in order to create responsible guardians who can recognise risk and how to safely intervene – they also help promote safety to the public.”

• East Dunbartonshire – Libraries to host climate themed events throughout March as part of “Shelf Life” initiative – East Dunbartonshire Council. “Funded by the Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) which secured climate engagement funding from the Scottish Government, the Shelf Life initiative aims to raise aware of issues such as recycling, sustainability and climate change. Events will include workshops that support upcycling, repair and traditional skills, and author and artist events featuring climate-themed texts to generate engaging conversation. “
• East Riding – Bridlington and ER Libraries to launch Little Readers scheme for pre-school children – Bridlington Echo. “From Friday, 1 March,  parents can collect a free passport and bookmark for pre-school children and meet the gorgeous new character Hoot, the owl who loves to read. Parents will be able to use their passport to collect a special Hoot stamp each time they visit the library and get a super certificate for every five stamps; there are ten different designs to collect.”
• Hampshire – Young Reporter: Libraries face potential budget cuts by Saba Ghandi – Hampshire Chronicle. “From March 31, 2024, the council is planning to reduce physical stock by 22 per cent and digital stock by 67 per cent.” … “As the decrease in physical stock will mainly be targeted at replacing hardback covers with paperback covers, the rapid decrease in digital stock might be something to worry about. Since the pandemic, the rate of digital library usage has more than doubled according to the council. “
• Hillingdon – Labour ‘still committed to halting Uxbridge Library move’ – Hillingdon and Uxbridge Times. “The move, from the High Street, was endorsed on Thursday (22) at the budget meeting when spending plans and council tax level were announced by the ruling Conservative group. Labour had been supporting a petition to oppose the library’s relocation. Conservatives say the opposition group had failed to identify an additional £400,000 running cost for the present building.”
• Lancashire – Crowdfund appeal for Lancaster children’s library – Lancaster Guardian. “On the crowdfunding page it says: “We aim to create a more attractive and friendly space which will attract more young children to use the wide range of resources and support on offer. “We need to purchase materials, revise and finalise draft sketches and create and hang the completed artwork.” If the bid is successful the County Council will matchfund the library’s contribution. If you would like to help crowdfund this project (minimum pledge is £2) visit https://www.spacehive.com/renovatelancasterchildrenslibrary” £642 pledged in 3 weeks of £1586 asked for.
• Lewisham – Grove Park Library users ‘very pleased’ with new space after months of closure – Yahoo. “The library was shut last summer after the previous leaseholder issued notice to end the lease period. Following the closure, which lasted for several months, the library reopened at the beginning of 2024, managed day to day by Lewisham Council’s new community partner S&B Childcare. The library is also celebrating its 70th anniversary since first opening in 1953.”
• Merthyr Tydfil – Library and leisure centre staff to strike over ‘decade-old’ failure to honour pay rise – Morning Star. “Union members at Merthyr Leisure Trust say they have long been owed a pay uplift of about £1 an hour, in line with local government staff. The ballot result comes after the council announced plans on its Facebook page to offload the leisure trust to a private provider without any consultation on Tuesday evening.”
  • Leisure and cultural services in Merthyr Tydfil set to return to council control – Merthry Tydfil Herald. ” the council said it has agreed to work with Wellbeing Merthyr (formerly Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust) on a managed end of the existing contract for the county borough’s leisure and cultural services by March 31, 2024, which will see facilities return to the council. The statement said due to the end of the current arrangement with Wellbeing Merthyr and the council being proactive in the need to safeguard leisure services, in January it said it had no choice but to find an alternative provider to manage the newly-refurbished Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre for an interim period.”
• North Tyneside – Pupils to be taught in library while school shut – BBC. “North Tyneside Council has closed Wideopen Library to accommodate two classes from Hazlewood Community Primary School.” … “The council’s mobile library will be visiting the Wideopen site every Tuesday and Thursday during normal opening times.” [“Wideopen Library is closed”??? – Ed.]
• North Yorkshire – Families invited to join local libraries in celebrating British Science Week – Richmondshire Today. “Space-themed quizzes, treasure hunts and a date with the popular code-a-pillar are among the events”
• Nottingham – Call for ‘no-strings’ support for ‘bankrupt’ Nottingham City Council – BBC. Group visits Downing Street asking for money to save the council. Cuts ot services, including libraries, blamed on central government funding cuts.

• Wollaton LIbrary to re-open after refurbishment as students lend a hand – Nottingham Council. “Wollaton Library will reopen to the public on Monday (4 March) following its closure for essential maintenance work. During this time, Nottingham City Council’s library service worked with Nottingham College lecturers and students to repaint the building and replace the shelving, repurposing some previously used at the old Central Library.”
• Perth and Kinross – ‘Save Birnam library’ campaigners stage protest against council cuts – Courier. “Around 100 people staged a protest outside Birnam library as Perth and Kinross councillors prepare to set next year’s budget” … “Councillors set aside £173,000 last year to keep the libraries in Alyth, Auchterarder, Birnam, Comrie, North Inch (Perth) and Pitlochry open. However, they also allocated £150,000 for a council-wide review of its leisure and cultural assets. And the outcome of that study included a shake-up of library provision.”
• Richmond – Charitable cost of living events in Richmond – SW Londoner. “The events, which in the past have been attended by up to 40-50 people, include clothes swapping, or ‘swishing,’ handicraft sessions such as quilting and flower printing, yoga, as well as finance and mindfulness workshops. They are being held in libraries across Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington to not only encourage the use of libraries but a sense of community and education with hot drinks and snacks provided.”
• Somerset – Somerton Library celebrates five years of being volunteer-led – BBC. “In a statement, Somerset Council said: “We work closely with a range of community library partners to deliver 13 of our 32 statutory libraries in their communities, most of which have paid and trained staff working alongside dedicated local volunteers. “They enable additional opening hours, activities and events, as well as helping to raise funding for their local library.”

• Suffolk – Share your stories and memories of Ipswich County Library – Suffolk Libraries. “Local people are being encouraged to share their memories and stories for an exhibition which will honour the library’s past, present, and future. With support from Suffolk Archives, Suffolk Libraries staff are curating a display in the library exhibiting historic books, objects, and memorabilia relating to the library building. The exhibition will commemorate the library’s spirit and its place in the town’s history, providing a safe space for transient communities for 100 years and beyond.”
• Shadow Storytelling: sensory puppetry theatre workshop with Kirsty Tallent – Suffolk Libraries. ” Learn to use sensory theatre techniques to create a story told through shadow puppetry. Workshop includes a free lunch, drinks, and snacks.” HAF funded. see also Let Your Creativity Bloom: nature writing workshop with Poppy Stevens – Suffolk Libraries and Gorey Stories: special effects workshop with Lorna-Jane Garside – Suffolk Libraries and A Secret Space: photography and image transfer workshop with Gillian Allard – Suffolk Libraries.
• Surrey – Weybridge library and Weybridge Centre to co-locate as part of Hub plans – Elmbridge Council. “From April, there will be a temporary relocation of Weybridge library into the Weybridge Centre for the Community, while it undergoes a major refurbishment to create the Weybridge Hub, which is expected to open in Spring 2025. Information on the Weybridge Hub. We are working with Surrey County Council to ensure a smooth transition, making sure the library and Centres services can share space and continue to offer valued services to the local community.”
• Warrington – Council completes insourcing of LiveWire leisure, libraries and lifestyle services – Warrington Worldwide. “Council has successfully brought leisure, libraries and lifestyle services provided by LiveWire back ‘in-house’ at a cost of more than £5m.” … “The decision follows a difficult trading period for LiveWire following the COVID-19 pandemic and increased electric and gas prices, resulting in the council having to provide financial support. In December last year the council’s Cabinet agreed to the insourcing of LiveWire at a cost of more than £5m stating that failure to do so would put services at risk.”
• Westmorland and Furness – Money spent to house Ulverston temporary library service revealed – Westmoreland Gazette. Councillor says “£12k had been spent on refurbishing the alternative library service, which ‘could have been spent fixing the electrical faults’ in the existing closed building.” … “Cllr Scrogham advised that £12k has been spent in The Coro refurbishing the Ante Room and Supper Room to house the temporary libraries, which ‘could have been spent fixing the electrical faults in the Kings Road library.’ “
• West Sussex – Boost your wellbeing this March with West Sussex Libraries – West Sussex Council.
• Wirral – Charity to reopen ‘much-loved’ Pensby Library – Wirral Globe. “Local charity Pioneer People Wirral has been working with Wirral Council for nearly two years to take over the management of Pensby Library. The building is undergoing some essential repairs and will then be subject to a full re-fit.”
• York – ‘My shock at York budget threat to city libraries’ – Press / Letters. Library reader says “Frankly I’m shocked that, as a result of council budget cuts, our libraries are yet again under threat of serious cuts or closure of some branches …”
  • “Will any libraries close?’ – York council challenged on library cuts – The Press. “Opposition Liberal Democrat councillors – who voted against the cuts to library funding – today demanded to know which areas of the city library service the council now expected to see cut. Cllr Darryl Smalley, who was executive member responsible for libraries under the previous Lib Dem/ Green administration, said: “Under the Liberal Democrats, funding for York’s libraries was protected every single year. It’s shameful that Labour’s first act is to cut their budget.” … “Explore chief executive Jenny Layfield, who spoke against the cuts at last week’s meeting, said she was ‘disappointed’ they had been voted through and that a way could not have been found to protect libraries.”

