Back to 1919
Sep 16th
“In 1919, WI member Mary Close wrote: “The first and greatest dfficulty in running a successful library is to get the right person as librarian. Too often, alas, one has to put up with someone whose only qualification is that they have the time to give to the work.” WI
“An article from Surrey dated today, bearing the headline “Progress On The First Wave of ‘Community’ Libraries” goes on to contradict that positive spin, quoting representatives of two local libraries, the first of whom says “We would rather not be in this position, but we are and we are going to make the best of it”; and the second who states “We are wholly against the policy. We don’t want to go down the volunteer route; that is a recipe for disaster as far as we are concerned”. http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/Progress-wave-community-libraries/sto…
Dozens and dozens of similar reports abound : Dorset campaigners are “heartbroken”, cries of despair emanate from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Isle of Wight, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Yorkshire, London boroughs : the list is too long to itemise. Many fine public librarians and library assistants have lost their jobs or are obliged to train volunteers whilst awaiting their brown envelopes; demoralised likewise, but enjoying little useful support from their professional bodies.
In the background, plumply, sit Ed Vaizey, Culture Minister and Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State — “watching carefully,” the kiss of death being applied to the public library service for which they have statutory responsibility. Busy with other matters perhaps or, I suspect, standing over the photocopier, printing up “Do Not Resuscitate” orders — to be affixed libraries throughout the land.
One can only hope that the WI will give them a good shaking and bring them to their senses, before it is too late.”
Incidentally, the WI has produced an excellent campaign pack which is worth a look.
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
News
- Copyright confusion dogs European digitisation push – BBC. “About 43% of the sample were orphan works suggesting a large part of Europe’s media may never go online.” suggesting that there will always be a need for physical libraries holding them.
“Hope all supporting WI libraries action day by taking a book out of local library today. Sadly mine now shut on fridays -case in point!” (GloriaDePieroMP, Twitter).
“There will never be enough words to write about libraries and my very personal encounters with their books. Beyond the family influence, the happy accidental encounters, and various events from my life; libraries are and will always be the main constant in my professional and human achievements (because I don’t see how one could develop in the absence of the other)….” Hymn to the Libraries – Inside HigherEd.
- WI slams government over volunteer-run libraries – BookSeller. “Speaking as the WI began its latest library action, asking each of its members to borrow a book from their library today (16th September), chair Ruth Bond said it was “simply not good enough” to assume that volunteers will step in to continue providing services previously supplied by professionals.”
Changes
- Bristol – 1 more mobile under threat – Mobile library could be withdrawn. Public consultation until November.
- Northern Ireland – Randalstown could be halved, reduced from 34.5 hours to 18 hours. Public consultation on cuts to Northern Ireland libraries until November 14th – over 24 branches will have hours cut by ten hours or more.
Local News
- Angus – Family want library to stay as a town asset – Arbroath Herald. “The family of the man who gifted the public library to the people of Arbroath have spoken out against any transfer of ownership of the building.”
- Bolton – Politicians are grilled over cuts to libraries – Bolton News. Videos of all the speakers. “More than 100 people packed into the lecture theatre in Le Mans Crescent directly underneath the 139,763 books in Bolton Central Library. The meeting, chaired by The Bolton News’ deputy editor Lynn Ashwell, was organised by the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign.”. Council does not want to makes cuts but sees no choice as to massive budget cuts. High profile of library campaign noted – it’s apparently impossible not be aware of it in Bolton, with it being “in the Bolton News every day”.
- Bolton – Speech at Debate – Save Bolton Libraries. “Libraries are not some relic of the steam age, but serve a whole range of functions in modern society, as a venue for friendship, learning, childcare, healthy living, business support, job search, IT access and much more.” …”We feel there is still some scope for savings through shared services with other Greater Manchester authorities, postponing Sunday opening of Central Library, and looking at cutting councillors’ allowances and expenses as the Labour Council in Bury is now doing.” … “We reject the three options on offer – there is a fourth option – recognise the strength of public opinion and leave the libraries budget alone!”
- Bristol – Mobile library is under threat – This is Bristol. “In the year to the end of March there were 113,525 books issued, compared to 117,145 the year before – down three per cent. The number of people using the service has dropped more dramatically, from 9,206 to 7,596 – a fall of 17 per cent – in the same period. At 12 years old the mobile library van is also near the end of its life. A replacement would cost around £100,000 but the council has not allocated funding for this.”
- Buckinghamshire – Meeting on future of Ivinghoe Library – Leighton Buzzard Observer. “But the Friends say that help and support are now essential to make the library a success. For more information there is a meeting from 7.30 pm on Wednesday, September 21 at Ivinghoe town hall.”
- North Somerset – Town library to be saved by listed building status? – Mercury. “The historic building housing Weston Library could soon be protected indefinitely, after heritage watchdogs assessed it as a candidate for listing…. Fears were expressed that the eye-catching building could be demolished after North Somerset Council withdraws the library service and moves it to a new base at Weston Town Hall.”
- North Yorkshire – Residents in Gargrave and Embsay await decision on libraries – Craven Herald and Pioneer. “…in Embsay, supporters are looking at asking villagers how much they would be willing to contribute to keep the library open.”…”Gargrave supporters, who are pressing on after appealing to the community for business help earlier this year, are hopeful their plan will be accepted.”
- Northern Ireland – Angry over proposal to reduce library opening hours – Antrim Times.
- Oxfordshire – Volunteering at library – Oxford Mail. “I am very unhappy about the volunteer proposals with regard to the Wychwoods library. I believe it to be unworkable and would lead to the closure of the library. At my age (90), I would be unable to get to any other library in the vicinity.”
- Surrey – Progress on the first wave of “community libraries” – This is Surrey Today. Tattenhams forming a volunteer group against their will, Lingfield “”We are wholly against the policy. We don’t want to go down the volunteer route; that is a recipe for disaster as far as we are concerned.”, Warlingham “A friends’ group has been established and they are leafleting the area to gather more volunteers. Ideas being mooted include charging people to use the library.”
