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Editorial

It’s more cuts today I’m afraid.  Some deep cuts have happened very much under the radar in Buckinghamshire – cuts of a fifth in some of the largest libraries. Camden have announced the first phase of cutting its libraries budget by £800k, which is going to hurt. Meanwhile, in the world of mobiles, Dorset is going to lose 75 stops and it has become clear that 3 out of 4 mobiles have been withdrawn earlier this year in Worcestershire. This will all doubtless please the writer from Kirkbymoorside who welcomes library closures (apparently because she never needs one herself) but the comments on her articles, and the people I meet every day in libraries, show thankfully that others know better.

Changes

• Buckinghamshire – Opening hour cuts from 29 June of around one fifth in its largest nine libraries. Micklefield Library hours also reduced. Castlefield became volunteer run in 2015. £100k improvement to Buckingham Library.
• Camden – £800k cut. 12-week consultation.  Options include closures, opening hours cuts, outsourcing or increasing volunteers.
• Dorset – At least one mobile to be withdrawn, 75 stops lost. To be implemented in April 2016.
• Worcestershire – 3 out of 4 mobiles withdrawn (February 2015).

Ideas

• Mobile Fab Lab – yes, one in a mobile library.

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Editorial

Devon and Cornwall are moving towards running its libraries at arms length from the council and a council that’s already gone down that route, Suffolk, perhaps leading the way in lending out iPads. Speaking of innovation, I hear from the rather wonderful looking hive of activity that is Rhydypennau Library that they have a seed library as well as Axminster (who I thought were alone in the UK).  Any others out there?

However, the big news in libraries at the moment is about none of this.  It is about the Summer Reading Challenge, which officially starts on Saturday, although many authorities jump in way before then, with one I noticed starting on 1st July (won’t some people have completed it before the actual Summer Holidays then folks?). This year, the theme is Record Breakers and there will be an official national World Record attempt this weekend.  To those involved, I feel your pain about the bureaucracy of it all (got all your Lead Witnesses and forms sorted yet?) but hopefully it will be a big publicity and feel-good thing … and big collaborative things like that are what libraries need.  Although that Guinness World Record certificate (or at least a colour scan of it) is going to end up in my office if I have anything to do with it. And for those of you who remember the wonderful Record Breakers with Roy Castle, you will already know the truth about working in public libraries (perhaps more now than ever)  … dedication is all you need. 

Changes

• Cornwall – Consultation ends. Council moves towards tender libraries/One Stop Shops to independent organisations.
• Devon – Chair appointed to chair new Devon Libraries “independent organisation.

Ideas

• Suffolk – iPad lending scheme begins.

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Editorial

The Support for Axminster Library campaign have gained a pile of Devon library related emails from a Freedom of Information request.  There’s a ton of them, many confusingly listed or with bits blacked out, but what there is has been combed through.  The result is that the campaign has come up with several things including the fact that Axminster Library is indeed funded below what it should be in terms of its usage and that there was a visit to the library by decision makers that was kept quiet in order to avoid campaigners being present.  This is being seen as important due to major cuts in funding, including the suggestion that Axminster may face closure if volunteers do not support it. Which is a shame because Axminster Library is pretty hot stuff – it’s busy, well-supported, has a lego club and even the only seed library I’m aware of in a UK public library – and the library campaign is understandably not happy.

To my mind, though, there’s no major scandals in the emails between the chief librarian (and current President of the Society of Chief Librarians), the relevant councillors and others.  Which is just as well for them because what there is is being used by the campaigners for all that it is worth. The major take-home lesson for all library workers from this is that all library-related staff – and councillors – need to be very careful in what they say even in internal emails.  Imagine if there was a disparaging remark about even one person in one of those discovered in Devon? It would have been easy enough for something to slip in what must be a stressful and busy time there.  So, treat every email as if it is a public one and write only what is publicly defensible.  This may sound like a bind but, frankly, professionals should be doing that anyway shouldn’t we?

In other news, my thanks to Carillion-owned Cultural Community Solutions Ltd for sending me details of the new lego activities that they are starting from the Summer in their several library services.  This includes the new and impressive (I can vouch for this as I’ve been shown the stuff myself by Lego Education) lego learning sets.  Most interestingly for those looking at income generation (and, on the other hand, those fearful of it) is that the weekly clubs will be charged for, as will lego parties, lego class visits and even lego teambuilding sessions for businesses.  That’s taking it to the next level … but in these days of deep budget cuts, perhaps it is the only way.

Finally, I’ve learnt that the public libraries debate between Ed Vaizey and Alan Gibbons is provisionally booked for 10th September.  Keep that date free. If the DCMS libraries section (hi folks, I know you read PLN regularly) would like the proper statistics for use in this debate, please email me at the address below. I’ll even tailor them for England only if you want as I know your boss Mr Vaizey has said in parliament that he refuses to use them as they mention Scotland and Wales occasionally. I’ve already sent them to Alan. While you’re here, you could also look at the international news section for how Australia is using its libraries to boost all sorts of things, including community cohesion and STEM.

Please send your news, views, government departmental requests for information, comments and corrections to ianlibrarian@live.co.uk.

