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• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• Comment on Arts Council England “Culture, knowledge and understanding” report – Voices for the Library. Report (incorporating special report of 13th September) and analysis of the plans that the quango in charge of libraries has in stall.

  “Five thousand libraries were closed in Russia in the past seven years, as the number of Russians attending them has grown threefold in less than four years, the paper writes.” Trud (via Press Digest)

  “I think the publishing world needs to wake up to the fact that public libraries grow their next generation of readers, like Niki here, who will one day be buyers not borrowers. Without the ground work being done in libraries on a shoe string, even that now threatened with the chop, children will form other habits – some no doubt more harmful than reading!” Comment.

• Evolving libraries say check us out now – Chicago Tribune (USA).  “Toga parties, martini meetups, stuffed-animal sleepovers and more are designed to keep book lenders relevant”
• How would you spend $1 billion on library services? – Finding Heroes (NZ).   Answers include family literacy, remote digital access, invest full amount and live off the interest (while centralising purchasing, processing and installing broadband), build something long-term, investments/partnerships, let the grassroots decide, social impact programmes, invest the money to make profit.
• Libraries give us power: Medway library services – Medway Broadside.  “‘Libraries gave us power‘, the song goes. They still do. From public libraries’ roots in Victorian philanthropy, to their modern council-run guise, libraries have long empowered people by giving them free access to knowledge, experience and education. More than that, libraries are places that put people in touch with the past, the outside world and their community.”.  Interview with librarian Sarah Jenkin.
• Library closures face High Court challenge – LocalGov. “Speaking for the claimants Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries (FOGL) and Friends of Somerset Libraries (FOSL), Helen Mountfield QC said that under the act authorities are obliged to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service. Citing equalities legislation, she also made the case that the councils had failed to establish the impact of the cuts or ‘fairly and properly’ take into account of views expressed during the consultation.”
• Men of the Stacks: a 2012 Calendar – Men of the Stacks.  Yes, it’s a Calendar Girls for librarians, although only a few are naked, respect to them.  ““We can’t just leave it to others to tell the people who we are; that’s why the stereotypes about librarians continue to flourish.  We have to be the ones to go out there and tell people who we are. It’s not enough to complain about inaccurate images of librarians; we must be able to present alternative, positive images in movies, books and, yes, blogs.”
• Perceptions of public libraries in Africa: research and results = change – EIFL.   “Public libraries are uniquely positioned to change lives and build strong communities. In many parts of the world, where access to technology is extremely limited, libraries are often the sole source of access to computers and the internet….”. Looks at six African public libraries.
• Successful meeting at the Appledore Book Festival – Alan Gibbons.  Alan and Tim Coates discuss libraries.  A lot have been saved but cuts still going on and level of library provision very uneven across the country.

• Tyra Banks spends more time in New York Public Library than you do – The Cut (USA). “It took Tyra five years to complete her new book, Modelland, most of which she wrote in various New York Public Library locations. “I think I made, like, fourteen of those buildings my home. You have no idea how much time I’ve spent in the New York libraries!”

Changes

Surrey – Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haw, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Virginia Water, Warlingham will be run by volunteers, with the council pays non-staff costs.  If successful 2011/12 then nine more will be run by volunteers in 2012/13 – Ash, Caterham Hill, Frimley Green, Hersham, Horsley, Knaphill, Lightwater, Shepperton and West Byfleet. Volunteers would allow £200k cut in first year then 381k per year.
Walsall – None under threat, previously six –  £1.3m cut via self-service machines and volunteers. 

Local News

• Brighton – Public Services Awards 2011 – Guardian.  Brighton libraries nominated under “transformation” category.
• Buckinghamshire – Friends of Little Chalfont Library – NatWest Community Force. Your chance to vote for funding for one of the first volunteer-run libraries in the country to get money for repairs to their building, including four photographs of damp and other problems.