Editorial

Some huge budgetary reductions have been announced or elaborated upon this week, with consultations either in progress or about to be. It looks like Nottingham, fresh from opening a new central library, now has no money to pay for many of the others, meaning that up to 12 out of its 15 can no longer be afforded. Two Welsh councils have announced cuts: Conwy a 25% reduction in opening hours and Ceredigion a halving of its fleet of four mobiles, ending its service to schools and co-locating library services into other council buildings. Greenwich, with its library service operated by GLL/Better, said that it may reduce its funding there by £1.5m. Whether GLL will go the same way as York Explore and contest this cut remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the huge previously announced reduction to Birmingham libraries, with up to 25 libraries threatened, is facing protests as are Hillingdon Council, who are more normally known for upgrading its libraries, for proposing to greatly reduce the size of Uxbridge Library. Libraries that are already volunteer run are also proving not be immune, with Derby is looking at moving theirs to a trust model and Kirklees being accused of betraying its volunteers by removing funding from libraries already run by them.

On the plus front, Hackney is putting some serious investment in to its libraries, with Stoke Newington at last (it’s been proposed since at least 2017) closed for refurbishment and repairs. It’s also good news for libraries on the coast. I love the location of Brighton and Hove’s lido library, now reopened, and Portsmouth has reopened it’s North End Library, both after repairs refurbishment. It also looks to be a return to the good times in Guernsey, although presumably it’s always pretty good on that blessed island. Libraries are also being used in novel (excuse the pun) ways, with musical instruments being lent out in Glasgow and ukeleles in Tameside. Service expansion wise, there’s green bin help being provided in Gloucestershire (although this appears to be more of a desperation measure), blood pressure monitors in Ruislip, measle vaccinations in Lambeth and hearing aid batteries being given out in Moray.

Changes by library authority

• Ceredigion – £187k cut: 2 out of 4 mobile libraries to be withdrawn, school library service to end, libraries to be co-located.
• Conwy – Proposed 25% cut to opening hours, £157k cut.
• Greenwich – Possible £1.5m cut.
• Hackney – £4.4m total investment in library service: Stoke Newington Library to close for two years for roof and fabric repairs (originally announced in 2020)
• Nottingham – Report that council is consulting on closing 12 out of 15 libraries.
• Portsmouth – North End Library refurbished.

National news

• The 3 London boroughs getting faster internet in libraries and leisure centres and better CCTV – My London News. ““The introduction of the new fibre network across Wandsworth, Richmond and Merton will improve public safety and connectivity and lay the foundations to positively transform local services in the future across the boroughs”. Twickenham and Kew libraries named.

“The public library is a promise that a government makes to its citizens that they not only have a right to participate in society, but to gain the skills that make that participation possible”

Nick Poole reported by Tracie D Hall

• ACE warns NPOs of ‘political statement’ dangers – Arts Professional. “Updates to Arts Council England’s policies warn that “political statements” made by individuals linked to an organisation can cause “reputational risk” and breach funding agreements.” see also Statement: our Relationship Framework with funded organisations – Arts Council England and ACE backtracks on Relationship Framework, planning updated version ‘as soon as possible’ – BookSeller. ” in light of what we’ve heard this week, we’re looking again at some of the language we’ve used, and will clarify it to fully reflect our original intention. “We’ll publish an updated version of the Relationship Framework as soon as possible.” and Art is always political – BookSeller / Comment.
• British Library confirms PLR payments will be made by March deadline following cyber attack – BookSeller. “The British Library (BL) has confirmed that Public Lending Right (PLR) statements and payments will be made in advance of the March statutory deadline, following concerns that these could have been impacted by a cyber attack.”

• DCMS to conduct full-scale review into Arts Council England – BookSeller. “In 2022 Jacob Rees-Mogg, then minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, launched a review programme to decide the future of public bodies such as ACE. ACE has been earmarked for review in the 2023/24 financial year as part of this review programme.  “
• King’s Honours and Points of Light Awards – Libraries Connected. “The King’s Honours and Points of Light Awards celebrate amazing people and can generate a positive buzz about public libraries. Nominating library staff and volunteers for a national award is a great way to show someone who has really made a difference through their work in libraries that their efforts have been recognised and appreciated. At this webinar, colleagues from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) outlined the different awards available, talk through the process of making a nomination, and shared their top tips.”

• Lorraine host Ranvir Singh slammed for laughing at people who go to libraries – Metro. “When Jay mentioned that he would go to the library to work on his book, Ranvir scoffed, laughed and said: ‘The library! ‘You’re such an old school soul. Who goes to the library anymore?’ Well it turns out plenty of people do — and they were not forgiving.”
• The number of drivers caught exceeding 20mph limit in first month of new education scheme – Wales Online. “Currently, the guidance is that the speed drivers will be stopped at is 26mph, 2mph more than the usual speed the limit will be enforced at. They are spoken to in a nearby public facility, such as a fire station, police station, or library, in a session that lasts around 10 minutes.”
• Ten poems about libraries – Candlestick Press. “Libraries are treasured places. We may remember visiting a local library in childhood to explore an early delight in reading. Or perhaps we have come to value them in later life, as a calm sanctuary where we can daydream among beloved books.” … “The poems are selected and introduced by poet Lorraine Mariner who has worked at the National Poetry Library in London for many years.”

International news

• India – Investing in Smart Cities: Enhancing Public Libraries for Quality Services in India – Public Library Quarterly. “A survey of 100 Smart Cities Mission projects was conducted to gather data on budget allocation and expenditure for public libraries, construction and renovation projects, and IT infrastructure and outreach programs. Results reveal investments in 27 library projects across 12 states geographically distributed throughout India, spanning new library establishments, renovations, digitization efforts, and IT integration with library services. “
• Ireland – Libraries told to consider ways for employees to escape aggressive right-wing protests – Irish Examiner. “Libraries across Ireland were told they should consider having safe rooms for staff or at the very least effective ways for employees to escape in the face of aggressive right-wing protests. In an advisory, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) also suggested the use of panic buttons and lone worker devices especially for small libraries where only a single person might be working.”
• Palestine – Israeli Occupation looted manuscripts, books about Palestine’s history: Palestinian National Library – Egypt Today. “the Israeli occupation government is still destroying Palestinian monuments and all the historical Palestinian presence and cultural heritage, and has stolen many manuscripts, books and documents.”
• Taiwan – Unveiling Community Resilience: The Integral Role of Public Libraries – Journal of Library Administration. Almost unintelligible academic language used in abstract: seems to say good things about City Library in Taipei.
• USA – Public Libraries under MAGA Threat: Banning what Matters – Informed Comment. ” there is, however, one institution that’s almost entirely benign: the public library. As I wish one could say about our medical system, it does no harm (though many right-wingers disagree with me, as we shall see).”
  • Announcing a New Project: “Reasons to Love Libraries” – School Library Journal. “Telling the fuller story about libraries will shed light on much more. Working to serve their communities, libraries are encountering great need, from food insecurity and mental health support to ­critical access to information and services: ­universal, human issues that should have us ­coming together to help resolve.”

• Public Libraries Under MAGA Threat – Counterpunch. “I trundled to my neighborhood library, silently thanking Andrew Carnegie and the good people of San Francisco that I still have a library to go to and promising myself not to let any MAGA-minded fools take it away.”
  • Stop Picking on Public Libraries – Nation. “the all-American penchant for banning books didn’t begin in the Trump era. Just ask almost anyone who lived through the Red Scare days of the 1950s (not to speak of the first Red Scare of 1917–20). But the last few years have seen a remarkable acceleration of attempts to keep certain books off the shelves of public and school libraries.”
  • This Week In Libraries – Publisher’s Weekly. “Less than two months into 2024, lawmakers in at least 13 states have introduced legislation that could disrupt libraries’ services and censor their materials” (NBC). “a Florida school that recently sent parents a permission slip requesting approval for students to listen “to a book written by an African American.” … bu”t survey of library funding says “Budgets grew across all areas in 2023, and while it’s too early to predict what those gains bode, the upward trend is largely encouraging,”
  • Visualization of Hot Topics and Global Trends in Community Librarianship (With an Emphasis on the Role of Public Libraries) – Public Library Quarterly. Extract, charged article.

Local news by authority

• Barnsley – Barnsley Book Festival celebrates successful launch – Yorkshire Evening Post. “Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G hosted two completely packed story time sessions.” … “Barnsley Book Festival is supported using public funding by Arts Council England as part of Barnsley Libraries’ National Portfolio Organisation activity.”

• Birmingham – Save Birmingham Libraries – Change. “Birmingham City Council has unveiled plans to close twenty-five neighbourhoood libraries and consolidate services into a handful of what they bill as ‘Community Living Rooms’. Closing these essential services will affect the most vulnerable in our communities and is certain to affect the education and life chances of young people in some of our city’s most socially deprived areas. As journalist Caitlin Moran wrote in response to the last wave of library closures: “a library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life raft and a festival”.” 3495 signatures at time of checking.
  • Birmingham City Council eyes up plans to close libraries to cut costs – Planet Radio. “Plans have been floated at the feasibility of closing 25 of the city’s 36 libraries, which could help bring £300 million into the budget over the next three years. According to proposals, a total of 11 libraries would be left open to the public – with one library remaining open per constituency.”
  • Campaigners plead with councillors to rethink plans to close twenty-five Birmingham libraries – ITV. “In an interview with ITV News Central, school librarian Caroline Chilton spoke about Kings Heath library: “It’s massively important. When our students reach us at 11, the majority of children who come in are avid readers, say Kings Heath library was somewhere they grew up coming to.” When asked about the impact of a potential closure, Ms Chilton added: “Just devastated for the community, for all of us.””
• Bradford – Interactive mystery show for children coming to Bradford libraries this Easter – Yahoo News. “Leeds Opera Festival has announced the tour of its new immersive experience, The Book of Eternity. The story is written by leading children’s mystery author Clare Povey.” … tour of “20 libraries across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Kirklees.”
• Brighton and Hove – Saltdean Library welcomes customers back to historic Lido building – Brighton and Hove Council. “The brand new library space benefits from a full restoration complete with comfortable furniture and a new layout, creating a bright and modern community hub everyone can enjoy.”

