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

News

• Killing Librarianship – Virtual Dave.  “What might kill our profession is not ebooks, Amazon or Google, but a lack of imagination. We must envision a bright future for librarians and the communities they serve, then fight to make that vision a reality. We need a new activist librarianship focused on solving the grand challenges of our communities. Without action we will kill librarianship.”
• Paraxis library stories – Voices for the Library. Points out excellent pro-library website … they show the range of feelings about libraries and the value people place on them. The Paraxis editors are obviously well aware of cuts being made to library services and comment that ”The tragedy and disgrace of our generation is that we are in danger of leaving a poorer cultural inheritance than the one we inherited.”
• Public library e-petition: 10,000 signatures strong – Wordshore.   “It isn’t going to suddenly change the public library threat situation but it will raise awareness. It’s positive, and has cost nothing except a small amount of time and taxpayers money to set up and for people to sign. And a lot of people signing other e-petitions will have come across it, just by flicking through the website.” … To get to a 100,000 figure petition will need support of a national newspaper, or major celebrities, or capitalise on a reactionary feeling.  These possibilities then analysed.  “Will the e-petition get to 100,000 signatures before the deadline? Don’t know – but it needs that big acceleration to stand a chance. Anyway – looking at many of the other popular petitions, surely we can do better as a country than just wanting people to be hung, deprived of benefits, or punished for simply not being as well-off as us?”
• Time to rise up, citizens, and save your libraries – Waikato Times.   “We are now familiar with the hue and cry that went up like a lion’s roar from British citizens throughout that nation when the Tory government announced its plans to close more than 400 public libraries throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. People rose up as one to save their local public libraries. “We Shall Meet Them In The Foyers.” And they orchestrated this most effectively through social media networking tools: Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube and so on. Of the thousands of tweets gleaned through the “Support Your Public Library Campaign” in the UK one example will suffice; “Libraries are important because, as a child, some of my best friends lived within the pages of a book.”

“Dear Shirley

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding my Labour Party Conference Speech. Unfortunately due to tight time constraints Shadow Cabinet speeches are limited to 7 minutes at Labour Party Conference and as such it can be challenging to cover all of the ground in broad portfolios such as the Culture, Media and Sport brief. It is extremely important that the Labour Party has a clear and progressive vision and policies for the nations libraries and that is an important element of my brief. I have been working with my Shadow Minister with responsibility for libraries, Gloria de Piero MP, to challenge the Government to recognise the effect their decision to cut Local Authority Grants is having on library services. To this end we launched a campaign website on libraries late last year and have supported over 800 people to voice their concern at the Government’s policies on libraries.                                                                           

In addition to my main conference speech I spoke at a number of other fringe meetings including a New Local Government Network event where I focused on the importance of libraries as universal services and argued that instead of putting over 428 libraries at risk  the Government should be focused on working with Local Authorities to create a modern and sustainable library system.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Yours sincerely