• Cambridgeshire – Cuts of £3m to Cambridgeshire libraries “excessive” says councillor – BBC.  “David Harty, cabinet member for learning and libraries at the county council, said “a new model of service” would be considered instead.”  Cuts will be “reconsidered”. ” “It is proposed that no community will lose access to library services but changes may be made in the way they are currently delivered.”. Co-location may happen.
• Community services open up at library – News and Crier.  ““They are at the heart of the community which helps manage it and the building is a truly public facility used by organisations to provide services and support for residents.” … “The district council will run its community service centre from the library, which also provides facilities for Ramsey Neighbourhoods Trust, giving access to local information and advice. There will also be access to services including Citizens Advice Bureau, Hunts MIND, Cambridgeshire child and adolescent substance use service, the crime reduction charity Nacro and the drink and drug charity Addaction.”
• Nearly 10,000 call for libraries to keep staff – Cambridge News. “Petitions with nearly 10,000 signatures were presented to library chiefs yesterday by campaigners who said professionally-staffed branches must stay at the hearts of communities. Book lovers, who described the buildings as vital neighbourhood hubs which could not be replaced by online services, were told the service was “safe” by Cllr Nick Clarke, Cambridgeshire County Council’s leader.”.  Opposition says ““We can see the value in co-locating other services in libraries where that’s practicable but putting a few books into post offices, shops or petrol stations and calling it a library ‘service’ just won’t do.””
• Coventry – Allesbury Park library visitor figures treble – Coventry Telegraph.   “since it became a permanent rather than mobile service…The £1million library is part of a £3.2million neighbourhood centre in Whitaker Road, which also includes a community room and medical centre.Library visitors have also increased in Caludon Castle Library, Earlsdon Library and Stoke Library.”  Councillor says ““Here in Coventry we have pledged not to reduce opening hours in our libraries and here the local community will be able to enjoy a new facility.”
• Croydon / Wandsworth – Croydon agree to work with Wandsworth: outsourcing libraries – Sanderstead Library Campaign Group.   Links to relevant articles.  “Wandsworth and Croydon Labour groups have voiced a willingness to explore ways of reducing costs of running libraries and exploring different approaches but hold concerns that outsourcing may lead to a deterioration in the service on offer.”
• Croydon / Lambeth – Lambeth councillors refuse to attend meeting over running of Croydon library – Guardian series.   “The row concerns Croydon Council’s decison to appoint non local ward councillors onto the Upper Norwood Joint Library Committee.”.  Crystal Palace Community Assocation calls Croydon decision a farce – “It has accused the Council of installing cabinet members in a bid to push through controversial legislation.”.  More local councillors would have been opposition councillors not happy with the proposed privatisation of the service.
• Gloucestershire – County Council “didn’t listen” to feedback: court – This is Gloucestershire.   “Vulnerable people were not properly consulted over massive library cutbacks in Gloucestershire, a court heard today.  Council called “simply irrational”, didn’t properly consult elderly or disabled, council had decided to close libraries regardless of what consultation showed, as proved by final decision made before the consultation period ended.
• Claims Council “failed” public with library cuts – This is Glos.   “Gloucestershire County Council wants to save £114m by 2014 to balance the books but Helen Mountfield QC, speaking for the anti-cuts movement at the start of a three-day hearing said the authority was “ignoring public opinion” and “failing to meet statutory obligations” to provide a proper library service.”… “She also said the library service provided by Shire Hall was no longer “comprehensive” because the cuts were so deep.”
• High court hearing under way into proposed library cuts in Gloucestershire – Gazette.  
• Day two of court hearing – FoGL.   “Today again consisted wholly of Helen Mountfield QC presenting the cases against Gloucestershire County Council and Somerset County Council (whose case is being heard at the same time).”.  Main points include – insufficient criterion was used when deciding which libraries to close, equalities issues were only considered retrospectively to defend decisions already made, insufficient consultation (notably including no meetings at some of the threatened branches).  Thursday will be taken up with the Councils defending its decisions. 
• Hertfordshire – Bushey library refurbishment unveiled by members of Herfordshire County Council – Watford Observer.  “Extensions have increased the building’s capacity by almost 20 per cent and it now contains some 21,000 books, CDs and DVDs, as well as six new PCs. County council cuts meant libraries across Hertfordshire had their opening times slashed earlier this year, with Bushey being reduced by 20 hours a week.”
• Oxfordshire – The Big Society isn’t about cuts, or is it? – Question Everything.  Friends groups againt council’s current proposals.  Volunteers would actually cost more than the staff they are replacing in Year One.  Current volunteer proposals also against council’s own guidance.  Original council press release described proposal as “big society” but this removed.  
• Suffolk – Have your say on the future of Suffolk Libraries: feedback – Suffolk County Council.
  “Stakeholders asked questions and commented on the proposals. They sought clarification on a wide range of issues such as financial information, savings required, timescales and business planning. Officers will incorporate the feed back in the preparation of the paper for Cabinet in November. It was agreed to publish copies of the presentations given at the workshop.” Includes a highly details list of the abilities that a volunteer needs and a somewhat overly glossy and positive report on responses to the consultation on the cuts.
  Surrey – Library fight
• Surrey – Plans for community libraries agreed – Surrey County Council.   “Volunteers will be able to take over the day to day running of 10 libraries* while the county council continues to provide everything else including the building, stock, computer equipment, as well as free Wi-Fi in all libraries.”…”At a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, September 27, at County Hall in Kingston, members agreed that the 10 pilot community-run libraries operate for the financial year 2012-13 so their success can be assessed. Only then will the council consider extending the offer to nine more which are Ash, Caterham Hill, Frimley Green, Hersham, Horsley, Knaphill, Lightwater, Shepperton and West Byfleet.” 
• Plans to overhaul Surrey libraries and cut costs agreed – BBC.  “The Conservative-run county council’s cabinet members agreed to devolve responsibilities at the libraries to help save up to £381,000 a year.” … Campaigner said that “The way that they conducted the meeting just characterises their whole approach throughout the libraries closures programme in that they just won’t listen.”
• Volunteer victory for libraries in Surrey – I-volunteer. Volunteers “delighted” says pro-volunteering website.  “The Council are giving carte blanche to volunteers to run the libraries as they see fit. A spokesperson said, “You can run your community library, you can have a say on how long the Library is open, you can have small groups coming in or a coffee shop in there should you wish. Young people are telling us that they want somewhere to go and sit, to have their own area, well you can make that in a community run library.” Tweets from Surrey activists suggest there was no celebration in the streets as groups were forced to work for nothing or see their libraries close.
• Tweets on subject after Surrey (Surrey_Matters) asked on Twitter for feedback on proposals – “If it means they stay open then its good thing. But Sy shd also find ways to increase visits so no need to consider closure.” .  “We think this is a very one-sided and false presentation of the issue! How about some balance, and some truth?” [SLAM].