- Wandsworth – Becoming the “Big Society” library – Save York Gardens. “When it reopens the ibrary will begin to officially operate as the ‘Big Society’ library. The Friends of York Gardens Library, a community group formed after the library was saved from closure, will take over a lot of the decision making and become accountable for the library making sufficient income to allow it to remain open with reduced funding.”
Join the library profession: get more than half your student debt written off.
Sep 15th
The BBC Student finance calculator above at last provided some good news for those fancying a career in librarianship. Choose “librarian and related professions” from the options and, assuming one goes for a £9000 loan each year, you will get more than half your debt written off after a mere thirty years. This is not (and I know this will come as a surprise to few of you) due to some enlightened government policy to encourage literacy and free access to information. Nope, it’s simply because you’re never going to earn enough in the profession to pay it off. The machinery of the calculator is not clear but one likes to think that it has factored in mass cuts in public services and a move towards paying anyone in public libraries not just low wages but nothing at all, let alone not enough to pay back a loan. Much of the media is very keen on pointing out the high pay of those in the public sector but always seem to concentrate on Chief Executives and not on the pay of the front-line staff that are being cut… but the BBC student finance calculator doesn’t lie.
(With thanks to @melissaterras)
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 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
- ACE publishes first library strategy document – BookSeller. “Culture, Knowledge and Understanding: Great Museums and Libraries for Everyone is said by ACE to be designed to provide certainty about which programmes ACE will run in 2011-15, including the Future Libraries Programme, and to solicit further debate about the directions the body should take in the long term.”
- Afictionado – “a fresh new website where you can borrow ebooks for your computer, tablet, smartphone or ebook reader; the freedom to read anything, anytime, anywhere”. Unrelated to the recent Amazon lending ebooks suggestion.
- Axiell’s 2011 Symposium: “Rethinking libraries?” tackles current and future challenges – BookTrade. “‘Rethinking Libraries?’ is the theme of Axiell’s third symposium; speakers from the UK, Scandinavia and USA will address key challenges such as improvements in efficiency, opportunities for savings and scope for reorganisation.”
- Ban on sex offenders entering public libraries may be unconstitutional – Metro Pulse (USA). “No guns, no pervs: Knox County has instituted a new ban on library access for registered sex offenders.”
- Eight year old boy sent threatening letter on debt collectors about overdue library book – Telegraph. “The letter stated that Jamie should return the book – which should have been returned on August 11 – immediately, but added: “If you believe that you no longer have these items, please contact the library immediately, as you may be referred to a Debt Collection service.”
- End of books: Ikea is changing shelves to reflect changing demand – Centered Librarian. “If you needed any more proof that the age of dead-tree books is over take a look at these alarming style changes at Ikea: the furniture manufacturer’s iconic Billy bookcase – the bookcase that everyone put together when they got their first apartment and, inevitably, pounded the nails wrong into – is becoming deeper and more of a curio cabinet. Why? Because Ikea is noticing that customers no longer buy them for books”
- Guardian and Observer Bookswap: how to take part – Guardian.
- New library hours could shut out public – Leinster Leader (Eire). “that while some additional community services are to be provided, it could mean that the libraries will be closed for up to half a day, every day of the week.”
- New safeguards for library privatization protect the public – California Progress Report (USA). “An example of a deal gone bad is the city of Santa Clarita, which recently handed over control of its libraries to a private entity and the decision has already cost the city $12 million more than anticipated. “. Useful checklist for those facing privatisation.
- Society Daily 15/9/11 – Guardian. “Libraries. Chris Addison has reposted a piece from Public Libraries News on his blog, which perfectly puts the case against library closures:”… there are a lot of uninformed opinions about public librraies…” [included here both due to need to provide completeness and to satisfy ego].
- Sweetest thing ever: selling cookies and lemonade for libraries – NYPL (USA). ““I personally can’t quite get over the magic of the library. You can just take books- for free!” How great is that?”
“We’re nearly 96! Help protect local library services and celebrate the WI’s birthday by signing our petition” WI Institute Tweet.
Changes
- East Sussex – Seaford Library to be temporarily closed while new library (merged with day care centre and supported living flats for adults with learning difficulties).
- Newham – Stratford children’s library to be reduced
- Northern Ireland – Downpatrick Library to cut by 13.5 hours per week to 40 hours per week.
Local News
- Angus – Council plan library grab – Scotsman. “Bob Spink, an independent councillor for Arbroath, will challenge Angus Council’s plans to take over the ownership of the library, gifted to the town by a former Provost, as part a major review of the Common Good Funds in the area.”
“Barnet’s gung-ho approach to shoving its libraries into other people’s buildings, whether they want them or not, must also call into question plans approved in July to close North Finchley and Friern Barnet libraries. They justified the move with plans to open a new library in Artsdepot, an arts centre and theatre atop the local bus station. While Barnet claims Artsdepot (which gets only a small amount of funding from the council) is “positive about the extra footfall it will create”, when the centre was being built in 2002, a £100,000 consultancy report discussing whether to add a library concluded it would be too expensive.” Barnet: Library News – Private Eye (via Alan Gibbons).
- Bolton – Question Time-style debate on libraries – Bolton News. “At 7pm, a Question Time-style debate will be held at Bolton Central Library lecture theatre as politicians and campaigners come head to head to discuss the town’s underthreat libraries.”
- Croydon – Outsourcing: a real threat to Croydon’s libraries – That Woman’s Blog. 6 libraries were in consultation process yet all 13 will be privatised, consultation flawed and parts of it ignored by council, staff drastically reduced this year in order to make deal more appetising for tendering companies, council has failed to listen to users despite promises.
“The decision to ‘market-test’ all 13 libraries was taken on the basis of the ideas of just 412 replies, recorded as “Explore links with commercial businesses i.e. outsourcing, sponsorship, advertising, cafe, retail”. No breakdown was recorded as evidenced by the refusal of the FOI request so those who offered ideas of efficiencies such as seeking sponsorship or adding a cafe have effectively had their suggestion counted as a vote for outsourcing.” Croydon – That Woman’s Blog
East Sussex – Seaford: new library plan unveiled – Eastbourne Herald. “The planning application, submitted by East Sussex County Council, includes a new library, day care centre and supported living flats for adults with learning difficulties. The plans include demolishing the existing library for the new build at Warwick House in Sutton Park Road and a temporary library at the Elm Court site in Blatchington Road. If the £6 million scheme goes ahead it will see facilities relocated from Homefield Place, a county adult social care facility.”