Ivan Lewis MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport“

• Birmingham – Views from within the library – Rewriting the book, Library of Birmingham.   A look at the current state of construction of the new megalibrary, from a competition winner.
• Bolton – Save Bolton Libraries statement – via Alan Gibbons. “We call upon everyone with a concern for the future of our libraries to demonstrate at 9.15am next Wednesday12th October outside the Town Hall when the Council’s Executive meet to make their final decision. It is not too late for them to change their minds and protect these valuable front line public services.”
• Brent – Council “wasted £70,000 in legal fees it could have spent on books” – London Evening Standard.   “Brent council today said that it was “regrettable” that it had been forced to spend so much money on legal fees but that it had taken “every step” to keep costs down. The Labour leader said: “Our Libraries Improvement Programme is designed to increase investment in Brent’s libraries by around £200,000 a year, so our libraries can open at weekends and in the evening, have more and better books, and a greater range of services.”
• Croydon – Uncertainty over library funding – This is Croydon Today.   “Strong hints have been dropped by Croydon Council leader, Mike Fisher, that the council will look long and hard at whether to continue to jointly fund Upper Norwood Library with neighbouring Lambeth.” … “According to Mr Fisher over that time Croydon has had no input into how the £180,000 it gives the library is being spent or how it is run. The problem arises from Mr Fisher’s decision to have only Conservative cabinet members as Croydon representatives.”
• Doncaster – Council plans to transfer 12 libraries – BBC.    “Under the proposals Bawtry, Intake and Warmsworth library are expected to continue as community-led enterprises within the existing buildings. Balby, Bessacarr, Edenthorpe, Wheatley and Sprotbrough will be operated along the same lines but run from different locations. Four libraries – Moorends, Rossington, Stainforth and Scawthorpe – would community-led self-service operations. An enhanced mobile and outreach service could be provided to Carcroft and Denaby in November if plans are approved.”  … “”I don’t want to sound cynical or negative but I don’t think it will work,” said Ms Smith. “Doncaster is in no position to start having volunteer run libraries. It doesn’t have the capacity. It doesn’t have the staff structure existing to support that so I’d be very surprised if it succeeded.”
• Pickles and Porkie Pies – Save Doncaster Libraries.   Video of Eric Pickles saying Labour voted for library closures.  “Here’s a fact check, Eric… Not one of the Cabinet members is a member of the Labour Group. The head of the council is the Mayor, who is a member of the English Democrat party. His Cabinet is made up of Independent, Conservative and Liberal Democrat members because there are no other English Democrat councillors in the borough.” 
• Gloucestershire – High Court hearing into proposed library closures in Gloucestershire concludes – Gazette.   Summary of last week’s court proceedings.
• Hertfordshire – Libraries could be opened up to outside groups – Watford Observer. “Proposals up for discussion at county hall this week could see volunteer and community groups invited to use library buildings for meetings and projects. If it gets the go-ahead the move could also lead to extended library services for borrowers, officers said.”
• North Yorkshire – Harrogate Library gets a Royal opening – Harrogate News.   “Harrogate’s historic central library was officially reopened today following a £3.4 million refurbishment. HRH The Duke of Gloucester peformed the opening ceremony at the state-of-the-art centre, which has undergone a complete transformation thanks to the Big Lottery and North Yorkshire County Council.” … “The renovation of the library – one of the original Carnegie libraries, dating from 1906 – was completed last summer, and the building opened its door to visitors last October. Since then, there has been a 44% increase in visitors, an 80% increase in new members, and a 53% increase in book borrowing.”
• Surrey – Protests held against plans for volunteer-led libraries in Epsom and Ewell – Guardian series.   “Dozens turned out at the weekend to protest against plans by Surrey County Council to put 10 libraries across the county in the hands of volunteers. Demonstrations were held at Ewell Court library, Woking public library and County Hall following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 27, where Conservative councillors approved plans to get volunteers to run libraries in place of professional staff, in a bid to save £300,000.”   
• End of an era as mobile library service shut down – This is Surrey Today. “Surrey’s mobile library service came to an end on Friday after more than 50 years. The county’s five book-packed vans have been doing their rounds at hundreds of stops across the county for the final time, with users wishing them a teary goodbye.” … “”I can’t really describe how I feel today, it’s just devastating. I can get to the library in Redhill at the moment but I won’t always be able to. And I will only be able to carry one book at a time.” 
• Waltham Forest – Libraries set to close – Guardian series.   “Plans to close libraries in Chingford and Leytonstone look set to be approved next week – despite opposition from more than 7,000 residents.” … “officers have also recommended that the cabinet support proposals to convert the former Waltham Forest Direct shop in Chingford Mount Road into a volunteer-run library. But this is only on the condition that it does not cost any money to the taxpayer.”  See comments. 
• Warwickshire – Plans for community library get going – Courier. Kineton: “The village’s parish council has resolved to submit a business plan for the project, which will be staffed by volunteers and managed by two parish council members and two volunteers, to Warwickshire County Council, which currently runs the service.” … “Operating costs, which could be up to £3,300, will be met by the parish council. The village’s Heart Start group has agreed to assist with the cost of insurance cover for the Heart Start equipment, which will be based at the library for easy access to residents.”
• Wokingham – Libraries sell off plan to be reviewed -Get Wokingham.   “Controversial plans to put the management of the borough’s libraries out to tender will be reviewed in a full council debate after a petition with 2,374 signatures opposing the decision was handed to the council.”.  Council determined to continue though – ““Unlike other authorities we have opened a new library and a new children’s centre recently. We could not have done that if we stay in the past and do nothing to change the way we provide our services.”