• Walsall – Council chiefs in pledge on libraries – Express & Star.   “At one point it was believed six of the borough’s 16 libraries could have been for the chop as the local authority battles to save £70 million. That was then scaled down to none closing this financial year and now, following a huge review of the service, council chiefs have gone on the record to say there are no plans for any closures.”.  Public were outraged and “took to the streets” to protect libraries. 
• Wirral – Former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion visiting Wirral for borough’s annual celebration of books – Wirral News.   “Bookfest is a week-long festival organised by Wirral’s libraries which aims to bring books to life with poetry readings and talks.”

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

432 libraries (346 buildings and 86 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries).  The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.
News

• Anger over cuts prompts new procurement approach – Supply Management. About the decision to outsource libraries in Croydon and Wandsworth. ““We in Wandsworth, have saved hundreds of millions over the past 30 years by outsourcing services,” said a spokesman for Wandsworth council. “We are already sharing the management of our press offices with the [London Borough of] Hammersmith and Fulham, which has halved the management cost. We would hope to place adverts for a tender to manage libraries in six months time.”

• Barnes: dismantling libraries is “self-mutilation” – BookSeller.  “The author’s comments came as the Man Booker prize announced it would be hosting an event to show its support for the library service. Three of the authors shortlisted for this year’s award – Carol Birch, Stephen Kelman and A D Miller – will speak to an audience of librarians and library reading groups from across the UK at an event to be held at the British Library on 11th October… Ion Trewin, the prize’s literary director, said: “The support we are giving here at a time when libraries across much of the nation are being closed or under threat demonstrates how important Man Booker believes them to be.”
• Get carded: Libraries educate, entertain and create community – Plum Oakmont Patch (USA). “Public libraries are community centers and the centers of their communities. They are gathering places where residents convene for conversations, organizational meetings and program participation.”.  Evidence for education (“think of it as an extension of the school”) and entertainment as well.

“And so I hope you still bring that much happiness to other children and adults in the world today. I hope you are still changing lives the way you changed mine. Because not everyone can afford to buy their own crack through Amazon.com, and most people appreciate using you to borrow their crack. You provide an invaluable service to our entire country.” Gratitude Sunday 9/24/11 = Libraries – 5 Flat Tires (Niki Mathias).   Humorous posting but deeply insightful. 

• Long live books: bringers of life and entitlement – Office of the Chief Rabbi.  Also printed in the Times (behind paywall) on Saturday 23rd September. “When Jews think of life, I said, they think of a book. For us, to read is to live….So I was struck by Caitlin Moran’s powerful plea in August for local libraries to be spared in the programme of government cuts….A great book is a life-enlarging journey of the mind. That is an idea we must never lose. Libraries are an essential element of a good society. They democratise knowledge, giving us all equal access to the heritage of humankind. There are many kinds of poverty we should try to eliminate, but I wonder whether intellectual impoverishment may not be the deepest and most debilitating of all.”
• More than books: Libraries strengthen communities in uncertain times – Shareable (USA).  “Have you heard? There’s a new hot-spot in town. It’s a museum, digital hub, community resource center, art space and provider of free and open access to information. It’s the picture of shareability and it’s right through the doors of a library. While library systems rework their methods of information delivery for an increasingly electronic world, libraries themselves have become go-to places for work, study, community, computers, education, pleasure reading, and quiet.”.  Another great article in the “libraries aren’t dieing, they’re evolving” series.
• Osceola lays off 16; libraries take biggest hit – Around Osceola (USA).   7 library staff (inc. 5 branch managers) redundant.  “Ed Kilroy, former library system director, said he believes cutting all branch managers is a precursor to the county outsourcing the library operations to Maryland-based Library Systems & Services LLC, referred to as LSSI.” … “According to a letter to the county manager from LSSI Executive Chairman Frank A. Pezzanite, the company could save the county $1.87 million the first year of the contract: $1.2 million in personnel costs, $508,532 in operating expenses and $147,810 in capital outlay for books and other materials.”.  Letter says staff would have health insurance but no pension plan.
• New numbers on library outsourcing not so rosy – AFSCME (USA).  “The annual projected savings Osceola County government could realize by outsourcing management of the Osceola Library System to a private company has been cut by more than two-thirds, according to information provided at the Library Advisory Board meeting Wednesday.”  $4m saving over five years expected.
• Region’s elderly facing “perfect storm” – Yorkshire Post. “A hard-hitting report by Age UK North Yorkshire and Harrogate CVS, compiled over the summer, highlights the impact on older people of cuts to a wealth of vital services including public transport, social support, home care, meal deliveries and libraries.” … ““It is clear the loss of direct personal contact will have a negative impact on vulnerable people.””
• Valiant villagers defy cynicism and legal hurdles as they get ready to improve vital local services – Yorkshire Post.  “Nowhere is this more apparent than in the libraries sector, where the unprecedented programme of closures is being mitigated by a valiant volunteer-led fightback….Negotiations are now under way in North Yorkshire, Leeds and Doncaster to save a number of libraries from closure with the help of community groups. But it is Bradford where such proposals are now most advanced, with Addingham, Denholme and Wrose libraries all poised to stay open – staffed entirely by local volunteers.”
• Who invented public libraries? – Yahoo! Answers.  The variability and inaccuracy of some of the replies, along with the “information dump” approach of some others, shows the need that Yahoo! Answers, at least, has not replaced the need for librarians.

