Editorial

It was good to see the Libraries Connected Awards this week. They served several purposes, including sharing best practice, publicising the sector, putting the best face on at a challenging time, and of course rewarding and recognising staff. These are all good things and especially necessary at the moment when public libraries at the frontline level are in a worrying time. It’s clear that while usage is very different between services and even between branches, many services are still seeing reduced usage compared to two years ago, sometimes significantly so. This needs addressing by more than Awards. Frequent readers will know my desire for a national publicity campaign, increased (or at least no more cuts) in funding and a reappraisal of normal library practices such as fines and requiring ID for joining. Awards are not much compared to that. But it’s a start. I look forward to more.

National news

• 10 November – What’s new? What’s next? – Library Campaign. “Here’s your chance to catch up on all the news you need to know. The Library Campaign aims to give library users and Friends a complete one-stop update, via Zoom. Plus a chance to discuss it all. A lot has happened in public libraries since our last Zoom in May. More is due to happen in the next few weeks. By November 10 we may have a clearer picture of the immediate future –  good and bad. So – what happens next? Where do library users come in? There will be plenty to discuss… You don’t have to be a TLC member to join in.”
• Baby Babble (A NAG webinar week event) – National Acquisitions Group. Tuesday 9 November 11am. “Baby Babble is a five-week programme for babies aged around 4 to 9 months and their parents/carers. The sessions, developed with speech and language therapists and led by Derbyshire Sure Start librarians, are fun and interactive with activities and ideas to encourage babies’ early communication skills, speech and language. This webinar gives a brief background to the sessions and an overview of pre-pandemic provision. It will go on to illustrate how the librarians have adapted the delivery of the sessions to ensure continuity during the past 18 months, and to secure its delivery for the future.”
• The Booker Prize Libraries Shortlist event – Reading Agency. “Libraries, colleges and secondary schools are invited to register to host an exclusive shortlist event. Hosted by Coventry University and chaired by Lemn Sissay, the event will feature live readings and a Q&A with the six shortlisted authors. More information about the shortlisted books can be found here.  Participating libraries will receive a link to stream the event. This can either be shown live (29 October, 7-8.30pm) or as a recording in the following days before the winner is announced on 3 November. Participating libraries will also receive additional materials including information about the shortlisted books and a quiz to use during your event. Please fill in this survey to register your interest to host a shortlist streaming event. You can also download a free digital pack to help promote the Prize in your library.”
• Creating an Impactful and Viable Sustainability Plan – Libraries Knowledge Network. Thursday November 4, 1pm – 2pm. “Join Sara Kassam, Sustainability Lead at the V&A in London, to explore the key principles behind creating a viable sustainability plan. With practical examples and advice, this webinar aims to inspire impactful changes that will support your planning and help underpin your Library’s green initiatives.”
• Directions for public library technology – Ken Chad Consulting. Survey. “Consolidation of library tech vendors doesn’t seem to be a big issue for librarians. Is that your view? What do you see as the key library tech trends/issues?”

Libraries Connected Awards winners announced – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected is delighted to announce the winners of its first ever awards to recognise and celebrate the achievements of library staff over the past year.”:

Health & Wellbeing Award: The Death Positive Library Project Team, Vision Redbridge, Kirklees and Newcastle. For their work promoting the role of libraries as powerful and compassionate spaces to support conversations around death, dying and bereavement.

Reading Award: Laura Smith, Library Apprentice, City of London Libraries. For her work developing the ‘What Next? Book Recommendation Quiz’ that enables users to get recommendations for eBooks which resulted in a significant increase in eBook loans.

Culture and Creativity Award: Sam Whitehouse, Customer Service Assistant, Wakefield Libraries. For his work on the ‘Cinema in the Library,’ a Libraries Connected Yorkshire and Humber funded project that provides free cultural experiences to local people.  

Information & Digital Award: Basia Godel, Library Assistant, North Yorkshire Libraries. For her work on community cohesion and racial justice during Black History Month by curating an event on the contribution of black people to North Yorkshire and diversifying the library stock.

Children’s Promise Award: Shaun Doyle, Library Assistant, North Yorkshire Libraries. For his work in establishing the Young Adult Library Team made up of younger members of library staff who help the service to reach out more effectively to young people and young LGBTQ people.

Vision and Print Impaired People’s Promise Award: Helen Cunningham, Access and Inclusion Librarian, Derbyshire Libraries. For her work in transforming Buxton Library Listening Group for people with sight loss to 

• Post Pandemic Panaceas: the role of libraries’ initiatives and impact on the young generation – EuroLis. “The seminar will seek to explore the effect that library closures due to the pandemic had on children and how libraries have reacted. Through online presentations from European speakers, we will learn what creative strategies of connecting young audiences and other digital outreach programs European librarians have come up with and the impact on children’s learning and development.” 3, 10 and 17 November, 4 to 6pm, online conference.
• Reading Partners Roadshow – Reading Agency. “The Roadshows are an opportunity for librarians and teachers to hear from 29 of our publishing partners about their latest titles, meet authors, and have the chance to ask questions about promotional opportunities. The Children’s Reading Partners Roadshow will take place on Wednesday 10 November and the Adult Reading Partners Roadshow will take place on Thursday 11 November.”
• Reviving our High Streets: The Role of Libraries – Lorensbergs. “This paper explores the relationship between libraries and high streets. It draws upon the perspectives and plans of several public library authorities and identifies how libraries can bring practical support and a brighter future to our town centres. It includes input from the library services of Bolton, Brent, Fife, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and North Somerset, who all contributed their perspectives on how their services are being developed to the benefit of their wider environment. Together their examples show how libraries are providing brighter horizons for all those who live in, work and visit our town and city centres.”
• The terrifying future of Wales’ decimated councils, where millions are being lost each month and broken staff are in short supply – Wales Online. “In Cardiff, 300 staff from St David’s Hall and from the call centre were working on Test, Trace, Protect. The head of libraries was managing the distribution of PPE across the city.”

International new

• USA – Librarians to the Defense – Progressive. “Despite the challenges, the American Library Association, EveryLibrary, the Progressive Library Guild, #SaveNilesLibrary, and librarians, library workers, and patrons nationwide agree that preserving public libraries as citadels of free thought and intellectual freedom is imperative, and doing so comes down to something basic: community organizing.”

