Ian Anstice

Editorial

The quote for this post is from a US librarian who argues that faced with smaller budgets, libraries are naturally going to be cut unless they find different funding streams.  The argument is most definitely not that of privatisation or outsourcing but rather of in-house entrepreneurial skill: to look for opportunities to expand libraries into activities that provide more funding.  The challenge here of course is in doing this while not alienating the core services of the library. As council services, public libraries do not have the luxury of ditching their clientele in order to try something new.

However, it’s not like we have any choice but to change. Derby has announced today that it’s likely to close libraries and other “discretionary” services.  OK, we know libraries are statutory, not discretionary, but that hardly seems to matter in this age of look-the-other-way libraries ministers.  In such an environment, it’s incumbent on all of us to look at ways of saving money and of making money.  It’s also important that each library authority looks to the future and develops an escape route (in quieter times, this would have been called a “roadmap”) to where it wants to be.  The State of Victoria’s strategy has been recommended to me by none other than Rachel Van Riel (of Opening the Book) as the best she’s seen so I recommend interested librarians (and if you’re not interested then you’re in even more danger than the rest of us)  have a look at it.  By thinking ahead, even if we can’t make the pie bigger, we can at least do our best to armour plate it.

Changes

• Derbyshire – Glossop Library may merge with adult community education centre to create “Glossopdale Campus”.

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Editorial

The date of the next National Libraries Day has been confirmed as Saturday 8th Feburary.  It is to be the culmination of a week of celebration and events for all types of library.  Starting out less than three years ago as a spontaneous day protesting against library closures (with all credit for this going to Alan Gibbons), the event has matured at blinding speed into something which all aspects of the library sector should be able and willing to support.  So, if you have not done so already, get planning something special to help show the nation what excellent services libraries provide.

Changes

• Pembrokeshire – Haverfordwest Library refurbishment cancelled due to cost: library may move further into town centre instead.

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Editorial

Croydon has confirmed that it has outsourced its library services to John Laing for eight years. This means the company will be running 24 branches in the UK, having started in Hounslow some years ago. Croydon have not had the best of records in library provision and are touting the move as a way to improve their branches.  However, the situation is not quite as clear cut as that as my article published a couple of years ago I hope demonstrates to some extent.

It’s sad to see that the Government is making access to the judicial review process harder.  This has been the route of last resort for many communities that are unhappy with library closures/cuts and has proven remarkably successful.  From what I can gather, however, the changes may not really affect library reviews as they only bar those with no direct interest in the decision from being involved.  Being so many people use their local library services, this may not therefore be a big barrier in practice.

Finally, Public Libraries News has a new page on geocaches by or near public libraries.  If you’re not sure what geocaching is then have a look at the article here reproduced with kind permission of its owner.  In order to make the page as comprehensive as possible, do please send me (via ianlibrarian@live.co.uk) details of any caches you know about that can go on the list.

Library trends page on Wikipedia

The “Decline of library use” wikipedia page has undergone a major revamp (see the history and talk) and a retitling by Natalie Binder (Libraryowl) and is now available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trends_in_library_usage.  It’s worth a look.  However, it can do with more work done:

“I’ve made some changes to bring into house style. What it needs now are more wikilinks or explanations for specialist terms like ‘circulation transactions’, and especially content from a global perspective: it’s very much US-centric now.” Martin Poulter, Jisc Wikimedia Ambassador

Does anyone would like to add the experience in the UK to this?  Feel free to quote from Public Libraries News if so.

Changes

• Croydon – Confirmed that libraries will be outsourced to JLIS for eight years: self-service and wifi to be installed.

Ideas

• Robotics lessons – Plano, Texas, USA.
• Wine tasting in the library – Napa Valley, USA.

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Editorial 

There is some discontent in Birmingham as the board of trustees for the big new city Library appears packed with businessmen.  This has raised the ire of those who think it needs to be more diverse.  It comes down to different views of who is best to run a public library:  someone well-connected with money and a knowledge of business / how things work? Who can perhaps raise some money for it in these tough times? Or someone closer to the ground who understands local communities and ensures the library stays relevant to those people who need it the most?  It’s clear which way the council has voted.

The big cuts in Lincolnshire continue to make the news, with the ire now being directed against the council for choosing to hold the consultations sometimes ten miles or more from the libraries that may actually close.  The council argues this is to provide more space and that more meetings will be held if necessary.  Local users suspect darker motives.

Changes

• Enfield – Ordnance Road Library demolished: will be rebuilt as combined library/dentist/doctor/community centre.
• North Somerset – Free wifi in all libraries from August 2013.

Idea

• Use maker space in return for offering help once per month – Washington DC (USA).

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Editorial

Good to see that the award-winning Edinburgh library service, well-known for its initiatives has had a 15% increase in visitors last year compared to 2010.  Doubtless the two new libraries helped but the embracing of new technology has also been a factor.  Helpful too has been the successful public protest that meant that cuts proposed in 2011/12 did not come to pass.  South of the border, such cuts largely do come to pass and so it’s far harder for library services to be as successful as their northern brethren.  The suspicion here is that library usage mirrors library funding – so cuts to the budget means less usage, which of course makes cuts to budget more likely. Just look at Lincolnshire where the cuts are being pushed through with the somewhat self-contradictory argument that libraries are (a) not strongly needed and (b) it’s expected that people will work for free to keep them open. One ticket to Edinburgh please.

Changes

• Edinburgh – Visitor figures up 15% over 2010 to 3.1 million 2012/13. No late charges for e-books.
• Luton – Wigmore, Sundon Park and the mobile library will close. Marsh Farm Library (currently a joint school/public use building at Lea Manor School, will be staffed by Luton Culture staff 2pm-6pm Monday to Friday, and Saturdays. To offset the closure of Wigmore, the opening hours at Stopsley library will be increase.
• Swansea – Dismountable trailer in Waunarlwydd has 500 books after £5,000 lottery grant won by local resident’s association, 40 users so far.
• West Lothian – Visitors increase from 695,753 in 2008-9 to 800,852 in 2012/13

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