Editorial

The winners of Libraries Improvement Fund grants have been announced, with 25 services sharing £5 million. The largest grant is £495k (Sandwell) and the smallest is £62k (Reading). Before we get too excited by this government largesse, it’s worth remembering the £5 million fund is less than a third that given to museums at the same time, a sector with fewer visitors and buildings. To put it into more perspective. one private subscription library, Leeds, announced extra funding more than twice that of the largest LIF receiver in the same week. And just one building, a new combined library/museum in Wakefield, will cost more than three times than the entire national award. So, it’s a nice thing, it’s good one could apply for building improvements, and well done to the library services involved but the scale fo the funding is just plain woefully inadequate given the challenges to the sector, which is often most obvious in its buildings. So, I hope the sector becomes like Oliver, and asks for more. Substantially more. And if we get it, well, that would be a Twist indeed.

In other news, Blackpool has continued being fines-free for another year, reporting that it has seen no increase in the amount of unreturned or late items. I understand Libraries Connected is researching the fines-free model as well and seeing how/if other services can go down that route. It seems that the whole pro-fines argument has shifted in the last ten years from “Fines are needed as otherwise we will lose stuff” to “We’d like to get rid of fines but we need the income from them” as the main reason why many library services have not gone down that route. The strength of that argument (and the weakness in library budgets it shows) will be tested in many more services soon, as the number of services going fines-free continues to grow.

Changes by local authority

• North Yorkshire – Knaresborough library to have building society co-located into it.
• Staffordshire – Burton demolition plan cancelled.
• Wakefield – £16m new library/museum/cafe

National news

• £48 million to safeguard nation’s critical cultural heritage – Gov.uk. £5 million for libraries: “The Libraries Improvement Fund is helping to transform library services in England by helping them upgrade their buildings and digital infrastructure so they can respond to the changing ways people use them. Twenty-five library services are being supported in this round of funding, including Sandwell Library and Information Service in the West Midlands (£495,000) and Sheffield Libraries (£340,000).”
  • Over £6m in new funding granted to Yorkshire museums and libraries – here’s where – Yorkshire Post. “Almost £150,000 will support Barnsley Council to redevelop Dodworth Library to allow more flexible use of the space and improve access for users.” … “Sheffield will also receive £340,000 to pay for library upgrade work, with Leeds receiving £267,000 and Bradford and Scarborough £200,000 each.”
  • Cultural Investment Fund: Data – Arts Council England. “This includes £24 million through round two of the Cultural Development Fund to help regenerate communities through improved growth and productivity. The Museums Estate and Development Fund is awarding £18 million to help museums improve their infrastructure and carry out urgent maintenance works. We’re also investing £5 million in 25 library services to upgrade their buildings and technology, through the Libraries Improvement Fund.”

Table from Cultural Investment Fund: Data | Arts Council England

• 600 public buildings in Wales levelled up with full fibre broadband – Gov.uk. “Site Coordinator at Milford Haven Library Tracy Collins said: “ A lot of members of the public come in to use the computers for job searches. People used to say that the internet was very slow, especially when they were downloading documents and we would have to say sorry but there was nothing we could do about it. It’s been great so far, this is a big step forward.””
• CILIP ILIG Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 and CILIP President Talk – CILIP. Zoom, Wednesday 11 May, 3-4pm.
• Clarivate to Cease all Commercial Activity in Russia – Clarivate.
• Dozens of library closures across Scotland blamed on SNP ‘underfunding’ local councils – Daily Record. “A total of 83 community facilities shut their doors permanently in the period covering 2009 to 2020. There are now fears the impact of the coronavirus pandemic could force cash-strapped councils to close even more cultural facilities. Official figures show the number of libraries nationwide has dropped from 627 to 544 despite total visitor numbers increasing over the last decade.” … “the Improvement Service’s Local Government Benchmarking Framework Report shows that numbers of library visits have increased by 41% between 2010-11 to 2019-20.”
• Invitation to Tender – Digital Leadership for Libraries – CILIP. “The tender is to develop 5 open-access e-learning modules. These modules are intended to create engagement and expose learners to the ideas.”
• Scotland libaries: One in eight Scottish libraries permanently closed since 2010, figures reveal – Scotsman. “Over the same period, spending on public libraries plummeted by 30 per cent, despite the fact that yearly visitor numbers to libraries increased by over 40 per cent.”

International news

• India – Rethinking Librarianship with a human touch: experiences of an Indian library professional at IFLA – CILIP. Zoom, 27 April, 1pm.
• Ukraine – CILIP extends free membership to Ukrainian librarians displaced by the Russian invasion – CILIP. “Any Ukrainian information professional who has sought or is seeking refuge in the UK from 1 January 2022 is now eligible for free CILIP membership with access to the support and benefits of this professional community.”
  • Ukraine’s libraries are offering bomb shelters, camouflage classes and, yes, books – NPR. “”Refugee reception points, hostels and logistics points are organized here,” she said. “Camouflage nets for the military are also woven here. Home care courses are held here. Books are collected here to be transferred to libraries in neighboring countries that receive Ukrainian refugees.””

Local news by authority

• Barnsley – Our Futures Now book begins its tour around Barnsley Libraries – News Anyway. “The book celebrates the stories that come straight from the heart of real people, many of who live in Barnsley and are passionate about our borough. From stories based on the resilience shown during the pandemic to fictional or very personal narratives, each story looks at the future of our borough with ambition and optimism. Our Futures Now will travel across the borough, allowing everyone to see it and get inspired on the doorstep of their local community. Each month, the hand-made version of the book will be staying at a different library. “
• Blackpool – Blackpool library fines scrapped for another year– The Gazette. Move is to ensure people have equality and free access. No increase in lost/late books reported.
• Bradford – A Special Message from the Lord Mayor of Bradford – Bradford and District Local Studies. Mayor congratulating Bradford libraries for being open for 150 years.
• Denbighshire – Denbighshire libraries to celebrate wellbeing in programme of events – The Free Press. “Nicola Pitman, chair of the Society of Chief Librarians Cymru and library lead, who has been working in partnership with The Reading Agency on the campaign: “We hope that these national Winter of Wellbeing author events will encourage and attract the young people of Wales to our libraries, to read and engage with all the activities and entertainment inside.”
• Devon – Much loved library shuts for refurbishment – Devon Live. Holsworthy: “The frontage of the library, which was built in the 1970s, is being replaced, and new flooring is being installed throughout.”
• Edinburgh – Temporary library to open at The Fort in Leith – Edinburgh Reporter. “This temporary arrangement will continue until the Covid testing facility moves out of Leith Library.”
• Fife – Limited access to library in Fife town sparks growing concern – Fife Today. “the library at Waid Academy in Anstruther is only open for browsing for three-and-a-quarter hours each week as Fife Council do not want members of the public mixing with school pupils.”
• Glasgow – Susan Deighan becomes new Glasgow Life Chief Executive – Glasgow Evening Times. in-house appointment, libraries not mentioned at all in article.
• Halton – TV’s Konnie Huq to host family events in our libraries – News Anyway. “Children’s writer and presenter, Konnie Huq, to host family events on science, the environment and coding at Halton’s Libraries as part of British Science Week – and both events are already full”
• Kirklees – Dewsbury Library space takes on a new look as work is completed – Kirklees Together. “We have now completed works in the area around Dewsbury Library to brighten up the important pedestrian gateway into the town centre.”
• Leeds – Leeds Library set to expand for first time in 143 years as part of new £1.2 million investment – Yorkshire Evening Post. This is the private subscription library and not the public library.
• Northamptonshire – Raunds library saved from closure as education trust steps in – Northants Telegraph. ” building owners North Northants Council (NNC) has entered into a partnership, brokered between an ‘experienced and established’ academy trust and Raunds Community Library Trust.”
  • Name revealed for Kettering’s £3.9m ‘cultural gem’ complex – Northants Telegraph. “It’s now been revealed that the complex will be called Cornerstone – reflecting how the old parts of the library and gallery buildings will connect as well as the site’s corner position within Kettering town centre”
• Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland libraries offered a virtual lifeline during pandemic: ‘We do see ourselves as community hubs’ – Belfast Telegraph. ““It certainly has taken off, especially during lockdown obviously whenever libraries were closed,” says Michael Lynn, Service Development Manager for Libraries NI of digital borrowing. “The number of eBooks we loaned during that period certainly did jump a huge amount. The year before Covid, 2019-2020 we had about 500,000 eBook loans. In 2020-2021, it jumped up to over 920,000 …”
• North Lanarkshire – North Lanarkshire Libraries team up with mental health charity to provide drop-in events – Daily Record. “supporting local charity ‘You Are My Sunshine’ by providing them space to operate from at Newarthill Library.The charity will be based there on Monday and Wednesday evenings “
• North Yorkshire – Building society set to open in Knaresborough library – York Press. ““The offer of financial services promises to increase footfall into Knaresborough library and encourage new visitors through the doors. We look forward to seeing its grand opening in the summer.””
• Nottinghamshire – Concerns as Nottinghamshire libraries use falls 300,000 visits short of target – Newark Advertiser. “Nottinghamshire County Council papers show the authority’s library network missed one target by almost 300,000 visits ­— but the chairman of the council’s communities committee said recovery won’t happen overnight. From October to December 2021, there were 283,682 visits to county libraries against a target of 575,000.” … “new targets have been set for April to December 2022 to include website visits and home delivery as this “better reflects the performance of the service and how users engage with it following the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions and wider cultural shifts in user habits”.”
• Oxfordshire – Grove Library marks its 50th birthday – Oxfordshire County Council. “To mark the occasion, the library is going back to 1972 with a nostalgic display of 70s memorabilia, including some of the bestselling books of 1972, fashion, pictures and film.  Staff, volunteers and councillors will be marking the occasion with a small birthday celebration – including cake …”
• Portsmouth – ‘Forgotten’ Portsmouth library book rediscovered over 60 years overdue – Portsmouth City Council. “concerns about the fines the original borrower received but was delighted to hear that Portsmouth City Council has scrapped all overdue library fines to help encourage residents to return to the library.”
• Staffordshire – Controversial plan to move Burton Library into Market Hall now appears dead in the water – Staffordshire Live. “Controversial proposals to move Burton Library to the town’s historic Market Hall now appear to have been completely scrapped. Library bosses have today confirmed the service will stay put – days after councillors voted against the move, which would have meant the market hall’s closure and traders being kicked out. And it now looks likely cash set aside to move the library will be spent on delivering the Town Fund project to turn the area between High Street and the Washlands into a tourist hotspot of bars and cafes.”
• Suffolk – Victorian-era toilet discovered in Suffolk library during refurbishment – EADT. “”Unfortunately – or perhaps, fortunately – the bucket was missing but I managed to find one on eBay that fitted perfectly underneath,” Allan Hampson, who restored the loo, said.”
  • Pose on a Victorian toilet, music and more set for Suffolk Libraries Day – Ipswich Star. “Suffolk Libraries, the charity that runs the county’s library service is gearing up for its third annual countywide fundraising event which began this week with a book festival.  “
  • The Suffolk women helping others build their dream business – EADT. “We Are Radikl’s joint venture with Suffolk Libraries is a free six-week programme that helps and encourages local women to successfully start, sustain and scale their own businesses – while also providing a route to funding opportunities.  “
• Wakefield – Wakefield’s new library and museum set to open at ex-BHS site – BBC. “A derelict city centre shop is set to be transformed into a new £16m home for Wakefield’s library. The closed BHS unit on Kirkgate, opposite Wakefield Cathedral, is to be turned into a city centre hub with a museum and cafe, council bosses said. The proposed development was originally dropped by Wakefield Council last year. But, following a change of mind, work on the site was due to start soon and should be completed within the next two years, according to the authority.”