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

News

• “Book Show” returns to Sky Arts – Entertainment Focus.   “In a change to the format of previous series, all of the guests will engage in exciting and lively debate inspired by a current literary topic. Some of the first topics to be discussed include libraries with Janet Street-Porter …”
• Coming soon: Libraries All Party Parliamentary Group – CILIP.  “The Libraries APPG is being established to provide MPs and Lords with information and opportunities for debate about the role that libraries play in society and their future, with Justin Tomlinson MP as its Chair.”.  Launch will be on 14th December. 
• Council tax freeze is LGPS member’s lolly – Public Finance.  Argues that money found for council tax freeze was found directly from cuts to public workers’ pensions.  “So guess what? It’s the poor and the lowest paid public sector workers who will pay. Not just through the increase, but through the whacking great hole in council budgets which the freeze will create as a consequence of the gearing mechanism. More cuts and higher thresholds for social care, more cuts to youth services, more cuts to pay and conditions,fewer libraries and more redundancies.”
• Hunt’s silence on Brent continues – BookSeller.   DCMS officials had expected secretary of state Jeremy Hunt to make a decision on whether or not to order an inquiry into Brent’s closures before the end of September.  The duty to intervene under the 1964 Libraries Act appears to be considered as more of a unwanted quiet whisper in the mind of the senior minister, which he sees it as suitable and easy to ignore.
• Museums and Libraries formally transfer to Arts Council England – ACE.   “We have inherited an additional budget of around £46 million a year for our new responsibilities. £43 million of this is set aside for the regional museum programme,”.  “Though this change was born of necessity, we are inspired by the opportunity it presents – for the arts, museums and libraries, and their audiences and users. Arts organisations, museums and libraries now have an unprecedented opportunity to create a new cultural landscape with cultural institutions playing an even greater role in our national life, and a richer cultural experience offered to people across the country.'”
• Money may be lacking but a library refuses to go quietly – New York Times (USA).  “If you were to assemble a city from scratch, you would need a few things to make this place of yours more than just a functioning municipality; to make it a community. So, along with a City Hall and a few schools, you would have a building where an elephant king named Babar rules, where it is a sin to kill a mockingbird and where everyone from Homer to Snooki has a story to tell.That is, you would need a library…”
• Museums chief advises Ed Vaizey to “get out more” – Independent.   In a speech that will resonate with library workers, the head of the Museums Association will tell the Minister to stop treating museum specialists as “children”.  Similarly, a following line “To suggest that cuts of anything from 15 to 30 per cent can be borne without debilitating cuts in our public services is naive at best and disingenuous at worst… Let’s not pretend that our front-line services will carry on as before.” could have been spoken about libraries. 
• Number of libraries decline in Ukraine due to lack of readers – Kyiv Post (Ukraine).   Ukraine used to have one library for each community of over 500 meaning 18,000 public libraries.  Depopulation in smaller communities mean number is closing.  30% population uses libraries. Only 5% have more than one public access computer.
• Telegraph: it’s boom time for children’s books – Alan Gibbons (comment). 20% of independent bookshops have closed meaning very limited range in town centres, library closures especially bad for children, ditto school libraries, important teenage prize suspended.