• Ceredigion – Councillors question plans to cut library services and close buildings – Cambrian News. “Councillors have questioned plans to scrap a school library service, halve the amount of mobile library vans, and move town libraries into shared buildings as Ceredigion County Council continues to try and find savings in its budget. Members of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard that the council wants to slash the libraries budget by £187,000 in a bid to balance the books.”
• Conwy – Conwy Council proposes slashing library opening hours – Rhyl Journal. ” could slash library opening hours by 25 per cent in a bid to save more money – following a proposed public consultation due to be rubber-stamped by cabinet next week.” … “The move would see a restructure with staff redundancies, but the reduced hours would mean Conwy clawing back £157,126 annually. But a council report has revealed that, if the cuts were made, no savings would be made until 2025/26 because of the cost of making redundancies and paying off staff.”
• Cornwall – Bodmin’s historic library reopens after £760k makeover – BBC. “A community interest company (CIC) has reopened an historic Bodmin Building. The Old Library has been closed for six months whilst a £760,000 renovation took place. IntoBodmin said it transformed the structure into a community and arts space that includes a cafe, co-working and events spaces and room hire for groups and local businesses.” [So, basically a modern library but without all those books – Ed.]
• Croydon – Croydon Council denies library closures are to do with paying off debt – East London Lines. “four out of 13 public libraries in Croydon are set to be closed within the next few months, but the council has denied that the reason for the closures has to do with paying off their £1.6bn debt. In a webinar held last week, Kristian Aspinall, Director of Culture and Community Safety said the libraries’ closure is “for the ability to spend more on people and services, and less on buildings” as opposed to a way of decreasing the debt.”
• Derby – New plan to keep Derby’s libraries open gets the green light – Derby Telegraph. “Derby’s Labour council leaders say their new “trust” plan will help ensure a better and more sustainable future for ten city libraries and save them from closure. Councillors have approved plans for all of the city’s 10 community-led libraries to be run by a single trust in the near future. The separate organisation, yet to be appointed, could either run the community libraries itself or establish another organisation to do so.”
• Glasgow – Glasgow’s Mitchell Library lets kids borrow instruments – Glasgow Times. “The library has teamed up with Music Broth, Scotland’s first musical instrument library, as part of the We Make Music Instrument Libraries project, Glasgow Life confirmed. The project is supported and workshops fully funded by the Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative and the Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG), aiming to increase access to musical instruments into libraries across Scotland.”
• Gloucestershire – People struggling to renew green bin collections told ‘council doesn’t have enough staff – go to the library or get kids to sort it’ – Gloucestershire Live. Council has insufficient trained staff to answer phoneline. At cabinet meeting: “There are lots of people who do not know how to use IT and one woman was asked to go to the library”
  • Stroud Library has a temporary new home – Punchline Gloucester. “A pop up library has opened in Five Valleys Shopping Centre following the sudden closure of Stroud Library. The town’s library closed with immediate effect following the discovery of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) in the building.”
• Greenwich – Dirtier streets and library cuts: Greenwich Council reveals plans to save £33.7m – Greenwich Wire. ” The council is in negotiations with Greenwich Leisure Limited, its contactor, and thinks it could save £1.05 million next year by closing sites (“co-locating services”) and cutting services. More details could emerge after April.”
• Guernsey – Guernsey’s Guille-Alles Library celebrates surge in visitors – ITV. “The library’s annual report recorded a significant increase in footfall, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels of 2019. There were around 162,000 visits to Guille-Alles last year – a 6.5% increase from 2022.”
• Hackney – Stoke Newington Library closing for refurbishment as part of £4.4m investment plan – Hackney Council. “Stoke Newington Library is set to temporarily close its doors to the public for a renovation project which includes repairs made to the roof and fabric of the community facility. The Council’s £4.4 million investment into the borough’s libraries is at the heart of Hackney’s new library strategy which aims to modernise the borough’s libraries and ensure they are flexible, innovative and inclusive spaces that cater to the needs of residents. Stoke Newington Library will close from Sunday 31 March for up to two years to accommodate the major capital works that are needed to repair the roof and fabric of the Grade 2 listed building which was built in 1892 and houses Stoke Newington’s World War One Memorial. “
• Highlands – Your views: Libraries in the Highlands and council’s £863k overspend on former employees – Inverness Courier. Letter from SLIC: “It’s no secret that Scotland’s libraries, along with the rest of our world-class culture sector, are currently embroiled in a perfect storm: budget pressures, reduced income generation, and rising costs have created a potent force for our services to contend with. That’s why we’ve written to councillors across the Highlands, ahead of final decisions being taken on 2024/25 public spending, to not only remind them of the vast benefits a thriving public library service can provide, but to highlight those who stand to lose the most if our services are cut even further – communities across the Highlands.”
• Hillingdon – Uxbridge Library protests planned as council decides on move that would cut move it to single floor – My London News. “The proposal will see the current library, which is spread over a purpose-built multi-storey building, moved onto a single floor. While the council has said that this will mean a ‘step-free experience’ allowing for better access, some residents have raised concerns that there could be a loss of space and therefore fewer books and services on offer.”
  • Hillingdon Council forced to leave chamber as public gallery erupts over Uxbridge Library decision – MyLondon. “The councillors present at the meeting, including leader Ian Edwards, seemed all too aware of the anger of those sitting in the audience. At one stage during Cllr Lavery’s speech, he mentioned that users of the library had been contacted by email about the move, which was met with indignation by many in the crowd. Indignation turned to fury when the decision was handed down – the library would move to the Civic Centre. The crowd interrupted into a cacophony of heckling. Chants of ‘shame on you’ could be heard rippling through the audience and as the leader attempted to bring order to proceedings, the fury only grew. The berated panel were forced to leave the chamber until order had been restored.”
  • Libraries, including Ruislip, launch free blood pressure monitor loan scheme – Harrow Online.
• Kirklees – Councillor accuses Kirklees Council of “betraying” volunteers who helped save community libraries – Huddersfield Hub. Volunteers libraries will have their funding removed. They “all have strong ‘Friends of’ groups and teams of volunteers and the council says the move would save £912,000 in 2025-26 if community groups can be found to take them on. In previous years when the Library Service came under pressure to cut staff, dozens of volunteers signed up to help fill the void. There are now 400 volunteers working in libraries across Kirklees. While the community libraries would be independently-run, they would still have access to the council’s stock of books and have “some management support.””
• Lambeth – Get protection from Measles with Lambeth Libraries – Love Lambeth. “Community catch-up clinics in Lambeth Libraries this half-term”
• Lancashire – Children to vote for their top reads as part of exciting award – Lancashire Council. “The Brilliant Book Award 2024 has been launched, marking its fifth year of nurturing love of reading by celebrating recently published stories for children aged six to seven years.”
• Leicester – Leicester libraries launch new app – Leicester Council. “The free ‘Leicester Libraries;’ app will make it easy and convenient for library members to check their accounts, renew and reserve books, or search an extensive catalogue of e-books, newspapers, magazines and audiobooks that all available to read online for free.” … “The new app has been developed with funding from LibraryOn, following a successful bid by Leicester City Council’s libraries service.”
• Merton – Cost of living events continue in Merton – Merton Council. “To date, over 2,500 Merton residents have attended twelve cost of living events in our borough: six were held in 2022 and a further six in 2023. At events, residents are invited to come and meet community organisations and council teams in our libraries and Merton Civic Centre for in-person, one-to-one support”
• Moray – NHS hearing aid battery pick-up point available in some Moray libraries – Moray Council. ” free service, offering up to two packs of size 13 and size 312 batteries for collection, is run by Moray Council in collaboration with NHS Grampian”
• North Northamptonshire – New Library: Oundle Library – Naple Sister Libraries. 141 public libraries in Europe now participating in the programme.
• North Somerset – Successful sale of the old Nailsea Library – North Somerset Council. “Sale of the building follows the library’s successful move to a nearby site on Colliers Walk, previously occupied by HSBC. The move means the library is now in a more accessible and energy efficient multi-functional space, which has already proven popular with the community. This replaces the old building, which could no longer meet the needs of local people or access legislation and would have cost around £1m for the council to bring to standard. “
• Nottingham – Nottingham library closures now expected amid council’s financial crisis – Nottingham Post. “The closure of some of Nottingham’s libraries is now expected as the city council continues to battle a financial crisis. The council’s leader says people are “not living in the real world” if they think enough savings will be made without closing facilities.” … “The review of the libraries is not yet defined, but if we think that we’re going to get more than a million pounds out of our libraries without closing some of them, then we’re not living in the real world. So that’s another thing that could be taken away”
  • Calls for volunteers to be able to run Nottingham libraries amid closure plan – Nottingham Post. Various responses about cuts including suggestions to cut senior officer salaries; volunteers; the fault being councils spending too much; it’s central government’s fault; spending too much on the news central library.

• Nottingham City Council reportedly consulting on keeping just three libraries open – Nottingham Post. “Nottingham City Council is reportedly planning to consult on keeping just three of its libraries open amid a multi-million pound hole in its budget. The leader of the authority has previously acknowledged that closing libraries will be inevitable to generate the savings required. One campaigner now claims that, at a monthly meeting with union representatives on Thursday (February 15), Councillor David Mellen said there would be a twelve-week consultation on whether to close 12 branch libraries. Of the 15 libraries operated by Nottingham City Council, it is claimed that the consultation could seek views on the closure of all of them apart from the new Central Library, the upcoming Sherwood Library and the Aspley Library. The meeting was attended by representatives from UNISON, GMB and Unite.”
• Portsmouth – Author adds the Sparkes to library reopening – Portsmouth Council. “Schoolchildren and award-winning author Ali Sparkes helped officially reopen a newly refurbished North End Library.” … “he main library floor has been re-carpeted, the wooden bookshelves re-stained, and new computer chairs added. The children’s library has been brightened up with new book boxes and there is new seating and tables for adults. A self-contained office ‘pod’ is also coming soon for meetings and calls, funded by Arts Council England’s Library Improvements Fund.”