Editorial

I don’t know the places in questions and I could be off but it looks to me like there’s some rivalry between Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The former is Labour-run and aiming to close libraries amidst protest while the latter, run by Conservatives/Independents is making very loud noises about not closing libraries. Hmm. Over 120 miles to the south, Slough asked about closing libraries in a consultation and got a resounding slap in the face.

Away from cuts, it’s interesting to see that even in February 2022, there are still libraries closed due to Covid. although reopening fast. In more positive news, it’s good to see World Book Day coming around again and libraries are already publicising their actions for the Jubilee in some services.

A couple of my editorials recently on library statistics – the laughable Cipfa article (remember the 200 new libraries gem?) in the Guardian and the difficulty of actually having a reliable count of how many libraries there are open and closed has gathered a lot of responses public and private. I am pleased to say that the leading light in trying to improve the situation, Dave Rowe, has agreed to write a short article below on the current state of play and what could be done about it. His expertise and confidence on the subject make me very envious.

Libraries Hacked on public library statistics

Public library data across the UK is in a bad state. We’ve seen evidence of this in the recent press release from CIPFA, where ‘provisional’ information about libraries in lockdown was 2-year-old data. That data that will only ever be made available to corporate subscribers.

We don’t know how many libraries and mobile libraries there are, let alone where they’re located or their opening times. In some cases, this isn’t even on library service websites. The decades-old responsibility to pay authors through Public Lending Right (PLR) is hampered by poor sector data. PLR sampling relies on CIPFA loans totals, but the previous financial year is used. With the huge impact of lockdowns, this will mean the recent PLR annual figures would have been wildly inaccurate, as will the next ones.

The library sector needs to own this problem, working alongside the public to ensure data is made ‘public-first’ as open data. Data that needs to be maintained, such as library branches, should always be kept up to date, and data that is new, like loans counts, should be published as frequently as possible.

Can we maintain a list of library branches and their current opening hours? Can we work with library vendors to make loans data available publicly, not on an annual basis, but every night? My recent post on the ‘Library Data Blog’ (https://blog.librarydata.uk/library-data-authentication/) details work towards a system to allow all library services to at least keep existing data up to date.

But it doesn’t matter which systems are used, as long as services appreciate the damage caused by this problem and are willing to address it. We need more talk on this. A data community around public library data that involves the public, library staff, vendors, as well as all those with any interest in the sector, could improve this situation. If you’d like to talk about that contact info@librarieshacked.org

Dave has been running Libraries Hacked (https://www.librarieshacked.org/) since 2014. It is a community project to promote open data in libraries and create digital prototypes from that data.

Dave Rowe, Libraries Hacked

National news

• Armitage launches next leg of 10-year UK library tour – BookSeller. “Each spring this decade, Armitage will give readings across the UK, from the flagship libraries of the big cities to smaller libraries serving rural and remote communities. His first tour last year took in libraries in towns whose names started with the letters ’A’ and ’B’  This spring’s ’C’ to ’D’ Libraries Tour, which will run from 24th March to 1st April, launches in Chadderton Library, Oldham, one of the UK’s first Libraries of Sanctuary, and will be followed by visits to Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), Clevedon, Colyton, Chatham and Clydebank..”
• Books2Door donates 18,000 titles for World Book Day – BookSeller. “The company, which was founded by Sweet Cherry Publishing m.d. Abdul Thadha, will be partnering organisations including the Children’s Literacy Charity, Alder Hey Children’s Charity and several primary schools and regional libraries to distribute the books. Sweet Cherry Publishing will provide the books.”
• Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network awarded £315,400 National Lottery funding – Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network. “The grant, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will be used to employ a full time Network Manager and two part time Regional Co-ordinators to implement a business plan that will create a network of community hubs based around community libraries developed organically with local leadership, to fit local needs and that can deliver transformational and long term change to civic life with local communities as the bedrock.”
• Michael Rosen to encourage reading and rhyming with babies and toddlers as BookTrust’s latest Writer in Residence – Book Trust.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support the Summer Reading Challenge in 2022 to ensure that children have access to reading materials over the summer holidays; and, in particular, how they will support children in areas where reading is uncommon.

Lord Bassam

The Government recognises the vital part reading and public libraries play in the lives of so many people, and the pleasure they bring to people of all ages. The Reading Agency, with funding from the Government via Arts Council England, will deliver the Summer Reading Challenge, in 2022, in partnership with public libraries. The theme this year celebrates science and innovation, as well as the key role of the imagination in both reading and the sciences.

Almost all library authorities in the United Kingdom and the Crown Dependencies will take part in the Summer Reading Challenge in 2022. This includes 27 authorities who will adopt an extended cross-authority approach to delivering the Summer Reading Challenge this year (an increase from 11 in the first year). This involves local authorities working with strategic partners in education, children’s services, and public health to widen reach and engagement for children living in areas of disadvantage through schools, early years provision, and other community settings.

The Reading Agency anticipates the Challenge in 2022 has the potential to reach one million children. This will include those in urban locations, particularly in the Midlands and North of England, large counties with fairly large rural communities, as well as coastal communities and the first pilot authorities in Scotland.

Lord Parkinson

• Pandemic accelerates number of libraries dropping fines – BookSeller. “Isobel Hunter, chief executive at Libraries Connected, said the move to remove fines in UK libraries began to pick up speed in 2018 and was “accelerated” by lockdown when almost all libraries temporarily suspended fines while buildings were closed or had limited services. However, dropping fines puts more strain on finances. She told The Bookseller: “Libraries Connected believes that the removal of fines is a positive move for libraries. One service found that over half of people with outstanding charges were living in areas of high need and so the absence of fines is an important way to ensure that the people who most need access to books and reading are not put off by the threat of fines. However, many libraries face an increasingly challenging budget situation where fines are a key part of their income, so their removal requires a greater appreciation from budget holders of the benefits this would bring. CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals, agreed …”
• Stephen Lawrence Day – Resources for libraries.
• Survive and Thrive-Practical Steps You Can Take In Your Library Service – III. 23 March, 6pm, webinar. “Securing investment in frontline library services requires urgent radical and practical steps by heads of service and managers. We want local authorities and commissioners to think ‘libraries first’ whenever they need to deliver a service to communities. Experts Isobel Hunter and Susan Wills will discuss ideas for practical initiatives you can take right now, to make that happen in your authority. “
• An update on the Single Digital Presence Project – British Library. “Since the funding announcement, we have been laying the groundwork for the development of the digital platform. This has included developing a roadmap, establishing governance and team structures, refining earlier research and continuing to consult with a range of stakeholders. Brand development, a content strategy and the technical build are three core building blocks and we plan to develop these with a core multidisciplinary project team to keep testing and developing in partnership with the sector and external advisors.   After a competitive process, we have appointed FCB Inferno who will be leading the development of a national brand to encapsulate the value and values of libraries.”

