Going postal?
Oct 15th
Editorial
What appears to be the first post office run by a public library has opened in Stradbroke in Suffolk. Writtle Library in Essex already has a post office inside it but it is run separately by post office staff. Stradbroke post office, on the other hand, will have its own library staff providing the post office, as an income generation exercise, service to the community and as a way of increasing footfall … and you thought having to do badges for disabled parking was a stretch.
Changes
- Cambridgeshire – £1.6m cut over three years “by reducing the cost of larger libraries”
- Cornwall – 44% cut (£1.8 million cut already reported but percentage of budget previously unknown).
- Northumberland – Seahouses Library closing due to being unsafe: limited library service to move to community centre.
- York – £1.5m refurbishment to York Explore Library Learning Centre, including Archives, will open in January.
Ideas
Russell Brand, social justice and surveillance. Seriously.
Oct 13th
Editorial
I’ve had various responses to the news that the Reading Agency’s annual lecture will be by Russell Brand. The most common reaction is that he is way cool, funny and is bound to get the headlines … but there’s a strong minority (well, we are librarians) not impressed with his scandals and general demeanour. Whatever, I think that no matter what he’s going to be good entertainment and is going to make headlines which reading surely needs. Well done to the Reading Agency for getting him. Now, let’s hope he isn’t so scandalous that I’ll have to eat my words.
A good piece also on social justice today. In these times where we can barely keep libraries staffed, where the majority of those librarians employed five years ago have probably left the profession and where volunteers are taking over branches, social justice is perhaps understandably not as high up the agenda as it once was. It appears that many authorities consider it, consciously or otherwise, something that can be downplayed when the going gets tough. We must ask ourselves if it is really the luxury that some of our (in)actions suggest it is. There’s also the question of how aware of the issues those volunteers who are taking over libraries are.
Finally, I’ve been reading a lot about US librarians being strongly anti-surveillance and ensuring that the personal privacy of users (OK, customers. OK, clients. Damn it, what should we call them?) is not abused by the police and others. I wonder how many library workers are aware of the ethics of the profession. Are you? And do we ensure the police have a warrant? If you’re not sure of the situation, check out the CILIP Code of Professional Practice (D4 is the one).
Changes
- Wandsworth – Smaller libraries may be under threat.
Ideas
Let’s BOP until we drop
Oct 12th
Editorial
It is good to see the success of the Books on Prescription scheme. Public libraries sorely need national publicity campaigns and resources, as well as alliances with major partners, and it doesn’t get much bigger than the NHS. I know from direct personal experience how useful it is to be able to have the right book at hand to answer a problem from an, often ill and worried, member of the public so this is all good. It need not stop there of course. We need to work ever closer with the health profession to provide easy access to information (online as well as print) and staff need to be trained in how best to deal with the, often tricky, situations that this field presents. As such, I’m looking forward to doing the Public library Universal Information Offers (shortened to the Italian sounding PLUIO) training over the next few weeks. This is going to take a while for all of the short-staffed libraries to do but, heaven knows, we don’t get enough training so it’s something to cherish. I hope it lives up to my expectations.
Finally, the names of the councils under the “changes” sections are increasingly like old acquaintances, although it is worth pointing out that the cuts have already been announced earlier and these are merely more information. These are councils who have already seriously cut their budgets once in the last few short years and are now doing it all over again. Havering already have 380 volunteers and so confidently expect to be able to replace the 50 (out of 94) paid staff that it will be losing. My rule of thumb with such things is that you need between five and ten volunteers to replace one paid full timer so let’s hope there’s at least two to three hundred more people in that borough fancying working in a library. Getting them all trained on PLUIO is going to take a while too.
Changes
Library Walls, Liverpool petitions, Scottish Book Week
Oct 9th
Editorial
One of the more interesting things happening at the moment in libraryland is putting virtual bookshelves in public places. Titles on these “bookshelves” are often accessed by QR codes and are then downloaded on to the user’s device. Sara Wingate Grey of Artefacto caught my interest with a “Library Wall” that she helped design that is attracting attention in Haringey. Read her post for more information. I especially like the way that the “Wall” tweets what people has borrowed from it. Anyway, I got into contact with Sara and she answered a few of my questions. Here they are:
That’s not a shelf of print books, you know
Q. Do you have the copyright free ebooks on a website somewhere to allow download? If so, are you able to give me the address? Is it via something like Gutenberg or GitHub instead?
