Editorial

The decision by Moray Council to save save three out of seven libraries from closure shows the importance of paying attention to the law.  Councillors had been warned by their own officers that closing these three would be questionable under equalities legislation but it took an actual move to court action for them to actually do the right thing.  That they even thought of such action is being put down to the scale of the budget cuts imposed.

In a development not seen elsewhere so far in the UK, library technology company Bibliotecha have put forward (what else?) library technology as an alternative to closing libraries.  The idea of self-service machines and key card access to libraries instead of closing them is reminiscent of what has been happening in some European countries.  The company argues that machines can keep the library open all the time while volunteers keep it open only some of the time.  In neither vision do paid library staff get much of a look in but the library itself is still there … and that is an option that may be attractive to cash-strapped councils.

Changes

• Bristol – 15% cut (£1.1 million cut from £7.195m).: schools library service and prison library service to close. Home delivery service to be cut. St Paul’s learning and Family Centre to move to volunteers or close (a further £162k cut – counts as one under threat).
• Moray – Four libraries to close (previously seven):  Hopeman, Findochty, Portknockie and Rothes – change due to threat of legal challenge on basis of equality impact.
• Portsmouth – £100k for new mobile library.
• Southampton – Some libraries under threat under new round of cuts.

On the radar

• Lancashire – Review of public library spending in December (unconfirmed).

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Speak Up For Libraries

The annual conference “Speak Up For Libraries” is on Saturday 23rd November, just over a week away.  The key decision-makers on public libraries will be there – amongst them, the DCMS libraries advisor Yinnon Ezra, the ACE Libraries Director Brian Ashley and Janene Cox, the president of the Society of Chief Librarians. So, if you want to hear what they’re thinking – and you should, because it’s your job and (probably) life’s work, they’re talking about – then do come along.  As well as this, a whole bunch of library workers and library users are going to be there too: I’ve had the privilege of going before and, I tell you, there’s never a dull moment.  For more details and to register, see http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/speakers.asp.

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Editorial

In a truly excellent piece by a pro-library non-user, the failure of the current public library system to appeal to what was once a traditional user is exposed.  The reasons are all to do with technology. The writer wants instant (no passwords) unlimited wifi in a world where many UK libraries still don’t have it at all.  She wants the very latest bestsellers on e-book form when still a fifth of UK authorities don’t have any and the UK e-lending pilot is moving with gradual (oh so necessary) slowness.  She also states what we all know: Amazon does a better job of knowing the customer than the library does.  Although public libraries have all the data on what books have been loaned, they simply don’t use it to recommend new books to customers.  Heck, to many authorities, a monthly email with the mention of the top ten borrowed books last month is still a pretty neat idea. Finally, she wants coffee – well, you’re not going to get that in many smaller libraries and there’s even some city libraries, even now in late 2013, that have not yet woken up and, well, smelled it yet.

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Editorial

There is an opportunity in every crisis for someone and that opportunity in Lincolnshire has been seized by the non-profit trust GLL and the private company Biblioteca.  Both are offering to take over some or all of the troubled libraries there. The move is highly significant for both entities – it would be the first library authority taken over by GLL outside of London and the first library authority taken over by Biblioteca in the UK.  Doubtless Carillion would also have expressed an interest but it is itself busy having just bought out Laing’s library concerns in four London boroughs.  The oddity is where LSSI is in all this: the US company has been a particular bete noire for campaigners but has failed to achieve a toe hold in the UK market.  The fact that it is not mentioned in the article suggests that it may not do so for a while yet.

Changes

• Lincolnshire – GLL and Biblioteca express an interest in taking over library service.
• Moray – £72k would need to be returned to EU if closures go ahead.
• Nottinghamshire – £1m cut.  May move to Trust status. Volunteer “partnerships” considered for all branches, especially smallest ones.
• Perth and Kinross – £281k, up to 13 jobs could be lost. West Mill Street Library to close.
• Suffolk – Freegal service launched.

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Changes

• West Berkshire – Cut of 34 hours opening per week spread over 7 libraries (Newbury and Theale unchanges as previous cuts there) representing average of around 14% cut in hours. £175k cut of total budget of £1,6m over two years.  More opening hours cuts expected in 2015/16. Consultation until 13th December.

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