 Local News

• Brent – What’s happening in Brent? – Alan Gibbons.  “An evening with Esther Rantzen, St Gabriel’s Church, Walm Lane .Wednesday 5 October 7pm. Please help this week We need to be promoting this Save Cricklewood Library event this week.”.  Brent Council has spent £70,000 on fighting the legal case on library closures so far. 
• Croydon – Savings “will justify” £250k cost of Croydon’s libraries hand over – Croydon Today.  Cost of choosing a company is £250k, either with or without a joint winner (with Wandsworth).  Part of contract would mean no closures and monitoring (but not moratorium on cuts to) bookfund.  Decision not until October 2012.
• Isle of Wight – Campaigners question IOW council’s “community libraries”  – BookSeller.  “campaigners have branded plans to hand the libraries over to volunteers “a cut by any other name”…. ” it “seems to be the most vulnerable people who are suffering”, and pointed to the irony of handing Niton library over to volunteers, when it was just “a stone’s throw” from the burial place of Edward Edwards, a 19th-century pioneer of the public library service”
• Orkney – Library gets book back after 40 years – Scotsman.   “Library assistant Stewart Bain said: “It came from someone who was selling up their farm and was having a clear-out. We don’t operate a fine system – which is just as well.”
• Surrey – Calls for public inquiry at Surrey County Council – Eagle Radio.  “Campaign group the Surrey Libraries Action Movement says last week’s events at County Hall show the council’s in disarray. The leader resigned after sacking two key figures, now one of those key figures looks set to take over the leadership. SLAM wants an inquiry into what happened and a halt to plans which could see 19 libraries close.”

“Expressions of interested are welcomed for the purchase of a mobile library which will be available for release from November 2011.Price: Open to offers. Viewing of vehicle can be arranged by appointment only.” Wigan – Mobile Library for sale, posting on LIS-PUB-LIBS [Mobile service scrapped refers].

The big news is that the court case to decide the legality of the cuts in Gloucestershire (10 libraries and 6 mobiles) and Somerset (6 libraries) is to be heard this Tuesday.  This follows on from the Brent court case, whose result will be known in October.  The importance of these cases, and of libraries, can be seen in another item: that two-thirds of all books read in the UK come from public libraries.  Two-thirds.  With figures like that, campaigners are quite right not to let libraries go gently into that good night.

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

• About two thirds of reading in this country is of books from public libraries – Good Library Blog.   “The figures are pretty plain.  About 230m books are sold each year (from books shops, Amazon, mail order etc) . About half of these are read – the rest are gifts of one kind or another and aren’t generally read through. (These figures are widely recognised in the book trade- they are supported by statistics and surveys). 310m books are issued from public libraries – nearly all of which are read. (these figures come the national CIPFA survey data). So, without over complicating the analysis it is pretty safe to say that betwen 60 and 70% of the books that are being read, today, come from a library.”
• Add to my library vol.II – Christina Mitrentse – Artwork about libraries
• Advocacy: “Everyone is an advocate” – Lianza (New Zealand).    “Advocacy is about making sure that libraries are valued, supported and connected to their stakeholders and communities because libraries can be taken for granted.”
• Hard-pressed councils set to miss cuts target by over £50m – Yorkshire Post.  “In the past six months a total of 16 libraries, one leisure centre, two swimming pools, four tourist information centres and two homeless hostels have closed across Yorkshire.”
• High Court trial of library closures in Gloucestershire and Somerset gets underway -Public Interest Lawyers.  “A three-day High Court hearing to examine the legality of massive cuts to library provision in Gloucestershire and Somerset will commence on Tuesday 27 September 2011 at the Civil Justice Centre in Birmingham (10.30am)…”Whatever the ‘Big Society’ is, it should not be a fig leaf for excessive and ill-conceived cuts or the surrendering of cherished public services. These cuts will disenfranchise the elderly, the vulnerable and those living in isolated communities. We are confident that the High Court will require a fundamental re-think of the Councils’ plans.”
• Library vandals unleash water from fire sprinkler – Yakima Herald (USA).  “Vandalism in the men’s restroom at the downtown Yakima Valley Library Friday afternoon set off a fire sprinkler, releasing about 200 gallons of water, according to a news release today from the Yakima Fire Department. “
• Most annoying thing about my job: librarians tell all – LISNews (USA).  List includes lack of support from management, unclear rules, people assuming one has few qualifications.  “I have found that my library fills what would be an incredible void in our community. I acknowledge that we are not a perfect organization; however, where every other bureaucracy in our city has told you “No,” we are the organization that says, “Yes. We can help you.””
• Their Library: Emmy the Great – Clash Music.  “The songwriter has a real depth to her lyrics, which go beyond the surface level introspection employed by so many acoustic-clad troubadours. Returning with her second album – an analysis of religious thought and mythology – Emmy The Great had obviously been making frequent use of her library card.”  … “Did you make good use of your library card as a child / teenager? Yes. The library near my parents’ house has the most amazing Point Horror and Point Romance collection. Still does – same books. And the library at my school was the known place to go fool around, because it was dark and had a lot of corners.”

