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Editorial

It’s always interesting to hear viewpoints from loads of different people and, as sole proprietor of Public Libraries News, I read messages from pretty much the full way across the spectrum.  I have for some while been mentally categorising different people, groups and organisations about where they are on an imaginary “library line” and I’m going to share this with you now, along with the important caveat that not everyone is always the same on every topic, people can move position or may be not quite one label or another and I’m not going to place “good” or “bad” labels on anyone:

• Campaigners. Those often wanting no cuts to libraries at all. Often either from the left wing or from those who care deeply for public libraries or who work in libraries or all three.  Very likely, but not always, to question the whole belief in austerity or wanting a special exemption to be made for libraries on the grounds of the great things they do for the country. Highly likely to be completely against volunteers (calling them different names but not “community libraries”) replacing paid staff, outsourcing or any commercialization of libraries, believing that giving ground will irrevocably damage the merit of public libraries and lead ultimately to their adulteration. Likely to be concerned about the co-location of libraries with other services but not always automatically against them. Likely to call reductions in budgets “cuts” and unwilling to accept that the government actually has any strong feelings of support for libraries at all and, indeed, may be maliciously cutting them for ideological reasons. Could well be trade unions, Corbynites [Addition to original post: I mean this as those who voted for Jeremy Corbyn so really I mean Labour – Ed.]  or (pretty obviously) campaign groups but, really, could be anyone who really likes libraries.
• Pragmatists.  Often with beliefs around the centre of the spectrum, although can be left or right wing on many issues. Those who accept, even if they don’t like it, that austerity is happening, and likely to continue to happen until at least 2020 and that they need to work within that framework in order to do the best they can for libraries. They may also note that the government has been democratically elected, however imperfect that democracy may be. While privately (and even occasionally publicly) against austerity, volunteers or any of a thousand cuts to the service, this group will do what is necessary to meet budget cuts (they are likely, but not always, to call these “savings”), seeing it as something that needs doing.  Frankly, many would lose their jobs if they didn’t. Very likely to accept co-location of services as a more or less desirable option. So this is the group that may, with gritted teeth, install volunteer-run libraries (likely to call them “community libraries”) or indeed be library volunteers.  They will also look at the government agenda and see how libraries fit into it, arguing the case for them in terms the politicians understand and use themselves. Likely to be more senior librarians, professional bodies or New Labour but, again, could be anyone from any field.
• Believers.  Normally, although not absolutely always, on the right wing of the political spectrum.  Firmly believe in the need for austerity and the efficiency of private enterprise over public authorities, may even argue that “community-managed libraries” can be not just cheaper but often better than those run by paid staff.  Will see no problem in private enterprise taking over public services and may even see this a preferred option, with a willingness to see all sorts of services taking over large parts of public libraries if they will make money.  This group will see co-locating any other services with libraries as a no-brainer win. May be strong believers in libraries (and genuinely want to reform them for their own good) or may not see any “special” place for libraries at all and will expect them to fight with other public services for their slice of an ever decreasingly sized pie.  Very likely to call reductions in budget “savings” or “efficiency savings”. Likely to be technophiles, Conservatives (many Liberal Democrats and some New Labour too) or non library users but, as with all other groups, could be anyone.

You should be able to recognise everyone, or any organisation, involved amongst one of these three headings.  So, have fun putting people in these groups … but then bear in mind that life is never quite as easy as that and, people always have the capacity to surprise.  In case you’re wondering what CILIP is, I think it is in  the difficult position of being somewhere between campaigner and pragmatist. The Society of Chief Librarians is most definitely pragmatist (although it has elements of all groups amongst its members) and Judy Terry quoted below is stongly on the “Believer” side.  It’s pretty obvious who the campaigners are, although even within that group you will find disagreements.  What has happened with CILIP yesterday and today is the organisation trying to be pragmatist but coming up against the fact that many members (or ex-members) of CILIP are, naturally, campaigners. That’s quite a disconnect but one probably inevitable considering the situation … how CILIP react and learn from this and the developing situation (expect George Osborne to announce extra deep cuts to council budgets soon) will say much about it.

Changes

• Buckinghamshire – Volunteer library to be run from Waddesdon Secondary School.
• Gateshead – Chopwell Library to be moved into primary school to cut costs by £19k per year. Start-up cost is £129k.
• Leicestershire – Barwell Library will close as volunteer plan falls through.

Ideas

• Colouring for adults

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Editorial

Bad news in Barnet as major cuts are announced, although library opening hours will actually be increased due to using Open+ self-service remote-control technology.  Lambeth also announced major cuts but, again with far fewer closures than expected, due to GLL taking over some libraries as “healthy living centres”.  This adds another borough arrow to GLL’s quiver as it already runs libraries in Greenwich and Wandsworth.  Both Barnet and Lambeth represent challenges to the traditional view of libraries as, in both, considerable numbers of library staff will lose their jobs but the councils can claim, with a clear enough conscience to appear to the media with, that they have maintained a library service.  Meanwhile I am receiving via email and Twitter heart-rending stories of library staff losing their jobs and the impact it will have, in reality, on the service that councils provide.