Edinburgh – New library scheme goes by the book – Edinburgh Evening News. “A NEW library and community centre being built in Drumbrae is on schedule to be completed in November.”
Newham – Save Stratford children’s library – GoPetition. “The children’s library at Stratford Library is a vital community resource and an important and necessary investment in the children and young people of our community, where children from babies to teens gather to read, explore, and learn. Current plans will drastically reduce the size of this space after a six-month closure from 1st October 2011. The community was not consulted in the plans for our library.”
- Norfolk – Youngsters celebrate completing reading challenge at Norwich Library – Norwich Evening News. “More than 10,000 youngsters across the county took part in this year’s challenge, which included circus workshops and events held in Norfolk libraries to encourage children to sign up and enthuse them about reading.”
- Northern Ireland – Library hours cut to limit history resource access – Belfast Telegraph. “Libraries NI are now proposing to reduce the opening hours of a number of libraries across Down District but particularly Downpatrick Library, which presently houses the core Co Down historical collection in the Heritage Gallery…”
- Oxfordshire – Volunteers’ concern over Sonning Common library – Get Reading. “Campaigners have urged town hall bosses to change proposals to keep Sonning Common Library open amid fears they will not be able to find enough volunteers to run the service…. More than 100 protesters packed into Sonning Common Village Hall in Wood Lane on Monday evening to discuss the plans, which they described as “deeply flawed”…”“If a volunteer model is confirmed to be the only way forward then this too should be one which deploys volunteers in all libraries on a proportional basis and irrespective of location.””
- Staffordshire – County Council claims it’s set to save millions of pounds in taxpayer’s money – Birmingham Mail. ““We’re taking out hierarchies and ensuring that those who lead the new teams take on more responsibility and accountability. And it’s working.” … ““While other councils are cutting libraries and bus services, Staffordshire is working with local communities and is responding to local priorities, innovating to meet real needs and reshaping services to respond to financial pressures.”
Arguments against libraries, arguments for libraries
Sep 14th
“The only surprise is that public libraries have survived for so long. Books are cheap, information is widely available on the internet. Libraries offer poor service- bad opening hours, poor quality buildings – their only selling point is that they are free! Yes – they offer community space, IT and are valued by users; but most of the population are not users. If we have to chose between healthcare and libraries I know which I would choose!” (Anonymous comment on yesterday’s post)
“The government and the council forget that people live in places like Walney. When they close the post offices, the clubs and the libraries, then the local people lose meeting places.” (Sally Whittaker, 97 years old, Cumbria).
“Anti-poverty campaigner Sam Roddick, who founded Coco de Mer, said: “Cutting the libraries is cutting the poor from the little they have. It will damn our country into the kind of poverty you see in third world countries.” (London Evening Standard, 12th April 2011)
- Libraries are not for everyone at every point of their lives. Neither are state schools. Neither is the M1 motorway. Neither is a general hospital. If one can afford all the books and IT access one needs then don’t come in. You’re a busy person with enough money, good for you. But, like schools, like the M1 and like the general hospital, libraries are there if any of that changes. This idea is called a safety net and it’s what a Western society is based on. Still.
- Don’t compare Libraries with healthcare as if they are on the same scale.. Libraries cost £1 billion per year, the NHS receives more than £100 billion. In fact, the sad truth is that cutting expenditure on libraries achieves very little for councils – they’re only 1% of their budget – at maximum impact to the public.
- Savings can be found across the board – notably with the banks, PFI and in the military (which has lost equipment worth six times the national budget for libraries).
- Who said libraries weren’t also healthcare anyway? I have had one gentleman tell me, over the counter, that he would quietly commit suicide if the library closed. Libraries provide an support for many of the most vulnerable in society (the housebound, the lonely) and, remember, we are lucky if we are not vulnerable at some point in our lives. The shelves are often scoured for books on health conditions, or dieting, or on keeping fit. Libraries even work closely with the NHS on such things as “Books on Prescription” and with such groups as MIND with mental health reading groups.
The point here is that there are a lot of uninformed opinions about public libraries. This is not surprising given the lack of national leadership over the decades and the lack of any national marketing or significant debate (up until this year at least) in the media. Those who care about libraries thus need to inform opinion and provide the information. Or those people who see there being no point in libraries are going to win, because they’re the ones who are holding the purse strings and, often, are in government or in a council near you.
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 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
- Advocacy – CILIP. Case studies of how to raise the profile of libraries.
- Beware the new normal – Will Unwound. “They want their service cuts to be invisible. That’s why full time professional librarians are being laid off. No reason why you can’t run the reference desk with one person rather than 3. Or you can just replace 3 full time professionals with 3 part time clerks. A warm body is a warm body? Why do you need a Masters degree to work in a library in the hard wired 21st century? Who knows you might even get lucky. The laid off professional librarians may be so desperate that they will hire back on in one of the part time clerical positions.”
- Disappearing ink – The Economist. “More quickly than almost anyone predicted, e-books are emerging as a serious alternative to the paper kind. Amazon, comfortably the biggest e-book retailer, has lowered the price of its Kindle e-readers to the point where people do not fear to take them to the beach. In America, the most advanced market, about one-fifth of the largest publishers’ sales are of e-books. Newly released blockbusters may sell as many digital copies as paper ones. The proportion is growing quickly, not least because many bookshops are closing.”
- Future of the Library – Seth Godin’s Blog. Argues that the need for library buildings as depositories for books has gone but suggests there should still be libraries and librarians … “The next library is a place, still. A place where people come together to do co-working and coordinate and invent projects worth working on together. Aided by a librarian who understands the Mesh, a librarian who can bring domain knowledge and people knowledge and access to information to bear.” … “We need librarians more than we ever did. What we don’t need are mere clerks who guard dead paper. Librarians are too important to be a dwindling voice in our culture. For the right librarian, this is the chance of a lifetime.”