Changes

Cumbria – Music CDs now free for visually impaired. 
Isle of Wight – Bembridge, Brighstone, East Cowes, Niton and Shanklin will be run by volunteers from October.
Northamptonshire – Free use of computers on Fridays, in conjunction with Job Clubs.  
Oxfordshire – Campaign group:  Friends of Neithrop Library formed.   
Stockton – Stockton Library reopens in November after £1.9m refurbishment, to include co-location with other council services. 

Local News

• Bristol –Reading Challenge has a happy ending as children collect prizes – This is Bristol.  “More than 4,000 children and young people took part in 40 special events, workshops and activities under the summer reading scheme.  Over half of those taking part in the scheme completed the Circus Stars challenge and received a medal to reward their achievement. Medal winners were entered into a free prize draw, with the chance to win book tokens, books and other educational prizes.”
• City Council hopes to create a new library on Gloucester Road – Redland People.  “Barely a month goes by when we’re not hearing about the closure of community facilities, from youth centres to police stations and schools to libraries. But Bristol Council looks set to buck that worrying trend and actually opening a new library.” … “The Bristol North Pool development is a classic example of how – in the current economic climate – the public sector is having to step in and take a leading pro-active funding approach. Previously, developers looked to banks and financial institutions to provide sensible funding packages, now the economics of borrowing just don’t add up” 
• Calderdale – Have a say on library service – Halifax Courier.   “The council is looking for members of the public to pass on their views and ideas for the region’s libraries. The session is part of a consultation process set up by Calderdale Council in its review of services. Wider efficiency measures are being cited as the motivation behind the review as the council is increasingly under pressure to cut costs following the recession.”
• Cumbria – Cumbrian man wins fight to end CD charge at county libraries – News and Star.   “Bosses at Cumbria County Council have introduced a new concession on CDs at the county’s libraries following a campaign by 53-year-old Tim Wilson, from Queen Street, Maryport.”
• Isle of Wight – Volunteers step in to run Isle of Wight libraries – BBC.  “The libraries in Bembridge, Brighstone, East Cowes, Niton and Shanklin will be community-run from October.”
• Freehold or leasehold transfers for loos and libraries still not finalised – Ventnor Blog.  “Draft agreements have been provided to each community group and agreement on terms is being negotiated with each group. In order to ensure continuity of the library service Tenancies at Will are be used to enable the community groups to take occupation of the buildings. Cllr Bacon pointed out that the process had been far more costly than predicted and asked whether lessons had been learnt to avoid this happening in the future.”
• Manchester – New chapter: £170m revamp of Manchester’s Central Library takes shape – Manchester Evening News.   “The ambitious project, due for completion in 2013, will open up the historic gem and expose parts of the building, opened by George V in 1934, that have been hidden from public view for years….It will make the library a destination. When people step inside they will get that ‘wow factor’ from the sense of space we are creating”
• North Somerset – United against “unfair” public spending cuts – Mercury.   “A selection of speakers representing teachers, libraries, the criminal service and transport said the most vulnerable members of society would be at risk if the draft proposal is carried out.”… “libraries, youth centres and bus services could be lost unless volunteers take over running them.”
• Northamptonshire – Visit your local library and change your life – About My Area.   “New Change! zones are being launched in Northamptonshire County Council libraries next week (Monday 26th September).  Change! zones are a new collection of books covering everything from job seeking, skills improvement, business start up, volunteering opportunities, financial information and building confidence.”
• Oxfordshire – Friends support library’s future – Banbury Guardian.   “Earlier this year the library, in Woodgreen Avenue, Banbury, was upgraded from a community library to a core library to protect it from funding cuts, but users are keen to take a proactive approach to ensure it is well-used. They hope this will prevent it being targeted by any future cuts.”  Friends of Neithrop Library formed.  
• South Tyneside – Libraries lift ban on “too controversial” books – Shields Gazette.   “The series of books, taken off library shelves across the world for various reasons, go on display at The Central Library in South Shields and Jarrow Library from today. The event is part of the annual Banned Books week.”
• Stockton – Stockton Library £1.9m refurb running “on schedule” – BBC.  “Councillor Ken Dixon said: “We are on track to reopen on 1 November, with work on schedule and on budget. He said: “Once the refurbishment is complete, residents will be able to call into one central point to access various council services, pay their bills as well as visit the new cafe and library facilities.”