International news

• Australia – From clay tablets to the digital age: The remarkable history of public libraries – ABC News. “”I am less worried about the future than many futurologists. Every development like radio, then cinema, then television was accompanied by a great deal of doomsaying [around the role of books and libraries] … But in fact, [these new inventions] found a sort of synergy with books,””
• Iraq – ‘A symbol of new beginning’: Mosul’s university library reopens – Guardian. “The university library said the slogan written on the wall by its entrance, “The Word ‘Impossible’ Does Not Exist In Our Dictionary”, was “a symbol of triumph of humanitarianism, civilisation and peace over terrorism”.”
• USA – Court Blocks Maryland’s Library E-book Law – Publishers Weekly. Legal fight to require publishers to offer eBook titles to public libraries takes another turn.
  • Save libraries, save the world – The Real News Network. ” Emily Drabinski, who is running to be president of the American Library Association, argues in her campaign platform, “Decades of disinvestment in public institutions coupled with deep inequalities at the core of our profession have left our libraries without the resources necessary to advance our common mission of providing access to information in all its forms to everyone in our communities”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeenshire – New Distance Aware scheme supported by Aberdeenshire Council – Grampian Online. “Free lanyards and badges featuring the Distance Aware shield are available from all Aberdeenshire libraries that are currently open to the public, as well as those offering the “click and collect” service.”
• Blackburn With Darwen – Quiet please! Life at Blackburn Library in the Fifties – Lancashire Telegraph. “You have to admit this is a wonderfully atmospheric photograph. Taken in the 1950s it shows part of Blackburn Library complete with its heavy wooden shelving and books catalogued precisely. In the foreground is the desk operated by library staff. “
• Bradford – Bradford Libraries Service celebrates 150th anniversary – Telegraph and Argus. Brief history. “When it first opened in June 1872, Bradford Public Library enabled people from all walks of life and of all ages to access information and education freely for the first time.”
• Cornwall – Library launches flower project to help people through grief – Tavistock Times Gazette. “Okehampton Library is working alongside art charity Honeyscribe on a project to support people going through loss and grief. The project is part of Libraries Unlimited Finding Connection Through Loss.”
• Derbyshire – Derbyshire libraries face closure or restricted hours – BBC News. “A number of Derbyshire libraries could shut or only open a day a week and not get new books, it has been revealed. Four years ago, the county council unveiled plans to pass 20 branches to community or voluntary groups in a bid to save £1.6m. But only one has been taken on, with five others with some interest, leaving 14 facing an uncertain future. The council meeting heard the library service would need to “review all aspects of current service provisions” … “One library – in Woodville, South Derbyshire – has been passed over and only five more – Old Whittington, Wingerworth, Melbourne, Tideswell and Etwall – have retained expressions of interest and/or business cases. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the meeting also heard council staff could currently only handle one library transfer at a time and the council “has had difficulties” with the process. Michelle Parker, the council’s library service development manager, said: “It is difficult to say how long it will take (to transfer 20 libraries).”
• Dudley – Union renews real Living Wage campaign for Dudley library staff – Express and Star. “Union Unison claims pay has not kept up with inflation since Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), a London-based social enterprise, took over the running of the library service in Dudley in 2017. The union alleges that library staff are at least 12 per cent worse off as a result. They are encouraging Dudley residents, library users, and local councillors to ask GLL to raise its wages to at least £9.90 an hour for all employees without the need for a change of employment contract.” … “Unison claimed that in the most recent medium-term financial strategy submitted to the council’s cabinet on December 15, Dudley Council has made £930,000 in “additional payments” to library services over the next three years as part of a “contract inflation”. Yet in the same report, the Conservative-led authority has tabled £360,000 worth of savings by 2025/26 for “efficiencies resulting from new libraries service [and] contract”.” …”The council paid GLL £3.9 million to deliver the first of its five-year contract, before dropping to £3.7m a year for the remainder of the contract. This, according to the trade union, has saved the council £1.3 million on previous in-house costs.” … “It is disappointing that despite numerous meetings with Unison representatives in recent months, they are still making a number of incorrect claims, suggesting that the GLL contracts being offered to staff are inferior to legacy council contracts and that GLL will not be paying the real Living Wage to all staff, regardless of contract type. To be clear, as an organisation it has always been our intention to become an accredited Living Wage employer.”
• East Riding – Boditrax coming to five East Riding libraries in groundbreaking scheme – East Riding of Yorkshire. “Boditrax units give a personalised path to better health and wellbeing. Participants are encouraged to come back for consultations over 12 weeks to review their progress. This service, the first of its kind for libraries in the UK, is free for East Riding Libraries members. Membership is free – to join, sign up for membership online, or visit any East Riding Library.”
• Edinburgh – Election candidates supporting the city’s libraries – Edinburgh Reporter. “Labour candidates gathered outside Leith Library on Saturday to show their support for the library service, saying it is one of the most popular services councils provide. “
  • Council announces that three city libraries will reopen soon – Edinburgh Reporter. “The libraries at Oxgangs, Leith and Newington will be returned to their original role as libraries after significant work is carried out to them. Sighthill Library will remain a testing centre for now. The council points out that there is an alternative just up the road at Wester Hailes, but Leith Library will move to Fort Community Centre temporarily as previously advised and will open in mid-March.”
• Fife – OnFife Libraries celebrating a quarter of a century of World Book Day – Fife Today.
• Inverclyde – Chatty Cafe project at library is a hit – Greenock Telegraph. “Inverclyde Libraries’ Chatty Cafés started in 2018 to bring people together to learn new skills, share hints and tips. And generally get together for a cup of tea and a blether – all of the things that can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. There are now five cafes brewing up in libraries across Inverclyde.”
• Leeds – Library exhibition reveals haunting collection of news cuttings and supernatural stories – News Anyway. “Spine-tingling ghost stories and supernatural newspaper cuttings from the 1900s have resurfaced as part of a national news exhibition launching at Leeds Central Library on 24 February. The collection of horrifying headlines will feature as part of ‘Breaking the News’, a fascinating look at the evolution of news and the media over the centuries.”. From British Library Living Knowledge Network.
• Newport – The Newport library that inspired a huge Welsh rock hit – South Wales Argus. “A Design For Life” by the Manic Street Preachers – “Sitting uniquely between the terraced houses on Temple Street, the former Pill Library is one of Newport’s most historic buildings, dating back to 1889. A stone’s throw from Commercial Road, this beautiful piece of Victorian architecture spent more than a century serving Pill’s working-class community.”
• North Yorkshire – Theatre and teddy bears at North Yorkshire libraries – The Press. “Theatre performances, a teddy bears picnic and story times are among the activities on offer during Under 5s Week at North Yorkshire libraries. From February 28 to March 5, the county’s library service is hosting free events aimed at encouraging preschoolers to develop a love of books.”
  • Libraries gift free books to mark World Book Day – North Yorkshire County Council. “In partnership with the National Literacy Trust, the county’s library service is offering a free book from a special World Book Day selection to children and young people who hold a free library membership.”
  • Praise for the volunteers who bring the books – North Yorkshire County Council. “Around 1,200 people benefit from the service, which sees volunteers deliver books to people who are unable to visit their nearest library, either on a temporary or permanent basis.”
• Northern Ireland – Travel books ‘flying off’ library shelves for post-Covid holidays – Belfast Telegraph. “Librarians say overseas guides are the big page-turners since libraries re-opened to the public, as Ireland Reads Day encourages adults and children across the country to ‘squeeze in a read’. The national wellness initiative by Libraries Ireland and Healthy Ireland has so far seen the public pledge well over 200,000 minutes of reading.”
• Nottingham – Protestors’ plea to Nottingham City Council to keep libraries open in proposals to save £28m – Nottingham Post. “Protestors gathered outside the entrance to Nottingham City Council’s Loxley House headquarters to plead with them to not close three libraries as part of proposals to save money. The local authority has identified Basford, Radford Lenton and Aspley libraries as facilities which “have low usage and high cost”.” Save Nottingham Libraries now has a Facebook Group and Action Network page.
  • Sale of Angel Row Library, Nottingham – Nottingham Council. “The property has been marketed on the open market and” a preferred purchaser has been selected with whom there have been negotiations. Final terms have now been agreed and the next stage is to proceed to exchange of contracts and this is supported by the property department.”
• Nottinghamshire – Our new café is opening at Mansfield Central Library – Inspire Culture. “After a complete refurbishment and selection process, local catering company Mrs B’s will be moving in and taking over the café space at the library. Mrs B’s will be offering hot drinks, snacks and light refreshments to library customers and members of the local community, and will offer catering services to both external customers and those who hire the library‘s meeting, theatre and conference spaces.  “
  • County library network pledge given by council – BBC. “The county council had been asked about the 60 libraries after figures showed at one stage they attracted just 20% of their target numbers. But the authority said it would not close any – while cautioning that some sites could be moved to save cash. It was hoped with Covid restrictions easing, footfall and income would recover, it added.”
  • Inspire Celebrates Library Lover’s Month with a Pop-Up Library at IKEA Nottingham – Inspire Culture. “From 14 – 18 February we transformed one of the children’s bedroom sets into a library, complete with children’s fiction and non-fiction books, library membership forms, information about our services, stuffed toys, craft activities and a story time area. Customers followed a trail of pages from IKEA’s bestselling book which finished inside our library.”
  • We are striving to make Nottinghamshire’s libraries the best in the country – Nottinghamshire County Council. “…  our investment in recent years in new libraries, new mobile libraries, and IT infrastructure to ensure our long-running commitment to maintain the network and offer the best service for our communities across the whole of Nottinghamshire.In the past 12 years we have seen new library buildings opened in Worksop, West Bridgford, Collingham, Misterton and Cotgrave, with much of the remaining libraries across the county undergoing refurbishment. The creation of Inspire – which manages the library service on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council – to deliver our libraries, culture and learning services has been a great success in offering a range of events, exhibitions, activities, and courses.”
• Peterborough – Peterborough libraries designated as safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse – Peterborough Telegraph. “Each library in the city will allow access to a private room and a phone line for people who need to make a phone call to access support.”
• Sheffield – A new centre opens at Library @ the Lightbox to support local entrepreneurs, inventors, and small businesses – News Anyway. “The hub centre was first opened in Sheffield Central Library in 2015. Within the first three years, it helped create almost 400 businesses, 320 additional jobs and generated £2.8m gross added value for the region. “
• Slough – Slough residents disapprove library closures – Slough and South Berks Observer. “The two proposed options to close the libraries received a ‘low approval’ from residents and users where about 15 per cent agreed to this idea. The most popular option at 81 per cent was to keep all buildings but slash opening hours, staffing hours, and reduce space. 74 per cent agreed to slash opening and staff hours at Cippenham and Langley libraries and reduce staffed hours at the Curve and Britwell. About half of respondents approved the idea to reduce spending on hard copies and eResources. Over 700 respondents commented on the survey. 38 per cent said they go to the library to ‘combat loneliness’ and that the buildings are a ‘valuable community asset’ that builds on social inclusion and cohesion.”
• Warwickshire – Warwickshire’s libraries offer support to get pupils back on track after pandemic disruption – Stratford Observer. “In collaboration with Warwickshire Libraries, the SLS provides a subscription-based service to support primary and secondary schools across Warwickshire and help create lifelong readers and learners.”
  • Libraries seek residents’ royal memories to celebrate Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Rugby Observer. “Forms are available at county libraries to share memories [of the Queen] and photographs can be taken of people with their medal or other memorabilia.”
• Westminster – Westminster City Council update on Mayfair and other libraries – City of Westminster. “There have been reports that the Council plans to close Mayfair Library. This not the case. The lease is due for renewal in the Autumn and the process for extension is already underway. Mayfair Library serves a large geographic area in the heart of Westminster and is not under threat of closure.”
• Wiltshire – Wiltshire libraries celebrate a decade of volunteers – Andover Advertiser. “Since September 2011, Wiltshire’s Community Library Volunteers have operated all the opening hours in nine of the council’s smallest libraries and supported staff by providing extra volunteer sessions at six slightly larger libraries, ensuring these services remain available for local people to use and enjoy. Over the 10 years, the library volunteers have collectively given 163,679 hours of their time.”
• Windsor and Maidenhead – Maidenhead’s Big Read to begin on Tuesday – Maidenhead Advertiser. “The theme for this year’s event is ‘Ocean Alive’, and will feature author talks, storytelling and reading together at the library. There will also be an ‘Undersea Bus’ storytelling on wheels event in the Once Upon A Bus parked nearby on the High Street.” … “This is supported by a 10m life-size orca positioned right in the middle of the library.”. Campaign managed by volunteers.

Editorial

The summary of the most recent CIPFA statistics in the Guardian is so dead-pan it’s almost a comedic gem. Some of the findings are so obvious as to be hilarious – hey kids, library usage reduced when buildings were locked up; volunteer hours reduced, presumably because not enough of them broke in; librarians numbers stayed almost the same – that would be because they were all furloughed, then. The absolute gem though is that CIPFA reports there are 200 more libraries open than the year before. One more joke too, although more tragic than funny: the report, released normally only from 9 months after the time it reports on took place, has this time been released eleven months late this time. So, on current trends, libraries will have to wait until some time in 2023 to find out the national state of play as of now. Which is a big shame, because I personally can’t wait to see how many more hundred new libraries have opened in 2021/2. To be fair, this is not all CIPFA’s fault – returns from library services are patchy and late – but it does show that the current system of collating and reporting statistics needs to change. That is what no less a body as Libraries Connected says in their reaction to the report and what we can hope takes place.

In other reading, I also loved a book sent to me called “An English Library Journey” about someone who tries to join every library service in England. It’s sometimes eccentric in what it says about each service, and covers about a decade, but it does represent a kind of Secret Shopper report not just on each location but also how things appear to a member of the public nationally. The main messages I take from it is how atomised the national library service is and how difficult some services seem to think it’s necessary to make joining a library, which must be putting off quite a significant proportion of people who walk in through their doors.

In other news, Manchester has announced it is going fines-free, adding it’s prestigious weight to a movement that now has at least 27 library services in the UK.

Changes by local authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – £126k proposed cut
• Gwynedd – £900k Pwllheli Library refurbishment.
• Manchester – Fines-free from April

An English Library Journey by John Bevis

“Over the past decade, I’ve been using libraries all over the country as “offices” where I can go and write. Finding that becoming a member gave me the use of library computers, I got into the habit of joining libraries wherever I went. By the end of ten years, I had a card for every library authority in England (and some in other countries, too). Along the way, with a growing curiosity about the public library system, I took notes on what I saw in and out of libraries, eavesdropped on conversations, admired library architecture, and witnessed countless people of many demographics using libraries for an amazing diversity of needs. These observations make up much of my new book, An English Library Journey.

I joined my first library, coincidentally, in the week of the 2010 general election that gave us austerity. Over the years, I’ve despaired on arriving at libraries that are no longer there, or are closed because they only open 12 hours per week, are understaffed or over-reliant on volunteers, or are on some profit-extracting privatisation mission. But despite the desperate remedies, my abiding impression is of good service, goodwill and enthusiasm. Now, more than ever, I believe libraries are an essential part of our toolbox for a better future.”