Local news

• Bradford – Chance to have a say on Burley library plan – Wharfedale Observer.   Residents see promise of better library as a bribe for an unwanted Tesco.  “Residents wanting to speak up on plans to house a Co-op convenience store in a village library building are being urged to write to Bradford Council as well as parish councillors.”
• Brent – Best selling author slams Brent Council’s decision to close six libraries  – Willesden and Brent Times.  Jacqueline Wilson: ““It is obvious that lots of children use them. When I was a child, generally all my books were borrowed from libraries. It’s dreadful that libraries are under threat and their staff too.” … ““Most authors’ books are not available in supermarkets. Cash strapped families with keen readers may not have enough money to keep buying books. They haven’t thought this through.”
• Dorset – Christchurch Library work to start as soon as Kelly’s Kitchen closes – Bournemouth Echo.   Library to be expanded (with addition of adult learning centre) when restaurant closes March 2012.  Council says ““Libraries are vibrant community buildings, providing leisure and learning opportunities for people of all ages. The funding to do this necessary work is in place.”
• Hampshire – Urgent plea for volunteers to save library – Romsey Advertiser.   “The library, in Wills Avenue, is one of two in Hampshire that could be shut down in September, 2012, under proposed cuts to the service. Hampshire County Council plans would also see Stanmore library, in Winchester close, unless volunteers can be found to run it.” … ““There are two schools in the area and it’s really important that these children continue to have access to a local library, otherwise they could end up falling behind in their education. That is a genuine concern of mine.”
• Northern Ireland – £160,000 library items not returned – Independent.ie.  “Almost £160,000 worth of library books and other items of stock have not been returned, it has been revealed.”…”The missing material was noticed after library staff carried out the first physical counts for several years.”… 40,700 items missing.  
• Oxfordshire – Final plea to save libraries from cuts – Henley Standard.   “Sonning Common library should not be facing funding cuts and instead be treated as a “special case”, say parish councillors.”.  Parish against volunteers, wanting cuts to be spread equally around county’s libraries. Primary school closely linked to school and currently pays £8000 p.a. for library for heating etc.  It would hurt school to close it. Also ““A town without a library would be unusual and a cause for concern.””
• Public consultation on library cuts finishes – Henley Standard.  “A total of 3,500 responses have been received by the county council during its four-month public consultation process.”.  Accusations of anti-rural bias. Goring Library campaigner says “I know we are staying open but the question is for how long,” he said. “By the current proposals the county will pay for nine opening hours. Our library issues 50,500 books a year. By that reckoning, the Friends will have to find the time to issue 34,000 books each year. That is a tremendous commitment.”
• St Helens – Library to close until next year – St Helens Reporter.   Thatto Heath – “New technology being installed at the library includes a wi-fi network, 29 PCs, including 12 Apple Macs, as well as special children’s laptops and three plasma screens. The total refurbishment will also feature new lighting, dedicated children’s and teens areas and a multi-functional community room for adult learning courses.”
• Surrey – Elmbridge libraries volunteer plans get the go ahead – Elmbridge Guardian.  Council has decided on volunteers running some libraries as a bid to keep all open.  “Roy Green, chairman of Hersham Village Society, said the town deserved a proper library, and not one run by volunteers, after fighting hard for the past 20 years to keep it open.”
• Warwickshire – Library and Information Service: latest news – Warwickshire Council.  Report on cuts/volunteers to go to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10th October.  For commitee to comment on and support so it will move on to next stages – Agenda here.

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

News

• £250m weekly bin collections fund is what people want, says Pickles – Guardian. “Unveiling the move ahead of the Tory party conference in Manchester, Pickles said: “Weekly rubbish collections are the most visible of all frontline services, and I believe every household in England has a basic right to have their rubbish collected every week.” … “It’s a basic right for every English man and woman to be able to put the remnants of their chicken tikka masala in their bin without having to wait a fortnight for it to be collected.” 
• Delay in ruling over library closures – BookSeller. “No indication was given by Mr Justice McKenna of when judgement would be given, but the usual time frame in judicial review cases ranges between three weeks and three months.”. Injunction against Glos and Somerset closures will continue until judgement made. Brent review likely to be the first to have result known, some time in October. 
• Council claims it would be ridiculous to exclude libraries from the cuts – This is Glos. ““A comprehensive service doesn’t mean a library in every village in every town and every suburb of Gloucestershire.” – 27 libraries (currently 37) claimed as “enough”. Defendant protested campaigners were just trying to defending the status quo. 
• Library closures hearing concludes in high court – BBC. Defendant says “community-run libraries were “the icing on the cake” and if they were to fail then the council would still be providing a comprehensive service.” 
• Librarians checked out in “Men of the Stacks” calendar – Guardian. “Group of male library workers bids to remake dowdy image of their profession with glamorous catalogue”.. “There is an entire population of professional librarians out there who disagree with the way the library profession is perceived in contemporary media outlets and in the historical consciousness of the American mind. Different people and different associations will use different means to try to change those perceptions. This is ours.” 
• Librarians fear over digital stalemate – BookSeller. “Librarians have warned that the year-long stalemate with the major publishers over the terms of e-book lending could damage the already beleaguered service. “. Only 20% of publishers (Penguin good, HarperCollins bad) allowing their ebooks to be loaned. Fears Amazon will take over book-lending market. Comments interesting, including the point that multitudes of free pirated copies exist online and publishers are spiting themselves by not helping libraries.

