Public Libraries News

Rewriting the book

2012-03-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

399 libraries (309 buildings and 90 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby, twibbon.
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

News

Best small library in America: Hatteberg's People TV (USA)

A video which may have a lot of lessons, although some of them painful

(and some may not be relevant), for libraries facing cuts in the UK.

Ways around a crisis included job cuts, wifi, wifi,

iphone app, email newsletter, web2.0, loaned ebooks, volunteer-run

summer classes for kids, local business partnerships

Join library cult - Library Cult (USA). "Hypathia, Casanova, Mao Zedong, David Hume, John Dee, Benjamin Franklin, Giacomo Casanova, J. Edgar Hoover. Why were these people librarians? Did it have something to do with their rise to power, their worldly success?".
Public Library Standards - Good Library Blog. Suggestions for library standards that would improve libraries are "1. Every library should have more books available than it did this time last year 2. Every library should be open longer hours than it was last year 3. Every library should be clean, with its windows washed and its light fittings working 4. Every public computer in a library should work properly 5. Every library should provide some private space for quiet study."
Rewriting the book: public libraries for a new age - Information Today. [A piece which is unfortunately very heavy on jargon and so immediately biases me against it, for which I apologise in advance. When translated, it appears to say, amongst other things, that public libraries will move away from the lending of books towards helping people with computers and council queries - Ed.].

Your help needed

Doncaster And Surrey- Help fund the legal challenges.

Local News

Croydon - Upper Norwood Library - Croydon Council. A suspiciously downbeat description of Upper Norwood Library by Croydon Council which is seeking to withdraw its funding for it. The "consulation" link simply reloads the same page. "Upper Norwood Joint Library is jointly owned by Croydon and Lambeth Councils, situated within the borough of Lambeth. Up until recently it had been funded and managed by a joint committee of councillors from Lambeth and Croydon. The library still has its own membership procedures and circulation system and doesn't accept Croydon or Lambeth library membership cards or accept/renew returned books or other items from Croydon or Lambeth libraries. See details below to contact the library for full details of joining/membership procedures and more information about all if its services.".

Pay fines for sake of library's future - This is Croydon Today. "users owe the borough's 13 libraries almost £100,000 in penalties, with more than £45,000 owed to Central Library alone. But a council spokesman this week insisted no libraries were under threat of closure. A total of 38,766 items are currently overdue with £96,307.93 owed across all libraries. The figures also show the longest overdue item is DVD Some Like It Hot which has been due back for nearly six years."

Doncaster - We need your money. And further information regarding DMBC's true efforts - Save Doncaster Libraries. "Edenthorpe are also realistic in their estimation regarding number of volunteers needed. As they state Bawtry have over 70, this is close to sufficient it seems, Edenthorpe has thus far a generous estimate of one quarter of this, another threatened branch (Wheatley) has had merely 5 people come forward. No doubt the Mayor will see this as proof of a community not wanting its library, in fact it is proof of what we at SDL have been saying all along – the majority of communities within Doncaster do not have the infrastructure to enable a library staffed by volunteers."
Edinburgh - Libraries under threat, say campaigners - Ekklesia. "Edinburgh East Save Our Services says: "Though it has been pretty much unreported in the media, there have been big cutbacks in staffing over the last few months and now there is a ‘consultation’ over opening hours - which does not appear to be all that it seems."The consultation leaflets talk about providing ‘a library service that meets the needs of its customers’. However, says Ms Menzies, "when you look closely at the suggested new opening hours and compare them with the previous ones, they typically represent a 20% cut."
Gloucestershire - Library budget cuts are double the amount admitted by GCC: letter to the press - FoGL. "According to its own figures, Gloucestershire County Council is currently planning cuts to its Library Service of £1.8 million representing 25.7% of its budget, although £1 million of those savings were made last year (2011-12) mainly through the redundancy of qualified librarians. The council calls these savings “meeting the challenge”. This is bad enough. What the council won’t admit is that, prior to this £1.8 million cut, it has already taken a further similar amount (£1,737,902) in cuts from the library service in the previous 3 years (2008-10). I have obtained these figures from CIPFA, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, whose responsibility it is to compile figures on local government spending. This makes the total library cuts over £3.5 million."
Isle of Man - Alan Bennett backs Isle of Man library campaign - BBC. Campaigner says ""If we lose the libraries we are potentially going to end up with less Alan Bennetts in the future. Our libraries provide a vital link to the elderly, housebound, disabled and least privileged in Manx society, they need books and they need free books."