Local news by authority

• Bradford – Boffins will use Pokemon Go-style technology to bring Bradford’s history to life – Telegraph and Argus. “Bradford Council’s Libraries Service will be taking part in the project, which will see audiences travel back in time via computer enhanced special effects to experience local events where they actually happened.”
• Calderdale – Flagship development of existing Northgate site to transform future of Halifax – News Centre. [Correspondent reports that “When the Council wished to relocate the Library the buildings were declared ‘unfit for purpose’ and only worthy of demolition. Once the Library had been relocated the former Library building was refurbished as a Sixth-form College. The Council Offices, as you will read, are now refurbished as retail space. The new Central Library is one-third less floor area than the former Library. Services such a bibliographic services, reserve book stock and the School’s service are decentralised at two separate sites one mile distant from the new Library. The former Library was on a prime central site which is now being praised as such for the sixth-form College and retail development.”]
• Cheshire East – Council offers young people chance to work on digital arts project – Cheshire East Council. “Cheshire East Council’s libraries team is seeking young people from Crewe aged between 11-16 to get involved in a new library-based digital arts project. Luminate Youth is an after-school digital project and Arts Council England funded programme which gives young people an opportunity to try a range of digital arts activities, including: coding, e-textiles, paper circuitry, electronics and digital light art. “
• Devon – Devon’s libraries ensure county’s traditional folklore is not forgotten – Devon Live. The Folklore Library & Archive has announced it will work with Devon Libraries in order to provide a physical site for its important reference library and document archives at Crediton Library.”
• Essex – Family Learning Fair comes to Rayleigh Library – Leigh Times. “Simply drop-in and learn new methods to support your child’s learning, fun ways for children to develop their language and communication skills as well as access to free online learning resources.”
• Greenwich -Better Libraries Recognised In National Awards – Better. Runner up in Health and Wellbeing for Libraries Connected Awards. “Better’s Greenwich Libraries are the home of the Football Library project that has seen dozens of library loans of good quality footballs – made in Kenya by social enterprise ball manufacturer Alive and Kicking. The initiative helps youngsters in Greenwich get more active and socially confident through play, while helping build sustainable communities in Africa. The scheme has been so successful it has now been extended to Better libraries in Bromley and Wandsworth since May 2021.”
• Oldham – Royton Town Hall and Library revamp finally underway after pandemic delays – Manchester Evening News. “Work to transform the iconic Royton Town Hall and Library into a multi-use community hub has begun. The project will breathe new life into the town hall and adjoining library to create a welcoming, family-friendly venue in the heart of the town, Oldham town hall bosses say. As well as creating an improved library area and better community rooms, there will also be space for a local business to launch.”
• Isle of Wight – Out on an Island present ‘Our Stories Matter’ documentary with free coffee and croissants – On the Wight. “Thanks to everyone who came along to StoneCrabs’ Out On An Island Pop Up Cafe in Lord Louis Library, Newport on Saturday. Also thanks to library staff who showed  how easy it is to join the library and access books and audiobooks.”
• Northamptonshire – Kettering gallery, library and museum project starting to take shape – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “Plans for a refurbished gallery and improved library in Kettering’s town centre are picking up pace this month – with builders laying steel foundations and new visuals unveiled.” … “It was back in August 2020 that funding was first approved for the project, with South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) awarding £3m from the Government’s Getting Building Fund (GBF) to redevelop the town’s Alfred East Art Gallery and library which sit adjacent to the Manor House Museum.” [A correspondent notes “Lots of money being spent here but most of our community-managed libraries still have to pay rent to the two Unitary Councils unless a town council or other organisation has bought the building” – Ed.]
• Northern Ireland – Ministers extol virtues of reading to mark Book Week – Coleraine Chronicle. “The First Minister was at Lisburn City Library while the deputy First Minister visited Cookstown Library. They met staff, as well as representatives from Libraries NI and the BBC, who are jointly coordinating Book Week.”
• North Yorkshire – Libraries Connected awards for top library workers – Northern Echo. “North Yorkshire’s youngest librarians have been crowned winners in an awards scheme that celebrate the achievements of people working in libraries. Basia Godel, 25, won the Information and Digital category and Shaun Doyle, 23, scooped the Children and Young People award in North Yorkshire County Council’s Libraries Connected scheme.”
• Slough – Slough library consultation will only ‘reduce services’, Tory councillor claims – Slough Express. ““The consultation is clearly about reducing services but not about improving the library services. “All the options we have are either to reduce the hours, reduce the staff or close the buildings. “There’s no option for improving the services.”” but “Council leader James Swindlehurst said: “People are cynical about consultations and think we have decided an answer before we go out which is absolutely not the case in this instance.”
• Somerset – Library set to close until the new year – West Somerset Free Press. “During refurbishment of the Bancks Street library, which started in March, books and library services were moved to temporary accommodation in the Old Hospital building. Now the county council library service has decided that the hospital building is not suitable for winter use and library users will be asked to renew items online or use other libraries in Somerset.”
• Suffolk – Heaven & Hell: Sylvia Knights – Eastern Daily Press. “A director of Suffolk Libraries since its creation in 2012, she is passionate about the value of books and learning”
  • New library set to open on site of former middle school – Ipswich Star. “Families in Needham Market will soon be able to step inside the town’s new library, which is set to open in November on the former site of the town’s middle school. Funded by Mid Suffolk District Council, the new library will be more spacious than the current location and will also have bookable meeting rooms. “
• Swindon – 27 targets Swindon Borough Council wants to achieve by 2025 – Swindon Advertiser. “Parks and open spaces, waste collection and recycling and the council-run libraries service were the services that most people were most satisfied with. “
• Worcestershire – Spooky activities on offer at Tenbury Wells Library this half-term – Malvern Observer. “Monster Mania Story Time, involving stories, mask making and colouring, will be among the activities on offer”
  • Bromsgrove library launches new business support centre – Bromsgrove Advertiser. “The Business & IP Centre (BIPC) is now open at six libraries across Worcestershire, with Bromsgrove’s officially opened last week by councillor Karen May.”
• York – Residents are being invited to have their say on plans for a new home for a Library – York Mix. “Haxby and Wigginton Library has been without a permanent base for the last 5 years – but now it has found a potential home at Oaken Grove Community Centre. Residents are being invited to have their say on the location. Over the past 18 months, the Council, along with Explore York, has been working with Oaken Grove Community Centre to develop plans to permanently co-locate the library inside the Community Centre..”

Editorial

Nadine Dorries announced £5 million for libraries in February this week. Or did she? As was pointed out to me by someone this afternoon this sounds suspiciously like the Libraries Improvement Fund (awards due to be announced in Feb 2022) which offers £5 million. Compare that with the Nicola Sturgeon who got some flack from the Scottish Sun, who is giving £1.25 million – a quarter as much but for a population one tenth the size. In other news, the relentless rise in fines-free libraries claimed it’s biggest US convert so far, with the New York Public Libraries ceasing charging its customers. Its boss called fines “an antiquated, ineffective way” to get back books. Finally, a shout out to Manchester Libraries who continue to invest in its libraries. Oooh, and by the way, in personal news, the puppies are growing wonderfully – eyes open and starting to walk.

Changes by local authority

• Manchester – Chorlton and Longsight to be refurbished. New libraries at Gorton and Abraham Moss, improvements at Central.

National news

• The 100 Novels that Shaped our New World – Libraries Connected. “Library users and staff around the country chose the novel that had meant the most to them during the pandemic. Whether it gave them hope for the future or simply provided them with comfort or escape, over 400 people chose novels and this new list is the result.”
• Black History Month in Libraries – Libraries Connected. Lists some of the events.
• BookTrust Storytime – how libraries are supporting families to discover reading – DCMS Libraries. “This Autumn we’re excited to be delivering a new national pilot, BookTrust Storytime. This aims to test new ways to support disadvantaged families with children aged 0-5 to enjoy books and stories together.  Funded by Arts Council England, the pilot is a true collaboration, with partners across libraries, local authorities, the wider library sector including ASCEL, CILIP and Libraries Connected, and families involved at all stages: developing innovative ideas; testing concepts and their viability in library settings; and reviewing the design of resources and the overall family experience. “
• Collection Development Policies: A NAG Template for Public Libraries – NAG. “Updating, or even creating, a collection development policy is on the long term “to do” list for so many librarians in public libraries. With frequent requests for “ideal” “sample” and “recommended” policies, NAG decided to commission a consultant to review policies across the sector and pull together the best elements from a range of examples to offer a template for NAG Members.” 20 September, 1.30 – 3, Zoom.
• Dorries declares war on councils who shut libraries and is on mission to reopen them – Express. “Ms Dorries, 64, said £5million would be made available in February to enable library services to upgrade buildings and technology so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people use them” … “If I have one mission as Culture Secretary, it’s to open doors for those who need it the most. Libraries are the front line for that effort and I’ll press councils hard to invest in libraries because of the enormous value they provide.”

“When I was a young girl growing up in Liverpool, I loved my local library, partly because it was one of the only places I could enjoy central heating. We’d just moved from Breck Road to an overspill council estate, and we only had the one fireplace at home. The library was somewhere cosy and comforting, offering peace and a chance to escape. I still vividly remember taking my little brother with me one day, he must have been about four at the time, and sitting down with him at a table and poring over a huge book about atoms. I’d never even heard of atoms. But that’s the joy of a library – there’s a whole world of knowledge waiting to be explored.” Nadine Dorries, Culture Secretary

• New library roles to launch five-year green digital plan – Cambrian News. “National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth is set to appoint a new president and vice president as it embarks on a new five-year plan to enhance digital access and the library’s green credentials”
• New library! Tooting Library (England) – Naple Sister Libraries. “We are very happy to announce the incorporation of the first British library to the Naple Sister Libraries program. We hope it’ll be the first incorporation of many to come! Tooting Library is a busy high street library in a vibrant multi cultural suburb of South London. The library serves a population between 10.000 and 100.000”
• Post Pandemic Panaceas: the role of libraries’ initiatives and impact on the young generation – Eurolis. Nov 3/10/17 online, 4pm. “The seminar will seek to explore the effect that library closures during the pandemic had on children and how libraries have reacted to the challenge. We will learn what creative strategies of connecting young audiences through online presentations and other digital outreach programmes European librarians have come up with and the impact on children’s learning and development.”
• Public Libraries and Climate Change – British Libraries Living Knowledge Network. Thursday 14 October, 2 – 4.30pm. “You are warmly invited to attend an online event on 14 October between 14.00-16.30 on the topic of Public Libraries and Climate Change. There will be introductory high-profile speakers followed by two panels on Strategy and Policy (Chaired by Sue Williamson, Director of Libraries, Arts Council England) and on Climate Projects in Libraries (Chaired by Nick Poole, CEO, CILIP). Speakers will represent a diverse and international range of experiences to discuss and address this timely topic. We will also discuss ways we can keep talking about this topic as a community post-event. Please sign up to the event using the Go-To-Webinar link. The event is open to all library professionals”
• Scotland’s new National Librarian Amina Shah on starting new chapter as first female leader – Sunday Post. “But as head of Scotland’s largest library – one of Europe’s leading research libraries – she knows acutely the weight of her responsibility. To give a voice to those whom history has silenced or omitted, such as women and people of colour, and to deliver a library for everyone, where they can “see themselves reflected in the collections”. Equally, she says, it must be relevant in the post-pandemic world, a library that can help address society’s inequalities deepened by the impact of Covid.”
• “Shameless” Nicola Sturgeon accused of allowing Scotland’s libraries to be ‘decimated’ amid spending cuts over past 10 years – Scottish Sun. “Labour analysis of council finance stats found spending on public libraries has been slashed in real terms by a third since 2010/11 – from around £135million to just £92million last year. The figures, provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre suggest libraries would have received an additional £116.4 million over the decade if spending had remained at the 2010 level. Adjusted for inflation, Scottish Labour say that the real terms figure is as “astonishing” £220 million of ”cumulative cuts”.”
• Teaching Skills for Library Staff – LIEM. 17 November, all day, in Leicester. “The course which aims to build on participants’ current experiences of teaching information skills in libraries and learning centres, offers stimulating discussion and an excellent opportunity to share experiences.”