John Bevis

National news

• How to Start a Board Game Collection – National Acquisitions Group. Tuesday 1 March, 10.30am. Webinar. ” In this webinar we’ll hear from Andrew and Patrick about how they started their successful programme in Newcastle upon Tyne which loans a wide range of games.  They will cover how to choose stock, including revealing their most popular items, and how to resolve some of the issues you might encounter.”
• Libraries hold the key to boosting our towns – Times, pay-walled. Liz Jolly of the British Library writes ” I have long seen the benefits of libraries in our communities. But since joining the British Library in 2018, responsible for our mission to support innovation and economic growth across the UK, I’ve been surprised by how far the roots of these benefits can spread …”
• Library use plummeted in 2021, but e-visits showed 18% rise during lockdown – Guardian. CIPFA have released April 2020 to March 21 library statistics in February 2022. Libraries closed for long times during this period.. “a drop of 72%, as Covid-19 restrictions shut branches for much of the 12-month period. The closures also led to a major decline in the number of books borrowed by readers, with 72.9m books issued by libraries last year, down 56% from 165.9m in 2020″. Web visits up 18% ” total income of libraries decreased by nearly £20m to £56.6m … Librarian numbers remained relatively static, falling by 85 over the period”. Volunteer hours reduced sharply, for obvious reasons. “One unexpected spark of good news in the Cipfa figures was the report that the number of library branches in the UK increased to 3,842 in 2021. The growth, from 3,662 branches recorded in the year to March 2020”

• Number of libraries rose in 2021 as visits plummeted, disputed figures show – BookSeller. “”It’s worth noting that the reduced levels of income we’ve seen have occurred despite increases in specific grant funding. Without this additional grant funding, we would have expected to see lines of income even lower. The fiscal reality that libraries are facing is bleak.” … ““We don’t know anything about the loans of e-books or any digital material. We don’t know how much the library service was used for events or by children. We don’t know how much was spent on either print books or e-books. Nor do we know how many councils completed the CIPFA form—which is an ongoing concern.”
• Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – National Acquisitions Group. “£5,000 available for a project from a NAG Member library. This grant, launched in 2019, aims to enable public libraries to explore a project without requiring a lengthy application process and with the flexibility to cover a range of circumstances. “
• A sense of community is more vital than ever – Guardian / Letters. “Julian Coman’s article quotes a list, from the Labour’s Covenant pamphlet, of the places we need to invest in “where people from different backgrounds, meet talk, argue and laugh” (Politicians may have forgotten about ‘community’, but British people haven’t, 7 February). While the list is commendable, public libraries are a surprising omission. Many people once saw them as the heart of the communities they served. They provide all the facilities that Coman outlines, but like the BBC they also inform, educate and entertain.”
• Single Digital Presence Head of Delivery – British Library. “To lead the beta phase of a new service proposition for public library users, introducing a new national platform and investing in local websites to transform the reach and impact of public libraries. “… “We are now looking for a team leader to direct and lead the team to develop the next phase of the project, drawing on recommendations from the R&D phase and user research. “
• UXLIBSVI – “The 6th annual international User Experience in Libraries conference, or UXLibsVI, for library staff interested in exploring and responding to the needs and behaviours of their users,”. 6-8 June, Newcastle Under Lyme. [One hopes that having names in code is not part of the recommended user experience – Ed.]
• Why libraries are so keen on apprenticeships and the Kickstart scheme – DCMS Libraries. “In a competitive jobs market it is hard to attract multi-talented and ambitious people – and relying on traditional recruitment channels won’t help to broaden the intake. Apprenticeships can reach out deeper into communities – attracting people keen to develop skills and advance their careers, including those who would never have imagined working in a library. Many apprentices find once they start work in the library, they get the bug and want to build a library career.”

International news

• USA – Generous furries help save at-risk libraries cut off by mayor over gay books – Pink News. “A library system that was denied funding unless it removed LGBT+ books from shelves has raised vital cash with help of the furry community.”
  • Libraries are more popular than ever and library workers don’t earn liveable wages: the state of US Public Libraries – Book Riot. “an expansive view of the state of U.S. public libraries since 1992 Among some of the key findings are that in-person library usage is down while the popularity of library use — thanks to digital access — is at its highest. Libraries rely less on government funding than they ever have before and, perhaps as a result, pay their workers less than a livable wage.”
  • We Are Not Okay: Library Worker Trauma Before and During COVID-19 and What Happens After – Youtube. Recorded webinar. Resources here.

Local news by authority

• Bath and North East Somerset – Council accused of u-turn on promise to protect Bath library – Somerset Live. “While in opposition, Liberal Democrats slammed the previous Conservative administration’s multi-million-pound plans to merge the Podium hub and the One Stop Shop. But the Friends of Bath Library fear an unwanted sequel after proposals emerged to cut £126,000 from Bath and North East Somerset Council ’s libraries budget over the next two years.”
• Bolton – New libraries scheme to boost Bolton businesses – Bolton Council. “‘Build a Business in GM Libraries’ is a new scheme running across Greater Manchester and part funded by the European Union with £1.3 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The programme will offer advice, tailored support and guidance to local business owners and their teams through a series of workshops delivered at libraries”
• Bradford – Wibsey Library temporarily closed due to condition of floor – Telegraph and Argus. “The floor in the library will be replaced and the library will be closed for five weeks.”
• Cambridgeshire – Carer award goes to county library service – Hunts Post.
• Coventry – A new coat of paint for Foleshill Library – Coventry Council. “Foleshill Library is being painted from Monday 14 February to Friday 11 March 2022. The Library will be open for everyone to use whilst the painters do their work but some things will be in different places.”
• East Riding – Reading Well for Children scheme to support children’s health and wellbeing in the region – East Riding of Yorkshire Council. “A team from Caring Together was impressed with the work done by the libraries, including having a dedicated carers champion,  the amount of staff staff attending  the charity’s awareness sessions and their promotion of national and local carers campaigns,  all of which have had an impact on carers and the people they look after.”
• Edinburgh – Mobile library will visit Oxgangs every Monday evening from 5pm – service begins today – Edinburgh Reporter. “As a way of replacing the library at Oxgangs which continues to be used as a Covid-19 test centre, the council will use the mobile library service.”
  • Edinburgh council performs partial u-turn in row over libraries closed to provide Covid test centres – Edinburgh News. “Council chiefs under fire over the prolonged closure of Oxgangs library have performed a partial u-turn and agreed to provide a mobile library twice a week as a stop-gap measure.”
• Essex – Saffron Walden superhero celebration for Love Your Library day – Saffron Walden Reporter.
• Gloucestershire – Go greener with Gloucestershire Libraries – News Anyway. “All libraries in the county now stock a Greener Together collection of books providing information on how to reduce your carbon footprint, along with a wide range of other useful advice on topics including growing your own vegetables and recycling.”
• Gwynedd – Library set to reopen on Monday – Cambrian News. “With a major investment of over £900,000 to update and upgrade both the library and cinema and theatre facilities, staff at the new-look Neuadd Dwyfor look forward to welcoming the public back into the much-loved building.”
• Kirklees – Birkby and Fartown Library is a big hit with the local community – Kirklees Together. “Six months have passed since the official opening the £799K community library in Birkby and Fartown. It’s fair to say, the team of staff and volunteers have barely stopped, and the community has taken the library to their hearts. Since opening in the summer of 2021, the team has welcomed almost 550 new members and issued over 12,000 books”
• Lancashire – Lower entry fees to Lancashire’s museums and plans to put libraries “at the heart” of delivering services – Lancashire Post. “Within Lancashire’s libraries, people with a physical impairment and those who are deaf or hard of hearing will be included in the list of groups who are exempt from charges for borrowing audio-visual materials. That concession is already on offer to the visually impaired and people with dyslexia or a learning disability. Meanwhile, care leavers under the age of 25 will no longer have to pay for the late return of library books, an exemption which currently applies only to people under 18 and to any books borrowed from mobile libraries. Charges for craft activities in libraries will be scrapped in order to “provide equal opportunity for all to take part”, while the reservation charge of 75p for CDs will also be removed.”
• Leeds – Save the Date! Leeds Libraries to launch Leeds Lit Fest 2022 with a day of free events for families and children – Leeds Council. “Leeds Lit Fest will launch at Leeds Central Library on Saturday 26 February, with a full day of free events for families and children. Hear from amazing authors, have a go at crafting, enjoy captivating storytelling sessions and listen to writers in conversation. With events for pre-school children all the way up to young adults, it’s the perfect way to round off the spring half term break.”
• Liverpool – New role for Alicia – Liverpool Express. “Culture Liverpool’s Alicia Smith is taking on a new challenge, after being promoted to Interim Divisional Manager for Arts, Heritage, Libraries and Participation.” … “On the top of Alicia’s to-do list is a bid for a peer review of the service, through the Local Government Association and Arts Council England. An application was submitted last week. Alicia said: “If it goes forward, we’ll be throwing the doors of our libraries wide open to a small team of experts, who will provide challenge, share learning and help us to improve the service even further.””
• Manchester – ‘Unique’ Didsbury Library to get a makeover and close for over a month – Manchester Evening News. “While the decorating takes place, the library will be shut from Monday February 14 until Monday March 28. The changes will include new carpets throughout, a fresh coat of paint and new furniture, including a revamp of the children’s library.”
  • Crime Festival – Library Live.
  • Overdue library fines to be scrapped – Manclibraries Blog. “From the 1 April 2022 adults will no longer need to pay fines if they return their books later than the due date. If books are never returned, lost book charges will still apply. The decision is part of a bid to encourage more people to use their local libraries, borrow books and enjoy reading – both books and e-books. Children and over sixties already do not pay fines on overdue books. By abolishing fines the council aim to reduce inequalities that exist around libraries and eliminate the worry about being fined.”
• Northeast Lincolnshire – Grimsby Library set to reopen on Thursday 10th February following repair work – NE Lincs Council. “The site was closed to public and staff as a precaution following a routine asbestos management inspection”
• North Yorkshire – North Yorkshire’s home library service continues to supply bookworms with reading material – Scarborough News. 1200 use the service. “In collaboration with Warwickshire Libraries, the SLS supports primary and secondary schools across Warwickshire by offering a subscription-based service at great value to help create lifelong readers and learners in students.”
  • Post office and library in Yorkshire Dales town of Hawes at risk of closing unless locals buy the petrol station – Yorkshire Post. “”We have around 15 months left on our lease and if the petrol station is then sold to a private owner, that puts our other services – the post office, library and bus – in serious jeopardy. Our profits go towards funding the others. It was actually the pension fund who suggested we buy it and they’ve given us a six-month moratorium to raise the investment.”
• Peterborough – Budget: Libraries may stay open – but “something else” must be removed – Peterborough Matters. “Regarding the savings to the library system, the proposal looks to remodel and modernise the library service so that it can cost less.“But we already have a library service that is only staffed for fifteen hours a week so if the plan is to remodel it and modernise it, can I ask what that would entail? Cllr Steve Allen replied saying: “We’re doing a complete overview of the library service – that could include the closure of some libraries, it could include the repurposing and commercialising of some libraries, it could involve staff changes. “Cllr Howard and myself are doing an in-depth study of the libraries and indeed, we’re referring to each ward councillor as we visit the library in their ward.”
  • Half-term family fun in Peterborough at the museum, libraries and Flag Fen – Peterborough Today. “Families with young children can hear stories about pirates, get creative by drawing a treasure map, design their own pirate flag, make an eye patch to wear and hunt for hidden treasure.”
• Shetlands – Shetland Library – Matter Port. Interior Google Maps style photo walk through of the library.
• Suffolk – Tribute to library manager who leaves behind ‘fantastic legacy’ – Ipswich Star. “David Cook became Broomhill Library manager in 2015 but for more than a decade was dedicated to improving and increasing services at Suffolk Libraries. Colleagues called Mr Cook “warm, generous and calm” and passionate about making the library a friendly and welcoming space. He died last week after two years of fighting illness. “
  • ‘Incredibly exciting’ library on site of former middle school opens – East Anglian Daily Times. “The project was funded by Mid Suffolk District Council, with the new library providing a bigger space for events and activities, as well as bookable meeting rooms.”
• Warrington – LiveWire libraries giving free books away on Valentine’s Day – Warrington Guardian. “The book giveaways will be offered on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to one per customer. They will be either from the romance, thriller, mystery or anthology genres and have a teaser description on the front in the style of a dating advert. The books are free and for people to keep, they don’t need to be checked out or returned to the library.”
• Warwickshire – Warwickshire Schools Libraries Service offers support to education settings to get children and young people back on track with learning this year – Warwickshire County Council
  • Keep on reading with Warwickshire Libraries – Rugby Observer. “This year younger children also have the opportunity to get involved in the free Warwickshire Book Bears scheme. Children under five collect a stamp every time they visit the library, and after six stamps they earn a certificate.”
• Wokingham – Wokingham Libraries hosts online events for youngsters later this month – Wokingham Today. “Two creative writing groups and virtual a storytime will be both taking place online.”
• Wolverhampton – Most city libraries back to full open hours but retirement village branch remains closed – Express and Star. “Only Collingwood Library remains closed as it is within the Broadway Gardens retirement village in Bushbury and work is ongoing to ensure it can open safely.”
• York – New Explore library and Reading Cafe for York – letter – The Press. Council portfolio holder says “I’m proud that, at a time when library services across the country are being cut, the council is investing to produce world-class facilities that will make a real difference in our communities.”