• St Helens – St Helens Council criticised for job adverts after library closures – St Helens Star. “Across the borough’s remaining seven libraries, the council stated aims to provide a new library strategy with a “modern forward-thinking service”, and six jobs were advertised in some of these centres over the weekend.” Salaries of new posts are more than the running costs of individual closed libraries. “some residents called the post “disrespectful” and “insensitive”, while another described it as “utterly baffling”.
• Suffolk – Get moving to support Suffolk Libraries – Suffolk Libraries. “Suffolk Libraries is looking for families and individuals to take part in the Rotary Club’s Orwell Challenge in June and also has ten places up for grabs for this year’s Ipswich Half Marathon in September.”
  • Live at the Library returns! Suffolk Libraries announces two live music gigs – Suffolk Libraries.

• Tameside – Strum on Down to the Ukulele Loan Scheme Launch – Tameside Council. “hanks to a generous donation from the North West Ukulele Project, you can now borrow one of the instruments for free. Just like a book, you can have it one  for three weeks, and renew or return it to any Tameside library.”

• Warwickshire – Warwickshire Libraries’ Great Winter Get Together – Warwickshire Council. “There is a packed timetable with different activities and events taking place at libraries across the county every day. From author talks to advice sessions, craft activities to IT information and support. Along with activities for children and families, with jigsaws and games for all ages.”
• West Northamptonshire – Rare Roman bracelet and Iron Age axe head now on display to the public – Northampton Chronicle. “a new temporary exhibition which is touring around four libraries.”
• York – ‘Please don’t cut the funding for our libraries’ – Yahoo News. ” write in response to City of York Council’s proposal to cut £300,000 in each of the next two years from its funding contract with Explore library services (The Press online, January 17). Like many others I completely rely on my local branch library for internet access and printing documents. Because I use library services nearly every day, I joined the local library volunteers as a ‘thank you’. Library volunteers save library services £240k each year. We give up our valuable time freely because it is such an important service and invaluable to the local community.”
  • ‘Charge students council tax to save York libraries?’ – York Press / Letters. “Places without libraries die, they become soulless – what I do not understand is that the council is saying there is no money and yet we are a city with lots of student flats and the owners of those flats do not pay council taxes (they say that students are exempt) however the students still get full use of all facilities offered by the council.”
  • Firm that runs libraries in city warns against cuts of £600,000 – Yorkshire Post.
  • ‘Leave our libraries alone!’ – York library users speak out against cuts – Yahoo News. “If councillors do cut funding, she says, they will be ‘truly diminishing people’s lives’.” … ““It’s just such a happy place to be. And it’s always really busy, with things for different people. It’s a lifeline.””
  • York library service fears cuts could make them ‘financially unviable’ – Press. “The letter, sent to every city councillor in York and signed by Explore York chief executive Jenny Layfield on behalf of her board of directors, urged the authority to ‘exclude reductions in library services from your budget proposals’. The letter said the library service had already been hard hit by inflation and price hikes.” Staff have had pay rises lower than inflation. “But the letter has provoked a stinging response from the council’s Labour executive, which has accused Explore of showing ‘disregard for precarious council funding’.”

Editorial

And of course that cut, which is between one-quarter and three-eighths of total public library expenditure depending on if you count inflation, is not uniform. Some places, often the wealthiest, have been cut less and some others, often not the wealthiest, have been cut more.

Anyway, happy birthday to the Library Campaign which started 40 years ago to the date I am writing this. Thank you to Terry for letting me know. I had no idea. And, wow, 250 delegates.

“On 4 February 1984 250 delegates attended The Cuts Conference, organised by Sheffield City Libraries and held in the city’s Town Hall.  Professor John Stewart (Founder and Director of the Institute of  Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham) and Paul Foot (radical investigative journalist) were keynote speakers. Dissatisfaction with the Library Association’s cautious approach to opposing cuts in library expenditure resulted in the Conference voting to establish an independent and more political campaigning group. £200 was raised on the day with Paul Foot offering to donate the royalties of his latest book to the cause. Thus was The Library Campaign born. “

Terry Hanstock

And also thanks to Chris Hamilton, an ex Chief Librarian, who has also emailed in (the comments box on the website looks to be not working) thoughts of his own below:

“My minor niggle is the impression the public and many heads of service have that central government funds (or doesn’t fund) public libraries. Many many years ago when I was a new HoS I learned with some incredulity that ‘our’ bit of the central grant wasn’t discrete but bundled in with the bit for highways maintenance – and so we were effectively doomed from the get-go.

It’s just so important – IMHO – that everyone understands how public libraries are funded and focuses any campaigning on those who have the power (if not the cash) to make a difference. Realistically, I can’t see any prospect at all of local government or central government doing anything other than squeezing libraries ever harder. With social care and schools absolutely on their knees, it’s very hard to argue convincingly for libraries.

What would help is making libraries as efficient as possible and ensuring that everyone knows what they do, wherever they are – having one good clear universal offer. The demise of the library standards should have been fought tooth and nail, and just gave cash-strapped local authorities the green light to start hacking. I remember a Chief Exec saying just after that that he understood libraries were a statutory service “but not very statutory”.   

Along with my group of ex-Chiefs, I wonder why the heck the management of public libraries isn’t centralised under one body, applying one set of standards – instead of all the replication and duplication of structures, systems and procurement. There really is a whacking great saving to be made and an opportunity for good ideas and best practice to be shared rather than wheels being reinvented by successive managements up and down the country.

If we always do what we’ve always done … we’ll just sink without trace.

I get really depressed by the constant merry-go-round of new initiatives here and cutbacks there, with inexperience and politics over-riding realism and strategy. I love libraries. They aren’t complicated. They’re in danger of sinking under the weight of reviews while the crew debates how to arrange the shelves. It would be so good if CILIP and all the other players really thought outside the box and got their act together before it’s too late.

Chris Hamilton

Changes by local authority

• Bristol – Money found to cover temporary library shortages.
• Cardiff: Potential £479k cut: £35k cut, removing print newspapers/magazines. £84k cut to staff (to be replaced by volunteers). £52k cut, removing mobile library service. Cuts to library hours ranging from £308k to 0, including potential closure of several
• Highland – Reduction in mobile library service expected.
• Newcastle – Employment support co-location in Central Library.

National news

• Call for Speakers – Beyond the Horizon – CILIP North-East Conference – Monday 20th May 2024 (afternoon) – CILIP NE. “You could be involved with a new project, a different way of doing something, or just feel you’re already doing something great and think others would benefit from knowing about it. This is your opportunity to share something you’re excited about with other professionals, so you could talk about completed projects as well as work in progress.”
• Can ‘super libraries’ survive spending cuts? – BBC. Varied services at Woolwich Central Library, council budget cuts mean libraries seen as easy target, “expenditure on libraries has fallen by a quarter (£232.5m) since 2010.” [Plus inflation of 47% in same era = £329m hence actually 3/8ths – Ed]. “”Books and reading are always going to be central to what libraries do,” he says, but he adds there’s a growing recognition that “libraries are a great way of delivering different things”.” but budget cuts mean this is getting harder to do.
• CCN: council spending on libraries and culture reduces by nearly £500m – Room 151. “The research has found that in 2010/11 English councils budgeted to spend almost £1.6bn on library services, culture, heritage and tourism. However, authorities’ latest accounts show that £1.1bn was spent on these services in 2023/24, a £470m decrease from 14 years ago.”
• Celebrate books, reading, and libraries with Bedford Borough Libraries during Love Libraries Month – Bedford Council. “The month will feature author events for fiction lovers and family-friendly events for those with young children. Special Storytime sessions at Bedford Central and Kempston libraries, for under-fives, promise an engaging experience with stories, rhymes, themed activities, library hunts, and free sticker books. The beloved Bookstart Bear will also be making an appearance at some of these sessions.”
• Digital exclusion in the UK: Communications and Digital Committee report – House of Lords Library. “The committee found that the shift towards digital by default public services had not been accompanied by adequate support for those who struggled with digital access. It argued that libraries and communities had taken on additional responsibilities but had not been given sufficient resources or training.” … ” The government should build on existing examples [of digital inclusion hubs] in the UK, focusing on libraries and other local amenities.”
• Governance and History: The Direction of Public Libraries in the UK since the Second World War – Public Library Governance. “Without a clear and persuasive strategic direction, the future of the public library as the great public sphere institution it has proved itself to be in the past is in great jeopardy. The approaches to public library gov­ernance and the role of the public library in the UK are tracked and the various perspectives from government, practitioners and users presented. There is a lack of clarity and consensus regarding a desired role of the public library in the twen­ty-first century.”

• How a decade of austerity has squeezed council budgets in England – Guardian. “An exclusive Guardian analysis of 13 years of council data has detailed how local spending patterns have changed under austerity budgets. Between 2010-11 and 2022-23, net spending per person on cultural services was cut by 43% in real terms, on roads and transport spending by 40%, on housing by 35% and on planning and development by a third – with more cuts pencilled in for this year.”
• Innovation Gathering 2024 – Libraries Connected. Wednesday 6 March, 10am to 4pm, Birmingham. “The event is aimed at library staff in development and middle management roles but is open to anyone working in public libraries. We particularly welcome attendance from anyone who hasn’t attended a Libraries Connected event before and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, who have historically been under-represented at our events.”