International news

• Global – Libraries ‘can support researchers more effectively’ – Research Information. “Commissioned by Ex Libris, the study was conducted by Alterline, an independent research agency. The report presents findings from a survey of more than 400 researchers and research office leaders across a range of disciplines in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.”
  • Celebrating the Librarians of SFF – Tor. Librarians featuring in Science Fiction and Fantasy listed.
• India – Notts historian founds public library in home village in India – Eastwood Advertiser. “Dr Arun Kumar is the university’s historian of modern India and assistant professor in Modern British Imperial, Colonial and Post-Colonial history. He was inspired to open the library in his family home in Kalyanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after his experience of book poverty in his early years and his recent research on workers’ libraries in India. The Rural Development Library is one of the first privately-owned village libraries in rural North India.”
• USA – The nation’s largest public library system is ending late fees forever – NPR. “Fines are “an antiquated, ineffective way to encourage patrons to return their books; for those who can afford the fines, they are barely an incentive,” New York Public Library President”
  • Circulating Ideas: Scenario Planning With Reading Public Library – Mechanical Dolphin. “Bronwen Gamble, Executive Director of Pennsylvania’s Reading Public Library, appeared with me on the American library podcast Circulating Ideas to share our experiences of scenario planning during a pandemic.”

Local news by authority

• Bradford – Bradford Library to start new writing course for South Asians – Telegraph and Argus. “Manningham Library will be hosting a 10-week creative writing course for South Asian people, sponsored by publishing company Fox&Windmill.”
• Cambridgeshire – Wisbech Library to encourage young readers – Planet Radio. “Each of the chosen libraries will receive ten sets of the Storytime shortlisted books, including large format versions for Storytime sessions as well as a range of resources and collectables to help encourage families to take part.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – Borough’s Summer Reading Challenge is huge success as thousands of children take part – Northwich Guardian. “Of the 2,344 children who took park, 1,226 completed the challenge to read six books over the summer holidays. Lots of events took place in libraries across the borough, including 19 animal handling workshops, events by Cheshire Dance, Chester Zoo, Noodle Performance Arts, Radiate Arts, Jem Bear and lots of environmentally themed craft sessions.”
• Conwy – How Welsh poet inspired design of Conwy children’s library section – North Wales Pioneer. “Conwy County Borough Council’s Libraries team has revealed The Story of Wales by Welsh poet, author and publisher Myrddin ap Dafydd, and illustrated by artist Dorry Spikes, influenced the set up of the children’s area of the Library at Glasdir. The Libraries team, along with Myrddin, Dorry, and design company Opening the Book, have created a flagship children’s section following the relocation of the library last month.”
• Cumbria – Cumbria police on tour for National Libraries Week – Times and Star. “they will be running a drop-in session and joined by Copeland Age and Advice Team.”
• Devon – Kingsbridge Library secures lottery funding for new meeting space – South Hams Gazette. “A new meeting space funded with £10,000 from the National Lottery has been officially opened in Kingsbridge Library. The room has a large Smart TV for presentations, free WiFi, a projector and screen, and users of the room can also access brand new kitchen facilities.”
• Dorset – Dorset digital champions offer free help with computer and internet problems – Dorset Echo. “Dorset Council’s volunteer digital champions provided their services over the phone during the pandemic. With restrictions lifted, they are no going out into the community to help people and will be at libraries offering their technical advice.”
• Dudley – Union calls for Dudley library staff to earn living wage – Express and Star. “The union revealed rates for library assistants are 12 per cent below what they would have been had the service stayed within the council, and have dropped below any other recognised council salary scale. Branch secretary at UNISON Dudley General Branch Theresa Kelly said: “Greenwhich makes a mockery of the term ‘social enterprise’. “Its flawed business model is based on zero-hours contracts and job cuts. The public services it pledged to maintain, such as leisure centres and libraries, are being eroded.””

“Since taking on the management of Dudley Libraries, GLL has made a number of improvements to working practices including; staff rotas and structures and the removal of lone working in libraries – a practice that we inherited. We have never employed staff on Zero Hours contracts within our libraries.  We do offer flexible working, in order to help cover instances of staff sickness or annual leave. “We are aware that some staff have concerns around the level of their recent pay rise and we are currently addressing these.  We are committed to paying the Real Living Wage across all our facilities and are working with local staff to reach this point as soon as possible. “ We would be delighted to meet and discuss the issue with both Theresa Kelly and Billy Gibson, as we have yet to have any direct contact from either of them.“

GLL spokesperson in email to Public Libraries News

• Glasgow – Martha Wardrop: We need to support investment in community-led climate action – Glasgow Times. “The pandemic has demonstrated the need for our local libraries in connecting and supporting our communities. We want to look ahead with optimism and ambition to a future in which libraries help everyone to achieve their potential. This requires all libraries in Glasgow to re-open including Whiteinch, Maryhill, GoMA, Barmulloch and the Couper Institute.”
• Isle of Wight – Islanders invited to celebrate National Libraries Week 2021 – Island Echo. ““Libraries offer a range of inclusive creative and social activities that connect individuals and communities. We help combat loneliness and improve wellbeing and make a lasting impact on people’s live. Our libraries support you throughout life. From story time groups for toddlers; supporting job seekers to get online and help with CV’s; to local health walks, we have you covered.””
• Kirklees – Show Love For Your Local Library This Libraries Week – Kirklees Together. ” libraries have been working extra hard to keep communities united and offer services that are accessible to all even when they had to temporarily close their doors. By offering over 29,000 books online, through apps like Libby; our libraries team made sure all avid book lovers got their reading fix.”
• Lancashire – Rare footage unearthed of Adele performing at Lancaster Library in 2007 – Lancs Live. “Footage showing the moment singer Adele performed her hit Hometown Glory as a support act at Lancaster Library back in 2007 has been unearthed. Get It Loud In Libraries’ company director, Stewart Parsons, has shared his memories of the superstar’s laid back performance – more than a decade ago.”
• Manchester – Two more Manchester libraries set to benefit from a re-vamp – Manchester City Council. “Libraries in Chorlton and Longsight are the latest Manchester libraries set to get a re-vamp as part of the council’s ambitious £6m Libraries 2023 strategy.” .. “Chorlton Library will be completely transformed and restored, whilst over at Longsight Library, library users are going to benefit from a complete reconfiguration of the building along with other improvements that will help open up the building to more people and broaden the services it provides.”
• North Somerset – North Somerset celebrates Libraries Week – Weston Mercury. “North Somerset Council’s executive for neighbourhood and community services, Cllr Mike Solomon, believes libraries have the power to make a change in a person’s life”
• Northamptonshire – Two lost and the futures of a few hanging in the balance – NN Journal. “St James library and Kingsthorpe library in Northampton have been closed for more than a year. Two of the 17 libraries dropped by Northamptonshire county council and marked for a community takeover, there’s a possibility these libraries may never re-open. They may follow the fate of those in Far Cotton and Higham Ferrers and close permanently, the books packed away and sent into storage or transferred to the stock collection of another library.”
• Nottingham – 150 Years of Nottingham City Libraries – Nottingham City Libraries. Some amazing photographs including a rather wonderfully large “No Spitting” sign.
• Nottinghamshire – Nottinghamshire libraries to launch new centres to support businesses – Chad. “Libraries in Mansfield and Sutton will be opening Business and IP Centres to support aspiring business owners, entrepreneurs and inventors to start or develop their business.”
• North Yorkshire – Poetry Festival at Ripon Library – Harrogate Advertiser. “It will see a cheese and wine launch-party at 7pm, with an open mic, hosted by Darlington’s Vane Women poetry collective. And Ripon will host a poetry workshop for children about rhythm and rhyme with poet and children’s writer Andy Croft, on Saturday, October 9, 11am.”
• Redcar and Cleveland – Plans to upgrade and improve Ormesby library approved – Northern Echo. “The council is bidding for £280,000 from the Arts Council to “substantially renovate” Ormesby library and also create a modern, multi-use community facility to include a café and lounge area. Other planned changes, subject to consultation with the public and relevant ward councillors, including developing the first floor of the Laburnum Road library building, in Redcar, to create a community space for social activities and groups for local residents.”
• Shropshire – Mobile library to visit rural communities near Wem– Whitchurch Herald. “The trial scheme plans to extend to more locations in the near future and follows the opening last month of the Shropshire Local Ludlow”
• Suffolk – Around Suffolk in 40 Stories: ‘Everybody should tell their story’ – BBC. “Glenys Newton, who lives near Saffron Walden in Essex, spoke to 40 Suffolk residents over the past year for a story relay, with each storyteller nominating the next to create a human library of stories about people in the county. She worked in partnership with Suffolk libraries for the project called Around Suffolk in 40 Stories.”. See Around Suffolk In 40 Stories
• Waltham Forest – How WIILMA partners with local libraries to widen community cohesion and reduce loneliness – DCMS Libraries. “WIILMA is supported by the British Library’s Start-ups in London Libraries (SiLL) program, and are also participating in a national Integrated Communities strategy pilot by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which encourages experimental and unconventional approaches to increasing community integration.”
• Warrington – Friends of Penketh Library host competition for Libraries Week – Warrington Guardian. “The competition involves children creating a poster of their favourite book character.”
• Warwickshire – Warwickshire residents invited to come and say hello during Libraries Week – Rugby Observer. “Warwickshire Libraries are also launching their Book Amnesty campaign, which will run throughout October, allowing residents to bring back any items they may still have at home without incurring fines or charges.”
• Worcestershire – Staff take the Here2Help Community Directory on library tour – Worcester Observer. “The Community Services Directory went live last week, it is the latest offer of the Here2Help service and is designed to help residents find the support they need”
  • Free poetry books for National Poetry Day from Worcester Libraries – Bromsgrove Standard. “Poetry enthusiasts will be able to pick up five different anthologies for free from any of the six main Worcestershire Libraries, The Hive, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Evesham, Malvern and Kidderminster.”
  • Your Letters: Gorcott Hill, our Prime Minister – and Redditch Library – Redditch Standard. “Coun Dormer is not only Leader of Redditch Borough Council, he’s also on the Town Deal Board for Redditch, and is Worcestershire County Council portfolio holder for libraries, putting him in a powerful position over one of the county’s most valuable and important assets: Redditch Library. Why, then, is this supposedly eco-minded councillor currently preparing to waste a perfectly good building, a huge amount of energy, and millions of pounds of public money?”