Editorial

First off, my apologies. First the run up to Christmas then three weeks of a nasty attack of the Covids and then, yes, being a dame in a pantomime has kept me from updating Public Libraries News. This webpage takes time to do and that is a thing that has been of short supply recently. Of course, on the bright side, this means you get a bumper edition now of over a month’s lot of news. And it’s not all of it. I’ll check social media next time and add some more.

There’s good news from Cornwall, which has gone fines-free, and from York. which has announced millions of pounds of investment. Both services have been experimental in approach in the past, with Cornwall experimenting with devolving libraries to parish/town councils and York being a trust. Bad news, though,with the Wirral – a decade ago a byword for library cuts – being afflicted again.

But the big story is ongoing. Will users return to libraries now that Covid has become endemic and slightly less feared? Sadly, the days of hoping it will go entirely seem to have vanished. This New Year will answer that question, one way or another.

Changes by authority

• Bradford – Baildon Library likely to move into former social club.
• Cambridgeshire – Histon Library reopens after £112k seven-month refurbishment.
• Cornwall – Now fines-free.
• East Sussex – East Sussex – Peacehaven Library to close and move into colocation.
• Nottingham – £233k cut: Basford, Radford Lenton and Aspley libraries to be closed.
• Peterborough – Significant cut to libraries proposed.
• Stockport – Four more libraries to be become staffless.
• Stoke on Trent – £280k cut: reduction in paid staff and hours, more volunteers.
• Trafford – Timperley Library reopens after seven years.
• Wirral – Up to 11 of 24 libraries to close completely, with a further 5 staffless.
• York – £7.7m extra for new co-located and enlarged Clifton, Haxby/Wigginton new library, investment in Acomb.

National news

• Arts Council England launches Green Libraries programme – BookSeller. “ACE awarded £163,000 to the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) to get the scheme off the ground. CILIP will be supported in delivering the programme by the British Library, public library membership organisation Libraries Connected and environmental charity Julie’s Bicycle. The project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of library assets including physical and digital content, buildings and vehicles, and to enable libraries to help their users engage with environmental issues, and position libraries at the heart of local environmental programmes.”
• ACE partners with Digital Schoolhouse for library learning programme – BookSeller. “ACE provided £75,000 of funding to the Digital Schoolhouse programme, which uses play-based learning to bring the computing curriculum to life in primary schools. The new funding will expand the scheme to libraries based in Birmingham, Leeds, Stoke on Trent and London, enabling local communities to benefit from its learning activities. “
• Alan Hopkinson (IFLA) Award – CILIP. “This Award enables a CILIP member in their early career (full criteria below) to experience the IFLA Congress. The Award covers the whole cost of the IFLA conference fee.”
• Authors, Booksellers and Libraries: Economic Recovery – Question – House of Lords. “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to support the economic recovery and growth of authors, booksellers, and libraries, in England after the pandemic.” The Earl of Clancarty has also written this article: Libraries and bookshops are a vital part of the community – protecting them from closure is crucial for levelling up – Politics Home. “Writers, booksellers, libraries, and publishers are part of an important creative ecosystem that also includes local schools and colleges. Despite the growth of online reading, books are an indispensable aid in improving and maintaining literacy.”
• Axiell announces agreement to acquire Infor Library & Information Solutions business and expand global presence – Axiell. “The acquisition accelerates the availability of cloud technology to libraries and schools enabling them to, at their pace, join the community of customers, which work with Axiell’s sustainable and digital-first cloud-based library services platform”
• BookTrust Storytime crowns best new book for sharing with young children – Love Reading 4 Kids. “Through BookTrust Storytime, the charity has been working in close partnership with libraries and local authorities to pilot new ways to support families with young children – especially those who are disadvantaged – engage with their local public library, helping kick-start their reading journey, so that sharing stories become a regular and long-lasting part of family life. The winner is The Whales on the Bus written by Katrina Charman and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.”
• Duchess of Cornwall leaves copies of her favourite books inside phone box – In Entertainment. “Camilla’s widespread on-line e book membership, the Studying Room, has been planting publications by advisable authors in telephone bins across the nation to encourage folks to learn, and she or he lent a hand in Scotland.” see also Community library: a light in the darkness – Vivia Shukla, Newstead Wood – This is Local London.
• English Library Journey – Eye Books. By John Bevis, £14.99. “In a ten-year mission criss-crossing the country – from Solihull to Slough, from Cleveland to Cornwall – he enrols at libraries of all shapes and sizes: monuments to Art Deco or Brutalism; a converted corset factory; one even shaped like a pork pie.”
• Focus – CILIP. International Libraries group newsletter, with articles on attending international library conferences.
• Information Literacy Award – LILAC. “The CILIP Information Literacy Group and the Information School at the University of Sheffield are proud to offer an award for achievement in the field of information literacy (IL). IL “is the ability to think critically and make balanced judgements about any information we find and use. It empowers us as citizens to reach and express informed views and to engage fully in society”.”
• Jay Blades on learning to read aged 51: ‘I’ve gone right back to basics like at primary school’ – Independent. “Contact your local library, or go online, to find free literacy materials and support in your area.”
• Letters: Lend your vote to councillors with the humanity to save our precious libraries – Herald Scotland. “There are too many who rely on their local library as a sanctuary from the daily grind of living, and access to books will have an effect on the attainment gap. In the coming council elections, I hope we choose councillors with the humanity to save these endangered spaces from cuts and closures.”
• Libraries sector in the New Year Honours list – DCMS. OBE for Ann Cleeves, MBE for Karen Napier of the Reading Agency, David Smith of the Community Managed Libraries Network, BEMs for chief of Barking and Dagenham Zoinul Abidin, Lesley Davies of Sefton, Stewart Parson of Get It Loud In Libraries, chief of Sheffield Nick Partridge, David Rowe of Libraries Hacked, Nina Simon chief of Redbridge Schools Libraries Service, Darren Smart of Kent, Krystal Vittles of Suffolk, Fiona Williams chief of York Explore, Andrew Wright of Kirklees. Louise Smith of DCMS given OBE for work in culture.
• Library Letters – “Each letter is addressed to the Minister who had responsibility for libraries in their portfolio at the time the library mentioned in the letter closed permanently. Each letter begins ‘This is just to let you know’ and names the library, where it is located and the date it closed permanently.”
• Library projects in the north and north-east secure share of £400,000 funding – Press and Journal. “More than 30 libraries in Scotland received support to help create and deliver new projects to generate interest in reading. The aim is to get more people involved in reading and covering topics like tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development.”
• Library users facing ‘two tier system’ with growing trend for eBooks pricing readers out of latest releases – I. “The demand for borrowing digital books is growing, with an 80 per cent year-on-year increase, according to Libraries Connected, which represents public library services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But providing them comes at a significantly higher cost for libraries compared to physical books. While eBooks make up 13 per cent of all lending, they take up a quarter of the entire budget.”
• London Libraries launch new pan-London creative reading and writing programme – SW Londoner. “The programme will take place across every London Borough and the City of London to offer 33 free online creative writing workshops and engage London’s diverse communities by telling their stories.”
• Public libraries lend digital books, as demand for e-books grow – Star. “This new enthusiasm for electronic books has been keeping the digital lending service, OverDrive particularly busy. The company found that librarians allowed readers around the world to borrow 506 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines in 2021. This figure is a significant increase (16%) on the previous year”
• Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant Award – National Acquisitions Group. “NAG are pleased to announce that their Public Libraries Project of the Year Grant will run again for 2022 with £5,000 available for a project from a NAG Member library.”
• Regaining Footfall: Reflections from our netloan library user groups – Lorensbergs. “We heard how there are multiple challenges to returning users to the library while local restrictions and staff shortages persist. But for those libraries finding ways to stage new initiatives and events, results have been encouraging with a good response amongst targeted demographics of users. An extensive list of these initiatives and programmes as compiled from these discussions is available to read here.”
• Support our Libraries: Libraries were never just about books – Nick Poole – Scotsman. “If you haven’t been down to your local library recently, you’d be forgiven for missing the quiet revolution that’s been going on between the stacks. Libraries have been busy, transforming themselves into bustling hives of activity, online access, meet-ups, reading, creativity and conversation (and yes, the odd quiet space for book lovers too).”
• Welsh Government announce extra cash support for indie cinemas, museums, libraries and arts groups – Business Live. £5.2m. “The purpose of this fund is to support organisations that are in genuine difficulty – at risk of closure or where jobs will be lost – unless further support is provided. “
• World Book Day invites everyone to its 25th birthday celebrations – FE News. “The charity World Book Day turns 25 on Thursday 3^rd March 2022 and is inviting everyone to its party celebrating the past, present and future of children’s reading.” … “McDonald’s is extending its existing partnership with World Book Day” … Harry Potter competition too.

International news

• Australia – Imaginations run wild at library pop-up for kids – Mirage News. “The library will feature 1200 brand new books and interactive kits, and will host a range of family-friendly activities in the coming months designed to engage and excite young bookworms. The pop-up is the third in the series, joining a food-themed library in the Queen Victoria Market precinct and an Express Book Bar for city workers at 240 Little Collins Street.”
• USA – Why your local library might be hiring a social worker – NPR. “Instead, McGraw answers queries about the workings of the Department of Child Services. Or she helps connect patrons with mental health resources. Sometimes she helps someone find a warm place to stay for the night. McGraw is the library’s first full-time social worker — one of about a dozen employed by libraries across the Midwest.”
  • Christian mayor ‘is refusing to hand over $110K in city-approved funds to Mississippi county libraries until they remove all books featuring ‘homosexual materials’ because they ‘go against his beliefs’ – Daily Mail. More petty censorship from the Land of the Free.
  • Parent-friendly workspace in public library goes viral on Twitter: ‘This is a game-changer … – Independent. Need to register to read article. Photo shows computer with small cubicle for child next to it.
  • Public libraries aren’t essential services – Book Riot. “Libraries provide something unavailable in too many areas across America: a safe place to be, a warm place to be, and a place that serves as one of the few in the country where you aren’t asked to partake in capitalism to simply be within them. This is a tremendous privilege and responsibility to undertake in non-emergency times, but in times of catastrophe, it’s amplified. That amplification shines a light into not just the cracks in the library’s foundation, but the complete holes in the larger structure of government and social safety nets.”