"An interview I did for Camden New Journal … says all I want to say about libraries – and which applies equally to the Isle of Man as to NW1. All good wishes and with every support, Alan Bennett." Support for saving libraries campaign - Isle of Man Today.

Kent - Bereaved families in Kent suffer registrar delays - BBC. Moving the registration of deaths into libraries has caused long delays and some distress. "In January, Kent County Council (KCC) switched from registering deaths at register offices to local libraries, causing long waits for appointments.". January is the busiest month for Registrars and not all of the staff had been trained.
Oxfordshire - Libraries joining Ebook revolution - Oxford Times. "Although Oxfordshire County Council’s decision has been welcomed by some, others have raised concerns libraries could suffer as a result. An array of 1,558 fiction and non-fiction titles are on offer and can be downloaded for free by library users. Oxford author Philip Pullman last night gave the scheme a cautious welcome. The His Dark Materials author said: “If it means more books are available to more people then I think that’s a good thing.” But voicing his fears about the impact of eBooks on publishing, he added: “It’s something that authors, publishers and agents are very worried about at the moment.“The whole question is very, very tangled.”"
Surrey - Fundraising campaign to block Surrey libraries plan - BBC. "The campaign has so far raised £5,000 and SLAM has appealed to the local community to help reach the £18,000 target within the remaining two weeks. It will be setting up stalls in towns including Weybridge, Woking, Guilford and Epsom, on 10 March. The Conservative-run council agreed in September to devolve responsibilities to groups of volunteers at 10 libraries - Bagshot, Bramley, Byfleet, Ewell Court, Lingfield, New Haw, Stoneleigh, Tattenhams, Virginia Water and Warlingham."
Wokingham - Four bidders chosen as "privatisation" of libraries draws near - Henley Standard. "“If we decide that none of the tenderers provides enough of our specification it will be a question of who has offered the nearest match to that specification. We will look at how believable the tender is as it is not an impossibility for someone to try to do it as a loss leader. Our officers are quite good at spotting that. Cllr Baker said in the best case scenario the successful bidder would take over the service from the end of October."

Council's vow to keep libraries open despite tender - Get Wokingham.

English libraries have no standards

2012-03-04T13:57:00.002-08:00

Comment

Continuing with the complete inaction that most library campaigners would define as Mr Vaizey's chief characteristic, Ed has confirmed in parliament that the Government will not be reintroducing standards for public libraries. Standards were introduced in 2001 but removed in 2009 and replaced by the now defunct MLA's voluntary benchmarks. Public library authorities have not needed to be measured against any standard since then, much to their detriment. Wales have, in contrast, continued with standards that have been notably successful in embarrassing councils who fail to sufficiently fund their service.

Expect Ed to make much of the funding that ACE are putting into libraries while at the Committee meeting. Be sure he won't mention though how insignificant they are compared to the funds that the MLA had at their disposal. They went from £13m for the MLA to £3m for ACE.

Cllr David Pugh of the Isle of Wight, and whose evidence to the CMS Committee on his role in closing libraries has attracted some criticism and raised eyebrows, is to be interviewed between 12.00 & 1.00pm on Tuesday 6th March on Vectis Radio regarding library issues. It should be an interesting for campaigners who, unfortunately, can't phone in to question Ed Vaizey on his inaction but can phone Vectis Radio about Mr Pugh's role from 11 to 12. Ed Vaizey is to be interviewed by the CMS Select Committee on Tuesday 13th March (an early copy of this posting said 6th March, apologies for the error).

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby, twibbon.
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

News

"Q : Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon, Conservative)To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his strategy is for the future of the (a) library service and (b) standards and framework to support local delivery of library services.

A : Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative) Arts Council England (ACE) has been given responsibility to advocate for and champion libraries’ roles and the public value they provide. ACE will capture and disseminate good practice in making efficiencies and meeting the needs of communities. Where appropriate, libraries will be eligible for ACE strategic investment funding. ACE will be leading a debate and research in 2012-13 on how libraries can respond to changing community needs and wider changes in society. ACE’s role on library development is one of providing advice and support. ACE has also launched the Libraries Development Initiative which has made grants totalling £230,000 to 13 library projects to help them explore ACE’s vision of arts and culture working together. ACE will shortly be writing to local authorities to make them aware of different ACE funding streams which can now be accessed by libraries. We do not propose to reintroduce the ‘public library service standards’. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 gave local government greater flexibility in priority setting and greater discretion over how to meet them—the public library service standards were just 10 of over 1,000 indicators which authorities were no longer required to report performance against." Hansard, 1st March."

Libraries "invisible" to digital policymakers - UKauthorITy. Annie Mauger of CILIP: "As well as helping many millions of UK adults who cannot read with basic literacy skills, librarians have a broad technical role helping people with both digital literacy - helping people use computers and get online - and information literacy - "helping people to understand that not everything they read on Google is true," Mauger said librarians are well trained in these areas, and work not just in public lending libraries but in universities and schools where teaching people how to evaluate information they find online is increasingly vital, she said. However, in many cases a school librarian is treated as inferior to teachers, despite being just as highly qualified."
Little Free Libraries are taking root on lawns - USA Today. " hundreds of similar Little Free Libraries are popping up on lawns across the country. They're tiny — no bigger than a dollhouse. Some look like miniature homes or barns. Others just look like a box on a post."
Necessary evil? Random House triples prices of library e-books - Techcrunch (USA). "Random House, the world’s largest publisher of the kinds of books you and I read, has made some adjustments to the way it sells e-books to libraries. Notably, they have tripled the price of many titles. Librarians across the country are expressing their discontent."
Top ten public libraries of the new age - Huffingon Post. "My Top 10 selection of more recent public libraries here showcases some ideas. For starters, just like most public buildings, the library needs to become as a new hub for social life among the local community. Programatically, this has been reflected in the fact that many have become much less formal, much less guarded and much more inviting. Libraries all around are moving towards a model that encourages readers to stay and linger, instead of their original function as spaces for collecting and lending out books. Reflecting the general trend for libraries to facilitate reading as well as other functions, they are combined with halls and meeting rooms that promote social exchange between users, much like community centers." None of the ten are from the UK.
Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence - House of Commons. Full text of second hearing of 21st February including sessions by Annie Mauger (CILIP), Alan Davey (Arts Council England), David Pugh (Leader, Isle of Wight Council), Nigel Thomas (Leicestershire Libraries) and Elizabeth Campbell (Local Government Association).

Changes

Peterborough - Volunteers used to extend opening hours as pilot project for three months.
Stockton - £2.5m new library at Billingham, combined with customer contact centre and possibly NHS.
Worcestershire - Upton library safe for c. three years, previously threatened.