• Special report “Big Societese” below
• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• AB 438 Will Help Save Public Libraries from the Privatization Beast – California Progress Report (USA).  “As a public librarian, I believe that library services should be available to everyone, and this can best be done through a strong public library system. The residents of Santa Clarita did not have a choice or a voice in their City Council’s decision to privatize their libraries and how their tax dollars are spent but AB 438 will change that for other communities. With the help of CREDO and change.org more than 71,000 Californians signed petitions in support of AB 438 and librarians along with public library supporters across the country joined them.”
• ACE library report “a disappointment” – BookSeller.   “Library campaigners have expressed intense disappointment with the Arts Council (ACE)’s first strategy document on libraries. with one claiming it is not “devised to meet people’s needs”… Desmond Clarke says it advocates replacing paid staff with volunteers,  Tim Coates says it missed a lot of important research – “There is no consciousness about the real issues that matter, books, operations, opening hours, and you have to have been living on another planet not to know what these issues are.” – CILIP are in discussion with ACE but fear lack of funding.
• Amazon turns your local library into retail book chain – New York Times (USA).   “Amazon threw down the gauntlet against terrestrial competitors today by announcing that Kindle and Kindle app customers can borrow and purchase Kindle books from more than 11,000 local libraries in the United States. In essence, these first 11,000 local libraries just became a chain of local bookstores for Amazon’s catalog of virtual books.”
• Local government’s “duty to involve” the English is being scrapped – Our Kingdom.  ““…it could easily lead councils to consult on everything regardless of whether decisions have already been made or not. This is a recipe for consultation overload, cynicism and a devaluing of consultation more broadly.”” 
• Maximise the potential of your public library – Knowledge Network.   “Learn how public libraries can help local governments tackle critical community priorities such as economic development, public safety, environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, education, and literacy.”
• New trends in European Children’s Libraries – Eurolis.  Seminar –  “At a time when libraries’ educative mission is endangered and children’s literacy is declining, European experts present ideas and innovations for children’s libraries. This one day seminar is organised by Eurolis, the consortium of librarians of European Cultural Institutes in London and CILIP. The speakers will come from library services in the following European countries – UK, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain.”
• On the other side of the counter at Winsford Library – Voices for the Library.   Hannah Bailey, libraries officer for UNISON spends a day with library staff.  “Meanwhile on the counter, a constant stream of people were coming in and out, putting paid to the rumour that nobody uses libraries anymore. Remember earlier this year when John Redwood MP made some startlingly ill-informed comments about libraries after a brief visit to one? Anyone deeming themselves worthy of comment needs to spend at least a day in a library before drawing any conclusions. After all, a visit to an uncharacteristically quiet supermarket at 10pm wouldn’t lead one to conclude that modern retail as we know it is dead would it?”.  [Disclaimer – Winsford Library is the branch that I manage].

Changes

• Barnet – 3 under threat – Friern Barnet Library, Hampstead Garden Suburb Library and North Finchley Library (previously marked as 2)
• Dorset – Campaign group: Dorset for Democracy. 
• Newham – Campaign group: Save our language papers. 
• Oxfordshire – Campaign group: Save Old Marston Library. 

Local News

“Friern Barnet Library, Hampstead Garden Suburb Library and North Finchley Library are under threat of closure in the London Borough of Barnet.  Consultation has closed and Friern Barnet and Hampstead Garden Suburb are set to close 31 Dec 2011 unless local campaigners come up with an acceptable community option to saving the services provided at these libraries.” Barnet – Email to PLN.

• Bradford – Library plan is chance to shop and borrow a book – Ilkey Gazette.   “Ilkley-based company Fairbrook Developments Ltd has applied for planning permission to refurbish and extend the Bradford Council-owned Grange Road library. The plan, now available for public inspection and comment, proposes space for a Co-op store on the ground floor, plus storage, staff room and car parking, plus a first floor extension to house the library.”
• Croydon – Fears over Croydon library plans – Guardian series. “She argued this option [outsourcing] was the only way to keep all the libraries open and predicted the decision could reduce the cost to the council by £367,000 annually, while only costing £250,000, spread over two years, to implement. Asked to clarify how these figures were reached she was unable to provide details.”
• Dorset – Dorchester: Dorset voters stand up for democracy – View online. “Dorset for Democracy (D4D) rose from the ashes of the former Fair Votes for Dorset group, at Thursday’s meeting at the George Hotel in Bridport. The protest group plans to address a “democratic deficit “ in local government, which has led to unpopular plans going ahead against the wishes of the community. The building of new district council offices in Charles Street in Dorchester and the closure of nine community libraries in the county have angered members in particular.”
• Hounslow – 40% reduction in spending on new books planned – ChiswickW4.com. “In its statement, the Council said that John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS),who hold the contract for staffing, building maintenance and other services, were working over and above the hours contractually required and there was a savings opportunity to review opening hours and reduce them accordingly. A total of £ 1.25 million had been saved using the company over the past three years. The Council said the target of £ 540,000 savings could be made with ” limited impact” on the library service.”
• Isle of Wight – Council confirms library handovers – IWCP.  “The council will continue to run Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Ventnor and Freshwater libraries, while community groups will take over at Bembridge, Brighstone, East Cowes, Niton and Shanklin. The council has said the new arrangements will save around £500,000 a year.”
• Hoarder’s attic at Ventnor Library – Ventnor Blog.  “Members of FVL and users of the library have cleared their own ‘attics’ and donated a variety of items for gardening, crafts, household, ladies wear, health and beauty and of course books. The proceeds will go towards funding projects in the Library.” 
• Lincolnshire – Scheme to introduce children to books – Sleaford Standard.   “A new initiative will help introduce children to the wonderful world of books. The Bookstart Bear Club has been designed to encourage families with young children to make the most of their local library. The club is open to children aged up to the age of four, with members receiving a paw print stamp each time they return a book or attend a story or rhyme time activity in the library.”