Local news by authority

• Aberdeen – Aberdeen City Libraries launches new health information service to support wellbeing – Aberdeen City Council. “Based within the Information Centre of Central Library but working across the city’s network of community libraries, Health Information Plus will direct customers to advice on everything from nutrition to exercise.”
• Aberdeenshire – ‘I’ve read the same books twice during the pandemic’: Calls for Aberdeenshire Council to reinstate mobile libraries – Press and Journal. “Alison Forbes was an avid user of the council’s mobile library, which toured the region and stopped in her village of Torphins on Wednesdays. When it last visited in 2020, she picked up two books including Alistair Urquhart’s The Forgotten Highlander. But as the pandemic took hold, the service was put on hold – with the vans eventually taken over by the NHS for track and trace clinics.”
• Bolton – Bolton Library and Museum shut for one day for transformation of Le Mans Crescent – Bolton News.
• Borders – Covid restrictions now apply to gyms, libraries and museums – Border Telegraph. “a one-metre physical distancing requirement until 16 January.”
• Bradford – Baildon’s library service is likely to move into former social club building – Telegraph and Argus. “There has been uncertainty about the library’s future ever since the Council announced that Ian Clough Hall, the building that hosts the vital local service, would be sold on.”
  • Little Free Libraries will be popping up across Bradford – Telegraph and Argus.
• Cambridgeshire – Revamped Histon library opens its doors – Cambridge Independent. “The building, which closed in May 2020, was reopened on Thursday, January 20, after being enhanced by the county council to provide a more modern library experience. The council has invested £112,000 into furniture and facilities to complement the new School Hill development”
• Cornwall – Make visiting your library a New Year’s resolution as late return charges scrapped – Cornish Times. “While still encouraging you to renew online or return books on time, most of Cornwall Library Service’s libraries will now no longer charge fees if you have to return items late. It is the first time the move has come in and is aimed at attracting more library users. Cornwall Council portfolio holder for neighbourhoods Carol Mould, said: “Overdue charges disproportionately affect those who can least afford them.”
• Coventry – The Lounge Society to perform live at the Central Library – Coventry City Council. Get It Loud In Libraries.
  • City cartoonist donates books to schools and libraries – Coventry Council.
• Cumbria – Cumbrian libraries announce 64 Million Artists January challenge – The Mail. “The January Challenge is 31 days long activity of quick and free creative challenges to kickstart the year, ran by 64 Million Artists.”
• Derbyshire – Revealed: The winner of Derbyshire poetry competition – Quest Media. “The competition was launched by the libraries service to celebrate National Poetry Day in October. “
  • Applying to run a community managed library – Derbyshire County Council.
  • Council still looking for community groups to take over libraries – Quest Media. “In other areas of Derbyshire, one library has been transferred over and work is ongoing to transfer a further five, but groups are still needed to come forward for the rest – including the four in the High Peak. “
• Dorset – Have your say on the future of Dorset libraries – Dorset Echo. Consultation.
• Dorset libraries to benefit from faster internet speeds – Dorset Echo. “Fourteen libraries all have full fibre installed right into the premises, giving staff and users speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second, or one gigabit thanks to £200,000 of government funding.”
• East Lothian – Phased reopening of libraries and community centres confirmed – East Lothian Courier. “East Lothian Council will begin a phased opening of community facilities from January 31 following the easing of some coronavirus restrictions.”
• SLIC Award 2021 – SLIC. “East Lothian Council Library Services has won the inaugural SLIC Award for a sustained, imaginative, and ambitious response to the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic.”
• East Riding – Harry Potter Book night returns to East Riding Libraries for a magical 25th Anniversary extravaganza – East Riding Council.
• North Bridlington Library will host East Riding Libraries Poetry Competition awards ceremony tomorrow – Scraborough News.
• East Sussex – ‘Temporary’ relocation of Peacehaven Library granted permission – Sussex Express. “On Wednesday (December 15), East Sussex County Council’s planning committee approved proposals which would allow the facility to move out of its current home in the Meridian Centre and into The Joff, a nearby youth centre. The committee heard the proposals (which would see the library move into a significantly smaller space) came as the result of plans to redevelop the Meridian Centre, which would require the library to move elsewhere. The proposals had proven to be contentious among local residents, who argued the relocation would harm both the library and the youth centre”

“We suffered some heavy cuts in East Sussex in 2018, losing 7 libraries and a mobile. Peacehaven and Telscombe is one of the parts of the county with a growing population, lots of new housing, yet no longer deserves a full library service.”