A. You’re right that we’re hosting the specific Library Wall content – we got the original source texts from various PD sources we found available online (see my blogpost) and then spent time (a lot of time, it turned out) creating epub files suitable for download. We’re not intending that where we’re hosting the content be accessed except by mobile device when Library Wall is scanned at point of access, and the book downloaded as an epub file then (or bookmarked to save for later etc.) so there’s no web address to give out.Q. Also do you have a LibraryBox or something hiding behind there too to offer the download and/or connectivity for those without smartphones?
A. No. You’re right that a LibraryBox would have enabled those with an electronic device eg. tablet, phone, laptop, to logon and grab any books we provided on that network, but this would make then make interaction with the actual physical Library Wall irrelevant and not really required, and so for this, and the reasons detailed above we did not go down this route this time.Q. I’m also curious about where the funding is coming from.
A. Only the materials for the project were funded, and Kate and myself (working as Artefacto) and all those who collaborated with us in various degrees gave their time freely. The materials fund came from Haringey Arts (again, see blogpost for more details). We’re really happy to talk to anyone who’s interested in Library Wall, our aim for the project was just to demonstrate what it’s possible to imagine (and then go and #makeithappen!)
Ideas
- 25 mini-adventures in the library – some lovely ideas for children in public libraries.
- Stackscore books – Use library data to work out most popular items, avoiding data protection issues.
Donation boxes, longer mobile stops and other changes
Oct 7th
Editorial
Norfolk have started putting donation boxes into its libraries. While not a new phenomenon (the new Manchester Central Library has them and others), it’s strange to see them at the flagship Millennium Library, which is normally named the most used library in the UK. It’s an odd for one users too: to donate will only beget more donation boxes but not donating may mean deeper cuts. A difficult decision for the user but, doubtless, no easier for the proud Norfolk librarians.
Another library authority is involved in changes which, on the face of it at least, have less to do with budget cuts than may be assumed. Oxfordshire is more than halving mobile library visits from 463 to 200 but this is not because they’re cutting the number of mobiles but rather that they’re making stops longer. Anyone living with a mobile that stops for only 10 or 15 minutes each fortnight could probably see the point of this – what if your clock is 5 minutes fast? – but it’s unfortunate for those who lose their stop. It will be interesting to see what happens to mobile library usage there.
Changes
- Halton – £400k cut may include loss of mobile library. Total opening hours of libraries cut by 14% to 157 hours per week (£360k cut).
- Norfolk – £1.2m cut 2014 cf 2013 (down from £11.4m). Donation boxes put in main library.
- Oxfordshire – Number of mobile stops reduced to 200 from 463: stops will be longer (not a budget cut).
- Somerset – £500k cut may include loss of management posts, CDs, mobile
- Staffordshire – Stafford Library may move to new Staffordshire Place.
Brent usage up; volunteers reopen and win awards; Library of Things
Oct 5th
Changes
- Brent – 42% increase in visits, 7.4% increase in loans.
- Newcastle – High Heaton library reopens (volunteer and college run).
- Swindon – West Swindon Library may move upstairs in Link Centre.
Ideas
- HIV awareness display – Speaking Volumes.
- Public vote on Library of Things – Public suggestions on items libraries should lend out e.g. sewing machines, wearable fitness trackers.
An idea for free: how libraries can be a vital radar for other council services
Oct 2nd
Editorial
So here’s an idea I came up with recently that you can have for free: public libraries are often the first council service to know about an influx of a new ethnic group. Why? Because the first thing a newcomer does is join the library in order to use the internet … and if they don’t need other council services then they will otherwise invisibly appear (can you invisibly appear? you know what I mean) in an area and the council is none the wiser. Even more nicely, many library services automatically collect data on what is the main language of a new joiner so you can see, almost in real time, what new minorities are coming in, into which libraries and over what time period. This can be passed on (anonymised obviously) to the rest of the council so they get to know what’s happening and can tailor their services accordingly. Even even more nicely, the council could then put leaflets in the relevant language by the public access computers, giving the new users a chance to engage if they need to and jolly well go around their own business otherwise. This gives the council a chance to engage and the newcomers a chance to engage or not with everyone’s dignity still intact and the group as empowered as is possible to be. This is just one of the many ways that libraries can make themselves useful to the council and show their value to the decision-makers. I’m sure there are tons of others. Try to think of one today.
Changes
- Northern Ireland – £489k cut in bookfund.