I am also including today a feature about a storyteller and what he does for libraries and literacy.  This is the sort of project that Arts Council England, amongst others, support (although I don’t know if they have done so in this case) and shows the power of outreach and not being limited  to the buildings themselves.

Changes

• Barnet – £2.27m cut by 2020. 10 libraries to adopt Open+ technology to increase opening hours. Substantial cuts to staff, to be replaced with volunteers. Childs Hill, East Barnet, Mill Hill and South Friern to be volunteer run with council support. 46% of library staff cut, from 114 to 62 full time. Space will be let out for commercial and community use to raise money.
• Cornwall – Bodmin Library to move from dedicated building into a new council office on outskirts.
• Lambeth – Waterloo Library to close (transferred to an academy); Upper Norwood Library will become more volunteer; Carnegie, Minet and Tate South libraries to be passed to GLL as “healthy living centres” (with self-service library machines and no permanent staff). Durning, Brixton, Clapham, Streatham and planned new West Norwood Library will remain council controlled and funded.
• North Ayrshire – Consultation on reducing opening hours.
• Scottish Borders – Libraries to be run by Borders Sport and Leisure non-profit trust.
• Shropshire – Ellesmere Library to move from dedicated building into a Day Centre.

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Editorial

Some bad news from Lewisham, not made any better by the council claim that making the paid library staff redundant and replacing them with volunteers may “enhance” the service.  There’s one for CILIP to get their teeth into, if it becomes official council policy.

Otherwise, the thing I’d like to draw your attention to is the joint SCL and ASCEL statement welcoming refugees to the UK and the short notice from John Vincent below.  For me, one of the many strengths of public libraries is that they provide refuge for all, from the poorest to (if they choose to) the wealthiest.  I remember when hundreds of Poles suddenly made their appearance.  I also remember knowing about a community of East Timorese moving into the town before anyone else, simply because they joined the library first in order to gain online access.  I am sure public libraries will have similarly important roles to play with the Syrians and others coming in and we should be very proud of it.

Changes

• Gwynedd – Porthmadog library to change location into leisure centre to save money and improve facilities.
• Lewisham – £1m cut (from £4.2m) – Reduction to 4 libraries (Deptford Lounge, Lewisham and Downham Health, Catford) with 3 others ( Forest Hill, Torridon, and Manor House) becoming volunteer
• Lincolnshire – Wragby Library likely to close due to lack of funding.
• Newcastle – Newburn Library reopens after refurbishment.

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Editorial

Remote controlled staffless libraries are up for an award, as “Customer project of the year”, in the V3 Technology Awards. This is the Open+ scheme where one can enter the library, in set hours, through security doors, as long as one has a library card and a PIN. The library itself can be open without any staff, paid or otherwise, within it, with security being provided by CCTV, tannoys and the ability to remotely control the computers.  Peterborough love it and argue that, instead of closing libraries, they were able to extend opening hours.  Whether library staff, already feeling a tad bit vulnerable after mass job losses and the sharp increase in the use of volunteers, will feel so welcoming remains to be seen.

Changes

• Southampton – British Gas offers £25k to help volunteers take over libraries.

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Editorial

Kirklees has given more thought to what it is doing with its libraries: two-thirds of them will close or pass to volunteers and all six mobiles will end. This is actually slightly better than the proposals last year but few library users, or the 100+ staff whose jobs may be lost, will be celebrating that. In other news, Staffordshire has started describing which groups will be taking over libraries it is withdrawing from. The NHS are taking over three  and it’ll be interesting to see how that works – there’s actually much to be said for closer health/library co-operation, although I’m not sure if that is what will happen.  Even more interesting, and something to think over the implications of, is a Baptist church is taking over the running of another one.  We’ll see who takes over the others soon.  Elsewhere,  Sutton is considering cuts of around a quarter and Thurrock is reducing opening hours.

Those who follow lis-pub-libs will see that a draft of a Bibliocommons / SCL report on public libraries “digital offer” was released before it had finally been agreed.  I of course had a look but, because it is a draft, won’t comment much here, other observing that there’s an inherent issue with having a library computer company recommending solutions that they may then bid for themselves.  More when the report comes out for real.

Changes

• Kirklees – 16 out of 24 libraries will pass to volunteers or close (previously 22 out of 24), 6 mobile libraries will also end. 88 full time roles to be lost, opening hours cut in surviving libraries.
• Staffordshire – South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to take over Baswich, Brewood and Holmcroft libraries. Rising Brook Baptist Church will take over the running of Rising Brook Library.
• Sutton – £1m out of £4.4m inc. loss of one library and one mobile, volunteers replacing staff, outsourcing or sharing services.
• Thurrock – Opening hours reduced.

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