Email received

• Stop ESCC from moving Peacehaven and Telscombe Library into a cupboard – Change. ” The planned move is budgeted to cost £165,000 – a third of the annual libraries budget for the whole of East Sussex – money which would be much better spent on identifying and constructing a new library elsewhere in the local area. The redevelopment of the Meridian Centre where the library is located has yet to be agreed – so why the speed of decision?”
• Edinburgh – Mystery book sculptures to be auctioned in Edinburgh – BBC. “In the book Gifted, published in 2012, the sculptor wrote that at the heart of the project was “a woman, who had been a girl, whose life would have been less rich had she been unable to wander freely into libraries, art galleries and museums. A woman who, now all grown, still wants access to these places and yes, wants them for her children…”.”
• Essex – Libraries webinar consultations being held online today – Saffron Walden Reporter. “The county council’s Draft Library Plan, which was launched in November, now commits to keeping all 74 libraries open, with investment in training and development for library staff.”
  • Library campaigners call for extension to consultation – Times New Express. “Campaigners are demanding an extension to a public consultation about plans to overhaul library services because they say people have not had enough time.” … “He said councils like Dorset are undergoing library changes and have provided the public with “months to respond”. The survey is available online and paper copies are in libraries but cannot be taken out on loan”
  • Thousands respond to Draft Library Plan Survey – Essex Council. “The data in the surveys will now be analysed by an external organisation and feedback received will help develop the final plan. It is expected that the final plan will be adopted in the Spring.”
• Fife – Fife authors rule as kingdom’s libraries reveal their 5 most borrowed books of 2021 – Courier.
  • Appeal for donations as Fife launches new music lending library – Fife Today. “The cultural trust is looking to launch the lending library this spring, and has issued an appeal for donations of any unused or unwanted instruments – everything from recorders to guitars”
• Glasgow- Covid staffing issues have led to the prolonged closure of five Glasgow libraries – Glasgow World. “The city’s Maryhill, Whiteinch, Couper Institute and Gallery of Modern Art libraries are still closed, and Barmulloch Library is being used as a vaccination centre.”
  • Knightswood Library in Glasgow will be closed this weekend due to staff shortages – Glasgow Evening Times.
  • Three Glasgow libraries to receive government funding – Glasgow Evening Times. “Promoting sustainability is integral to our Net Zero ambitions to tackle climate change and our public libraries are an important focal point for conversations and taking action. “And as part of our wider approach to creating anti-racist environments in school, it is great to see school libraries engaging our young people on the importance of belonging, inclusion and social justice.””
• Gloucestershire – Stroud Library set to get a digital innovation ‘lab’ – Stroud News and Journal. “Equipment available includes virtual reality headsets, 3D modelling and printing, as well as a digital design studio, with experienced lab technicians on hand to advise, train and inspire”
• Greenwich – Greenwich Council under fire after library sale to church group with controversial LGBTQ+ views – My London. “The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) bought the library for £1.8m in 2019. Reports from earlier this week revealed more details behind the sale, which has also been met with criticism as not being good value for money. But there has also been concern about the Christian church’s LGBT+ views, with reports that Nigeria-based pastor and General Overseer of RCCG Enoch Adeboye has previously called homosexuality “evil”.”
• Gwynedd – Gwynedd Council libraries to help offer youngsters a ‘Winter of Wellbeing’ – North Wales Chronicle. “The Welsh Government’s ‘Winter of Wellbeing’ scheme is offering children and young people help to feel better heading in to 2022. As part of the scheme, Gwynedd Library Service, in conjunction with The Reading Agency and Welsh Public Libraries, aims to raise awareness of what reading can do to lift the mood of young people, while connecting families, friends and communities across Wales.”
• Harrow – Harrow libraries will be shut amid staff Covid outbreak – Harrow Times. “Several libraries around the Harrow area will be closed between Christmas and New Year after a number of staff tested positive for Covid-19. Harrow Council confirmed Kenton, Roxeth and Stanmore libraries will not open as planned on Wednesday (December 27) due to staff shortages. “
• Lancashire – Lancashire’s libraries: How Covid has impacted the way they are used and how they operate – Lancashire Post. ” bouncing back after being dramatically affected by Covid restrictions, and is evolving to meet the demands of the 21st century, providing services you might not be aware of.”
  • Lancashire library reopens after three-month project to make it greener – Gazette. “set to cut the library’s Co2 emissions by eight tonnes per year, and include new solar panels, an air source heat pump and replacement of traditional lighting with LEDs. The library’s layout has also been refreshed.”
• Leicester – Knighton library gets £75,000 facelift – Leicester City Council. “New flooring, energy-efficient LED lights, a new reception area and free-standing shelving units are among the changes made to the library, in Clarendon Park Road, as part of the council’s Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme. There are also new public computer work stations, plus desk space for customers to plug in their own devices.”
• Liverpool – Retirement and sickness holding back Liverpool libraries – Liverpool Echo. “Retirement, reduced hours requests and sickness has impacted Liverpool Council’s ability to provide a full library service.”
• Manchester – 1921 Census is now available for free at Manchester Central Library – Manchester City Council. “Manchester Central Library is one of only two places in the country where people can receive this service for free.  Elsewhere it costs £2.50 for every record transcript and £3.50 for every original record image. “
• Norfolk – The top 10 most borrowed books from Norfolk’s libraries revealed – EDP 24. “Novels featuring Elly Griffiths’s character Ruth Galloway – The Lantern Men and The Stone Circle – were the most borrowed books from Norfolk County Council’s library service in 2021.”
• Northamptonshire – Another Northants library at risk of closure – NN Journal. “Raunds library in East Northamptonshire could face closure as early as March if the town council doesn’t step in to save it. The loss would be felt hard by the people of Raunds who would need to travel to other towns for a library service, and the groups and local organisations who use the building would need to find new venues. ” … “If the town council doesn’t agree to take on the lease to the building from NNC, the volunteers who have put so much time and effort into keeping the community facility open fear they could close their doors for the final time.”
  • Closure deadline looms for Raunds Community Library as town councillors look at finances – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “Before the meeting even got to the apologies, a member of the public shouted at councillors that they needed to save the library resulting in the chairman, mayor of Raunds Sylvia Hughes, to temporarily suspend proceedings.” … “”We all recognise the value of the library. It is the residents who would have to pay for it. All we want to do is to work out whether the people of Raunds should pay for the library.””
  • Wellingborough and Rushden Read Easy volunteers ready to help – for free – Northamptonshire Telegraph. “Lessons are free, friendly, at a readers’ own pace, with no group pressure for two half hours each week, usually in Wellingborough or Rushden library but we do use other suitable places.”
• North Ayrshire – Library uncertainty continues – six weeks on from doors suddenly closing – Largs and Millport Weekly News. “Services in Fairlie and Skelmorlie have been closed altogether while West Kilbride’s has only been able to provide a click and collect service. Libraries in Largs and Millport are due to re-open on January 6 – with no date yet fixed for the reopening of the others.”
• North East Lincolnshire – Grimsby Central Library to reopen in January – North East Lincolnshire Council. “Grimsby Central Library temporarily closed in November as a precaution following a routine asbestos management inspection.”
• North Lanarkshire – North Lanarkshire libraries launch 2022 Read Well NL Challenge – Daily Record. “encouraging locals to read for just six minutes per day to help improve their wellbeing.”
• North Lincolnshire – Literacy packs boost children’s reading and writing skills – North Lincs Council. “Through the much-loved Imagination Library scheme, which is funded by North Lincolnshire Council, a phenomenal 740,000 free books have been delivered to the area’s 0-5-year-olds.”
• North Yorkshire – Call to Recycle Old Laptops and Computers in North Yorkshire – This is the Coast. “Reboot North Yorkshire is a collaborative project led by the County Council, involving a wide range of partners across the county – including libraries, schools, businesses, charities and volunteers.”
• Nottingham – 3 libraries proposed to close as wait continues for central library to open in Nottingham – Nottingham Post. “Nottingham City Council is proposing to close three public libraries as part of plans to save £233,000. The authority is proposing to close Basford Library in Vernon Road, the Radford Lenton Library in Lenton Boulevard and Aspley Library in Nuthall Road. Under the plan, Aspley Library would close to the public and become what is described as a “distribution point” providing services such as a home library and mobile/outreach services. The plans have been drawn up at a time when the city’s main central library remains closed, because its multi-million-pound replacement, part of the new Broadmarsh Car Park and bus station complex, is unfinished.”
  • ‘It’s wrong’: Regulars blast Nottingham City Council plan to close library – Nottingham Post.
  • Sherwood mixed-use development gets underway – East Midlands Business Link. “The scheme will bring in a flagship Sainsburys, and a new Sherwood library (50% larger than the previous library) as well as a mixture of housing from one to four beds.”
• Oxfordshire – Improving libraries – Henley Standard. Consultation.
  • Have your say on Oxfordshire library and heritage services – Banbury Guardian. “The consultation, which goes live on Monday 24 January, is seeking to gauge public opinion of the new strategy, which sets out how services will be delivered in the years up to 2027.””
  • Using libraries and heritage services to help people in Oxfordshire connect, create, learn and grow – Banbury Guardian.
• Perth and Kinross – Book borrowing plummets amid Covid – but how have libraries remained a vital part of communities? – Courier. 461k issues in 2019/20, 66k in 20/21 but rise in digital.
• Peterborough – Budget Phase two: Cuts to libraries, rise in council tax – and no Christmas lights? – Peterborough Matters. “Remodelling the library service to reduce the running costs, including investment in a mobile library service, and a reduction in budget for the museum and Flag Fen which will see the operating models for both venues change. They forecast to make a saving of £1.1m. “
• Sefton – Sefton librarian Lesley named among New Years Honours – My Sefton. “Lesley Davies, a hugely popular staff member at Crosby Library and community champion of the public library service, has rightly been recognised in the honours for her years of dedication and commitment to her role.”
• Somerset – Burnham-On-Sea Library to temporarily close for six weeks for major upgrade work – Burnham on Sea .com. ““Somerset Libraries have been fortunate to receive government funding to undertake some decarbonisation work at Burnham Library.” “This will mean that unfortunately Burnham library is closed for six weeks. There could be wider building works being undertaken outside of this time period but customers should not be unduly effected by this.””
  • Fines and charges amnesty at libraries across Somerset – County Gazette. “To encourage more people to reconnect with library services and support communities as they start to recover from the impact of the pandemic, Somerset Libraries is going fines and charges free from January 21 until March 31.”
• Southend – Popular reading challenge returns to Southend libraries – Southend on Sea Council. “Participants are invited to choose six reads and to share their thoughts via their own personal reading diary, earning a certificate upon completion.”
• St Helens – Join the St Helens Library Service reading challenge – Reporter. “All you have to do is visit your nearest library and pick a reading challenge card, then each month find a book that fits in to that category. January 2022 will have a theme of ‘new beginnings’ – with reading challenge participants asked to read a book from a debut author.”
• Stockport – Stockport library plan hits snag amid political wrangling – Place North West. “Following a tense meeting last night, a decision on whether to go ahead with the relocation of the town’s library services will be made by full council next week after a handful of opposition councillors intervened. Under plans signed off by Stockport Council’s Labour-run cabinet in December, the town’s library services would be moved from Central Library on Wellington Road to the proposed £14.5m Stockroom development at Merseyway. “
  • Central Library to host workshops for Stockport’s budding entrepreneurs – Marketing Stockport. “The town centre library will host the workshops as part of the Build a Business in GM Libraries scheme, which will see libraries across Greater Manchester’s ten boroughs provide targeted support for local residents to set up new businesses. The scheme is funded by a £1.3 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund.”
  • Heritage group joins fight against plans to relocate Stockport Central Library from Grade II listed building – Manchester Evening News. “In a letter to the leader and deputy leader of the council, SAVE conservation officer, Ben Oakley, said: “Stockport’s library is not just another old building, but a grade II listed building and cornerstone of its civic heritage which has administered library and other key services to the people of Stockport for over a century. “Central Library is a grade II listed building of national significance, built of the finest materials and boasting craftsmanship reflecting the city’s civic pride.”
  • Open+ to be installed in four more Stockport libraries – Stockport Council. “Library opening hours are extended without the need for staff. The new Open+ libraries join the nine existing libraries with facilities available, meaning the majority of Stockport’s libraries will now be open for longer.”
• Stoke on Trent – Have your say on £280k cuts to Stoke-on-Trent’s libraries – Stoke Sentinel. “reduce the number of paid library staff, increase the ‘opportunities’ for volunteers and change opening hours under a new library strategy.”
  • Labour councillors hit out at ‘misleading’ claims on library opening hours – Stoke Sentinel. “Councillors have hit out at ‘misleading’ claims that library opening hours will increase – when they will still be below pre-pandemic levels.”
  • Libraries and museums stay shut as more staff trained to help collect bins – Stoke Sentinel.
  • Stoke-on-Trent to become home to Nintendo-backed ‘digital schoolhouse’ – Stoke Sentinel. “A Stoke-on-Trent library is to become home to a ‘digital schoolhouse’ for children as part of a £75,000 national pilot. The location, which has yet to be revealed, will host creative, play-based activities to get primary pupils interested in the computing curriculum. The scheme’s organisers have been working with Nintendo and the UK games industry to bring some of the digital concepts and resources to life.”
• Surrey – Surrey library’s first floor unused for year as parts for broken lift ‘stuck in Europe’ – Get Surrey. “Guildford Library’s collection is set over three floors but its lift has been broken for some time, the children, families, lifelong learning and culture select committee heard today (December 13).”
• Tameside – Tameside’s libraries and cultural buildings to fully reopen – Quest Media Network. “The Click and Collect only service for the borough’s libraries ends on Tuesday (11 January), while Portland Basin Museum in Ashton and Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge reopen on Wednesday (12 January) at 10am and 1pm respectively. Open+ operating hours will also resume in libraries, with the exception of Droylsden which will be available soon.”
• Trafford – Timperley’s new library finally set to reopen after seven years – Manchester Evening News. “Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council jointly built a new home for the town’s library on Stockport Road in Timperley, but much like the new homes it built next door, the grand opening had been pushed back. Home owners were waiting over a year to move into the flats they purchased from the housing association in 2020. It was understood fire safety sign off delays were to blame. More recently, Timperley’s new library’s opening date was delayed due to a lack of fire extinguishers in the building, on top of ‘considerable’ build delays the project also suffered.”
• Warrington – 11 free things you can get with your Warrington library card – Warrington Guardian. Online resources listed.
• Warwickshire – Warwickshire County Council highlights support for those experiencing loneliness this Christmas – Warwickshire County Council.
  • Warwickshire Libraries share their most popular book titles from 2021 and how residents can enjoy reading locally for free – Warwickshire County Council. “Warwickshire Libraries staff also reviewed many great library books to share their personal favourites from 2021, and to provide residents with plenty of inspiration to achieve new reading goals for this year. A full list of these favourite reads can be viewed on the Warwickshire Libraries blog”
• West Lothian – New West Lothian library app to make borrowing easier and safer – Falkirk Herald. CloudLibrary.
• West Sussex – West Sussex Libraries reading challenge comes to the Chichester District – West Sussex County Council. “The theme of each month differs to include genres that readers may have never experienced before, including books that celebrate diversity, a children’s classic, and a book with a local connection.”
• Wirral – Libraries under threat as Wirral Council looks to make cuts – Wirral Globe. “The local authority has put forward three ways it could save money from closing libraries, but ‘Option 3’ is the one being recommended to councillors. This involves closing 11 of Wirral’s 24 libraries, while keeping five of the remaining 13 open but unstaffed, in a so-called ‘self service’ model.”
  • Big idea that could save much loved libraries, leisure centres and more – Liverpool Echo. “there is one way these services could be saved which seems to be gaining a hearing among councillors, a way of keeping things open and having groups of local residents run them. In a show of the strength of feeling on the cuts plan, a petition to save Hoylake Library has gained 1,009 signatures on the website change.org at the time of writing.”
  • Michael Gove called ‘minister for closing down’ over Wirral Council cuts plan – Liverpool Echo. “In a show of the strength of feeling about the proposals, a petition to save Hoylake Library has gained 1,095 signatures on the website change.org at the time of writing. One of the petitioners, Helen van Marle, said: “This library is vital for the residents of Hoylake. It has been a huge part of this community for as long as I can remember and it still is.”
  • More than 700 back campaign to save Hoylake Library – Wirral Globe. “Clare O’Grady’s petition to save Hoylake Library, one of the 11 under threat, read: “Hoylake library is a lifeline for everyone – young and old. “It’s used by the elderly to tackle isolation, and first-time parents who want to meet other families. “It also offers people free education, internet and is one of the only free spaces where people can spend time.””
• Worcestershire – The joy of reading celebrated at Redditch library and across all of Worcestershire – Redditch Standard. “The library building may be under threat of demolition with a move to the Town Hall planned but that hasn’t stopped the borough’s avid book readers making tracks for the much-loved Mercian Square building.”
  • Val McDermid novel tops the list of most borrowed books of 2021 – Evesham Journal.
• York – Council set to invest £7.7 million in York’s Libraries – City of York Council. “a new £5 million library learning centre for Clifton, a new permanent library for Haxby and Wigginton, capital investment in the Acomb Library learning centre”. Clifton will be co-located and greatly enlarged.

Editorial

Words are important so it’s time to have a note about terminology. The policy of Public Libraries News is to describe reductions to budgets as “cuts” whereas the almost universal policy of councils is to describe them as “savings”. It depends on one’s viewpoint and the pros and cons of each case as to which word is more true. A cut can also be a saving of course, and sometimes efficiencies can indeed be made. But the word “saving” suggests that there has been no reduction in the service offered so that nothing is lost, financially or otherwise. The word “cut” suggests a reduction both in service and budget. My use of the word “cut” comes from the 2010s when we were indeed looking at brutal cuts to services and I would argue that it’s a more honest word than the alternatives even now. But it depends on circumstances and viewpoint and one must always bear that in mind. The word “saving” is sometimes used by councils in full knowledge that what is actually happening is a cut. That’s a shame and I think being more honest with people would be good, because people should not be misled, especially when they are the ones ultimately paying the bills both in terms of budget and in terms of services, cut or, um, savinged.

Changes by local authority

• Calderdale – Beechwood Road library refurbished
• Luton – Cuts expected, consultation.
• Surrey – £2.9m cut from 2019 to end of March 2022.
• WIltshire – Market Lavington opens in new room

National news

• Carthew plans UK tour to address publishing diversity and inclusion – BookSeller.”The Breaking Class Tour will visit festivals, universities, libraries, bookshops and conferences around the UK throughout 2022. Carthew will talk about the issues that face working-class writers including barriers to success, as well as talking to publishing industry professionals regarding how best to tackle discrimination and unconscious bias in the industry.”
• End of Year Recharge and Reset – British Library Living Knowledge. “A restorative session aimed at giving you clarity of mind as we move towards the holiday season. Join Author and life coach Rasheed Ogunlaru for a relaxed mental health check-in, with tips and strategies for balancing and assessing your work life balance and winding down 2021 with a positive mind-set.”https://digitalcontentassociates.com/bringing-ft-to-the-worlds-public-libraries/
• The Librarian Behind a New Anthology of Poems About Books & Libraries – Fine Books Magazine. “The 272-page anthology, with gorgeous jacket art, includes such poets as Horace, Shakespeare, Dickinson, Borges, Angelou, and others, all paying homage to books and libraries.”
• Stories Not Statistics: An Autoethnographical & Narrative Exploration of the Value of Public Libraries – Humanities Commons. “This research examines what the narratives around libraries reveal about the ways in which they are valued, and explores the use of methods that are still relatively new to the field of LIS. ” … ” there is a gap in the current LIS scholarship on work that draws together narratives of belonging, loneliness and the body in relation to the public library with the use of autoethnography and narrative inquiry specifically, and that using narratives to understand and articulate impact should be key to understanding the value of libraries.”
• #uklibchat 6th December – Farewell and Review – #uklibchat. “This is our last chat. We are grateful for all your interactions, for all those who followed us and lurked. This last chat is not so much a discussion as an opportunity to come together and appreciate each other and the conversations #uklibchat has helped foster. We have a few conversation starters in our agenda for this cosy chance to gather round the inspiration that is #uklibchat. Feel free to add your own.”
• Universal Library Offers Calendar 2022 – Libraries Connected. “Key dates for libraries in 2022”