- Lending books, Amazon style – Agnostic, Maybe. “I wonder if libraries are looking better and better to publishers with each passing eBook market development. They might not get the best deal compared to companies like Apple, Sony, or Amazon, but we’ll still respect you in the morning.”
- Public libraries are doomed – Annoyed Librarian (USA). “Amazon may drive libraries out of business the way it did a lot of bookstores, and the only ones likely to be disappointed are the librarians. Everyone else will be too busy reading whatever book they want, watching whatever movie or TV show they want, and listening to any music they want, all for about $30/month.”
- Stephen Abram at Manuscripta – This Week in Libraries. “…the opening of the bookseason in NL organized by CPNB. A conversation about the Library as an Economic Lever, emotional needs and The invisible hand.”
- Throwing the book at school libraries – Los Angeles Times (USA). “The school district is dumping 227 of its 430 elementary school library aides and cutting the hours of another 193 aides in half. Welcome back to school, kids.”
- “Why do libraries matter?” – BBC Radio Leeds. Lauren Smith defends libraries. Half a millions pounds for Wakefield libraries is too much, says interviewer – to the audible shock of Lauren who explains precisely why it is not. Reporter then worries that no-one in long call-in is phoning up against libraries, wondering if it is a “silent majority”.
Local News
- Bromley – Council threatens eight-year old boy with debt collector over late book – News Shopper. “Addressed to Jamie, the letter asked him to return or renew the book, before adding: “If you believe that you no longer have these items, please contact the library immediately, as you may be referred to a Debt Collection service.” Bromley does not charge late fees.
- Buckinghamshire – Take time to show you love your library – Buckingham Today. “The WI wants to encourage people to visit their local library, sometime between 1pm and 7pm to borrow a book or two.”
- Cambridgeshire – Budget consultation – Cambridgeshire Council. “We are running an online survey to find out your views about our priorities and spending over the next five years. Please submit your views by the 7th October 2011 when the consultation will close.”
- North Yorkshire – Families to join in fun at library Baby Days – Scarborough Evening News. “Our libraries provide a wonderful resource for families with a wealth of information and expert advice on hand. In addition our libraries are best placed at the heart of their communities to introduce babies and toddlers to books and reading and language activities from the earliest age, providing them with the best start in life on their learning journey.”
- Suffolk – We are listening: budget challenge – Suffolk Council. “Like many councils, Suffolk County Council is facing a difficult financial challenge. A reduction in the amount of money we receive from Government, along with increased inflation and demand for our services, means that we have to find considerable savings. Last year, we made savings of £43 million, but over the next two years we need to save a further £50 million.” One of the ways of consulting is by visiting one of the council’s 44 libraries.
- Surrey – Councillors discuss changes to Surrey library services – BBC. “Under the plans, the council would continue to provide buildings, stock, IT equipment and other services but communities would take over the day-to-day running of 19 libraries.”
- County drops plans for Molesey Library to be volunteer-run – Surrey Herald. Council recommended to keep branch as part of the “‘Surrey County Council managed network’. Friends group says ““While the future now seems more assured Molesey Library Steering Group will remain in place and continue working until we see the outcome of the cabinet vote on the September 27. “The strong support that we have received from volunteers, now more than 100, shows the importance of the library to Molesey.”
- Save Surrey Libraries! – Socialist Party. “All the threatened libraries have the lowest number of borrowers as they service mainly small, rural communities. But these are not just buildings with rows of books – they are social hubs, community and youth centres, parents and children’s centres. If they were to close there would be nothing similar in most of these villages.”
Wandsworth and Croydon confirm tendering out of libraries
Sep 13th
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 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
- Future of Libraries – Telegraph. Article looks especially at national libraries and other special libraries that have unique content, seeking to put such resources online, often at a charge.
- Love Your Libraries – UNISON (Facebook). New Facebook page to publicise what the main trade union for public library workers is doing for libraries and to link up with local campaigners.
- Public Libraries: Closures – House of Lords (Hansard). Baroness Rawlings agrees libraries are important. Suggestions for keeping libraries open include volunteers and using Church buildings (“We have in Hereford diocese an excellent example, of a library in a church tower. A lift, loos and other facilities are provided”). “Big Society” seen as very important role for libraries and a very important role to keep same libraries open.
- Rethinking libraries? 3rd Axiell Symposium 2011 – Axiell. “The Axiell Symposium is a two-day international conference…We are all familiar with improvements in efficiency and savings. Reorganisation is also a well-known term that has characterised our libraries for the past decade. But what is the next step?”
- Social networking and British libraries – Wikipedia. Survey of use of social networking websites by libraries, including by campaigners.
- What will Amazon’s “Netflix for Books” do for libraries? – Publishers Weekly (USA). “Libraries have shared much of publishing’s uncertainty as physical books continue their slide.” …”In addition to embracing digital books, libraries are trying everything under the sun in order to save themselves.” … “But can local branches, many already running dry, survive if Amazon gives Prime, which is becoming more and more of a deal at $79 as it decorates its price tag with feature after feature, and its users the capability to access any book a library could provide, without having to leave one’s home?”. Will the word library in 2021 bring up an “image of a person, never leaving his or her house, pressing a series of buttons on a high-res Amazon tablet screen to check out a lent book, scanning the lines using the device’s backlight instead of the low ceiling lights of a library?”
- Amazon “to launch book rental service” – Telegraph.
- Amazon in talks to launch digital books library – RTT News. “Amazon.com was among the group that blocked Google, Inc’s attempt to digitize millions of books and publications to make it available online.”
- Libraries in threat of becoming extinct – My Bank Tracker. “One thing that they still have on their side: physical books. Although the amount of individuals who choose to read books via digital methods is ever-increasing, there is still a large percentage of the population that is steadfast on reading from actual books.”
- Now Amazon wants to rekindle our love of libraries with e-store that allows you to borrow books – Mail. “Customers would pay an annual fee to Amazon – the maker of the popular Kindle e-reader – to access the virtual library, though an exact cost has not been decided.”