“replace selected chairs in the Upper Camera with heritage-style chairs in keeping with the neoclassical style of the location, whilst significantly improving the comfort of our readers”.

Meanwhile in Oxford University, they’re going with nice new posh chairs

• Part of the Job: Patron-Perpetrated Sexual Harassment in UK Public Libraries – Public Library Quarterly. “Patron-perpetrated sexual harassment (PPSH) toward librarians is an under-researched area of sexual harassment studies and library studies. This study is the first on PPSH toward librarians in the United Kingdom and focuses on public librarians. 143 UK public librarians were surveyed about their experiences of PPSH over the past five years. Respondents had experienced 14 of the 16 sexual harassment behaviors in the survey, and 81.8% of respondents experienced at least one form of PPSH. Respondents’ age, gender, and ethnicity were also considered in relation to their experiences of PPSH. This study provides
  recommendations for the profession and future researchers”
• Tory council cuts see care homes, creches and libraries disappear from Britain – Mirror.
• The UK is dismantling its legacy of municipal splendour – Financial Times. “The UK government is now considering loosening the rules for allowing councils to sell off assets. This is bad news for everything from libraries to swimming pools, town halls to toilets. Since 2010, council assets have been sold off in attempt to fill a £15bn hole in central government funding. More than 800 public libraries, 1,000 swimming pools, over 200 playing fields, half of all magistrates courts and 1,000 public toilets have been closed. ”
• World Book Day charity sparks outrage after suggesting libraries don’t encourage children to read – Manchester Evening News. “comments from the charity have caused anger after it suggested that libraries aren’t a key factor in encouraging kids to read. Listing the ‘building elements’ which support a child to read for pleasure, it asked ‘which six are correct?’ and next to ‘going to the library’, it put a red cross.” … “following last week’s criticism, it has now been changed, with World Book Day describing it as ‘an unfortunate mistake’.”

International news

• Australia / Finland / Singapore – Playing in the “Third Place”: How Games and Play Are Transforming Public Libraries – Sage Journals. “Drawing on observation of library spaces and interviews with library staff in Australia, Finland, and Singapore (n = 27), we examine the myriad ways games and play are transforming the library: from its architectural design and furnishings to its daily rhythms, atmosphere, and acoustics.”
• China – Feature: China’s libraries go smarter to stock more books, engage more readers – China News. “Book lovers are attracted not only to the library’s architectural design which resembles a reading space under giant ginkgo trees, but also its abundant collection of books and smart services. With a total construction area of about 75,000 square meters, Beijing Library houses over 8 million books. The towering stacks on the library’s basement floor contribute to the massive book collection capacity, which is part of the largest single entity of automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) for books in China” Public libraries seeing increase in investment.
• New Zealand – How public libraries are aiding community engagement – RNZ.
• USA – Public libraries in the Richmond area are being reimagined – Axios. $18m upgrade “ At 25,000 square feet, the new branch is around two-thirds larger than the old Midlo Library. ” Includes “A digital media center; Outdoor reading garden, complete with an outdoor classroom for storytime; Outdoor musical sculptures for kids; Improved seating for lounging and reading; And meeting spaces, plus a large community meeting room.”
  • Alabama pulls out of American Library Association – WSFA. “The states public library service voted to end its membership with the ALA because some members say the discourse became a distraction.” … ” Opponents contend it promotes Marxism, discriminates against faith-based organizations, and supports keeping sexual content in libraries.”. Governor wants to “restrict funds for libraries that don’t adopt policies to require more parental supervision in libraries.”
  • A Practical Guide to Privacy in Libraries – ALA. Book. “Written in a highly practical manner, this book is essential reading for library and information professionals who need to understand and support privacy in the library setting and a useful reference for students and researchers in the field who need to understand this topic in practice. “
  • Do the Research: Conspiracy Theorists and Public Libraries – Georgia Library Quarterly. “Information literacy instruction is already a traditional offering at libraries and is of imminent importance at this moment as mainstream media shares disinformation to boost ratings and compete with fringe media. Protecting patrons from information disorder, whether in the form of programming or infographics that strengthen patrons’ analytical skills, is a noble cause for libraries who are primed for the task”
  • This Week in Libraries – Publishers Weekly. Alabama censorship fight: “libraries cannot stand in place of parents on deciding what content is suitable for minors.”, censorship moves in Georgia calling the ALA “Marxist”, similar in Tennessee. USA survey discovers “75% of parents do not believe in the necessity of diverse books”
  • Trauma, Book Bans, and Libraries: A Resource Guide for Library Workers, Library Supporters, and Beyond – Book Riot. “Finding a positive to emerge out of several years of book banning feels like grasping at sand. We have watched the First and Fourteenth Amendment Rights of people be squashed, sat by as some of the most underpaid and overworked public servants in the country be called inaccurate and dangerous names, and experienced a rise in christofascism and stochastic terrorism across public schools and libraries. None of these are good, and none of these point to a healthy or thriving democracy.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeenshire – Aberdeenshire Council pledges to keep libraries and pools open despite budget issues – Grampian Online. But cuts mean “everything is on the table”
• Bedford – Join in the celebration of books and reading at Love Libraries Month – Bedford Independent. ” a month-long free celebration of books, reading and all things library-related.”
• Bolton – New Bolton Library facilities accessible for all – Bolton Council. Changing Places toilet.
• Bracknell Forest – Open+ library service currently unavailable – Bracknell Forest Council. “We’ve had to carry out some extra work relating to the power cut on Saturday night/Sunday morning, which means the Open+ library service will be unavailable this evening.”
• Bristol – Bristol libraries recruitment freeze finally lifted after more than 300 temporary closures in two months – Bristol Post. “branches continue to shut their doors in the meantime as the search for new employees begins, prompting renewed criticism from opposition councillors. There have been more than 300 full or part-day closures over the last two months, affecting 26 of Bristol’s 27 libraries at least once, the only exception being the main Central one.”
• Cardiff – Consultation on Cardiff Council’s 2024/25 Budget – Cardiff Council. Proposed £35k cut, removing print newspapers/magazines. £84k cut to staff (to be replaced by volunteers). £52k cut, removing the mobile library services. Cuts to library hours ranging from £308k to 0, including potential closure of several.
• Central Befordshire – Dunstable leisure centre and library remain closed after ‘flooding incident’ – Luton Today. ” “The flooding incident at the Dunstable Centre was caused by a pool plant issue which occurred overnight. Everyone Active, our Leisure Operator, has a team on site assessing the extent of the damage and completing the necessary repairs.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – Cheshire West: Fancy dress swaps return for World Book Day – Chester Standard. ““Many of our libraries will be accepting donations of fancy dress in February and before World Book Day itself.  These will then be made available as soon as possible for anyone who would like a costume. What better way to share the fun, so you can play your part to save money and help with the climate emergency.””
• Croydon – Four Croydon Council libraries could close under new proposals – Local Guardian. “The council states the closure is based on the poor post-Covid slump in visitation as well as the overall costs of running all 13 centres in the borough” … Council says “Essentially we’ve got a failing service, it’s not delivering what it should be delivering despite the best efforts of our staff to make the best of a difficult situation.””
• East Dunbartonshire – Learn a language in 2024 with EDLC Libraries – East Dunbartonshire Council. ” Transparent Language Online for Libraries, a complete language-learning system with courses and lessons designed to build listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.”
• Edinburgh – City council launches Future Libraries engagement consultation – North Edinburgh News.
  • Why we must defend and support our libraries – Royal Society of Edinburgh. “For too long our vital libraries and their staff get by from year to year, pleased when they are fortunate enough to survive another round of cuts. This is not how we grow and thrive as a nation – we must end this cycle and treat libraries as the critical and social infrastructure they are while they continue supporting key agendas and sustainable development goals such as reducing poverty, increasing equality and wellbeing, and improving education. They are where community resilience is strengthened for all, and any true long-term political thinking must have them at its heart.”
• Hampshire – Time to Talk Day: Let’s ‘Chat About’ mental health – Hampshire Council. “Hampshire County Council is taking the opportunity of Time to Talk Day (1 February 2024) to remind residents about its Chat About scheme in libraries, which aims to help people connect with others to alleviate loneliness and improve wellbeing”
• Haringey – Highgate Library set to re-open following major refurbishment works – Haringey Council. New lift and accessible toilet, furniture, decoration and floorplan. Highgate Library reopens after year-long refurbishment – Ham and High. – Haringey Council says it is ‘not going to be closing our libraries’ – Haringey Community Press.
  • Haringey Council cuts to library services criticised – Times series. “Haringey Council is cutting £700,000 from its libraries budget in the year from April, with plans to reduce opening hours across branch libraries at Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, Highgate, Muswell Hill, St Ann’s, Stroud Green and Harringay.” … “Plans for the following year would move libraries to a ‘self-service’ model, with users given a keycard to enter library buildings, professional librarians replaced with volunteers, no toilet access without staff present and no CCTV monitoring.”
• Highlands – ‘It would be a tragedy if they stopped or reduced it’: Highland communities fear for future of mobile library service – Press and Journal. “Six of the ageing fleet of seven vehicles need to be replaced.”
• Kensington and Chelsea – Librarians endure more abuse than any other council staff, says report – London News Online. “Library workers in Kensington and Chelsea are shouted at and threatened by customers ‘on a daily basis’, a report has found. Analysis of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request found library employees lodged the most reports citing abuse against them of all council staff between January 2018 and January 2024. Some 37 per cent of recorded incidents – which range from verbal abuse to harassment, intimidation and discrimination – came from libraries.”
• Kent – We visited Bearsted and Madginford Libraries near Maidstone to see how popular they are – Kent Online. “For the first hour, nobody came into the building. A second member of staff visited, said hello to me and then tested out the fire alarm.” … “During the three hours I was there, I’d say only six people popped in. Two didn’t use the services available and everyone else spent a maximum of five minutes inside. I also want to mention that there were no toilet facilities,” But the other library is far more busy.
• Leicester – Leicester libraries to host exhibitions of mechanical polar bear – BBC. “Inka will be part of a collection from Leicester Museums which aims to bring natural history artefacts closer to city communities.”
• Manchester – Manchester libraries experience post-pandemic rise in visitors – Mancunian Matters. 2023 figures stronger than 2022 but 2019 (pre-pandemic) figures not shown.
• North Northamptonshire – Update on Kettering Library roof project – North Northants Council. “this is an extremely complex project and we want to make sure we are doing it right to ensure the building is usable for another 120 years. The costs have now been approved and the funds set aside”
• Oldham – Oldham Library asks for help solving ‘mystery’ from archives – Oldham Times. ““Looking at the t in Octo 15th 04, the ‘ar’ in Dear and the S in Sir, it seems to say “Dear Sir, The Stare List does not apply to 4 stare mills and no addition should be made. Yours Truly, John Taylor” “What on earth is a Stare List or a stare mill? “
• Reading – Reading Library App Launched – Reading Council. “The Library App launched by Reading Borough Council and developed by Solus gives residents the ability to reserve or renew books remotely, enabling users to manage their library accounts conveniently from their devices.”
• Sheffield – Worries about future of Sheffield libraries as funding issues bite – Star. “Concerns over the future of Sheffield volunteer-run libraries have been raised as £418,000 of funding is agreed for the next two years.” … “A  report to Sheffield City Council’s communities, parks and leisure committee (January 29) said that 16 city libraries in total are run by volunteers. The council covers running costs for the premises and library services provided by five co-delivered libraries and 11 associate libraries receive a grant from the council.” … “The committee approved a package of support for the next two years for volunteer-run libraries. A fund totalling £135,700 for 2024/5 and 2025/26 will be set up to support associate libraries. A separate package of support will be established to help all of the volunteer-run libraries. Together, the grant and support package will be worth £209,000 for each of the two years.”
• Somerset – Ditch the disposables and discover reusable personal care products – Somerset Council. “A series of free drop-in events for residents will be held in February for anyone interested in reusable period products, nappies or adult continence items. Switching to reusables not only reduces rubbish, but it cuts plastic waste and are often cheaper compared to buying single use items. The events are in partnership with Suez Recycling and Recovery UK and Moonie, a company that produces eco-friendly products.”
• Southwark – Library named after first black BBC radio producer – BBC. “The Una Marson Library was opened by Southwark Council as part of the redevelopment of the Aylesbury area – once home to one of Europe’s biggest housing estates.”
• St Helens – Community gather at St Helens libraries which have closed for good – St Helens Star. “gutted and disgruntled residents came out to say a final farewell to the closing libraries and staff last week.” … “”The library has been here for 50 years and it’s been used by families, children, and elderly people. Now, it’s another service taken away from them and I think it’s diabolical that they are closing.””
• Suffolk – Young Reporter Beccles Library’s Renovations Emily Lowther SJLHS – Eastern Daily Press. “The work has meant so much to us. The roof no longer leaks, the windows do not rattle and let in draughts, and the internal lighting and decorating has provided us with a warm and welcoming space.”. Renovations “The work has meant so much to us. The roof no longer leaks, the windows do not rattle and let in draughts, and the internal lighting and decorating has provided us with a warm and welcoming space.””
  • Libraries to host Proud Patches events for LGBT+ History Month – Suffolk Libraries. “Hosting events like this to commemorate LGBTQ+ History Month are vital for keeping the LGBTQ+ community in the public eye and showing we’re supporting them”
  • Make a Difference with a Daisy – our new fundraising campaign – Suffolk Libraries. “The aim is to create a giant daisy chain installation, featuring hundreds of individual metal daisies representing the joined-up network of libraries and the Suffolk communities they connect.”
  • ‘Time to Talk’ – and find out more about Suffolk Libraries’ wellbeing services – Suffolk Libraries. “launched a new Wellbeing Kiosk in Stowmarket Library to mark Time to Talk Day and to highlight the many ways the county’s library service can support people’s wellbeing and mental health.”
• Surrey – Cost of living: Thousands attend council’s warm welcome sessions – BBC. “More than 16,000 residents have attended “warm welcome” venues in Surrey which are proving a “lifeline” this winter, the council has said. The free hubs opened in November in a range of venues including libraries, village halls and other community spaces.”
  • New transformative Super Access service officially launches at Horley library – Sussex World. Staff-less hours introduced.
• Telford and Wrekin – Drop-in session to discuss future of Newport’s library once town council takes over – Shropshire Star. “In April, Newport Library in the town’s High Street will become the responsibility of Newport Town Council, as Telford & Wrekin Council withdraws from the service. Within the last decade, the management of five of Telford and Wrekin’s libraries – Donnington, Stirchley, Dawley, Madeley and Hadley – has been transferred to town councils and other community partners.”
• Wandsworth – Wandsworth Town Library celebrates beating heart of Wandsworth – Wandsworth Council. “The large new Wandsworth Town Library is one of two brand new libraries recently completed alongside Northcote Library; while others have had upgrades in recent times, with York Gardens, Tooting and Putney libraries all getting new investment.”
• Warwickshire – Share your views about Warwickshire Libraries in new customer satisfaction survey – Warwickshire Council. “The online customer satisfaction survey asks residents to share how often they visit libraries, whether they have a library membership, and which library services they find the most useful and valuable to support their needs as a library customer. The survey also provides the opportunity for residents to share feedback and suggestions about how Warwickshire County Council’s library services could be improved in the future.”
• Worcestershire – Hagley Library to close for improvement works – Worcestershire Council. “The closure will allow essential building work to be carried out to improve the toilet facilities at the library, making them accessible for all customers and to provide baby changing facilities. The work is jointly funded by Worcestershire County Council and Hagley Parish Council, both collaborating closely on the improvements to the library.”
  • Libraries Unlocked is coming to St John’s Library – Worcestershire Council. Staff-less technology.
• York – Budget cuts could see some York libraries forced to close – Lib Dems – The Wing. “York’s ruling Labour administration say they want to trim £300,000 from the library service’s budget next year, followed by another £300,000 the year after” … “The contract, signed in 2019, is theoretically due to run until 2034 – meaning that, under the proposals, the city’s library service could potentially lose £5.7 million under the remaining ten-year lifetime of its funding contract when compared to the funding it would have received were there to be no cuts.”