Local News

Birmingham - European librarians visit £189m Library of Birmingham development - Birmingham Post. "“People and politicians are saying: do we need a public library? Everything is digital, everybody has e-books. I don’t agree. I think it is very important to get a balance between the physical library and the digital library.”
Brent - Final chance to complain to DCMS - Preston Library Campaign. "The Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) are legally obliged to investigate or tell us why not, and if they have thousands of complaints, it is much harder for them to ignore us."
Camden - Lib Dems pledge help to libraries in bid to distance themselves from Labour cuts - Ham & High. "Liberal Democrats have pledged to halt planned cuts to library opening hours and plough extra cash into supporting volunteers to run the much-loved reading rooms, as they laid out alternative budget plans for Camden Council." ... "The Lib Dems praised residents who had stepped up to help run the libraries and pledged an extra £350,000 for Camden’s reading rooms at a full council meeting at the Town Hall on Monday (February 27)."
Darlington - Campaign groups thank council for budget u-turns - Advertiser. "Darlington Borough Council made a number of u-turns on budget proposals due to the strength of public feeling during the budget process. Among the services saved for the town were lollipop patrols outside schools and Cockerton Library, which will now operate with reduced hours."
Edinburgh - Future of library services: letter to Scotland on Sunday - Edinburgh Council. "It's ironic that a campaign against library cuts in Scotland is choosing to launch in Edinburgh in a library that will shortly see an increase in its opening hours and in a city where we are building new libraries and refurbishing existing ones." Also in newspaper.
Gloucestershire - Council attacked over libraries review cash incentives - This is Gloucestershire. "The Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries (FOGL) launched a scathing attack on the authority after it found out it had been offering £40 supermarket vouchers to attendees at workshops over cuts to its library service." ... Up to £2800 could have been given away.
Isle of Wight - Campaigner resigns after libraries row - IWCP. "Mr Fagan told the County Press he had stepped down from the council committee because he disagreed with Cllr Pugh’s evidence. Mr Fagan said: "The consultation was completely flawed. The questionnaire they put out was so biased." Cllr Pugh hit back saying a High Court judgement over the closures had backed the council’s position proper consultation had taken place."
Kirklees - Community consultation for Golcar Library - Mailout. "All expressions of interest will then be considered and more detailed discussions with interested parties will follow. The proposal is that Kirklees Council will provide guidance to interested community groups and individuals, including training, a regular supply of books, maintenance of public access computers and additional support to ensure the continuation of a high quality library service."

Deadline for libraries - Hudderfield Daily Examiner. "D-Day for the future of our libraries is looming ever nearer. Now people in Golcar have just six weeks to register an interest in helping to run it."

Nottinghamshire - Mansfield Library sees rise in use since £3.4m revamp - BBC. "1,381 people had joined since it reopened in January, compared to 497 new members in the same period in 2010. The refit included a new children's area, more computers, a dedicated space for research and a larger local history section." ... "In 2011 the council reduced the opening hours of some of its smaller libraries and cut its budget for new library books by 36% in two years."
Peterborough - Opening hours pilot to start at library - Evening Telegraph. "A three-month pilot where a city library’s opening hours will be extended will start on March 19. Vivacity is running the pilot at Bretton Library, in Rightwell, Bretton which will see opening hours on Mondays extended to 6pm from the usual time of 4pm with the use of volunteers working alongside a staff member. If it is a success, it will look to extend the library’s hours on a permanent basis and consider rolling out the changes to other libraries in Peterborough."
Somerset - Council to bring back 160 outsourced staff - BBC. "Somerset County Council is to bring back 160 staff who were outsourced to the private firm, SouthWest One. The company, which employs 650 ex-council staff, was set up in 2007 and carries out administrative and back office tasks for the local authority. The decision was taken after a council review into the firm's performance concluded it was failing to perform."
Stockton - £2.5m library approved for Billingham - BBC. "Stockton Council has allocated cash for the £2.5m project in Billingham. It said it would be modelled on similar centres in Thornaby and Stockton, which had led to a rise in the number of users. It plans to develop the complex on the former Billingham Art Gallery and council offices site and is looking at either refurbishment or a new building." Buidling to be combined with customer service centre."
Surrey - Sneak preview of Woking library revamp - Surrey News. "Surrey County Council is giving Woking library in Gloucester Walk a complete overhaul to make it the most modern and user friendly branch in the county." ... "New features will include an improved children’s library, a new area for teenagers, free wi-fi, new seats, shelves, carpets, lighting and stock. Around 16,000 new books will replace old ones, ensuring a wide variety of fantastic new reads for visitors.". 127 square metre increase, new cafe.
Trafford - Formal response to Trafford council's consultation - Hands Off Old Trafford Library. "Today, Friday 2nd March, HOOTLibrary submitted a formal response to the Council’s consultation. You can read the full report here. You can still make your own submissions to the consultation before Monday 5th. Feel free to refer to anything in this document. Indeed we’d actively encourage it!"

Proposed use of volunteers at Trafford Library - HOOT. Excellent submission with relevance for the legal position of volunteer libraries and their performance in urban/less prosperous areas.