“To lose bookstores hurts. But the idea of the library itself being supplanted by e-commerce is downright dystopian. Blockbuster was just a video store, Tower Records just a music store. But a public library is something ineffable and sacrosanct, a cornerstone of democracy. Libraries were the first pillars of the DIY movement, long before the age of Make and Etsy–they offered a do-it-yourself education, free of charge. No one is actually accusing Amazon of killing the library, the way Netflix pretty much killed Blockbuster. But as the e-book revolution continues to erode the physicality of books, we should ensure that it doesn’t erode, too, the physical milieus books traditionally lived in, and the crucial and uplifting services those spaces provided–lending, outreach, and the occasional talk by the likes of Amitav Ghosh, all free of charge.” Will Amazon’s “Digital Library” kill the physical one? Let’s hope not – Technology Review.
- Self-service libraries can leave you long overdue – Telegraph. New self-service machines in Gravesend cause queues and confusion, including giving back more in change than was paid in to pay a charge. “In all, returning those books and paying the fine took 10 minutes. When I was a boy, in the days of cardboard library tickets, the same transaction would have involved the following steps: 1. Enter library. 2. Hand books and coins to human librarian. 3. Exit library.”
Changes
- City of London – Camomile Street Library closed – to be replaced by new library in White Kennet Street late Summer 2012. Mobile library replaces branch in meantime.
- Croydon – Privatising/outsourcing service with initial tendering in collaboration with Wandsworth, although winning tender may not be the same for both councils. Interested parties (Sep 2011) are (a) Civica (b) LSSI (c) JLIS (John Laing) (d) GLL (e) Vision Redbridge (f) Essex County Council (g) Merton Council (h) Bexley and Bromley Council Consortium (i) Croydon Libraries Strategic Management Team (j) Wandsworth “in-house”.
- Wandsworth – Confirmation that library service will invite outsourcing tenders in collaboration with Croydon. Interested parties (Sep 2011) are (a) Civica (b) LSSI (c) JLIS (John Laing) (d) GLL (e) Vision Redbridge (f) Essex County Council (g) Merton Council (h) Bexley and Bromley Council Consortium (i) Croydon Libraries Strategic Management Team (j) Wandsworth “in-house”. Privatising/outsourcing service with initial tendering in collaboration with Croydon, although winning tender may not be the same for both councils.
Local News
““I can’t believe how incredibly short-sighted this is, especially when now, more than ever before, it is imperative that we encourage creativity in as many ways as we possibly can, especially for children and young people.” Bolton – Funny man Dave [Spikey] backs the “save libraries” campaign – Bolton News. “Spikey, who now lives in Chorley, spent his formative years devouring books in libraries in Heaton and Halliwell. Now, as both libraries face the axe, the funnyman is calling on Bolton Council to have a rethink and has branded the proposals “short-sighted”.”
- Bracknell Forest – Actor Miriam Margoyles launches audiobook service – Get Bracknell. “The service allows library members to download their favourite audiobook for free, straight to their MP3 players or PCs.”
- City of London – We’re on the road – City of London Council. “Camomile Street Library will be replaced in late summer 2012 by a brand new library and community centre in White Kennet Street. Plans for a temporary mobile library service to be provided at the following sites…”
- Croydon – Croydon and Wandsworth considering new way of managing libraries – Wandsworth Guardian. “Croydon Council is looking to work in partnership with Wandsworth Council to carry out a tendering process to find an external organisation to run libraries in both boroughs. At the end of the process, each borough would be able to individually decide who they would award the contract to.”
- Review and procurement of library services – Croydon Council. Similar document to that from Wandsworth below, including equalities impact assessment.
- Hampshire – Council confirms children’s library fines – Get Hampshire. “There are currently over 33,000 children’s books, which are long overdue, sitting in people’s homes, this is a huge loss for the county’s library service as well as other borrowers.”
- Kent – Why won’t Kent release library meeting minutes? – Voices for the Library. Council had originally planned to close many libraries but backed down due to public opposition. The precise details of the plan, though, has never been made public, with the Council refusing a freedom of information request on the basis that it would prejudice current plans, much to the bemusement of campaigners.
- Suffolk – Library users “dismayed” by latest plans – Suffolk Free Press. “Under plans being considered by Suffolk County Council, mobile library visits will be reduced from fortnightly to monthly, while stops in towns or villages that already have a library will be axed.”
- Wandsworth – Report by the Director of Leisure and Amenity Services on the competitive tendering of Library and Heritage Services – Recommended to allow outsourcing of Wandsworth public libraries in competition with an “in-house” Trust proposal. Those registering interest are (a) Civica (b) LSSI (c) JLIS (d) GLL (e) Vision Redbridge (f) Essex County Council (g) Merton Council (h) Bexley and Bromley Council Consortium (i) Croydon Libraries Strategic Management Team (j) Wandsworth “in-house”. Outsourcing would take place some point after return of tenders in July 2012.
“The information obtained from the market sounding exercise has provided a very clear indication that a competitive ‘market’ exists for the provision of library services in both Wandsworth and Croydon. It is therefore recommended that the Council market tests the management of its library and heritage service and that, subject to approval by this Council and Croydon Council, library services for both Councils are procured jointly.”
- Wandsworth – see also Croydon, above.
Special report – Arts Council England speaks on libraries
Sep 13th
“Although public libraries have seen a decrease in the numbers of people borrowing books, evidence shows that where there has been strategic investment – such as in promoting children’s reading – visits rise. And patterns of use are changing, with a significant increase in users accessing services digitally. Libraries have innovated in response, offering enhanced digital provision and actively promoting libraries as local social spaces which can draw in and support new users. Unlike museums or the arts, differences in people’s socio-economic status do not affect their likelihood of using a library; neither does illness or having a disability.” (p.9/10)
“The Arts Council is keen to see museums and libraries continuing to innovate in their approaches to engaging with communities and making more effective use of volunteers; we are keen to see them working together to achieve this” (p.11)
“Museums and libraries similarly need to strengthen their business models, diversify their income streams and look at new ways of encouraging private giving and supporting enterprise. Likewise, they need to continue to explore new ways of collaborating and improving efficiency in order to thrive
not just survive.” (p.12)
- Funding new initiatives that show original thinking, especially if they will save money
- To get more people to use libraries
- To find ways of surviving with less council money
- A lessening in the dominance of white middle class staff
- Encourage more children in
The Council is keen on advocacy work for libraries and with work with the Local Government Group, Society of Chief Librarians and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals “to develop clear messages about the public value libraries can provide and a shared vision for the library service in 10 years’ time.”. It is perhaps at least good to see that the Council thinks libraries will still be here in 2021. For this year, though, the main activity, appears to be simply to continue with the Future Libraries Programme, which may cause some worries amongst those who do not highly regard it.