Editorial

The Independent Review of English Public Libraries is a surprisingly good piece of work. I was kind of expecting suggestions of more volunteers and opening up more cafes in order to fund libraries and the depressingly common other uninformed rubbish. But, you know, I find it hard to criticise any of the recommendations. Even the one on volunteers makes sense considering where we are now. A decade ago of course I’d be spitting acid but there are so many unpaid workers now, it would seem churlish not to wish for them to be better supported. The massive unspoken recommendation, which I am sure everyone had in their minds but, well, with this government is impossible, is to actually properly fund the sector. Or, at least not to cut it further. But, for that, we will have to wait for another government, and another review.

There’s the now depressingly frequent round of council library cuts announced in the last week, with Kent’s potentially huge 33-library cut leading the pack. Fascinatingly, for those of us who have followed the establishment of library trusts, there is the rarely seen case in York of a library service refusing to accept a cut. That would be impossible in a normal council-run service but York Explore is pointing out it has a contract and such a cut would require agreement from themselves. Makes you fancy having a trust in your area too doesn’t it?

Mind you, it’s great to see yet more refurbishments finally coming to fruition. Bolton looks rather snazzy and one hopes Saltdean will do so as well. So much for the physical. Over on the digital side of things, I hope I am not along in finding it amusing amusing that the LibraryOn team have decided to run a day on digital ideas in libraries physically in London, the most expensive city for most of the country to get to, for £20 each, and for only four people per organisation, rather than, ooh I don’t know, digitally when there would be no such limits. Perhaps they are afraid of being hacked.

Changes by local authority

• Bolton – Refurbished Central Library will reopen in late January.
• Brighton and Hove – Saltdean will reopen in February after £7m refurbishment.
• Kent – Up to one-third of libraries may be passed to smaller councils etc.
• Stoke on Trent – £184k cut, 4 FTE staff to be lost, hours cut.
• Suffolk – Stoke Community Library will move location inside school
• Surrey – Staffless hours introduced, with the first being in Horley and then in other libraries.
• Swansea – £179k staff cut
• York – £300k cut, being fought by York Explore.

National news

• British Library starts restoring services online after hack – BBC. “It is the first significant step in the complete restoration of services for those using the UK’s largest library. But the catalogue will just be available in a “read-only” format.” see also The British Library hack is a national outrage – and the Government must pay to save it – Standard.

• Dagger in the Library nominations – Crime Writers’ Association. “The Dagger in the Library is awarded to a UK crime writer every year. This year the names of nominated authors have been supplied by libraries and borrowers nationwide. All you need to do from 5 January 2024 is vote for which writer you think should win the Dagger in the Library. Each library in Britain or the Republic of Ireland has three votes and any person working there can vote – staff or volunteer.”
• The Guardian view on the future of libraries: an old question of human dignity in a new form – Guardian. “A cyber-attack on the British Library has shown how vulnerable digital archives are. It has reinforced the value of physical books and librarians” … “online access is vulnerable to everything from wars and hostile regimes to power outages. So, too, are buildings filled with books, and people to track them down. To keep their millennia-old place as bastions of civilisation, both grand scholarly institutions and humble community libraries must be financially supported to continue offering both.”