Wandsworth - Spring at York Gardens Library - Save York Gardens. "The librarians and the Friends group have all been busy developing the plans for how we will continue to keep the library running and make sure it is providing really useful services for the local community. In December, the library and community centre’s first Christmas Fayre raised more than £400 which will go towards keeping the library open and continuing to run activities for local people."
Worcestershire - Library will not close: just yet - Malvern Gazette."However Upton Town councillor Simon Speers told fellow members on Tuesday: “There are no plans to close the library. We do not have that in writing but I have been assured verbally that is the case for a three to five year window." He added he did have concerns over what he described as “salami slicing” – cutting the service bit-by-bit ahead of a move for closure further down the line."

"Inspirational Work"

2012-03-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

400 libraries (310 buildings and 90 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

Botella lanza un programa piloto para incuir a voluntarios en las bibliotecas - El Pais (Spain, article in Spanish). Moves to staff a couple of new buildings with volunteers are proving to be highly controversial. Although the council states that, without volunteers, the new libraries would not open and that no existing paid staff would be replaced, the policy has, "exploded in their face".

"Celebrating World Book Day at Eastcote Library in Hillingdon" Ed Vaizey, Twitter. Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries comments "Mr Vaizey "celebrates World Book Day" yet does nothing when the only source of books and wider reading for many are being closed on his watch."

"Chewed off lovely Ed Vaizey's ear at the @ContempArtSoc fundraiser re not closing libraries. Don't want to British to become the Illiterati" Kathy Lette, Twitter.

Libraries, the community hub and service needs in the online age - Civica. Report on a roundtable meeting, with - given that the host was Civica - a strong outsourcing bias.
Oceanside library outsourcing a no-go - U-T San Diego (USA). "A proposal in Oceanside to outsource library operations to save money may be finished before it officially began, after a councilman told city administrators last week that he wasn’t interested in the idea." ... "“I don’t know, maybe they [LSSI]can save us $300,000 or $400,000, but the quality that we’ve come to know from the library even with the cuts they’ve taken already, I’m thinking that I’m just not willing to forsake that,” Feller said in an interview. “I’m still for privatization if it can save us significant money. When you’re saving money you’re going to save money by reducing the number of employees."
¿Se garantiza la Red de Bibliotecas Públicas de Castilla-La Mancha? - Iwetel list-serv (Spain, article in Spanish). The province of Castilla-La Mancha has modified its public library act so that libraries will not be funded if the state cannot afford them. It goes on ""the difficult situation we are facing requires to give up everything that is not strictly necessary"
Why a library should never close its doors to children - Mummy Rates It. "I have a bee in my bonnet. I’m not the only one. It’s keeping me awake at night and the closer it gets to ‘decision day’ the more het-up I feel. Our local library is faced with imminent closure and it saddens, infuriates and annoys the hell out of me that the people who are making the decision to close it seem oblivious to the reasons it should stay open." Article about decision to close Upper Norwood but it can stand for any library.
World Book Day set to give away 14m tokens - Guardian. "Brand new stories from Neil Gaiman and Anthony Horowitz, the culmination of Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson's quest to find the UK's best storyteller and the country's biggest ever book show will all mark World Book Day tomorrow."

"Prime minister David Cameron has pledged his support for World Book Day, which he said "plays an important role in helping children to develop a love of reading from an early age, supporting the inspirational work that takes place in schools and libraries up and down the country". Citing Dr Seuss's The Lorax as his own favourite children's book, Cameron said that the books loved by children were "something you treasure for the rest of your life"."

Local News

Brent - Council slammed for spending £420,000 on "self-congratulatory" scheme while making £14 million in cuts - Brent & Kilburn Times. " it was announced during the meeting that each of Brent’s 21 wards would have their Ward Working (WW) scheme doubled to £40,000 – a total of £840,000 across the borough."
Cambridgeshire - "Unacceptable" library cuts under fire: see full list here - Cambridge News. "Libraries across the county will see their opening hours cut by a total of 67 hours a week from April following a council review, which has also prompted fears that single-staffing will leave librarians vulnerable to attack."
Camden - Set back in battle to save Hampstead library - Ham & High. Keats Community Library group says "“We are convinced that the City is really committed to our library, so it is sad to report that after many weeks, we have yet to have an offer of a licence which is more than one year or covering several of the key issues in terms of sharing space in what is their building.”"
Croydon - Six-year-old pleads with Croydon Council to save her library - This is Local London. "Milly is the latest campaigner to voice concern over the future of the Upper Norwood Library, which is under threat of closure. She said: "They should not shut the library down. When I was young I used to go to lots of events and love the books and reading. I love choosing my own books."