“In the long-term, we expect that Arts Council England will not have separate strategies for museums, libraries and the arts. We will use the same framework to drive all of our programmes and inform all of our funding decisions.”
“One lesson on the components for excellent library services that can be drawn from the literature is that it is important for libraries to continue to provide a neutral, shared public space for users. The public have high levels of trust in libraries, which is partly rooted in the assumption that libraries provide a more impartial source of information than alternatives such as the media.”
“Public libraries have very low levels of funding diversification and relatively high levels of alternative business models such as procurement partnerships across library authorities, which over 80 per cent of library authorities have, and co-location with other services, which over 60 per cent do (DCMS, 2009). They are unlikely to have tried more extreme changes to their business model, such as having commercial subsidiaries or independent trusts.”
“Since the libraries sector already has representative numbers of visitors from the DCMS target groups of people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people who have a disability, and those from lower socioeconomic groups, the literature focuses on the more general question of how to encourage more people to use libraries.”
ways that libraries are managed”. Which is one way of putting it.
“If I were a librarian, I confess, I’d be putting the career-change plan into action just about now.”
Sep 12th
430 libraries (345 buildings and 85 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
- Advocacy – Thoughts of a wannabe librarian. “As far as I can see, if you are committed to excellent standards of service in your library, you are an advocate (creating proxies). If you have ‘librarian’ on your Twitter bio and have ever tweeted about libraries, librarians or related issues, you are an advocate. If you tell your friend with an e-reader “hey, did you know you can get free ebooks at the library?”, you are an advocate.”
- Amazon in talks to launch Digital-Book Library – Wall Street Journal. “Amazon.com Inc. is talking with book publishers about launching a Netflix Inc.-like service for digital books, in which customers would pay an annual fee to access a library of content, according to people familiar with the matter. It’s unclear how much traction the proposal has, the people said. Several publishing executives said they aren’t enthusiastic about the idea because they believe it could …” [rest of library behind paywall]
- Ebooks – Local Government Library Technology. Summary of recent and relevant articles on ebooks and public libraries.
- Given a choice between privatized libraries and no libraries, which would you choose? – Southern California Public Radio (USA). “California librarians are cheering AB 438 for making it more difficult to privatize libraries and have been making frequent trips to Sacramento to ask for more funds. How should California deal with its libraries? Do sacrifices need to be made?”
- Is Amazon about to move into the book rental business? – Guardian. “According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com is talking to publishers about launching an ebook lending service. What will this mean for libraries?” … “Amazon is now “talking with book publishers about launching a Netflix Inc.-like service for digital books, in which customers would pay an annual fee to access a library of content…Assuming Amazon can inveigle publishers into buying into the service (by no means a given), I can’t see how it won’t sound the final knell for bricks-and-mortar libraries – even academic ones.”
“Libraries are in trouble, but any fool can see it has nothing to do with ebooks, although perhaps you could send a link to this article to the government, as it would provide them with a convenient excuse.” Comment on article above.
“From a business standpoint, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to put libraries out of business. They’re community based and focused, so “attacking” them would cause an outcry and not do Amazon’s image any good.” Comment on article above
“My concern is that, given that libraries are struggling to survive anyway, if – if! – such a move came in, it could very easily act as the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Response from article writer.
- Mysterious paper sculptures – Central Station. Lists and shows all of the wonderful artworks that have mysteriously appeared in Scotland in defence of libraries and of books. Worth looking at for the tremendous talent shown alone.
Changes
Liverpool – 29% (£2m) cut in libraries budget.
Northamptonshire – Group: Save St James Library.
Wakefield – 27 FTE posts may go.
West Sussex – 15% cut in libraries budget. Opening hours and/or staff may be cut.
Local News
- Brent – An evening with Jacqueline Wilson – Save Kensal Rise Library. “Jacqueline Wilson, well loved author and former Children’s Laureate, comes to Kensal Green. Jacqueline will be reading from her work, answering questions and signing a limited number of books. Tickets for this event will be on sale from Wednesday 14th September at L’Angolo’s Deli on College Road, Queens Park books and selected local schools at a cost of £10, concessions £5.”
- Preston Bibliotheque Campaign – Save Preston Libraries. “Who said we’re running out of steam? After just a few months, Brent SOS Libraries has raised £22,000 – and counting. With special London tours, an exclusive film screening, and karaoke to come, there are plenty more ways to help.”
- Queens Park Community School students: “Kensal Rise Library has brought everyone closer in our community” – Save Kensal Rise Library. Article by local school students “We think that not only is it a place for studying, reading and researching, but that a library is somewhere for people to socialise and organise family events for children and adults. Although our generation is developing in the era of modern technology, it would be a shame to lose a comforting historic building and our local source of good old books – and new ones too!”
- “The library that will not die” – Politiken.DK (Denmark, Google Translation). “”Many children come here to read their homework because there is too much noise at home. This is a safe place for them to be. Where will they go if the library closes? “He asks.”
- Hampshire – New library charges introduced from 19 September – About My Area. Charges introduced for children’s late fees, children’s reservations (10p), interlibrary renewals (£2.50), reading groups (£15), elderly people’s homes (£200 p.a.), DVD Club membership (2 DVDs at any one time £45 per year). Music Club membership (2 CDs at any one time, £15).
- Liverpool – Library consultation results Childwall libraries and will soon be opening a new library on West Derby Road, replacing costly, older buildings. However, we are facing huge financial challenges and difficult decisions need to be made, and we can’t make those decisions without hearing from those who will be directly affected.”
- Budget Consultation Survey Results 2011/2 – Liverpool Council.