• The impact of Scotland’s libraries – Scottish Book Trust. “Scottish Book Trust is undertaking independent research into the value and impact of public and school libraries in Scotland in partnership with the National Library of Scotland (NLS), the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS)”
• Independent Review to guide libraries strategy in 2024 – DCMS. Review will “inform new government strategy on libraries” and annual cross-government round-table meetings to address library challenges. Recommendations:

1. The establishment of a national data hub to better evidence the role libraries play in our society
2. A national branding campaign to raise awareness of our libraries
3. The closer involvement of the British Library
4. An expanded library membership
5. A stronger volunteer network 
6. The creation of a Libraries Minister and a more joined-up approach within government 
7. The establishment of a Libraries Laureate
8. A change to the timing of Libraries Week to better involve politicians nationally

• See also Review finds libraries in England suffer ‘lack of recognition’ from government – Guardian. ” the “underlying issue for the sector”, Hunter said, is “under-investment in the public library network, the result of successive cuts to council budgets, inflation and rising demand for other statutory services such as social care.” and Libraries Connected responds to Baroness Sanderson’s independent review of English public libraries – Libraries Connected and The Reading Agency welcomes Baroness Sanderson’s Public Libraries Review – Reading Agency. “We particularly welcome the recommendation to offer automatic enrolment to children across the UK, many of whom access the power of reading for the first time through public libraries”

“The Library Campaign is seldom super-excited by government reviews of libraries. More money would solve a lot of their problems. However, it’s better that they appear somewhere on the national agenda
than not. (England only, though). In this political climate, Liz Sanderson knew better than to ask for proper funding. But her report certainly pinpoints plenty of underlying issues worth getting on with. She notes that some have come up in previous reviews. She’s right to point this out. Her summary, to nobody’s surprise, is that the core problem is not enough awareness of what libraries do – among central government, local councils, the public and even the library sector itself. Plenty to do, then.  But it won’t be cost-free.”

Library Campaign

• ‘The Libraries Gave Us Power’: the birth of the public library in Wales – Nation Cymru. “In 1861, Cardiff’s first free library available to the general public, opened in a room above the entrance to the Royal Arcade (pictured) on St Mary’s Street.  It would be paid for by voluntary subscriptions, It was an immediate hit, wildly popular and oversubscribed, so much so, that it soon had to move across the road to bigger premises”
• Library under attack – Khrono. Long translatable article from Norwegian site for higher education covers the British Library hack and public library funding cuts in the UK.
• Majority of bids to save libraries, pubs and village halls rejected by Tory scheme – Mirror. “Seven out of 10 requests to save libraries, pubs and village halls have been rejected by a flagship Tory scheme. Under the Community Ownership Fund, locals can bid for Government cash to protect much-loved assets from being lost or taken over”
• Michael Morpurgo backs call to ensure poorer children have access to books – Guardian. “Library closures by local authorities were particularly likely to affect disadvantaged families, according to Morpurgo, by closing off a vital source of access to books. “We should never, ever, in this country close down a library again,” he said. “I live in the middle of Devon, where the nearest library is a long way away, we’re talking about a 35-minute drive if you have a car and a lot of people haven’t. There’s no local bookshop, even if you had the money. The library is the last lifeline to reading.””
• Press play: a playground of digital ideas – LibraryOn. Friday 1 March, 10am – 4pm, British Library, London. £20 plus booking fee. For “People who work in libraries such as digital leads, managers, and Heads of Service who oversee or deliver digital programmes. ”
• Public Libraries Boost – GLL Awarded Gold Standard By Investors in People – GLL. “Achieving Gold puts GLL in the top 15% of IiP accredited organisations. ” … “As part of the assessment for Gold standard, all GLL staff were surveyed this autumn and 200 staff completed face to face interviews. “
• Seeing libraries differently with the RNIB – CILIPS.
• UK Libraries Achieve Record-Breaking Circulation of Digital Media in 2023 – Overdrive (press release). “Readers throughout the UK borrowed 16.5 million ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines from public libraries using OverDrive and Libby, a 21 percent increase year over year, outpacing the OverDrive global network’s growth of 19 percent.” … “Since 2021, UK public libraries have seen a 34 percent increase in ebook and audiobook checkouts.”

International news

• Canada – ‘More is more’: Librarians propose provincewide digital library – Orillia Matters. “Librarians are done keeping quiet. Speaking to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs for pre-budget consultations in Hamilton this week, stakeholders across Ontario called for a digital public library — envisioned as a provincewide online resource for job training, language upskilling, tutoring and homework help, and health information. To make it a reality, librarians asked for $15 million [£8.7m] in the upcoming Tory budget, expected to be released before the end of March. They made a similar request last year.”
  • Calgary libraries neared pre-pandemic visitation in 2023, number of items circulated sets new highs – Livewire Calgary. ” the library added 150,000 members over the year—exceeding the number of members added when CPL opened the new Central Library in 2018, and the Seton Library in 2019.” … “Approximately 55 per cent of Calgarians have a library card, and during 2023, the system had 750,000 active users.”. Four new libraries planned.

• New Zealand – Page-turning fun at libraries this summer – Sun Live. “The programme has three challenges – one for mini readers aged 0-4, one for readers aged 5-10 and one for tween/teen readers aged 11-18.” … “Ages 0-10 will get a certificate, a special prize book to keep, and an invitation to a family party event. Ages 11-18 will get a $20 Whitcoulls [Kind of like WH Smith – Ed.] voucher. And everyone who comes in to tell TCC library staff about their book for the first time gets a swimming pool pass.”
  • How public libraries are aiding community engagement – RNZ. “Hindi was the seventh most borrowed non-English language title at Wellington City Library in 2023 and the third most borrowed Asian language after Mandarin and Japanese. The library also offers books in Tamil, Punjabi, Gujarati, Sinhalese, Arabic and Korean. Miller says Wellington’s new central library, Te Matapihi, will have a dedicated section for World Languages.”

• Singapore – Singapore’s Central Public Library reopens, with lepak corner, biodiversity discoveries, immersive AI and more – Connected to India. “At the Singapore Alcove, patrons can generate a personalised QR code, which they can scan to interact with the content in various zones. This includes exploring stories on recreational practices in Singapore over time, as told through digital storybooks, artefact displays and interactive elements.”

• USA – No further budget cuts coming to New York City libraries – CBS. “The three library systems had planned to make up cuts by closing libraries on Saturdays and reducing hours on weekdays. CBS New York’s” 5% cut cancelled. Mayor says “libraries are a lifeline to communities”.
  • The L.A. Public Library is getting into book publishing. Why it makes total sense – Los Angeles Times. Publisher bought by library service. “Angel City Press at the Los Angeles Public Library.” … “In 2016, the New York Public Library launched its own imprint that publishes five books a year, celebrating all that libraries do for New Yorkers.”
  • This Week In Libraries – Publishers Weekly. Censorship, attempts at political control.
  • ‘Obscene’ libraries bill gets a party line vault to the House floor – Boise State Public Radio. “The measure would force public and private libraries alike to segregate any book deemed offensive by a single patron upon written request.”… Library says it “would have to completely bar anyone under 18 from accessing the top floor of his library.”
  • Western N.Y. libraries offer NASA backpacks for space exploration amid eclipse interest – Spectrum Local News. “Backpacks include telescope, books, other space exploration objects”

Local news by authority

• Bolton – Bolton Library prepares to open to public next week – Bolton News. “The library has been closed since September 2022 for a £3.7 million refurbishment. Images previously released by Bolton Council show the spectacular effect the works have had on the floors, before shelves, books and library equipment have been reinstalled. The £3.7m works have been taking place over this year and much of last and are intended to form a key part of the town centre’s cultural offering.”
• Bolton Library reopens after multi-million-pound refurbishment – Bolton News. “£4 million refurbishment made possible by a bid to the Towns Fund.” … “There is a cafe, a ‘Build a Business’ section, a children’s section in three areas for children of different ages, a mezzanine for use by different groups and much, much more.”
• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – Library still has no reopening date nearly two months after closing – Yahoo. “As reported, BCP Council said it is in discussions with the landlord of the building to get it back open, but an exact opening date is still unknown.”
• Bradford – Bingley Library needs security due to anti-social behaviour – Telegraph and Argus. “And this security at Bingley Library is costing taxpayers around £700 a week, a new report has revealed.”
  • Question over self service kiosks at Bradford’s libraries – Telegraph and Argus. Conservative councillor worries that ” “People go to libraries not just to get books, but to speak to people. They want to interact with people.”. Libraries manager says ““Some people just want to pick up a book and be in and out. For other people who want more interaction there will still be staff there to talk to.””