“Stephen Edwards, head of procurement for Hampshire libraries, said: “It is only a personal view, but I do fear for the future of the library service if we do not have a good digital offer.”

• Library highlights censorship with “banned books” season – Wales Online.  “Annie Mauger, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, said: “Access to books should not be restricted on any grounds except that of the law. If publicly available material has not incurred legal penalties then it should not be excluded on moral, political, religious, racial or gender grounds, to satisfy the demands of sectional interest.”
• Library Wall – Paraxis.  52 pieces on public libraries, including the piece by Alan Gibbons below.
• Ministers worried by lack of progress in 3 Rs – Independent.  “Results of national curriculum assessments in reading, writing, speaking and listening and mathematics showed little change this year – the fifth year in succession they have almost stagnated.” [Solution?  Less libraries, more tests.]

“Let’s say this loud and clear to cloth-eared Ministers. Reading matters. It’s books, story-tellers, poets and illustrators, liberated teachers and well-resourced librarians that will make the difference but you want to get rid of them don’t you, you myopic fools?” Alan Gibbons.

• Responsibilities transfer – MLA.  Last day of existence for MLA today.  All library responsibilities now moved to ACE. 
• Why do libraries matter? – Alan Gibbons.   Excellent defence of libraries, describing an ideological agenda where cuts are a “badge of honour” and paid staff are seen as an affront to the “Big Society”.  The poor UK literacy rate is compared with South Korea and Finland who have the highest literacy rates and both heavily invest into public libraries.  Computers and games make children consumers, not creators. Supporters of libraries need to be active in defending them or they will be lost.  

Changes

Northeast Lincs – Libraries and Leisure Centres to be run by a single trust in 2013 after private-company contract to run leisure centres expires.
Surrey – £300k cut (previously cited as £1m).  All 5 mobiles to go on 28.10.11. 

Local News

• Cardiff – Public support social role – Wales Online.  Cathays: suggestions for future services include young people’s reading group, language classes. Tots group already present.
• City libraries to become “citizen hubs” – Wales Online.  St Mellons, Llanrumney and Loudon will host council contact centres, police/health/charity surgeries in three month trial. “The libraries consultation showed 80% of respondents thought services and other information should be available in hubs, and 74% favoured incorporating library services with other public services such as police, health or charities.”  But opponent says ““Is the library the right place for people to go when they are threatened with eviction, when they are not paying their rent, when they are in dispute with the council, when they are not paying their council tax?”
• Hampshire – Councillor Alan Dowden starts campaign to save North Baddesley library from closure – Daily Echo.  Will be closed unless volunteers step forward.  ““We simply have to save this service, particularly for the older people and youngsters in the area. Parents in the current economic climate can’t always afford to go out and buy books, so this is a valuable and vital service.”.  Interesting comments.  
• Isle of Wight – A new chapter at the library –  IWCP.  Niton: “The tiny ex-telephone exchange is about to become the Island’s first community library after the IW Council cuts the purse strings and stops running it directly.”.  Renamed Edward Edwardes Library [very aptly after library pioneer buried nearby] expected be to volunteer-run from mid October.   “Once the balloons have come down, the aim is no-one will really notice anything different.” with all services, other than paid staff, staying as before.  Council trained volunteers, preparation took longer than hoped.  Volunteers worried over staff losing their job, taking over library had only ever been “plan B”.  Cost of branch is expected to be £2500 with “An auction, jumble sales and a posh frocks gala dinner are just some of the suggestions and supporters can make financial pledges towards the upkeep of the library.”

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

News

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

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

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

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

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

Changes

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

Local News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Local News

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

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