Campaigners, including the young authors, interrupted a full council meeting at Croydon Town Hall on Monday February 27. About 70 people packed into the public gallery singing Books Glorious Books to the council before hurling paper aeroplanes over the balcony."

Darlington - Schoolboy's letter to save library gets PM reply - Northern Echo. "William Dore, a pupil at Cockerton Primary School, in Darlington, was upset when he heard that councillors were considering closing Cockerton Library, which he visits regularly with his classmates and family, as part of budget cuts." ... PM's office thanked him for excellent letter and passed on letter to DCMS. Cockerton has been, at least temporarily, saved from closure.
Milton Keynes - Decisions on traveller's sites, nurseries and libraries - MK News. "Assurances have been made by councillor David Hopkins, cabinet member for libraries, that there will be no closures. Famously, residents in Stony Stratford launched a campaign to save the town’s libary after it was earmarked for closure as part of the budget set in 2011, along with Woburn Sands. But a new report detailing how almost £500,000 can be saved without the need for any closures has now been adopted."
North Yorkshire - Village volunteers take over libraries - Telegraph & Argus. "Libraries in Embsay and Gargrave are to be run by volunteers following the approval of North Yorkshire County Council. Both libraries will be formally handed over to the communities on May 1 after the council approved their business plans."
Somerset - Taunton Library re-opening on Mondays - Somerset County Gazette. "Taunton Library is opening on a Monday next week for the first time in months. Somerset County Council closed it for a day a week as part of its multi-million pound cutbacks last year. But it was forced by a court ruling to reinstate full opening hours in Taunton and other libraries and to abandon plans to close other libraries completely."

Thousands of pounds owed in fines to libraries: pros and cons of collecting it

2012-02-29T12:46:00.004-08:00

Redbridge Council will be temporarily offering a fines amnesty before passing over debt collection to an US company called Unique Management Services. It's the third council to pass on its debt list to them this year. The scale of the problem of the non-collection of late fees and lost books is examined below, taken from this website's page on saving money without closing libraries.

All library authorities have, theoretically, thousands of pounds owing to them from users due to late fees, lost items or even stolen books. The scale of these losses vary. Reading has 2,400 long overdue books and Northamptonshire 12,300. In terms of money owed, it is normally over a hundred thousand pounds: Cumbria £170k, Surrey £700k, York £50k, Leicestershire £238k, Kent £100k, Bracknell £105k, Northern Ireland £160k,Redbridge £167,692, Bradford £174k, and Brighton and Hove £175k . Essex retrieved £648k in late fees. Please note, though, that the wide variety of thse figures indicates differing size of councils and different practice. Some councils wipe (effectively waiving) records of lost items after x number of years, others use y number of years while others just don't delete fines, ever.

So, what are the pros and cons of pursuing debt recovery in these financially stringent times?

Pro - (a) Getting all this money back would make a significant impact. This is taken very seriously in the USA. An American library service uses a collection service that generates $9k per month.

"Unique Management Services (UMS) said it had recovered about $250m (£156m) in unpaid fines and lost items for libraries in North America, Australia, New Zealand and the UK since 1996."

Also, (b) it encourages others to return items on times and thus improve available stock. It even (c) encourages people to come back to use the library as the fees charges are rarely as high as people fear (although, often, those with non-returned books worry so much about late items they keep them for years, or bin them, rather than owning up to the feared scary librarian who, in reality, would be just happy to see the item back). Finally, (d) breaking the law by stealing books is an offence and offenders should be punished.

