263 libraries plus 17 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed.

Wigan has put out a public consultation that says only 2 of its 17 libraries are safe from closure.   It is unlikely Wigan will close all of these but it is possible so the figure stands as 15 out of 17 under threat. I had previously put the figure for Wigan as 6 so the total has increased by nine.   The London borough of Redbridge has announced five of its 12 libraries, relocating a sixth.

Gloucestershire – Lib Dems against the closures – Friends of Glos Libraries
Kent – traditional library may change forever – This is Kent
Lewisham – appeal to volunteers for  5 libraries, two more London authorities due to do the same – LocalGov
Milton Keynes – town council prhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4018469601482369709otests proposed closure of Stony Straford library – AboutMyArea
North Tyneside – Budget cuts mean libraries at risk – Chronicle Live
Oxfordshire – don’t close my children’s library – Henley Standard
Oxfordshire – anger growing at proposed closure of libraries – Henley Standard
Oxfordshire – Labout group against the closures – Oxford Mail
Redbridge – 6 out of 12 libraries may close – Wanstead and Woodford Guardian
Wigan – 15 out of 17 libraries under threat as public consultation begins – Wigan and Leisure Culture Trust

Professional vs. Non-Professional as Rome burns – Good Library Blog
Alan Gibbons – 1000 petition to Ed Vaizey – Guardian. See also The BookSeller
In praise of libraries – Paul on Books
Are you sick about hearing about libraries yet? – Book Maven
Can librarians protest against cuts in their own authority? – Sintoblog
For love of libraries – Sue Hyams

249 libraries plus 17 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed

The figure has increased from 246 to 249 due to the announcement of 2 libraries in danger of closing in Milton Keynes and at least one likely to close in Kirklees.  The list has been missing Barnet from the list as its proposed “EasyCouncil” cuts were announced before this blog started – this omission has now been amended. There have been a pile of pro-library blogs coming out due to a “Campaign for the Book” campaign and all of them make heartwarming reading for librarians.  

Hampshire – mobile library service cuts/review – Portsmouth The News
Kirklees – at least 1 library under threat – Mirfield Reporter
Kirklees – 2 new mobiles on the road –  Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Milton Keynes – 2 libraries to close – Alan Gibbons
Milton Keynes – campaign already started – About My Aread
Northumberland – library review out on Monday – Morpeth Herald
Oxfordshire – library’s positive role – Oxford Times
Oxfordshire – appeal to write to Secretary of State – Friends of Old Town Library NB the same letter can be used for writing about other areas which may contravene the Act.

Why you should care about libraries – V. Kathryn Evans
Aslan waits patiently but may never be found – Joanna Canon
Libraries – old-fashioned? – Nana Kiliham
Library Emergency – the unkindest cut of all – Scribble City Central
Thoughts from a reluctant library user – Who Ate My Brain?
Libraries – nostalgia may soon be not what it used to be – An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
Why Libraries are important – Dave Cousins
Bye Bye Libraries, Bye Bye Civilization – Notes from the slushpile
Libraries – not just a place to borrow books from – A Novel Way
The names to name – fight for our libraries – Notes from the slushpile
Don’t close our libraries you bastards – Bryony Pearce

 240 libraries plus 17 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed

Some library management posts in Rochdale have been cut but the details are unclear. It’s worth pointing out that there are a lot of library staff cuts that are simply not reported – vacancies are simply not being filled in many authorities to replace those who have left the service.

The campaign to save Gloucestershire libraries continue to impress with its almost daily media coverage (TV, Radio, Petition, MP responses) and Oxfordshire continues to generate headlines.  The SCL has produced a statement that would appear criticial to such gung-ho cutters as Oxon, Glos and Bucks.  The MLA continues its sad course towards oblivion. The LGA fails to admit the mistake of one of its staff who was quoted as saying libraries are non-statutory.