• North Yorkshire – County Council axes mobile libraries – Craven Herald and Pioneer.  “As part of the savings, 10 out of 11 vehicles that served more than 800 villages have been taken off the road. The remaining “supermobile” library, which is equipped with internet-enabled computers as well as books, has been spared.” … “Library user Mary Vineall, from Hebden, said she was “saddened and appalled” by the cutbacks. She said: “This is a service which provides a lifeline to many people in remote villages up and down the Dales. Many clients are elderly and have no cars. Numerous mothers collect books for children to encourage them into the joys of reading.” 

“We all need to do our bit for society; I (like many others nationally) have been giving up hundreds of hours to ensure we keep our small library running a normal service. Time I could have spent with my baby girls & wife. It has actually cost me time & money. I’m sorry to say this but you & the rest of the Taxi users in OCC are becoming a parody of fair play & decent public spirit. You all seem to want a BIG society but not actually get involved. Let me remind you people have lost their jobs, are losing their public services & you have “not the slightest intention of getting on a bus or a tube train”?” Oxfordshire – From our Oxfordshire correspondent – Alan Gibbons.  Council spends £25k per month on private transport for councillors.  

• Oxfordshire – Villagers sing out to save their library – Oxford Mail.  “More than 80 Old Marston residents joined by children’s songwriter Nick Cope, took part in a sing-in to save their library.  The musical session was organised by the Save Old Marston Library group over Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to have volunteers run it two-thirds of the time.”
• Surrey – County Council implodes – SLAM.   “The Deputy Leader of Surrey County Council (David Hodge) was dismissed on Monday and the Leader (Andrew Povey) resigned last night. The library plans and the car parking issues are believed to be the major factors in these events.” … “Take the day off work, cancel your dentist appointment, take friends in your car – tell everyone.  We must stop the library plans – we must stop Surrey County Council – we must act NOW! Next Tuesday (27th) 2pm at County Hall, Kingston – be there – be there early.”

• Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
• Book your place on the Library Campaign conference, 22/10/11

News

• Amazon Kindle gets a library card – Wired. “Starting today, library patrons and Amazon e-book lovers have no reason to needle each other over which source of books is superior. Or at the very least, they have a comfortable meeting place where they can (quietly) exchange both book recommendations and spirited taunting.  As announced in April, Amazon now supports borrowing e-books from local libraries. Library-lent books will work on both Kindle e-readers and Kindle smartphone or tablet apps. Library books, though temporary, work just like any other Kindle e-book…”  … “It’s a good thing (I hope) for libraries, who can reach or reconnect with a wide range of patrons in different media. (Let’s hope whatever deal they struck with Amazon doesn’t prove ruinous, or gets slashed back by budget-busting administrative and government crusaders.)”
• Florida Library Association opposes outsourcing of Osceola Library System – FLA (USA).   LSSI interested in taking over Osceola, librarians not so keen as (a) loss of local community control, (b) “LSSI has acknowledged that they reduce costs in part by laying off all current employees, then rehiring some, but with reduced salaries and benefits. What services and service levels will be reduced to achieve LSSI’s budget projections?”, (c) need for enforceable service plan, (d) need for future transparency, especially as no public notice before now, (e) profit margin “One report suggests LSSI’s profits are around 15% and that any unexpended funds become profit. The public should have a right to know how much a private company is being paid to provide a service.”, (f) no competitors, “In at least one community (Fargo, ND), LSSI fees were substantially increased after the initial contract.”

“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.”–Neil Gaiman 

• Guidance to local authorities dealing with the media – WhatDoTheyKnow.   Query regarding advice MLA had been given to local authorities about avoiding using the word “closure”.

“This government should hang its head in shame for even considering axeing this programme. For all the talk about improving literacy among children, they seem to be bent on destroying it, first by trying to get rid of BookStart, then by shutting libraries and now by cutting the one programme that has a proven track record in teaching children to read.” Perspectives on literacy: They are axeing the scheme that taught my son to read – Independent (Letters). 