Con - (i) It could cost a fortune to fully recover fines/items because (ii) amounts owed to libraries tend to be quite small but very numerous. The cost of recovering these debts can be similar to, or exceeding that, of the value of items returned. Taking legal action against a member of the public for return of items is (iii) rife with danger as it could be seen as a waste of resources being the cost of legal action would almost certainly be more than the value of the items concerned (see this article about Bromley sending a letter asking for some books back from an eight-year old - this article was then taken up by the Telegraph the next day). Being (iv) too stringent on chasing late items would also deter genuine users from the library service. Generally, (v) British library services see owed fines as a standard part of the service, impossible to eradicate, that they will likely largely recover over the fullness of time. Finally, (vi) one could fall foul of the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act if one uses fines as a way to make money for the service rather simply as an incentive for returning material on time. However, considering the recent poor enforcement of this Act, this is likely to be seen as only a minor problem by authorities.

Alternatively, a fines amnesty may be an effective (if counter-intuitive) way of saving money by getting items back that would otherwise stay lost forever. I'll close on this article with two statements from people pursuing this line, one in England and one in the USA:

"Assistant mayor Councillor Sarah Russell, who is responsible for libraries in the city, said: "A lot of time people are worried if a book has been damaged, or if they find it under a teenager's bed when they move out of home – they decide to keep it rather than face the fines. "That's why we hold amnesties every now and then, because it helps us as well as the library users. "It means we don't have to spend money replacing missing items and we don't have to spend energy chasing people up." Leicestershire.

"You don't want to penalize people for reading. Sometimes you're really into a novel and it takes you a little longer to get through it. As it happens, you return a book two or three days late. It's not a big deal. We can get over that," Maghnieh said. "It's a way of really rewarding our patrons for using the library." Windsor Public Library, USA.

News

European librarians visit Birmingham's £189m facility - BBC. "More than 250 senior librarians from Europe are gathering in Birmingham to discuss the future of library services. As well as meeting at the Town Hall, visitors will see progress on the £189m library being built in Centenary Square. The 10-storey development, which will have an outdoor amphitheatre, is due to open next year. The site will also include a theatre, recording studio and free access to the National Film Archive."
Seven library services you might not know about - Matador life (USA). Includes job hunting, finding a date, live music, storytelling, author feedback, legal advice, home energy audits.

Changes

Cambridgeshire - 13 smallest libraries to be reduced to one paid member of staff, with volunteers and self-service for the other work. I have included these as still at threat for the time being, although I am aware this is a grey area. Previously these thirteen branches were to be totally volunteer-run with a "central" librarian directing them.

Local News

Brent - Labour councillors block lifeline for Brent libraries - Brent Council Liberal Democrats. "Labour has stopped listening to local residents and is no longer on their side. Labour Leader Ann John actually boasted about the library cuts when she made her speech."
Cambridgeshire - Lindon Library is secure: and could be renamed - Haverhill Echo. "That decision marked a reversal on initial plans to divest 13 libraries, mostly in South Cambridgeshire, including Linton and Sawston, meaning they faced possible closure.". Will be renamed "Lindon Community Hub". "“The library service will continue to exist, though maybe in a more limited form and more on a volunteer basis." ... "The county council will take responsibility for the core running of the service and will meet the basic cost, while the library service will recruit, train and manage volunteers with at least one paid member of staff in each library."
Camden - Conservative propose 3% tax cut - Conservative Home. "But the alternative budget proposed by the Conservatives would also have protected services. Camden Council has closed nurseries, play centres, luncheon clubs and youth services have been closed down. Libraries have been set adrift, while funding for breakfast and after school clubs, and the voluntary sector, is being slashed."
Croydon - Closure of New Addington Library building not far off, says Sara Bashford - This is Croydon Today. "Croydon councillor Sara Bashford said it would not be long before the current building on Central Parade is closed and moved into the Calat building. But the councillor, who acts as the council's cabinet member for customer services, stated she could not guarantee the same number of available books would be transferred over despite promising the new home would "offer the same level of service".
Isle of Wight - Council ethics watchdog resigns after Pugh's Westminster Library evidence (updated) - Ventnor Blog. "One of the members of the Isle of Wight council’s Ethical Standards Committee has resigned his position after watching Cllr David Pugh giving evidence about Island libraries to the Culture Media & Sports Committee in Westminster last week. Keith Fagan told VentnorBlog, “Having watched it (Cllr David Pugh giving evidence to the Select Committee) three times, I feel that by remaining silent, I would be condoning or endorsing his words."