Angus – Edzell Library campaign – Alan Gibbons
CILIP – president sees the cuts as “double whammy times two” (page 1-2) – CILIP Gazette
Gloucestershire – (Conservative) Gloucester MP says protesters “miss the point entirely” – Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries
Gloucestershire – radio report on library campaigners – BBC Radio Gloucestershire (1hr 51 mins)
Gloucestershire – Points West covers the cuts – BBC TV
Gloucestershire – countywide petition – Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries
Hertfordshire – why must my children suffer? – Royston Weekly News
Hertforsdhire – petition to save Borehamwood – Borehamwood Times
LGA – fails to admit “non-statutory” mistake (see comments) – BookSeller
MLA – All MLA staff at risk of redundancy, grants now have to be “prudent” – BookSeller
Northumberland – consultants provide “new vision” – Journal Live
Oxfordshire – volunteer libraries “unworkable” – Oxford Mail
Oxfordshire- libraries are worth saving – Oxford Mail
Rochdale – library management posts to go – Rochdale Town Centre News
SCL – closures should be after “comprehensive public consultation” – SCL
Voices for the Library Youtube Channel
Wandsworth – don’t cut library that helped me get  my job – London Evening Standard.
USA – Connecticut Cuts – Webjunction
 

240 libraries plus 17 mobiles currently under threat or recently closed
Changes in the count today include 3 libraries and a mobile (at Argyll and Bute) and a renumbering of the North Somerset total (previously just 1) as 1 library closed and 2 libraries still seem to be endangered there.
Major news today is that large-scale closures (such as in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire) may be declared illegal.


Argyll and Bute – 3 libraries and a mobile library to close
North Somerset – Closures still on cards – Weston Mercury
Gloucestershire – Bid to have cuts declared illegal – This is Gloucestershire Ed Vaizey may intervene – Guardian. This would have a major impact on other proposed cuts if so – Glos, Bucks, Cornwall, Doncaster, Oxfordshire, Lewisham, Leeds, Isle of Wight and Birmingham are all in the same league when it comes to cuts.
Peterborough – 4 libraries to reduce in hours – Peterborough Council
Oxfordshire – Bampton not impressed by cuts – Witney Gazette.  Ditto in Wantage
Nottinghamshire – groups asked to help libraries – Eastwood and Kimberley Advertiser
Birmingham – new library for urban village –  BBC
Hampshire – new improved Basingstoke Library – ahem – “Discovery Centre” – Basingstoke Gazette
MLA – I still see no Wirrals – alangibbons.net
Buckinghamshire – Little Chalfont Library is a successful volunteer library – Buckinghamshire Advertiser
Buckinghamshire – 100 join group to save Great Missenden – Bucks Free Press
Tim Coates – It’s the Overhead, Stupid – Good Library Guide.
Brent – consultation on library cuts launched – Brent Council

Favourite article of the day – Frank Skinner becomes pro-library after visit “When I criticised local libraries I didn’t know exactly what I was attacking. At the same time, Angry of Hampstead, when he’s outraged at the idea of library closures, probably doesn’t know exactly what he’s defending. This was just one library but I think it’s indicative of how libraries are evolving. I’m going to have to ditch my literary elitism and just enjoy the book-swiping” – Frankskinnerlive.com and wikiman blog

US – San Jose library website keeps it simple – Library Journal
No books in school library, lots of coffee though – Houston Press
Future of the book – American Libraries Magazine
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Libraries – Library Journal

On the (semi) positive side, the Wandsworth figure has changed – 1 library faced with closure (instead of previously reported 6), others will have reduced hours. On the debit side, Wigan announce some libraries will close, Stoke withdraw RNIB talking book service and the British Library loses 200 jobs.

Cuts
British Library – 200 jobs to go – Library workers for a brighter future
Wigan – some libraries will close, not Leigh – This is Lancashire
Stoke – ends RNIB talking books service  – BBC
Oxfordshire – more on the cuts – Oxford Mail
Wakefield – more on the cuts, looking for volunteers – Hemsworth and South Emsall Express

Other
Tim Coates wants books in libraries, CILIP thinks libraries are about Web 2.0? – Article and Comments on “The real argument about libraries” – Good Library Blog
Without Libraries, we will lose a mark of our civilization – Guardian Online. Some scarily anti-library commments, though.
Devon – free CDs, reduced charges, for carers – Mid Devon Star
Gloucestershire – Matson residents fear the closures – This is Gloucestershire
Oxfordshire – Summertown users react to cuts – BBC
Wandsworth – Battersea residents angered – This is Local London
Halton – Widnes and Runcorn to go self-service – Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News
Edinburgh – new library to be built – Edinburgh Outlook
Artist’s impression of new Canterbury Library – flickr
Torfaen – work starts on revamp of Pontypool Library – Free Press

USA – book vending machines – Stamford Advocate