Editorial

Interesting to see the transfer of Hertfordshire libraries to a library trust being indefinitely postponed. This process has already seemingly taken forever, it being first mooted in 2017 and then delayed during the Lockdowns so perhaps hearts were never truly in it in the first place. But the reason given for the shelving (haha) is revealing: that the council has realised how important and useful its library service was during last year and so needs to think about whether it wants to lose it. This is combined with concerns about if a future financial shock would bring down a trust. So, a virus originating in China has affected the governance of an English county library service. It’s a highly connected world in which we live.

You may have noticed this post is a bit late. This is indirectly due to the appearance of five schnauzer puppies in my life. We want to wait another week or two before thinking about selling them but if any of you live near enough to Cheshire and fancy a bearded heavily eye-browed small canine in your life, with a speciality of sitting on laps, then perhaps let me know.

Changes by local authority

• Hertfordshire – Move to library trust paused “indefinitely”
• Waltham Forest – Lea Bridge Library £1m extended with cafe, multi-use space.

National news

• BIPC Liverpool and British Library join forces to announce major new support lifeline for businesses across the Liverpool City Region – My Sefton. “The Business & IP Centre Liverpool (based in Central Library) and the British Library have announced the roll out of several new local Business & IP Centres (BIPCs) across the Liverpool City Region. Tuesday 21st September sees the official launch of more BIPCs in libraries in Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St.Helens and Wirral.”
• How does your library support people with no fixed abode – Reading Agency. “As part of World Homelessness Day, which falls on the final day of Libraries Week 2021, The Reading Agency and Libraries Connected are collecting information and examples of best practice for the ways libraries can support access to books and services for people with no fixed abode. The information will be used to better understand existing support and areas of need across the sector”
• Missing persons wanted – BookSeller. “Growing up in the West Midlands, I turned my back on reading books and even visiting libraries for many years. When I start to think back to why this was happening, I realised that not seeing Asian representation within publishing and at libraries was a key factor.”
• Of No Fixed Abode: Building the Public Library Offer – Eventbrite. Friday 8 October 3pm. “As part of the Libraries Week 2021 ‘Taking Action, Changing Lives’ events schedule (run by CILIP) and in the lead up to World Homelessness Day (October 10), The Reading Agency and Libraries Connected invite people working in or with the library sector to a panel discussion about the homelessness crisis in the UK today.”
• Read, Talk, Share – Stories from the frontline – DCMS Libraries. “Reading Friends is a befriending programme using reading to start conversations and connect people. It tackles the loneliness challenge head on by bringing people together to read, share stories, meet new friends, and have fun. Through an award by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), The Reading Agency provided funding, training and resources for 102 English library authorities to deliver Reading Friends to diverse audiences at risk of loneliness including new and expectant parents, young carers, older people and those living with dementia.”
• Too many libraries appear to be viewed as ‘easy targets’ when it comes to cutting budgets – John Dean – Scotsman. “Crime writers owe a lot to libraries. Library staff lend out their books, bringing in welcome payments under the Public Lending Right scheme, host their events and raise their profiles. Writers of all genres have much to be grateful to libraries for.”
• Vera creator backs Reading for Wellbeing scheme – Belfast Telegraph. “The author is celebrating the 21st anniversary of her detective character Vera Stanhope – played by Brenda Blethyn in the hit ITV series Vera – by supporting a reading scheme being piloted in the North East of England. Cleeves initiated the scheme, and has donated funds towards the pilot, which she launched in Durham.
• Which library matches your personality? – OUP Blog. “Which library matches your personality? Are you an old soul like the al- Qarawlyyin library? Compassionate like the Beitou Public Library? Quirky like the Culture Perth & Kinross Mobile Library? These are just some of the libraries you could match up with, give our short quiz a go to find out!” [I got the New York Public Library – Ed.]
• With vision and ample funding what could Scotland’s libraries become? – Dani Garavelli – Scotsman. “Yes, libraries have adapted to the times, digitising archives, automating check-out and return, offering eBooks. But library providers have become conscious of the importance of the physical gathering space in a world where people are increasingly isolated. Counterintuitively, the rise of social media – which reduces the opportunity for real-life contact – has fuelled a loneliness epidemic so great supermarkets were at one point being encouraged to set up “chatty cafes” for isolated customers.”

International news

• Canada – Why investing in libraries is a climate justice issue – National Observer. “For many, the safest and most accessible place to escape the heat was also free — the library. Public libraries are increasingly opening their doors as cooling centres as officials develop emergency plans for heat and other extreme weather condition”
• Denmark – The public library is the haven where we can rediscover the ability to immerse – Christian Lauersen. “The public library is not interested in getting you through the store as quickly as possible so that a new customer can drive the plastic card through. The library invites to slow time; time to read and time to be present. “
• USA – Whose Safety is the Priority? – International Journal of Information, Diversity and Inclusion. “Police and policing have tacitly, and at times explicitly, been normalized as aspects of library service in the U.S. As American forms of policing are exported at an international scale, this has international implications.”
  • History of Library Hand – Book Riot. “In September 1885, Thomas Edison and Melvil Dewey teamed up to design library hand — though their “team work” was less collaboration than it was one of implementation. Library hand, a rounded, easily legible style was based on Edison’s own handwriting”
  • Name calling, property damage: Public librarians harassed over vaccine mandate enforcement – Hawaii News Now. “Aldrich says since the vaccine and test mandate went into effect Monday, some people have been verbally abusive toward librarians who are trying to enforce the rule. “Calling us names or throwing their library card at us,” said Aldrich. “Our staff really want to serve the community and they care about the communities, so it’s hard when people are angry and they take it out on our staff.””
  • Slow life, slow librarianship – Information wants to be free. “Slow librarianship is an antiracist, responsive, and values-driven practice that stands in opposition to neoliberal values. Workers in slow libraries are focused on relationship-building, deeply understanding and meeting patron needs, and providing equitable services to their communities. Internally, slow library culture is focused on learning and reflection, collaboration and solidarity, valuing all kinds of contributions, and supporting staff as whole people.”
  • Teacher Stuck with $1,400 Fine from Library System that Killed Fines – Voice of San Diego. “Library Director Misty Jones said no patrons were sent to collections for fees attached to unreturned materials during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Ruble’s case had already worked its way to the San Diego treasurer before then, and the fee couldn’t be reversed.”
  • Techdirt Podcast Episode 297: The Future Of Libraries – Techdirt.”The notion that if libraries didn’t exist already, the publishing industry wouldn’t allow them to exist at all is both a grim joke and a depressing truth, as continually evidenced by the opposition of publishers to seemingly unobjectionable technologies like controlled digital lending, which aim to allow libraries to carry their mission forward into the digital age.”
  • Texas mom hijacks school board meeting to rage about young adult novel in school library about love affair between black boy and Mexican girl that features anal sex – Daily Mail. Library book successfully banned.

