Editorial

The opening of Manchester Central on Saturday marks the last of the three Big Shiny New Libraries (the others being Birmingham and Liverpool) started in the dog days of the old government.  The reviews of the new Manchester library (and of the other two) have all been, as far as I can see, positive, with special mention going to the mixture of the very new and the old.  This is a combination that also worked very successfully in Liverpool but, in my opinion anyway, a lot less so in Birmingham where the Shakespeare room for some reason was shoehorned on to the roof. The big points emerging from Manchester are the increase in the stock on public view, the large number of computers, the archives on display and the beautiful refurbishment of the old sections, notably the central dome.  Although it cost £50 million, people seem to think it’s worth the money. I can’t wait to go.

Changes

• Birmingham – Spring Hill Library saved from closure.
• Newcastle – Fenham Library reopens (in partnership with Your Homes Newcastle). High Heaton, Denton Burn, Cruddas Park which shortly be reopening (in partnership with Newcastle College). Blakelaw, Fawdon and Newbiggin Hall due to close in 2015.
• Suffolk – Number of books borrowed down from 3.9m 2010/11 to 3.2m 2012/13. Visits also down.

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Editorial

A full judicial review to the deep cuts on Lincolnshire’s library service have been allowed by the High Court on all four grounds.  This will be a historic case as it will be the first to challenge on the “comprehensive and efficient” terminology of the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act.  All other challenges have been on other grounds, notably the Equalities Act.

Wales has become the first constituent part of the United Kingdom to start automatic library membership in schools.  Every primary schoolchild will be allowed to borrow two books “straight away”, with full lending privileges given when proof of address has been given. Following on my post yesterday, lauding the Welsh for actually having things like standards and a national marketing strategy, Librariesmatter has kindly supplied me with the figures for the different nations. Let’s have a look …

So Wales and Scotland have more visitors per 1000 population (and Wales wins out on book issues too) than England but they spend more money to do it.

England spends considerably less than the other nations on libraries per 1000 population. A lot less compared to Scotland.  Presumably the more widely spread out population has something to do with that.

Which means English cost per issue and visit is the lowest, despite having less visitors and issues than Wales.

Changes

• Cheshire West and Chester – £500k cut (2016-17) to be met by “alternative service provision”, 12 FTE to be lost and bookfund cut (£280k cut) 2014/15.

On the radar

• Bromley – “Drastic cuts planned” in opening hours and staffing.

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Changes

• Bristol – Building of new Bishopston Library delayed due to concerns over quality of  building work.
• Hertfordshire – Royston Library refurbished.
• Southwark – £1.2m temporary library made from shipping containers

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Editorial

Blaenau Gwent looks likely to be come the first Welsh authority I am aware of to pass control of its public libraries to a non-profit trust.  Let’s hope it’s more successful than the outsourcing in Croydon where it has been confirmed that the loss of 11 library staff was among the first actions of Carillion when it took over. This has not impressed the Labour opposition there who confirm they will retake control of the library service if they win the forthcoming election.

There’s a couple of interesting reports just been released.  The UK one by the Carnegie UK Trust concerns British projects to get online the final one-fifth of the population.  Although it mentions libraries in a positive way, it does not devote one of its case studies to a public library project. The other report is from the US Pew Research Centre which confirms the vital place that public libraries have in American life.

Changes

• Blaenau Gwent – Libraries to move into new “Life Leisure Trust” with other council sports/leisure/cultural/heritage council services.
• Bradford – Mobile libraries to end on 31st March.  Housebound delivery service to be reduced.
• Carillion / Croydon – 11 library staff (7.42 full time equivalent) cut, including some compulsorily redundant.
• Newport – Considering moving libraries into Trust.

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Editorial

You’ll notice a lot more items under the “Ideas” heading than normal.  This is because many of the US “Movers and Shakers” 2014 of the library world have been announced – and many of them are on the list precisely because of the ideas they have.  I’ve read through all of the biographies released so far and the list below is what strikes me as new ideas I’ve not seen in the UK.  Some of it may seem fairly obvious, such as storytimes in cafes, but so what, that’s the beauty of it – how many libraries near you actually do that? Others show differences between the US and the UK that may be more difficult to emulate: for instance, they do a heck of a lot more over the summer holidays for instance in keeping up the educational skills of children.  British libraries do that as well of course, but it tends to be only formally done with Reading, not anything else.  Looks like we’re missing a trick.

Another trick we’re missing is sharing best practice in the way that Movers and Shakers does in the United States.  I hear that CILIP may be instituting something similar to this soon and I really hope it comes off in spades.  I says that because it isn’t just about promoting the achievements of (I’ve seen the phrase, honest) “Librarian Rock Stars” or celebrating success: rather, it is about spreading good ideas and hope.  It’s also about encouraging the taking of risk and being entrepreneurial (in the best sense of that word). There’s never been a time when that is so important for UK libraries to do a bit of that.

Changes

Swindon – Old Town Library to be reduced to 18 hours per week.

Ideas

1. Using what the library already has for education – “Libraries should use available technology to provide opportunities for project-based programs, where patrons can show off what they create.” Over the past two years her Mad Scientists and Math and Science Labs programs have included deconstructing computers and creating chemical reactions with everyday items, like hot sauce packets from Taco Bell. She’s also incorporated more high-tech tools into her technology programming, writing grants for inexpensive Arduino microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi computers, and laptops.”
2. Collaboration between school and public libraries – “Limitless libraries” program: where stock and membership (and, as importantly, bulk book ordering) is shared between systems for the benefit of all.
3. Guerilla storytime – Practical sessions at conferences sharing best practice for story times.  Blog Storytime Underground.
4. Buying ebooks rather than using an e-book provider like Overdrive.  229% increase in issues and increased independence.
5. LibraryReads – Website showing top ten recently published titles recommended by librarians becomes great promotional tool.
6. Moving bookstock from Dewey to bookstore model. No sign of how successful this has been though.
7. LiLi –  A LiLi  is a “souped-up Nissan Cube with more than $25,000 in audiovisual enhancements, an Xbox Kinect, a custom-built mount with a 37″ LCD screen, tower speakers” … “Since 2012, stereotype-shattering LiLi has reached more than 50,000 people through over 160 visits to local community events and social service agencies”
8. Community cards – ” provide library membership to people with no fixed address: for many authorities in the UK which require proof of address, this sounds like a good idea. Interesting to see how it works in practice (rate of losses etc).
9. Listening stations – Headphones etc for those with visual difficulty to listen to talking books in the library.
10. Library as incubator – Providing library space and resources to encourage Arts projects. Website.
11. Summer Learning Challenge – “Based on research about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and learning skills defined by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it draws kids into learning through child-centered, active learning experiences—including science experiments, games, and creative activities—that reflect literacy skills”.
12. 2:1 stock purchasing – If there are two reservations for one book then another copy is bought.  Encourages reservations and popular book stock.
13. Storytimes at coffee shops to promote public libraries.  People have to know about libraries in order to use them,
14. Summer reading app – “will offer games, reminders to read, digital badges, and community connections, as well as gather statistics for librarians”
15. Microgrants – $2500 grants for “initiatives that offer new, innovative library services”.

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