International news

• Belgium – Grandparents bridge generations with climate exhibition for children – United Nations In Western Europe. “Grandparents for Climate organised a tailor-made exhibition for children on climate action and biodiversity in the city library of Genk, Belgium.”
• USA – Freckle Update – Nov 2021 – EveryLibrary Institute. Looks at October 2021 survey of US public on where they obtain their books.
  • Attempt to remove LGBTQ book fails as library remains culture war battleground – Daily Advertiser. “An attempt to censor a LGBTQ book at the Lafayette Public Library was defeated Monday night after a large crowd spoke in favor of the book at a meeting of the library’s board. “
  • New York Public Library spoofs patrons for Black Friday – PR Week. “n its fourth Black Friday campaign, created in-house by the library’s communications team, the NYPL is offering books that are “freer than ever” with “0% interest loans” and “free returns.”  This year, the tongue-in-cheek campaign also calls attention to the library’s new policy of eliminating all late fines, announced in October. “

Local news by authority

• Blackburn With Darwen – Blackburn author given patronage in recognition of work – Lancashire Telegraph. “Christina Gabbitas, from Blackburn, attended a presentation held at Blackburn Central Library in recognition of her ‘outstanding literacy development work’, both locally and at a national level, as well as her achievements as an award-winning author and ‘tireless advocacy work for libraries’.”
• Bolton – Library fines are set to return across Bolton in the New Year – Bolton News. “Ever since the start of the first lockdown, fines for overdue books have been waived, by Bolton’s library services. But now it has been announced that penalties for later returns will be restarted from January 17.”
• Bradford – Book Exchange opens at Age UK hub in Wrose – Telegraph and Argus. “Council’s Libraries Service is working in partnership with Age UK Bradford District to order and collect library books from their Community Hub in Wrose. The area’s existing community run library, a few doors down from the Age UK hub, shut last year.”
• Caerphilly – Libraries in Caerphilly County Borough to fully reopen next week – Wales 247. “All 18 libraries will reopen for open access without the need to make an appointment. To ensure your safety library staff will continue and customers are encouraged, unless exempt, to wear face coverings or visors in the library as per Welsh Government guidance.”
• Denbighshire – Major work to be carried out at Denbighshire’s libraries – The Free Press. “The project will see new public access computers installed, a new PC management system, self-service printing, an online booking system and printing via Wi-Fi. Each week, one or two libraries will be upgraded and during that week, customers will not be able to access computers or printing at that particular library.”
• Devon – Fabulous prizes on offer for young bookworms in Secret Book Quest – Devon Live. “Young readers in Devon and Torbay have the chance to win fabulous prizes when they complete The Secret Book Quest – a new, free reading challenge taking place in libraries run by Libraries Unlimited. The current prize draw is running until April 13, 2022. Children who read 50 books by that time and complete the challenge will have their names added into the ‘Secret Book Quest Prize Draw’.”. Prizes include a Lego Bookshop.
  • Bloom award for Crediton Library’s garden – Devon Live. Gardening done by volunteers.
• East Renfrewshire – Cash boost aims to help East Renfrewshire residents reconnect with library services – Barrhead News. “The Scottish Government is providing £30,000 to fund the employment of an outreach worker in the Barrhead area, who will be tasked with helping communities re-engage with library services.”
• Essex – Halstead library unveils new entrance as staff member retires – Halstead Gazette. “The Halstead Library has opened its its newly refurbished, High Street facing, doors after being shut for a rumoured 50 years.”
  • Draft vision for Essex Libraries published – Essex.gov.uk. “The ‘Everyone’s library service 2022-2026 plan’ details how we intend to transform the Library service over the next four years into a modern, vibrant and sustainable service for all.”
• Falkirk – Writing rammy: Authors pick up prizes in Falkirk library competition – Falkirk Herald. ““We had a brilliant evening at Falkirk Library and are so grateful to Helen MacKinven for hosting and always being so supportive of the competition. “
  • £40,000 funding to help Falkirk libraries support mental health after pandemic – Falkirk Herald. “warmly welcomed the cash from the Scottish Government’s covid relief fund – saying they hope it will help them harness “the therapeutic power of reading”, as part of its Libraries for Wellbeing project.”
• Gwynedd – Gwynedd Libraries introduce changes to make borrowing books an easier process – In Your Area. “Gwynedd Council’s Libraries Service has recently introduced three developments which have been designed to make life easier and remove any barriers people may have to using the library and borrowing books.”. All fines removed, new app, home library service introduced.
• Gwynedd libraries provide access to free period products – In Your Area. “The Council’s Libraries Service is working in partnership with Gwynedd’s Education Department to provide free eco-friendly period products”
• Inverclyde – Inverclyde Libraries runs cartoon competition for children – Greenock Telegraph. “Inverclyde Libraries is running a competition for children aged three to 12 to design colourful ‘climate characters’.”
• Luton – No library closures in Luton despite falling visitor numbers as consultation begins on their future – Luton Today. “residents are being reassured that no existing libraries will be closed as the council today (December 3) launches a public consultation on their future. It says it will however consider relocating some facilities and also look at sharing space with other services as it admits visitors and borrowing figures have dropped in recent times, even before the pandemic.” … “The council says it will consider alternative models to make library spaces more adaptable and cost effective; identify alternative and better ways it could use library buildings; consider relocating (not closing) some of the existing libraries; look at the feasibility of sharing library buildings and spaces with other services; examine how it can extend library services to communities currently not served by a physical library; investigate the potential of ‘open library technology’ which has been effective in increasing the opening hours and footfall at libraries in other areas.”
• Manchester – Central Library will be only place outside London where you can see ‘turning point’ 1921 Census – Manchester Evening News. “The library joins the National Archive Centre in Kew, London, as only one of two places where census research on Findmypast can be carried out for free.” … “The loss of the 1931 census in a fire, and the lack of a 1941 census due to World War II, means this one is the last census giving the modern day public an insight into early 20th century life.”
  • Welcome to the jungle – Manchester City Council. “Located on the lower ground level of Central Library, the new jungle themed children’s library has replaced the Secret Garden library. The new space is a unique, child-centred place in the heart of the city, where children and parents can tuck into a good story together.  Complete with comfy seating, the library boasts crawl- through spaces for little explorers, wildlife wall art, new book display cases and even a cosy corner for children and their parents to sit together and read. The library also promises more story time and activities- these will be advertised on blackboards in the library. “
• Midlothian – Save our Libraries: Time travel with a library card – Liam Rudden – Midlothian Advertiser. “It’s encouraging that the SLIC, in its four-year strategy for Scotland’s libraries, has called for them to be ‘put at the heart of the Covid recovery’, I’m sure books have helped many through the pandemic.”
• Neath Port Talbot – Sandfields Library receives new lease of life with mural artwork – News From Wales. “The artwork was painted by a local teacher and funded by J.G. Hale Construction as part of the community benefits associated with Tai Tarian’s nearby County Flats scheme”
• Norfolk – Fears persist over King’s Lynn library future as councils urged to provide ‘decent, reassuring plan’ – Lynn News. “A Lynn councillor has claimed she will chain herself to the railings of the town’s library if the current building is sold off. Political leaders say they wanted to put an end to past speculation that the Carnegie building could be turned into flats – which has previously been denied – or be put to another commercial use. But, despite the launch of a public consultation this week, some opposition representatives are worried about the future of the current library site.”
  • Artist joined by 25 Norfolk women to stitch protest banner – Eastern Daily Press. “Twenty-five Norfolk women have contributed to a protest banner which demands an end to violence against women. Norfolk Library and Information Service has worked with an artist to create the banner.”
• Northern Ireland – Keep reading. Christmas details for local libraries – Balleymoney Times. “The mobile library service will be unavailable from Saturday, December 18 to Monday, January 3, 2022 inclusive.”
• Northumberland – Ashington youngster wins competition after reading 19 books during summer holidays – News Post Leader. “Children signed up in libraries, online or via the Holiday and Food programmes (HAF) running through the summer, with more than 2,000 children taking part this year.”
• North Yorkshire – Library prizes awarded to young nature photographers – North Yorkshire County Council. “They were invited to their local library to meet Chrys Mellor, the General Manager of the library service, who presented them with a certificate, a large mounted picture of their photo and a library card with their photo on. Limited editions of these cards will be available from all libraries in the county.”
• Orkney – Libraries host book amnesty as New Year approaches – Orcadian. ““It’s the season of goodwill, so if you have overdue library books from last month, last year, pre-lockdown, pre-millennium, pre-decimalisation, don’t worry.”
• Sheffield – Sheffield library can buy new computers thanks to city shoppers’ donations – Sheffield Telegraph. “Volunteers from Broomhill Community Library can buy new computers for public use thanks to local shoppers.”. Co-op nominated charity.
• Slough – Hundreds respond to Slough library closures consultation – Get Reading. “A consultation launched to help decide the future of library services in Slough has received over 1,000 responses so far.”
  
• South Gloucestershire – Stephen Merchant provides audio for South Gloucestershire libraries – South Gloucestershire Newsroom. “Stephen, who is originally from Hanham, has kindly recorded a number of announcements for the libraries’ Open Access service which enables users to visit the library seven days per week, and has also recorded a video where he highlights the importance of libraries.”

“I was more than willing to support South Gloucestershire Libraries. The service has so much to offer – access to computers, a meeting place to connect with your community, somewhere to study and if you want to find out anything then the library is the place to go. But above all these great services it’s their power to change lives through reading. I would encourage everyone to use their local library.”

Stephen Merchant

• Staffordshire – When a decision will be made on moving Burton library to the market hall – Staffordshire Live. “Decisions on the future of Burton’s library and Market Hall will be made after March next year, it has been revealed. The business case by Burton Town Deal Board will be passed to the Government by March and a decision will then be made on which seven projects will be taken forward.”
• Surrey – Council makes commitment on whether to keep Surrey libraries open amid transformation plan – Get Surrey. “Surrey councillors have made a commitment that no library services will be lost in the county in the face of large costs to upgrade facilities.”… “Achievements as part of the plan so far include joining the Libraries Consortium which means residents can use their Surrey library card to access libraries in Essex and 18 London boroughs, and being on track to make savings of £2.9m by the end of March 2022.”
• Thurrock – Protesters show their support to save Thameside theatre complex in Grays – BBC News. “Thurrock Council is proposing to sell the Thameside complex, which also houses a library and museum, in Grays as part of plans to save £34m by 2024. Labour councillor John Kent said people were “really angry” at the plans.”
• Torfaen – Temporary reduction in Torfaen library opening hours – South Wales Argus. “There are currently four vacant library assistant roles within the borough’s service, which is leading to staff shortages as more people return to using libraries following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. But a council report says filling the vacancies while a review of the service is being carried out would ‘prejudice’ its outcome.”
• Wiltshire – Market Lavington library opens for first time since Covid – Gazette and Herald. Library “has reopened in its new location after closing its doors in 2020 due to the pandemic. The new library is now open at the Old School, Church Street, thanks to the partnership between Wiltshire Council and Market Lavington Parish Council.”
• Worcestershire – Mask up when visiting the library as new variant forces change – Bromsgrove Standard. “Face  coverings will once again be required in order for customers to enter the county’s libraries from tomorrow, Tuesday, November 30. The county’s libraries will be increasing Covid-19 protection measures in light of the new directions from central government and will be asking anyone visiting to wear a face covering.” [This turned out not to be true – government guidelines excluded libraries from essential mask wearing – Ed.]