Sheffield takes last step, Lincolnshire does it again … while others give hope
Sep 30th
Editorial
Sheffield have gone through with passing many of their libraries to volunteer despite Ed Vaizey’s letter asking for them to freeze. I’ve seen their letter back to him, by the way, explaining their actions, and although publicly they’re defiant … well, let’s just say that their offical letter to him, is more pleading. Still, it’s in Ed’s court now. He has the information he asked for, he knows they’ve defied him publicly (if not privately) .. so will he take further action or have his lawyers informed him he has done enough to forestall any national legal action against him for failing in his statutory duties to intervene? I know which one I have money on.
Council leaders in Lincolnshire have responded to the judicial review that said, in part, that their consultation was, well, a little bit undercooked by launching another consultation. They’re calling it an extension, not a forced attempt to do the job right this time. Whatever they call it to save face, one can’t help but wonder whether it’d be nice if they spent some of the money they have as reserve in the bank (£165 million) on supporting libraries rather than on trying to cut them.
Now on to some hope. Devon are looking at volunteers raising funds for libraries and in adopting at least some elements of the model already taken by Suffolk, rather than closing libraries or replacing paid staff. The Suffolk model is gaining more and more traction nationally, with William Sieghart publicly lauding it and loads of other library services giving it a long hard look to see if it is for them.
There’s also some good news with one new library opening and the announcement of another one to be built shortly. And, if you’re ever short of ideas, just have a look at the US Knight News Challenge submissions for funding. At time of writing, there are over 670 ideas publicly available on their website. So, I guess, steal away. I won’t tell.
Changes
- Havering – £4.5m new library opens in Rainham.
- Lincolnshire – Second consultation starts due to first consultation being deemed unlawful via judicial review.
- South Tyneside – New library/digital media centre announced.
Who’s to trust?
Sep 28th
Editorial
The changes in Devon appear to be becoming more clear. It looks like the changes will be more like Suffolk: with volunteers fund-raising and assisting the libraries in keeping them open rather than other authorities like Lincolnshire where the plans are for staff to be made redundant with volunteers directly replacing them. There are also suggestions that Devon libraries will be going down a non-profit non-council route to deliver services. More details are expected this week. Renfrewshire are also also considering a non-profit trust route, although they’re looking at combining libraries with leisure and cultural services too.
Changes
- Devon – 10 libraries to become volunteer-assisted (not volunteer-run: appears to be for fund-raising, extra services, etc). Seriously considering a movement towards Trust or Suffolk model to raise income/reduce costs. 28 libraries therefore provisionally removed from threat list.
- Hampshire – Further £300k cut announced: group looking at how to meet it inc. volunteers.
- Northern Ireland – £1.4m (4.4% budget) cut. Over 21 casual agency staff to be lost. Opening hours to be cut.
- Renfrewshire – Considering moving libraries, culture and leisure to non-profit trust. £360k tax saving expected from move (source: 26th June 2014 council paper).
- Wiltshire – Corsham library moved into joint building sports and community centre.
Ideas
- Book Bikes – Promote public libraries in the community, temporary tattoo users, blow bubbles when someone joins.
Special report: “This house believes that local authorities are still the best way to deliver the public library service” CILIP PMLG Debate 27th September 2014
Sep 27th
I was very grateful to be invited to be on the panel of the CILIP Public and Mobile Libraries Group (PMLG) debate at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park this afternoon. In addition to me (Ian Anstice of Public Libraries News since 2010 and full-time professional librarian since 1994), other members of the panel were
- Biddy Fisher OBE, Trustee, Denby Dale Community Project*, Past President of CILIP. [*My post initially described the project as just the library: this is incorrect. Although this includes creating a new building to house the library it also involves services provided by two other local charities – the Denby Dale Centre (a service for the old, vulnerable and lonely in the community) and the Kirkwood Hospice. The library is currently staffed with a paid professional librarian – Ed.]
- Brian Ashley, Director – Libraries, Arts Council England.
- Andrew Coburn, former Secretary of the Library Campaign and UNISON activist
- Cllr Cath Pinnock. Kirklees Council. Soon to be a Liberal Democratic peer in the House of Lords.
- Darren Smart, Chair, Public and Mobile Libraries Group.
It’s fair to say that all, with the exception of Brian, were speaking from an entirely personal capacity and not speaking for anyone else. It’s also worth saying that there were, frankly, not that many people there. Perhaps twenty five in the audience. But that didn’t stop a lively and well-tempered discussion. The main points I noted for either side were:
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