• Librarian – Reed.  “We are currently recruiting for experienced Librarians for ongoing temporary work within the Sutton, Croydon and Merton Areas. £7.00 Per Hour” … National Minimum wage is £5.93 – the main rate for workers aged 21 and over.
• Online registration form, the Library Campaign conference – Library Campaign.  
• Public Libraries improve access for blind and partially sighted people – SCL.  “Public libraries are adopting six steps in a UK-wide effort to improve access for blind and partially sighted people. For the two million blind and partially sighted people in the UK this will be a lifeline to the leisure, learning and information resources offered by public libraries.”  Also shown by Voices for the Library.

Changes

• Durham – Consett library in poor condition, fears of closure.  
• Newham – Protest group: Library E15 (Newham Library).
• Nottinghamshire – One-week loan for “top ten” books.

Local news

• Brent – Council spending in spotlight – BookSeller.  “Local library campaigner Samantha Warrington termed the spending “yet more evidence of shocking waste and incompetence” by the council. She told the Harrow Observer: “Officials are paying more than £1 million a month to consultants while cutting frontline services such as libraries.”

“The libraries paper on this must be longest political suicide note in #croydon history” Cllr Wayne Lawlor on the outsourcing of libraries in Croydon (Twitter).

• Cumbria – Is it time to change Cumbria’s libraries? – Cumbria Council (email).  “ Cabinet has agreed that changes to the service should be made on an area-by-area basis which will see county councillors in each district work closely with communities to bring about improvements which meet the differing needs of residents around the county.”.  Cuts to services in those areas with reduced usage, no cuts in service funding.  May mean closures, co-location of libraries with other services, even in shops. 

“Public library services stand at crucial point in their development. They are no longer regarded as the “street corner universities” of their early days and they now have to compete with a host of information and leisure services, many of them IT based, that did not exist even 20 years ago. If public library services are to survive and prosper they must adapt to change to ensure that they are as relevant to people today and particularly tomorrow as they were to our forebears.”

• Cabinet Report – Cumbria Council.  Cabinet agrees changes to library service, details inc. “The Community library – an initiative designed to test out the validity and practicality of a return to the idea of the village reading room, organised by the local community for the local community under the sponsorship of the County Council;” … “The depth and intensity of feeling generated recently in a number of Cumbrian communities by the perception that their local library was under threat of closure is a powerful force that needs to be harnessed and channelled to achieve positive outcomes that may vary according to local need, circumstance and opportunity”
• Durham – Report condemns Consett library condition – Chronicle Live.  ““There is no sense of arrival in the town. No conservation area and only one listed building (a church) in the town centre. A number of buildings are run-down and the library in particular is in poor condition and poorly integrated.” says consultants.  Council refuses to confirm library building will stay open, ““This could mean the town being served by a mobile library.”
• Newham – Save the children’s area in Stratford Library – Library E15.   “Newham Council plan to close the library to the public for “refurbishment” for as long as six months from 1 October 2011. In these building works, the children’s library will be radically reduced in size in order to accommodate non-library Council services that will reportedly move from where they are now over the road at the Local Service Centre at The Grove. One member of library staff reported that the planned changes would see our cherished children’s library reduced to a space similar in size to the small children’s area at The Gate in Forest Gate. “.  Very little warning to the public, no consultation.
• Hounslow – Books no longer apparently a priority – Brentford TW8. “This ten year strategy helps to prioritise how we manage, fund and operate libraries across the borough, whilst retaining our high standards against the background of huge cuts from central government. We understand how important libraries are to the community, with almost 1.75 million visits to libraries during 2009-2010 and over 50% of the population in Hounslow having visited a library in the past 12 months.”
• Northern Ireland – Library hours under review – Carrick Times. “All my children are avid readers, but I don’t see how we can encourage children to read when the libraries are hardly open,” she said. “They have spent a fortune on refurbishing the Whitehead branch so we hoped that opening hours would increase.” … ““Whitehead is a beautiful village, but there fewer and fewer places to go. I worry that eventually the town will just become empty,” she said.”
• Nottinghamshire – Loan limit placed on most popular books – Dispatch.  “A top ten of the favourite paperbacks is compiled and the charts will change regularly as more users take out certain books.”.  Top ten books will only be allowed to be borrowed for a week, in order to cut down on waits.

• Oxfordshire – How very courageous, Minister… oh dear, is it, why? – Question Everything.  Libraries having funding withdrawn in Conservative-voting rural areas, sometimes with small majorities “When the councillors are on the doorstep in 2013 and the library users are volunteering and are too busy to vote or more likely having to travel great distances because some of the libraries will have closed by then, it is unlikely they are going to want to pop to the polling both and support the party who took their library away.”.  Cuts falling most harshly on front-line, “the complete opposite of government policy”.
• Somerset – Library campaigners hit fundraising goal – BookSeller.  “In July, lawyers representing the campaigners obtained an injunction stopping all closures ahead of a judicial review in Birmingham from 27-29th September. The campaigners have raised more than £9,000 towards funding their legal battle. Kay Hoskins, chair of Friends of Somerset Libraries, said: “We are extremely pleased and grateful for all the wonderful support we have received across the county.”
• Wiltshire – Libraries on area agenda – Wiltshire Times.   “Topics on the agenda include youth and leisure services, libraries, recycling and community campus projects.”