Local news by authority

• Argyll – Extended browsing at Argyll libraries – Oban Times. Partial paywall.
• Darlington – Winners of Darlington’s summer reading challenge revealed – Northern Echo. “Almost 2,400 entries were received as youngsters across the borough, aged 0-16, took part in the Reading Rollercoaster during the summer holidays.”
• East Renfrewshire – Councillors hit back at ‘misleading reports’ over East Renfrewshire library closures – Glasgow Evening Times. “There are “no plans” to close any East Renfrewshire libraries, the vice-chair of the trust in charge of the venues has insisted. A petition to ‘Save Giffnock Library’ has been signed by more than 900 people. It states there have been “suggestions that it will be closed and the service be moved into a new facility to be built in Eastwood Park”.”
• East Sussex – Free baby books available at Crowborough library – Crowborough Life. Bookstart.
• Essex – SOLE sets out ten-point plan for future of Essex libraries – Braintree and Witham Times. “The group said its concerns were cemented following the closure of Ramsey Community Library, near Harwich due to a lack of volunteers. A spokesperson for SOLE said: “The county council regularly pointed to Ramsey as a flagship example of how a library can rely entirely on volunteers, now we can all see how wrong they were.”
• Glasgow – Glasgow group to rally against public venue closures outside Scottish Parliament – Glasgow Live. “The Glasgow Against Closures group will be taking their campaign to Holyrood next week to ‘hold the Scottish Government to account for the continued defunding of services and communities in Glasgow’.”
  • Councillor David McDonald asks Scottish Government for all of £1.25m fund to re-open libraries to go to Glasgow – Glasgow Evening Times. “Five libraries are currently closed — Whiteinch, Maryhill, Barmulloch, the GoMA and the Couper Institute — and need an estimated £1.26m to allow visitors to return.” … “Last week, the Scottish Government announced £1.25m will be distributed by the Scottish Library and Information Council to help libraries recover from the Covid-10 pandemic.”
• Greenwich – Greenwich launches UK’s first fully biodegradable library cards – BookSeller. “The borough’s 13 public libraries begun issuing the new eco-cards this week and, with more than 121,000 library cards currently in circulation within Greenwich alone, it is hoped the change will reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill. ” … ” According to the EU a naturally biodegradable card should biodegrade in six months. Some of the materials that do this include plant products, leaves, food waste, wood and paper and seamlessly re-enter the earth.”This is in direct contrast to the degradable plastic library cards that have started to be offered as an environmental choice. These claim that they breakdown in between nine months to five years, but what is not advised is they then continuously breakdown into microscopic pieces that still effect the environment”
• Hertfordshire – Plans to transfer Herts libraries to ‘Libraries for Life’ now under review, councillors told – Hemel Today. “Plans to transfer the running of Hertfordshire libraries to a ‘public service mutual’ are being reconsidered, it has emerged – as part of a further review of library services. ‘Libraries for Life’ had been due to take over the running of the county’s libraries last year – with estimates suggesting the move could cut the cost of the service by £500,000 a year. But as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, the transfer of the service was put on hold ‘indefinitely’.”
• Highland – Fortrose and Cromarty Libraries hail Summer Reading Challenge participants and invite browsers in to open a fresh chapter with a visit – Ross-shire Journal.
• Hull – Top UK talent heading to Hull as part of Get It Loud In Libraries – Hull CC News. L Devine.
• Lincolnshire – Stamford Library services move to Stamford Day Centre in Ryhall Road – Rutland and Stamford Mercury. New roof and other repairs needed.
• Manchester – The Little Free Libraries keeping Manchester reading through lockdown – Mancunian Matters. “the trail consists of more than 25 little free libraries and is continuing to grow.”
• Oldham – Climate change festival comes to Oldham – Oldham Times. “The event, created by Crossing Footprints, in partnership with Community Arts North West and Oldham Libraries, is also set to celebrate Oldham Library being awarded Library of Sanctuary.”
• Perth and Kinross – Just a third of users returning to Perth and Kinross libraries after lockdown – Daily Record. “Culture Perth and Kinross chief executive Helen Smout said people had found alternatives but insisted libraries have a vital role to play” … “We are seeing a very varied return across all eight open venues.”
  • From Perth to St Kilda: Archaeologist delivers perfect excuse for late library book – Courier. “Ms Henderson, 41, borrowed the book from the AK Bell Library in Perth when she was applying for the St Kilda job, and after she got the post, asked if she could have it for a bit longer.” but then Lockdown happened.
• Renfrewshire – Read all about it – librarian Jacquelyn is up for national honour – Daily Record. “Primary Outreach Librarian Jacquelyn Else-Jack is one of six nominated in the longlist for this year’s [Scotland’s] Library and Information Professional of the Year.”
• St Helens – The little bookworms who just love reading – St Helens Star. SRC: “Organisers say 767 out of 1149 participants going on to complete the challenge”.
• Thurrock – Thurrock Adult Community College and former Aveley library set for demolition – Thurrock Gazette. “Applications have now been submitted to demolish Thurrock Adult Community College in Grays and the former library in Aveley.”
• Waltham Forest – Lea Bridge library extension opens to public – East London and West Essex Guardian. “The original listed building in Lea Bridge Road, built in 1905, now benefits from a multi-use space and cafe, overlooking Friendship Gardens at the rear. The library opened on September 20 and will be open seven days a week, with part of its new space available to hire.”
• West Lothian – Expert help available at West Lothian libraries – Linlithgow Gazette. “West Lothian Council Libraries and Heriot-Watt University have teamed up to put on an exciting programme of events called Borrow a Researcher, where university staff will help answer questions on issues that people can find overwhelming.”
• Wiltshire – Book returned to Salisbury Library by post from Canada – Salisbury Journal. [Evidently not much happening in Wiltshire that day – Ed.]
• Wirral – Consultation on Wirral Library Strategy ends next week – Wirral Globe. “Better reading materials, video editing equipment, work stations, increased online tools and craft spaces are just a few suggestions of what the future library service could offer.”

Editor

The BookSeller has been an advocate for public libraries for as long as I can remember but it’s not often, if at all, they do a libraries issue. So it was great to see one this week, with lots of related articles plus an offer for everyone to be able to read it free for one week. I enjoyed being part of their special webinar with Nick Poole of CILIP, Zoey Dixon and Heloise Wood on the state of English public libraries. It was a realistic chance to converse about the sector, including an honest appraisal of how quiet they are at the moment (around one-half of normal seems to be the consensus, although there are wide variations) and genuinely felt cries of anger about the limitations placed on e-book lending. The webinar was recorded and I’ll share it here when I get the link.

Sometimes one sees an article that is so gob-smacking that it defies comment. The one in the Telegraph today that suggest library staff could be used to meet staff shortages in care homes is one of those. I won’t say any more.

Changes by local authority

• Hackney – Consultation.
• Thurrock – Joins the The Library Consortium.

National news

• How to Library – Kiki Writes. “Kids, let me tell you…there is a lot that goes into making a library work.”
• ‘It seems bewildering to me that libraries should be under threat and yet they are’ – Ian Rankin – Scotsman. “It seems bewildering to me that libraries should be under threat and yet they are. Scotland on Sunday is spearheading a campaign to keep them open and to make sure they thrive. I’m more than happy to support this, as I would not be where I am without the help of libraries and librarians at every step of the way”

• Kirstin Innes: Libraries are inspirational safe havens we can’t afford to lose – Press and Journal. “Sixty-one of Scotland’s 481 public libraries remain closed with no plans to reopen three months after restrictions were lifted; the council providers claiming that they just don’t have the resources to reopen these facilities at the moment.” … “The people who attend libraries are not customers. They are humans, existing in a space, accessing knowledge, internet or resources. And, as Barr says, many of these people do not have other places to go, or other ways of accessing these resources.”
• Librarians could be asked to work in care homes amid fears of staffing ‘meltdown’ – Telegraph [paywall]. “Local authorities asked to draw up lists of who to redeploy to address shortfall, including those in ‘people-facing roles’”

BookSeller Libraries Edition

The digital version of this edition if free for one week from this link.

• Devon libraries reach new audiences with escape room experience – “The project is part of a mission by Libraries Unlimited, a charity formed in 2016, to attract new visitors and reconnect with existing ones, with an open call for artists to pitch playful ways to bring libraries to life. ” … “We’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of support from Arts Council England”
• Five librarians from across the UK pick autumn highlights – Book recommendations.
• Libraries seek assurances on future after lockdown success – Various quotes from library figures, including Nick Poole of CILIP and Alan Wylie. “One in three people in the UK used libraries over lockdown … Many staff also developed creative strategies to mitigate the potential extreme isolation of their elderly users, with fewer digital skills… All those who spoke to The Bookseller believed the pandemic had made councils more aware of the value of libraries … [but]  the patchwork nature of closures, guidance and safety support proved particularly problematic in March 2020 when lockdown hit” … some councils have used Covid as “a smokescreen” to close libraries more permanently … [but] an ongoing library boom in the north”.
• Post-pandemic libraries – Editorial by Benedicte Page. “This week’s special Library Focus issue of The Bookseller includes some fascinating titbits from upcoming history The Library about the complex ways in which libraries were affected by the two World Wars. Inevitably one is tempted to wonder how future historians will look back on the extraordinary period we have just been living through, and assess what the pandemic has meant for the public library service. Will this turn out to have been a moment that finally demonstrated to council leaders just how flexible and innovative libraries can be, the start of a new, truly hybrid library provision? Or one that provided an opportunity for council chiefs to turn temporary closures into permanent ones?”