Carillion Libraries and Lego Education

Carillion Libraries are working in partnership with LEGO Education to deliver exciting resources linked to the STEM and literacy curriculums to children developing an interactive learning environment in the library. Carillion manage library services on behalf of the local authorities in Croydon, Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow. Library staff have been trained on how to use the resources and deliver sessions and session plans are included as part of the resource. The resources include computer software that helps children build models step by step adding sensors to the models which brings them to life using basic coding and robotics.

Carillion Libraries will be launching the resources with a visit from LEGO Education to each of their four boroughs in July, with some taster sessions in the summer and the offer of regular LEGO clubs using the box sets of resources and computer software on a weekly basis from September. The aim is to deliver sessions in partnership with Family Learning and with schools. The websites give further information an example is the Ealing Libraries website.

The range of resources include:

• Storystarter – Gives basics of how to write a story, using lego bricks and multiple session plans.
• More To Math – using lego to give basic mathematical knowledge.
• WeDo – Using lego robots with lego computing package, suitable for junior schools.
• BuildToExpress – Aids communication.
• Simple and Powered Machines – Basic engineering inc. pulleys and levers.
• Machines and Mechanisms – Basic mechanics
• MindStorms – Robotics for older children.

The libraries will offer free taster sessions over the Summer. From then on there will be weekly lego clubs as well as other activities not previously seen in public libraries including “Lego parties”, the hiring out of Lego sets for INSET days in schools, team building sessions for businesses and – interestingly – class visits to libraries which will include 45 minutes in the normal library and 45 minutes using the lego. It is expected that most, if not all, of the latter will be charged for, with the class visits being pitched at £100.

Changes

• Leicestershire – Barrow-Upon-Soar to become first volunteer library, before the end of July. Other libraries confirmed to become volunteer: Castle Donington (date to be scheduled), Hathern and Kegworth (January 2016), Anstey (October 2015), Rothley (October 2015) and Sileby (December 2015). 12 libraries still do not have strong expressions of interest to be passed to unpaid so may close.
• Lincolnshire – Wainfleet Library closed from 6 June. Mobile stop replaces it. Hope for volunteers to establish new library in town.
• South Lanarkshire – East Kilbride Library closes.

Ideas

• Using lego to make money – Carillion Libraries will charge for weekly lego club, class visits including lego, lego parties and business teambuilding events.

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Editorial

There is an image amongst some who care about public libraries that chief librarians are somehow selfish bureaucrats who care only for their own careers.  I regularly see and hear senior library staff being spoken of disparagingly and, as someone who sees a little of both sides, inside and outside of libraries I can both understand this viewpoint but at the same time fully understand and sympathise with the situation that senior library managers are in.  The problem, you see, is that the British electorate have voted for large cuts to public services.  They may never say that aloud but those who have voted for any of the three main political parties would understand that that came with the territory.  Those that argue that our voting system is broken and that the will of the public was somehow malformed due to the first past the post system have to bear in mind that that very same public voted against proportional representation.

So we have to live with democratically imposed reductions to budgets and it is the senior staff in each service, especially those as seen as more expendable like (sadly) libraries who have to somehow implement them. I know of, directly, two chiefs who have been privately in tears over what they have had to do.  They would not have been emotionally so affected if they were somehow callous self-seeking individuals. Don’t get me wrong, such nasty people do exist, especially those that spend their lives too much in meetings and not enough on the front line, but they are not, please to goodness, the majority and all should not be painted with the same brush of blame.

So, don’t shoot the messenger.  It’s the task of those who care for the sector to work out how best to retain and change it over the next five years being in mind that austerity is going to continue to be our travelling companion.  We need to look at ways to reduce costs, increase income and usage while at the same time maintaining the neutral welcoming free ethos of the public library. If that strikes you as a tough call then you, too, may have the beginnings of sympathy for the chief librarian.

Changes

• Cambridgeshire – Kora business centre cancelled due to council concerns over due diligence.
• Carmarthenshire – Cross Hands Library will temporarily move into cinema and then co-locate, probably with police station.
• Enfield – Mobile library confirmed to be closed. 11 libraries to be “community” sharing buildings with other services.
• Falkirk – Consultation launched.
• Leicestershire – Burbage Library may be run by a local brewery as an alternative to it closing.

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Editorial

One for the things I notice scanning the library press is how different the situation is in different countries.  Reports today show libraries are booming in the US and Australia yet here they are not doing so well.  There is more than one answer to why that is the case there but not so much here. Libraries have more independence in those countries to campaign and do long-term planning for a start.  In the US, also, the divide in society is such that so many more people don’t have access to the internet or indeed space that the library is vital, especially in a country that does not appear to have Job Centres or the other paraphernalia of a caring state that we are (still) familiar with.  In Australia, adult literacy is seen as a big thing for libraries and they get funding for that.  In some places in the US like Columbus it’s educating children outside of school that is key. In the UK, none of these, not even internet access, are such big deals and thus the libraries have less leverage for the final big over-arching factor. That other big difference is, of course, money.  The other countries have cuts to be sure but nothing, apparently, in the same league as the UK.  To keep the sporting allusion going, therefore, we need that strategy quickly if we are not to get demoted yet another division.

Changes

• Bradford – Shipley Library will have £640k refurbishment inc. self-service machines, new exhibition area, heating, toilets.
• Dudley – Cradley Library may move into new building due to area redevelopment.
• Scottish Borders – Move to libraries being run by a Trust delayed.
• Surrey – Ownership of Lingfield Library passed to community trust.  Paid staff will remain for one year while negotiations with council continue.

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