- Oxfordshire – Public meeting about library staff cuts – Henley Standard. “A public meeting to discuss the future of Sonning Common library will be held on Monday.”
- Where Oxfordshire CC should be looking to save back office costs – Question Everything. Analysis of data obtained via Freedom of Information requests.
- Wakefield – Residents asked views on libraries – Express series. ““We have no choice but to do things differently and we must recognise that in planning our service for the future, this about providing library services, not just libraries.”
- Wakefield council consultation on library closures – BBC. “A spokesman said the plan would result in the loss of 27 full time posts. The council has said it needs to save £40m by 2013.”
- Library Review Survey – Wakefield Council.
- West Sussex – People urged to support Steyning library – Shoreham Herald. “A library working party, made up of parish councillors, has been looking at a number of options on how money could be saved, and has called a public meeting to collect more ideas.”
“Rejoicing in the redundancy of public servants”
Sep 11th
“Disgusted to see that the grubby little Bookseller article rejoicing in the redundancy of public servants is even given the light of day on this website.” (Comment by Anonymous)
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
News
- Dog-eared paperback, newly endangered in an E-book Age – New York Times (USA). “Recession-minded readers who might have picked up a quick novel in the supermarket or drugstore are lately resisting the impulse purchase… while the publishing industry had expanded over all, publishers’ mass-market paperback sales had fallen 14 percent since 2008.”
““I always knew from that moment, from the time I found myself at home in that little segregated library in the South, all the way up until I walked up the steps of the New York City library, I always felt, in any town, if I can get to a library, I’ll be OK. It really helped me as a child, and that never left me. So I have a special place for every library, in my heart of hearts.” How libraries changed Maya Angelou’s life – Huffington Post.
- It’s about books, stupid – Good Library Blog. Tim Coates has been in New York, librarians there shocked at UK situation. US librarians after 2001 “decided to increase the book fund in community libraries, particularly the funds for buying books for children” as their main policy. “By operating that policy, use of the public libraries, and ‘circulation’ – which is their word for book lending- have risen constantly. There have rarely been cuts and few closures. Even now, when the recesssion in New York is visible in the number of closed shops and business premises, the public libraries are clearly valued.”. This compared to reduction in bookstock in the UK.
- London Libraries Consortium now numbers 15 London boroughs and 3.6 million inhabitants as Merton joins – PR.com. “Although we already use Axiell’s OpenGalaxy, procuring through the consortium means we will now benefit from free upgrades to new applications and tools which are currently chargeable, such as the 24*7 automated telephone renewals hotline and acquisitions module. We were required by our councillors to prove a very strong case for savings and return on investment and were able to develop a robust case.”
- Loss and recovery: librarians bear witness to September 11th 2001 – Youtube.
- SOS for English Libraries – Alan Gibbons. Full English translation of Le Monde article.
Changes
- Aberdeen – “Silver City Vault” for online historical photographs and records launched.
- Bradford – Burley in Wharfedale Library may be co-located with a Co-op shop due to £200k backlog in maintenance and unfit building.
- Calderdale – Some libraries and mobiles under threat – £550k cut (not £250k as reported previously), stopping mobile libraries, reducing opening hours. Group – Friends of Todmorden Library.
- Kingston – £38k more for Hook Library. Spending freeze on “all but essential” items.
- Plymouth – Schools Library Service under threat.
Local News
- Aberdeen – Lord Provost launches Aberdeen City Libraries online digital archive – Aberdeen council. “city’s new online home for thousands of historic photographs and records at the Central Library tomorrow [Sat, 10 Sept]. The ‘Silver City Vault’ makes the Aberdeen Local Studies archive available free to remote users for the very first time.”…” addition, the website contains over 40,000 index records for events like marriage notices and newspaper obituaries and more than 10,000 articles from local journals covering individuals, organisations and events.”
- Bolton – MPs fight back over proposed library closures – Bolton News. “The town’s three MPs are writing to Secretary of State for Local Government Eric Pickles to demand the £400,000 needed to save Bolton’s libraries.” … “Leaders from the three main political parties and the leader of the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign will debate the planned closures of five libraries in front of a “Question Time”-style audience.”
- Bradford – Burley Library and store plans expected soon – Ilkley Gazette. “Plans for a combined Co-op store and library building could be submitted in the next two to three weeks, a meeting of more than 200 Burley-in-Wharfedale residents was told this week.” … “The council’s principal libraries officer, Jackie Kitwood, assured residents the library was not under threat, and the council had no plans to close it. But she said there was a £200,000 backlog of maintenance work, and the 1970s building was not “fit for purpose”.”
- Buckinghamshire – Library process “like swimming through treacle” – Bicester Advertiser and Review. “Friends of Winslow Library are looking for volunteers to help on the group, and they particularly want to hear from people with professional skills or organisational experience.” … ““BCC has only recently begun to define what support would be available if local residents want to take on the library and, of course, what it would cost. This process involves detailed discussions about ownership of the library buildings, the use of BCC staff librarians, IT, and reservation and management of the book stocks.”
- Calderdale – Libraries on hit list again – Halifax Courier. ““The council has already worked hard to make savings and this has been achieved through better technology, smarter working and keeping a close eye on the purse strings. But the reality is that we still need to make further savings across the service. The council will consider a number of options and we are keen to have people’s thoughts and ideas.”
- Alan lends library group support – Todmorden News. Friends of Todmorden Library – “Having decided to stage a festival, they wrote to Yorkshire-born Mr Bennett to tell him it was taking place and were delighted to receive a personalised doodle of himself, adorned with a “good luck” message, very shortly afterwards.”
- Inverclyde – Positive report about Inverclyde Libraries – Inverclyde Now. Scottish Library and Information Council assesses libraries, with good results meaning eligibility for government grants. “‘good’ for sufficiency, range and suitability of resources and staff interaction and support, and ‘very good’ for arrangements for access.”
- Kingston – Hook Library – This is Local London. “The budget for the Hook library has been increased by £38,800. The south of the borough neighbourhood committee has found £74,100 of savings out of its budget for August.”