International news

• Australia – The Future of Libraries in a Post Covid World -Jane Cowell. “we have to build new pathways to the library for those who would benefit from our services and for whom the library is inaccessible for many reasons.”
  • All things considered – ALIA. “Discussion of how scenario planning can help inform decision-making processes in libraries when setting strategic directions in times of uncertainty.”
• Denmark – The public library is the haven where we can rediscover the ability to immerse – Christian Lauersen. “In the midst of the attention-seeking and impulse-driven society, the public libraries lie as diverse oases that invite immersion and togetherness without commercial purpose or economic barrier to use. If you ask the Danish citizens themselves, the answer is that they experience the libraries as a haven in a busy everyday life.”
• Global – New public library world champion named – IFLA. “This year, 32 libraries competed for the award, five were nominated and the winner, Deichman Bjørvika in Oslo, was announced on 19 August at the IFLA World Library and International Congress” … “It’s a smart design, which is built up around a fully automatic book-sorting system that enables employees to spend their time servicing citizens rather than simply handling books. “
• USA -Mergers, acquisitions, and my tinfoil hat – Librarian Shipwreck. A look at who owns who in the US library technology industry.
  • Stop Pretending that Libraries are a Business. They’re not – EveryLibrary. “Like clockwork, every few months, someone out in the world publishes an article in the national press about how libraries should be replaced by X company. The argument is usually pretty simplistic: Thingamabob Inc. does this one function of a library really well, so libraries are on their way out. Obviously, when reduced to its bare essentials, it sounds so silly. Libraries do a lot of things very well, producing value for their communities in ways that are fundamentally different than any business.”
  • The Surprisingly Big Business of Library E-books – New Yorker. A look at the USA situation, over Covid and elsewhere, concentrating on Overdrive. ““Libraries have more power than they sometimes realize,” 
  • Why your library’s logo might be terrible: understanding what a logo does – Laura Solomon. “In this series, I want to break down the issues surrounding logos in a way that’s quick, clear and understandable.”

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Peasedown St John’s community library on the lookout for volunteers – Bath Echo. ““For a small community library with just 700 books we’re definitely punching above our weight. “Over 200 people used our services last month. Not only is reading enjoyable, but it’s also good for our mental health too. It reduces stress, is therapeutic and keeps our brains active.” The library is looking for new volunteer librarians who will help with sorting books, collecting books from visitors, and offering help to those who use the services. Full training will be given.”
• Bradford – Bradford Libraries help children get a great start at primary school – Ilkley Gazette. “Packs have been put together to help families prepare their children to start reception class this September. The ‘Great Start’ bags contain a range of books to engage, enthuse and excite children about starting ‘big’ school along with a musical toy and rhyme sheet plus a finger puppet for retelling stories. They also include a survival guide for parents and carers to help make their child’s move to primary school stress-free and fun.”
• Derbyshire – Library once dubbed least-used in Derbyshire reopens under new bosses – Staffordshire Live. “A library which was dubbed the most underused in Derbyshire has reopened as a volunteer-led facility. Woodville Library has been renamed Woodville Community Managed Library and is now run by the Circularity Association, a group which provides community spaces for people to gather.”
• Essex – ‘New library plans put property before people’ – say campaigners – Epping Forest Guardian. ““The consultation, led by Essex Housing, was deeply flawed and asking leading questions designed to create answers appearing to support the proposals.”
• Hackney – Residents urged to have their say on the future of local libraries – Hackney Citizen. “The newly launched ‘Our Libraries’ conversation wants participants to explain how they used libraries prior to the pandemic and what the institutions could offer in future, including how they can better serve the community in an increasingly digitised world. Hackney is currently home to seven operating libraries and an e-library, with Woodberry Down library currently closed. Town Hall culture chief Cllr Guy Nicholson, who launched the discussion, said: “The purpose of the consultation is not to close a library, but to ensure that our libraries remain central to our daily lives”
• Inverclyde – Bookbug sessions return to Inverclyde libraries – Greenock Telegraph. “storytelling and song sessions are making a comeback in local libraries.”
• Jersey – Six workplaces gain disability accreditation – Bailiwick Express. Included the library.

• Manchester – Library Returns – that’s people not books – Manchester City Council. “The news comes as libraries expand service hours with an extension of the Open Plus library service to The Avenue in Higher Blackley.  Open Plus allows residents entry to libraries using PIN control access with a library card when staff are not on the premises. ” … “Over the last year, there have been nearly 300,000 visits to the city’s libraries, 64,000 of which is to use the free Internet and over 250,000 books have been borrowed.”
• Northern Ireland – Library body’s silence over Belfast facility boarded up ‘for 20-plus years’ due to bonfire – Belfast Live. “Public body Libraries NI chose not to answer press queries about the library in East Belfast being boarded up in July ahead of the Eleventh Night. Internal emails uncovered by Belfast Live show officials agreed it was “better to stay out of this” and “not to make us a story”. One official said they “totally agree with the approach of no comment”, adding: “We have been boarding up the library in Tullycarnet each July for the past 20 or more years.””
• North Yorkshire – Libraries across Harrogate district extend free computer access – Harrogate Advertiser. “members will be able to use computers for up to an hour a day, and anyone who needs additional time can pay a small fee or choose from a range of available subscriptions to have longer sessions.”
  • Malton Library improvements delayed – Scarborough News. “mprovements to Malton library as part of carbon-cutting measures at numerous County Council buildings, including schools and care homes, will now take place in October rather than this month.”
  • Scarborough’s Zine library aims to reach a new audience – Scarborough News. “Artists and Zine librarians Joel Hague and Nathan Wackett, with support from Crescent Arts, will showcase material covering a range of topics at Scarborough library.”
• Oxfordshire – Banbury Library set to return to normal pre-pandemic opening hours – Banbury Guardian. “We are delighted to see libraries return to 97 per cent of pre-Covid opening hours.”
• Sheffield – Covid rules lifted at Sheffield libraries – Star. No fines until 31 December.
• Staffordshire – County’s past to be explored at Staffordshire History Festival – Tamworth Informed. “The Staffordshire History Festival will run throughout September and October and is being organised by Staffordshire County Council’s libraries, arts and museum services.”. Mainly online.
• Thurrock – Landmark day for Thurrock libraries as they join the largest public library consortium in the UK – Your Thurrock. “Joining the consortium means that Essex and Thurrock Library members will now be able to access an additional six million items of stock and use libraries in any of the other areas that are also part of the consortium.”
• Torbay – Children helping to ‘Bring the Bees Back to the Bay’ – Torbay Weekly. “Schools across Torbay were given ‘seed bombs’ to help teach children about bee conservation in a project run by Torbay Libraries. “
• Walthamstow – ‘Shameful situation’: Mini library vandalised – This is Local London. “in recent months the door has been ripped off, the box has been pulled off its mounting and it has been covered in paint.”
• Warrington – Range of activities planned for Westbrook Library fun palace – Warrington Guardian. “The  newly reopened Westbrook Library is to be transformed into a ‘fun palace’ next month as part of an annual celebration to put culture at the heart of the community.”
• Warwickshire – The search is on to find Warwickshire’s next young poet laureate – do you know someone who should apply? – Kenilworth Weekly News. “They have also worked with library staff to deliver poetry sessions to customers of many ages and taken part in local events such as festivals and open mic nights.”
  • Paper copies of planning documents drawn up by Stratford District Council will no longer be available in libraries – Leamington Courier. “Councillors were told that libraries “do not gratefully receive paper documents because they clutter up shelves” and that the authority should be trying to use less paper amid the ‘climate change emergency'”
• Wiltshire – Volunteers wanted for human library in Wiltshire – This is Wiltshire. “Wessex Community Action will organise library sessions either online or at schools, libraries, universities, conferences, festivals and public spaces where groups or people can ‘borrow’ the books by putting questions to them about their life and the hardships they have to overcome.”
• Wrexham – Wrexham libraries to open for all, plus Agatha Christie fun – Leader Live. “From Monday, September 6, 2021, all of Wrexham Public Libraries will be open for all”

Editorial

These news updates tend to, by the nature of things, concentrate on the short term: a cut there, a new library here and a spotted possible trend perhaps thrown in. So perhaps it’s useful to take a step back and do a brief (if it’s long no-one will read it summary) of what’s happened to the public library sector since Public Libraries News started way back in 2010.

The big obvious thing is that libraries are still very much here. The pessimistic observer back at the start of the last decade, seeing austerity and e-books coming in could have drawn the conclusion that they would not be. While the death of libraries was exaggerated, it was not sadly entirely without merit. The amount of spending has gone down by around 20% (plus inflation) since 2010 and usage and number of council-run libraries has taken a similar dip. The number of volunteer libraries went from a handful to nearly 600 and a similar number of libraries closed entirely. But most of the closed libraries were small, although very sadly missed. Interestingly, it is the expected death of volunteer libraries that has been the most over played. It turns out that they survive well, with only a handful having closed, and most surviving in some form, with many thriving. Statistics are challenging but I’d say roughly the sector has shrunk by a fifth in most ways which, while tragic, is perhaps not bad considering the circumstances (deep cuts and non-interfering government). For that we can squarely thank the public who have shown councils everywhere that threats to libraries leads to placards and protests.

Right, other trends. Well, let’s go digital first. E-books have turned out not to be The Killer of Libraries quite yet, although it is too early to tell about the impact of Covid on consumer habits long-term. DVDs and other audio-visual are dying a death on the shelves as people flock to streaming but, if the success of bookshops is anything to go by, printed books have life in them yet. Self-service came in big time and staff-less libraries made an appearance. Most library services – but, incredibly, still not all – now have social media accounts, although they tend to be a few years behind trend in what they’re allowed to do by their ever risk-averse councils. Sadly, the Single Digital Presence, not present in 2010 is still not present now, but there is at least hope for next year.