• Brighton and Hove – New and improved Saltdean library set to return to Saltdean Lido after refurbishment – Brighton and Hove Council. “Our libraries service is delighted to welcome customers back to the fantastic Saltdean Lido building after 2 years of operating from a temporary cabin with a smaller selection of stock. Saltdean residents can look forward to a lighter, brighter library space, updated to be fresh and modern, yet beautifully in-keeping with the building’s iconic listed status.” … “The restoration work begun in 2022 following major grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£4.2m) and Historic England (£215,000) – supported by years of additional fundraising by the local community and £2.5 million from Brighton & Hove City Council.”
• Burnley – Burnley libraries given £88k boost for loneliness project – Lancashire Telegraph. “The grant is from the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, which will see £30 million shared across 27 disadvantaged areas in England.”
• Calderdale – Have your say on what books are available at Calderdale’s libraries – Halifax Courier. ” library service is updating its stock management policy, which states how books, electronic and other resources should be acquired, managed and made available.”
• Cheshire East – Knutsford Town Council sets aside £100k to help keep services afloat – Knutsford Guardian. “Cash-strapped Cheshire East is currently reviewing the way it provides a number of services – including leisure, green space maintenance and libraries – and asking town councils across the borough for support.”
• Cornwall – Mobile library back on the road in the Valley – Tavistock Today. “This comes as it was announced in autumn of last year that the Devon mobile library service will be axed at the end of February”
• Cumberland – Cumberland launch brand new Small Electricals Recycling Project – Cumberland Council. “The project will see new recycling bins placed in key locations around the community; across 26 local libraries and sports facilities, with the aim to increase to 41 locations in 2024, making recycling small electrical items easier for the local communities, and reminding residents that anything with a plug, cable or battery can be recycled. “

“Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from the relevant Minister on Welsh Government support for public library services? I’ve been very concerned at the moment that Denbighshire County Council are proposing to cut library opening hours. They initially proposed a cut of 50 per cent. They’re now proposing a cut of 40 per cent, after there was a huge public outcry in response to the initial consultation. Now, we know that libraries are about much more than books these days. They’re places of lifelong learning and education, lots of people go there to enjoy the IT facilities as well, which they might not have at home, and, of course, they also promote local language and culture. So, this is a really important issue for my constituents. I appreciate that local authorities have difficult choices to make given the pressures on their budgets, but other local authorities are not proposing to cut their library services in half by asking them to close their doors for 50 per cent of the time. So, I think it is about time that the Welsh Government had some minimum standards required of our libraries in terms of opening hours, and I would appreciate it if a Minister could bring forward a statement on that.”

Denbighshire – Darren Millar MS (Conservative) in Senedd.

• Denbighshire – Council urged to pause controversial plans to slash library opening times – North Wales Live. “A public consultation before the cabinet decision garnered 4,500 responses, and revealed 90% of residents strongly disagreed with the then-proposals. Now a special committee has asked cabinet to postpone the decision until alternative funding sources have been identified, including private investment and grants.”

• Devon – Easy booking system for conference space at Exeter Central Library – Exeter Council. “An easy online booking system for over 100 quality meeting and conference spaces in libraries around Devon has been launched by Libraries Unlimited. The charity, which runs libraries across the area, has developed a new platform which gives video tours and shows photos and floorplans of its popular bookable spaces.” … “The new booking system is grant funded through the Library On programme, managed by the British Library and supported by Arts Council England using public funds.”

• Edinburgh – Edinburgh Libraries offer free online access – without a library card – Edinburgh Reporter. “This New Year you can get free instant access to Edinburgh Libraries Libby service without a library card.”
• Essex – New study looks at success of Harwich Library Memory Café – Essex Council. “Titled ‘How co-production impacts integrated care design and transformation: Library Memory Café’, the study looks at what can be learned from the success of the regular event”
• Fife – OnFife libraries and other venues to close for one day – Central Fife Times. Staff development day: “Our staff are spread over around 40 venues across the whole of Fife and this is the first opportunity we’ve had since 2018 to bring everyone together. “
• Hertfordshire – High Sheriff enjoys visits to five Dacorum libraries – Hemel Today. “Hemel is the only library in Hertfordshire to process visa applications with over 80 applications being made every week, and Kings Langley collect old pairs of spectacles for charity and offer a monthly hearing check up.”
• Kent – Opinion: Libraries aren’t old fashioned or nostalgic but a lifeline for so many – Kent Online / Opinion. “Liberal Democrat opposition group leader, Cllr Antony Hook, said libraries are “essential” community resources, and I couldn’t agree more.”
  • ‘One-third’ of Kent libraries could be sold to community organisations such as parish councils, says county council – Isle of Thanet News. “Cash-strapped Kent County Council’s deputy leader Peter Oakford said the disposals could come in the 2025-26 budget. Cllr Oakford claimed Kent has “far too many libraries” compared to neighbouring authorities.” … “According to one well-placed source, one-third of the libraries in Kent could be affected but the overall anticipated saving is not yet know” … “Cllr Oakford told the policy and resources cabinet committee on Wednesday (January 17) libraries could be “sold or disposed of” to local community organisations such as parish councils.”

• North Yorkshire – Yorkshire libraries unveil BFI replay: Free streaming access to 60 years of film and TV history on offer – Yorkshire Post. “Public libraries now have access to the British Film Institute (BFI) Replay service, which features approximately 100,000 digitised videos and television programmes.”
• Northern Ireland – Fund the Libraries in Northern Ireland – My uplift. Petition. “Stop the real terms cut in funding of our libraries.” … “Libraries are vital public services for our communities to come together and learn in NI. However, funding has been cut in real terms by almost £20 million pounds over the past decade. The financial situation is so dire that there is no budget to buy books and libraries have had to reduce opening hours. It’s time for the government to fund our libraries properly”
• Nottingham – New Nottingham Central Library gets over 20,000 visits in first month – Nottingham Post. “Nottingham City Council now says the new library is more popular than expected, but the authority was unable to reassure people that its portfolio of older libraries will be protected amid a £53 million gap in its budget for the upcoming financial year.”
• Portsmouth – Two quirky electric Tuk-Tuks to become mobile libraries in Portsmouth – The News. £100k ACE grant. “Our plan is to use [the tuk-tuks] in high street settings and parks, working with other council partners as well to promote all our services. It’s got special shelving so we can put on displays or we can do book shelving or display leaflets – it’s sustainable and environmentally friendly.””
• Reading – New Reading library plans given go ahead – BBC. “Reading Central Library has been located in King’s Road for nearly 40 years since it was opened back in 1985. The library’s collection and its facilities will be moved to the council offices in Bridge Street as part of a £8.6m project.”

• Somerset – Meeting to discuss Friends of Ilminster Library’s re-establishment – Chard and Ilminster News. “The aim of the group is to support fundraising initiatives, recruitment of volunteers, and deliver additional programmes of event”
  • Chard and Ilminster libraries join ‘Wrap Up Warm’ scheme – Chard and Ilminster News. ““The scheme is proving extremely popular, so if you have a coat that is no longer needed (adult or children’s), please do consider donating it to our scheme by taking it to either library – thank you.””
• Stoke on Trent – Council to slash Stoke-on-Trent library opening hours and staff numbers – Stoke Sentinel. Cuts “will be achieved by a reduction of 4 FTE equivalent Library Assistants and 1 FTE Team Leader post.” Lunchtime closures. “. One of three Team Leaders has recently resigned providing the option to restructure the team with only two Team Leaders managing the six Libraries”
• Suffolk – Stoke Community Library, inside Stoke High School in Ipswich, gears up for short-distance move – Suffolk News. “Stoke Community Library, inside Stoke High School in Maidenhall Approach, will shift from one side of its current building to the other on January 31. This will see it take up a slightly larger space – not too far away from where it now sits.”
  • Suffolk Libraries to hold ‘Power of Libraries’ conference for schools – Suffolk Libraries.
• Surrey – Surrey County Council to launch ‘super access libraries’ – BBC. “Surrey County Council is to launch “super access libraries” later this year, which will increase opening times beyond staffed hours. The programme will first be introduced in Horley, before second and third phase rollouts across the county. The council says the move will open up Horley library for an extra 46.5 hours per week. Anyone over the age of 16 who is a library member will be able to enter when it is unstaffed.”
• Swansea – Schools and libraries face cuts in Swansea as council plans to hike fees to meet budget pressures – Wales Online. “£179,000 reduction in library staff costs,”
• West Dunbartonshire – Balloch Library campaigners hope to take battle to court – Daily Record. “Campaigners fighting against the relocation of Balloch Library are set to launch a judicial review against the move.”
• Westmorland and Furness – Kents Bank train station officially opens unique library – Westmorland Gazette. “Its ‘Railway Library’ is home to more than 3,000 titles devoted to the topic and is said to be the only publicly accessible library in the UK at a train station dedicated to the subject.”
• West Sussex – Family pay tribute to ‘oldest librarian in Sussex’ – Argus. “Anne Moyle worked in Burgess Hill Library for 40 years from 1982 until 2022 when she was 86.” … ““Independence, supporting the community and doing the right thing were really important to her. Even in grandma’s last few days she was really worried about getting a library fine so she insisted my dad left her bed and handed these books back.”
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Royal Borough’s library service partners with National Careers Service to offer employment advice and support – Windsor and Maidenhead Council. “Information and advice is available for jobseekers in the borough thanks to a partnership between the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s library service and the National Careers Service.”
• Worcestershire – Calls for police station in St John’s Library – Worcester News. “the library “has vacant rooms, which are often not used”. “It could be income for the library, increase footfall and provide safety and security when the library is unstaffed under the proposals for Libraries Unlocked. It would be a win-win for St John’s.”
• York – They’ve had 10 great years – but York’s libraries need your support – York Press. “You could show your support by becoming a community member – you will get regular updates from Explore and the chance to influence key decisions. Or you might share your skills. Volunteers contributed nearly 19,000 hours last year (equivalent to £250,000 of staff time) and play a crucial role in supporting us to do more. Or you could consider joining our board. We will be recruiting for three new directors in 2024 and we are keen to bring in people with different backgrounds and experience. Most urgent is our need for money. ”
  • Lib Dems launch petition against proposed library cuts – Yahoo News. “The Labour-run council is proposing to reduce the authority’s funding for Explore York, which runs the city’s libraries and archive service, by £300,000 a year for two years. Explore York’s directors say it has a 15-year contract with the council that does not allow councillors to reduce the funding unilaterally.  A statement issued on behalf of the directors repeated a pledge not to close any library. Now  Cllr Andrew Hollyer, the Lib Dems’ prospective parliamentary candidate for  York Outer, has launched a petition calling on the council to rethink its proposals.”