- Plymouth – Academy uptake poses threat to city’s library service – This is Plymouth. Schools Library Service under threat … “The service currently operates in 81 per cent of Plymouth schools but in the light of the rising number of academies, councillors expressed concern at the sustainability of the service.”
- Suffolk – Mobile libraries come under scrutiny – Haverhill Echo. “A six week consultation over the future of Suffolk County Council’s mobile library service, looking specifically at how users think savings can be made, was launched on Monday. Suffolk County Council currently spends £600,000 a year providing the service for around 7,000 customers. This equates to £7.70 per customer visit as opposed to £2.51 in the county’s built libraries.”
- Mobile libraries consultation – Diss Express.
- Ideas wanted for keeping libraries mobile – Bury Free Press.
“Rally outside shire hall warwick against library cuts in warwickshire, 8th october” Warwickshire – Save SSLibrary (Twitter)
Date for your diary: National Libraries Day 4th February 2012
Sep 9th
Please sign the national petition in support of public libraries.
News
- Bill limiting local governments’ ability to privatize libraries passes Senate – Ventura County Star (USA). “A controversial bill restricting local governments’ authority to outsource and privatize public libraries passed the Senate Thursday and will likely make its way to Gov. Jerry Brown‘s desk next week.”
“We are not a soft touch. Let’s remember why libraries matter. The National Literacy Trust says that a child who visits a library is twice as likely to read well as one who does not. South Korea is top of the international reading rankings. It is opening 180 libraries. We are 25th. We are closing 400. Libraries are places where you can read fiction, non fiction and poetry, access ICT, take part in local history, join a reading group, attend a story telling session, get help doing research, read a newspaper for free and access all kinds of services. They are free at the point of use.” Campaign for the Book Newsletter – The date is set, start your preparations for National Libraries Day– Alan Gibbons.
- Crimes behind closed doors – Independent (Boyd Tonkin). “My own crazy idea of the week would yoke local bookshops and branch libraries together in a joint stand against their various crises of survival. Why not place indie bookshops within, or next to, libraries? Since both locations now enhance their offer to users – from music and stationery to coffee for the former, or the latter’s strength in online information – the conflict of interest might not be as glaring as it first appears. In areas of dearth, “reading hubs” that twin-tracked public service and private purchase might flourish more than rival sites.”
- “Culture can help to overcome crisis” says minister – News.pl (Poland). “according to the culture minister, the Wroclaw Congress should bring about concrete decisions that should be implemented throughout the whole of the European Union, such as greater access to culture as well as subsidies for public libraries.”
- Don’t mess with the library: Overdue books land Iowa man in jail – ABC (USA). “Anspach, 28, checked out some 27 items, including books and other media worth $770.67, from the Newton Public Library earlier this year. The library attempted to contact him with phone calls and certified mail about the overdue books, but Anspach allegedly never responded.”
- Few tears for departing MLA – BookSeller. “Few will mourn the loss of a quango which delivered little strategically for the library sector despite a stream of initiatives such as Blueprint for Excellence, Framework for the Future and the two-year Library Modernisation Review…the MLA’s essential failure was that its board never developed and promoted a vision for public libraries in the 21st century which was widely understood and supported…Any hope of a radical transformation of public libraries has long been superseded by demands for extensive job cuts…”. Fears Arts Council will have same lack of success unless it broadens its base – “The people who use libraries have been ignored to date. It is now essential that they be listened to. ”.
- “My library matters to me” Contest – Our Public Library (Canada). “Each participating author will accompany a small group of contest winners to a Toronto literary site (such as a location in one of their books) followed by lunch with their group at one of the author’s favourite Toronto restaurants.”. [At the time of writing there was 46,977 signatures on Toronto petition compared to less than 9,000 for the national UK one.]
- National Libraries Day set for 4th February – BookSeller. “Author Alan Gibbons of Campaign for the Book, a prime mover behind the initiative, said planning was now underway for the “positive and celebratory” day in 2012 which is set to feature “Libraries Open Late” with extended hours, a library membership campaign, and events held leading up to the day and on the day itself. ” …”Protest has made it hard to push through the most direct and swingeing cuts but the hydra of volunteer community libraries, closures, book fund cuts, staff redundancies and opening hour cuts is still writhing and twisting in area after area.”
- Patrons picket to save Detroit library branch – Detroit News (USA). “library commissioner Jonathan Kinloch said a final decision hasn’t been made and that getting community feedback is part of the process. “The Chase community has made a hell of a statement today with their turnout,”
Local News
- Bristol – Jeffrey Archer launches Bristol’s Big Read – (Press release). “To celebrate the paperback launch of Jeffrey Archer’s Number One bestseller, Only Time Will Tell, Pan Macmillan have joined forces with Bristol Libraries, Reading Partners, Destination Bristol and Cyprus Well to launch Bristol’s Big Read. The aim of the project is to engage with local people, encourage them to read and discuss Only Time Will Tell and inspire them to explore their city.“
- Cambridgeshire – U-turn on cutbacks in Cambridgeshire – Cambrdige News. “Some of the most savage public sector cuts planned in Cambridgeshire, including raids on road maintenance and adult social care funding, could be dropped.”. This includes a reassessment of the library review.
- Croydon – Library bids backed – This is Croydon Today. “It is looking almost certain that an outside organisation will take over the running of Croydon’s libraries. Work has been completed on analysing initial bids to run the service and Councillor Sara Bashford, the council’s cabinet member for culture and sport, said: “The recommendation going to cabinet will be to go out to tender.”
- Devon – New Cullompton Library is open – This Is The WestCountry. “AN ambitious £3million ‘Devon Centre’ in Cullompton welcomed its first official visitors this week. The centre, called The Hayridge, has replaced two Devon County Council buildings in the town – the library and the adult learning centre.”. Library four times size of previous, co-located with council information services.”The scheme also includes a cafe, courtyard garden and facility for people with mobility difficulties.”
- Wakefield – Library closures put before the public – Yorkshire Post. “A council spokesman said: “Since 1992 more than four out of every 10 library users have stopped going into the district’s libraries and new technology means that people may want to reserve and read books online, rather than visit their local library.””. 13 out of 26 libraries are threatened.
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