Now for organisations. The MLA was killed off early on, replaced in some ways (but not all) by Arts Council England. ACE have moved in the period from concentrating on what they knew to including development and infrastructure. The Society of Chief Librarians transformed into Libraries Connected during the period and has got noticeably more relevant, with library services benefitting from its (soft power) leadership, training, funding opportunities and dramatically increased current awareness, from it. This was made possible of course by welcome funding from ACE. The Libraries Taskforce was born and died during the decade, with questionable results, although for me the raised profile of libraries within central government can I think be partly attributed to it.

Governance has changed but not dramatically. The large majority of services are still council-run, with the total number of English library services changing from 151 to … well,150. For-profit companies failed to make any dent at all, with the only living example – Laing and then Carillion – coming to an ignominious end. Single library trusts, although low in number, have proved, at least in that of many eyes, successful in the period. Leisure trusts have had a far more chequered experience, with some folding and some having their libraries quietly semi-taken over again by councils when their lack of library awareness started showing. Northamptonshire, once lauded as hugely successful, turned out to be built on sand and collapsed so badly even this government had to intervene. At the other end of the scale, GLL/Better now runs no less than five different library services and appears to have survived Covid, at time of press, reasonably unscathed.

So, that’s enough for now. For me, one last thought. Library services and staff seem far more connected and more aware of what they are doing now than they did in 2010. The sector, although still basically a herd of cats when it comes to lack of centralised control, is very much at least, a bunch of cats working together and co-operating. This is wonderful to see and the national organisations, and of course the prevalence of digital, can take almost all of the credit for this. But I like to think in some small way that Public Libraries News has drawn the sector together ever so slightly as well … and that makes me happier than even taking last weekend off due to it being my birthday. Here’s to the next decade.

Changes by authority

• Croydon – £500k cut near confirmation inc. 21% opening hour cut.
• Kirklees – New Birkby Library opens to replace old one in school, open 15 hours per week.
• Luton – Fines free from August 2021. 
• Surrey – West Byfleet Library in temporary location for five years due to redevelopment.

Ideas

• Hospital readings – Library volunteers read stories etc.

National news

• Bombs and Pandemics: How Libraries Survive and Thrive – Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. “I see now that librarians are frontline workers used to dealing with the mentally ill, the disenfranchised, homeless, the lonely, and vulnerable. A librarian is often the only person someone might see all day. What’s more, they have the emotional intelligence to deal with whoever walks in through the door, which to my mind, makes them more than someone who loans out books. They are part counsellor, social worker, listening ear, facilitator, events planner and friend.”
• CILIPS Autumn Regathering 2021 – CILIPS. “The aim of this event is to bring people back together, share innovative work and highlight the ways in which library and information professionals from all sectors are essential to a changing world and today’s rapidly evolving circumstances. Our exciting array of topics and speakers includes …”
• Covid 19 and Youth Services in Public Libraries – Robert Gordon University. Survey to help student with dissertation.
• Death Positive Libraries: An academic view – Libraries Connected. “As we take this project forward in partnership with the library community, we will be thinking about what the Death Positive Library can mean, and how to help people think about these difficult conversations.”
• Fund for Welsh museums and libraries reopens – Arts Professional. Transformation Capital Grant.
• International ISNI Information Day 2021 – ISNI. Webinar, 1 September 2pm. “The ISNI International Agency will be holding its first-ever international event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI). This event will be open to all organisations and industries currently using the ISNI standard including the libraries, publishing, music and rights management sectors.”

• Professional Confidence Part II; Positive Steps to Refreshing your Team Cohesion – British Library Living Knowledge Network. 9 September 11am. “This webinar will explore ways of enhancing a positive team culture and aims to tackle feelings of disconnection that may have emerged throughout this tumultuous period.”
• Return to Rhymetimes Webinar – Libraries Connected. 2 September 2pm. “how Rhymetimes can support maternal mental health and early speech and language development in children and how we can help build parental confidence to return to libraries safely.” … “We will also have presentations from library services who have reintroduced Rhymetimes in the last few months, describing how they have achieved this, what the challenges have been and how they have been overcome.”
• Strategies for Increased Community Engagement – III. With Ken Chad. Webinar, 15 September 2pm. “This webinar will cover how community engagement solutions can help libraries work strategically to define their role in the community. This includes how solutions can help provide services of interest to current and new patrons, as well as user experiences that meet contemporary expectations. As public libraries all over the world continue to innovate and adapt, this session will deliver insights on techniques and solutions for scaling up your library.”

International news

• Afghanistan – As Taliban violence forces schools in Afghanistan to close, mobile libraries give hope to girls – South China Morning Post. “Husna’s only ray of hope is the mobile library run by the Pen Path Civil Society, a non-governmental organisation whose motorcycle-riding volunteers travel across areas ravaged by fighting to distribute books and stationery to children.”
• Global – Study Into Alternative Methods of Service Delivery – Melbourne Libraries (Australia) global survey. “We are conducting an investigation into alternative methods of service delivery which go beyond the traditional understanding of libraries to engage with our communities. We are looking for information about library programs or services that meet community needs in innovative and interesting ways, or which overcome barriers of infrastructure and resources to meet these needs.”
• Lebanon – Rebuilding Beirut’s libraries – CILIP. 15 September 6pm. ” talking about libraries in Lebanon following the blast in 2020.  After the August 4 2020 blast, libraries in Lebanon decided to brush off the dust, remove the rubble and glass, and tend to their injured staff and users. Librarians started looking into best plans for a return to service and the Lebanese Library Association joined them on the journey”
• USA – Dr. Carla Hayden, The Librarian of Congress, On Why Libraries Matter – WYPR. Podcast. “Dr. Hayden has had to navigate changes brought on not only by the COVID 19 pandemic, but by the dramatic evolution of libraries in general: how they serve their communities, and how they are responding in an increasingly digital world.”
  • ‘These people were in bad, bad shape.’ A look inside of a Florida library converted to a Covid-19 treatment site – CNN.
  • Getting Police Out of Libraries Is the Aim of the Abolitionist Library Association – Teen Vogue. ” This includes not only the physical and visible presence of police, like [with] police security in some libraries, but financial commitments such as budget allocations, ties to the prison-industrial complex, and issues with data access and privacy rights, like when surveillance cameras are used”
  • Public libraries and government innovation – FCW. “Why has so much innovation emerged over time in public libraries, while some other organizations in government are stuck with what they’ve always done? The short answer is, I don’t know for sure. My speculation is that the general lack of political controversy around public libraries has helped. One view of government innovation is that it is spurred only by crisis and threats. Innovation in public libraries suggests a different story — that more organizational security provides space for innovators to approach change with confidence and self-assurance.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Powerful words turn north-east voices into works of art that celebrate our libraries – Press and Journal. “Artist Abigail Reynolds says her work, Elliptical Reading, is a celebration of libraries and a reflection of the deep love she – and many others – hold for them. The work involves local people reading from their favourite books in a rich mix of voices, from English to Doric, Polish to Arabic, reflecting the north-east’s diverse cultural strands.”
• Blackpool – Blackpool photographers help resort youngsters capture creativity though camera lenses during library workshops – Gazette. “Working with Blackpool libraries, the women were able to teach youngsters how to bring out their creativity through a camera lens, with sessions at Anchorsholme, Layton and Central libraries.”
• Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – Changes at Christchurch Library include new CCTV system – Daily Echo. “The current closure will create space in the library for BCP Council Customer Services which will mean residents being able to access a range of services in a variety of ways, including being able to register a birth, apply for a blue badge or have an appointment with a housing officer.”
• Bracknell Forest – Crowthorne Library temporarily closes due to rat problem – Get Reading.
• Cardiff – Cardiff libraries and community hubs reopen without appointments – Wales 247. ” there will no longer be the need to book an appointment to visit libraries and hubs to browse the book shelves, use the public access PCs  or to use study space in the building and customers can drop by at their convenience.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – Yester Years: Libraries to ‘cultivate minds’ – Winsford and Middlewich Guardian. A look at the early history of public libraries in the town from mid-1800s.
• Croydon – Library provision in Croydon set to be slashed – Sutton and Croydon Guardian. “Library provision in Croydon is set to be slashed so the cash-strapped council can save £500,000 a year. The authority is expected to cut opening hours by 21 per cent at 12 of the borough’s 13 libraries, after two consultations on the matter. It will see all libraries, except Central Library, open for two fewer days a week and library staff cut by a quarter.”
• Save Croydon Libraries update – August 2021 – Save Croydon Libraries. “We may have dodged outsourcing and community-run libraries, for now, but the cuts agreed will still have a massive impact on not only opening hours but on staffing, with 15 full-time posts now to be deleted.And let’s not forget that the current administration has made these cuts to save in the region of £500K, yet has bailed out Brick by Brick in loans to the tune of £200 million and spent £76 million on the yet to be completed Fairfield Halls – an overspend of £46K [million? -ed.] on the original budget.”
• Cumbria – Kendal Library redesign – Cumbria County Council. “Thank you to everyone that took part in the Kendal Library building redesign public consultation, which took place in June 2021. We received a fantastic response with over 200 people giving us their feedback on what they would like to see from the changes.” A good “you said, we did” section and interesting look at the redesign.
• Denbighshire – Denbighshire libraries launch new digital support – Free Press. ” all libraries in Denbighshire now house new solo digital spaces, thanks to funding secured from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund. These rooms are private spaces kitted out with laptops to enable residents to carry out confidential online appointments, such as taking part in a job interview, a medical appointment or an online meeting via Zoom or other platforms.”
• Derbyshire – Covid test kits available in libraries in Creswell, Clowne and Whitwell – Worksop Guardian. “Test kits are available to pick up in all 45 Derbyshire County Council libraries and two mobile library vans.”
• Dudley – Don’t privatise Dudley libraries – Socialist Party. “Outsourcing is the scourge of public services. It is the twisted idea that a company with no ties to the community could step in and do a better job than the public sector. That is demonstrably false. Library workers in Dudley, in the West Midlands, are the latest victims.”
• East Riding – An opportunity to build a wonderful summer with creative Lego events at East Riding Libraries – Pocklington Post. ““As we work our way out of this difficult time, we are really pleased to be able to relaunch our group events with these new and innovative sessions”.”
• Falkirk – Polmont library reopens following flood which damaged computer suite and office – Falkirk Herald. Heavy rain meant “water entered through the ceiling of the Stevenson Avenue building, damaging its computer suite and office space.”
• Glasgow – Couper Library campaigners in banner plea to Glasgow Life bosses – Glasgow Evening Times. “Activists revealed the display at the Couper Institute Library during their weekly read-in on Saturday. The Cathcart building has been closed since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 and is one of nine libraries in Glasgow without a reopening date.”

“Whilst Libraries are a statutory service there is no definition as to the scale and range of
services that should be provided. The provision of an online service would suffice.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Glasgow Life – Glasgow Life

• Library in Glasgow’s Pollok forced to close due to flooding – Glasgow Evening Times. “”Therefore, no access to PCs or stock is currently available. The counter is open for returns and some browsing from mobile units in the foyer.”
• Havering – Rainham husband’s poem inspired by ‘better half’ wins first place – Romford Recorder. “A poetry competition held by Havering Library with the theme of “vision” saw three winners from different categories announced earlier this week.  “
• Hull – Bedside poems and stories for Hull patients in UK hospital first – Hull Daily Mail. “A Hull hospital has become the first in the country to support patient care by bringing poetry, stories and chat to the bedside. In a partnership which has its roots in the UK City of Culture programme, Library Link has completed a pilot scheme with volunteers from Hull and East Yorkshire reading poems and short stories to patients in wards and waiting rooms at Hull Royal Infirmary and is now gearing up to return post-Covid.”
• Inverclyde – Inverclyde libraries: Extended opening hours – Greenock Telegraph.
• Kirklees – Drumming, Sculpting And Music Mark The Opening Of New Community Library In Birkby And Fartown – Kirklees Together. “Councillor Nigel Patrick, Mayor of Kirklees, and Carol Stump, Chief Librarian and President of Libraries Connected officially opened the new £799k Birkby and Fartown Library on Saturday 14 August with an unveiling of a special plaque that will be displayed in the building.” … “If you like reaching out to people and have some spare time, then please consider becoming a Library Volunteer.” Open 15 hours per week.
  • New £800k library to open in Huddersfield complete with safe welcome space for migrants – Yorkshire Live. “Special video messages from Sue Williamson, Director of Libraries at Arts Council England and Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected represent recognition from the wider world of libraries.”
• Lancashire – Lancashire’s new mobile library vans get ‘puntastic’ names – Lancashire Telegraph. “Very soon, Great Transportations, Vroom with a View and Ride and Prejudice will be out and about making sure residents in some of the most far flung parts of the county have access to the best books. They will join The Borrowers, Chitty Chitty Book Book and the Hardbacks of Notre Van in making sure people who do not live close to one of the council’s 64 libraries can still access all the great services they offer.”
• Luton – Borrow free, fine free – Luton Council. “Worried about returning books which are overdue?  No need.  Please be reassured that no fines or charges will apply if you return books late. We don’t mind the odd little chew mark either – especially on children’s books – we understand that things can get messy!  And what’s more, any fines or charges on Luton Libraries’ cards before 1 April 2020 have been cleared.”
• Moray – Moray libraries appeal for return of books borrowed pre-pandemic ahead of fines reintroduction – Grampian Online.
• North Lanarkshire – Good news for bookworms at Cumbernauld Library as normal hours return – Glasgow World.
• Pembrokeshire – Pembrokeshire libraries to remain open on August Bank Holiday Monday – Western Telegraph. “Pembroke Library and Information Centre, Fishguard Library and Tourist Information Centre and The Riverside, Haverfordwest will be open on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30.”
• St Helens – Free outdoor theatre show at St Helens library – Reporter. “Residents are invited to head to Thatto Heath Library with a cosy blanket and chair for a free outside theatre performance as part of an award-winning arts project”
• Sheffield – Sheffield library stars in special stamp collection celebrating the life of famous writer – Sheffield Telegraph. “A set of John Ruskin themed stamps featuring the Walkley Carnegie Library highlights the Victorian writer’s Sheffield connection.” … “The Isle of Man Post Office collection celebrates the life of John Ruskin, a 19th century writer, art critic, social reformer and early environmentalist who visited Sheffield on several occasions during his life. One of the stamps in collection, which was released earlier this year, shows part of Walkley Library, and a poster on an adjacent wall bearing the Ruskin quotation: “There is no wealth but life.””
  • “Central Library must be restored and respected” – some of our readers’ thoughts on Sheffield’s Central Library – The Star. “It smacks of forced obsolescence, at least to me. As a child, my mother worked there for many years and I would go there almost everyday and at the weekends, just consuming words from books – in both the Children’s and upstairs library – we borrowed movies and I got all of my music from there as a young ‘un. If only the upkeep had been continual, gradual, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
  • ‘Investment and a plan’ needed as Sheffield’s Central Library repair bill trebles to £30m – The Star.
  • Revamp of Sheffield’s Central Library a ‘priority project’ – as estimate hits £30m – says council chief – Sheffield Telegraph. “The deputy leader, Councillor Julie Grocutt, said the library and Graves Art Gallery on the top floor were a cornerstone of Tudor Square and ‘culturally, historically and economically important to the city’. She added: “We must ensure it not only meets, but exceeds its potential as a place which celebrates art, literature and Sheffield’s rich history. “It is a priority project, and we are exploring how we can build a vision together that will attract national funding that significantly contributes to the regeneration of our amazing city.””
• Stirling – New chapter for Stirling’s libraries as opening hours extended and restrictions removed – Stirling Council.
• Suffolk – People are flocking back to Suffolk’s libraries – Suffolk Libraries. “So far 4,600 children have signed up for the Summer Reading Challenge in Suffolk in just over two weeks which is a fantastic start for this important annual literacy campaign. There has also been plenty of interest from new customers with over 3,557 registrations for a library card in July 2021 – nearly 42% more than July 2019. Since restrictions were removed on 19 July there have also been over 89,000 loans of books and other items from libraries. July also saw the Suffolk Libraries website receive its highest number of monthly views since it was launched.”
  • How Suffolk libraries have turned the page to a new chapter – Suffolk Libraries. “Just under 90 percent of our funding comes from Suffolk County Council but as an independent charity we can also generate income elsewhere.”
• Surrey – Temporary site confirmed for West Byfleet Library – Surrey News. “West Byfleet library will close in its current location on Friday 20th August and is proposed to reopen in a temporary location on Monday 20th September. The library is proposed to remain at this temporary site for up to 5 years whilst the redevelopment of the current site takes place”
• West Sussex – Over 70,000 children’s books loaned out since the start of the Summer Reading Challenge – Crawley News 24. “Currently, more than 7,000 children have signed up to the challenge and over 70,000 books, eBooks and audio books have been loaned to children and their families since July.”
• Wiltshire – Thousands of views for Wiltshire libraries in ‘great achievement’ for library teams – Wiltshire Times. “popular content on the library Facebook pages and the Wiltshire Libraries YouTube channel has now received over 200,000 views.” … “One customer shared their thoughts on Trowbridge Library’s Facebook page: “I want to send my thanks for all the staff broadcasting from their homes keeping the library community alive. You are all epic superstars.””
• Wirral – Wirral Libraries consultation goes out on the road this week – Wirral Globe. “It asks those taking part what services are most important to them as well as what services people would like to see offered so that an attractive, relevant, modern and flexible library service can be delivered.”
• Wokingham – Library re-opens – Henley Standard. “The Church Street library was shut by Wokingham Borough Council in March last year at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Librarian Ros Fernley was re-deployed to answer the council’s phone lines from her home in Loddon Drive during the height of the crisis and was not furloughed throughout.”
• Worcestershire – Careers events to be held at libraries and online for students across Worcestershire who received their results this week – Malvern Observer. “Careers Clinics will be touring the county with dates in Redditch, Bromsgrove, Malvern and Worcester.”
• Wrexham – Reading for fun, plus your views wanted on Wrexham Library Service – Advertizer. “The big challenge we have is to reach more residents with Wrexham Library Outreach Service. We want your thoughts on how your Outreach Library Service will reach you in the future.”