"I know that some of the facts given in evidence, in oral form, were incorrect". Keith says his resignation isn’t the end of this, “I don’t just want to resign and disappear in to the ether, I need to take this up."

North Yorkshire - Milestone as libraries handed over to communities - Yorkshire Post. "Councillors rubber-stamped final plans for the scheme this week, with the go-ahead being given for six community-run libraries in Ayton, Barlby, Bilton, Embsay, Gargrave, and Great Ayton, after volunteer groups presented detailed business plans demonstrating the feasibility of the scheme. However, Humnanby Library failed to produce a viable plan and the county council revealed the village, near Scarborough, which is one of the largest in England, would be served by a mobile library from April, although other options are currently being explored."

"People power" helps ot keep village library open - Press. "The final details of plans for the future of six libraries have now been approved. It means the library in Barlby will be run by the local parish council. It will be staffed by volunteers and will incorporate a meeting place, information and exhibition space and a parish office."

Redbridge - Borough offers library fine amnesty - Guardian series. "The borough’s libraries are owed a whopping £167,692 in fines. The figure was revealed on the day that an amnesty was announced in an attempt to persuade people to return some of the 27,846 books, DVDs and CDs which are currently overdue."
Richmond - Library services in Richmond get £20k - Guardian series. "Library services have got a £20,000 boost thanks to Arts Council England. Richmond Council will use the money to take the lead on a partnership project with library and arts services in Kingston, Merton and Wandsworth. Richmond’s arts and library services will use funding to improve the quality and delivery of arts for adults and children with disabilities."
Surrey - An appeal on behalf of libraries and librarians - SLAM. "...we are now making this unashamed appeal for you to contribute to the “fighting fund”. We believe libraries and librarians are worth fighting for and have been working extremely hard to protect them and improve them. But we do need your help. It is wonderful and encouraging to have such high profile celebrity supporters such as Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed and Sue Perkins, but as you can see from our fundraising thermometer on the right of this page, we still need everybody’s help, including you!"
Swansea - Website winners put library top - This is South Wales. "Clever use of websites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube means Swansea Library Service has been named the best of its kind in Wales. Swansea Council's Library Service came first in the social media category of the Welsh Libraries Marketing Innovation Awards 2012."

Kent charging for children's library cards

2012-02-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

Comment

Kent, fresh from ending their school library service, have decided to (sort of) charge schools for joining up schoolchildren into the Library. Amongst a whole package of glitzy sounding proposals (Ooh! Core Package Platinum!) there's this...

"Book Exchange Plus: A visit to the library and a session with library staff to setup individual library tickets for children and regular book exchange visits to library. The school will manage future sessions. Pricing information £50 for initial session. Subsequent sessions are free"

Yes, indeed, Kent will charge schools for the privilege of getting their kids to join the library.

It's not illegal. They're entitled to do it. They may feel under such gigantic pressure that they have to do it. This is a council that last year considered closing an awful lot of of their branches. It's, after all, a great service to visit the school and get it all done. It's also, of course, the start of a slippery slide into unequal services and the end of a free public library service. Expect more of these money-making ideas from councils around the country. Unless the Secretary of State starts making difficult decisions himself, rather than doing nothing at all.

400 libraries (310 buildings and 90 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby, twibbon.
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

News

Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend or annul the Libraries Act 1964; if so, when; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative)
This Department has no plans at present to amend or annul the Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

Hansard via They Work For You.

Harry Potter ebooks to be distributed to public and school libraries through Overdrive - Marketwire. " Pottermore, the online experience and home of the Harry Potter eBooks created by J.K. Rowling and partnered by Sony, announced today it has entered into an exclusive worldwide eBook and digital audiobook distribution agreement with OverDrive for public and school libraries."
Libraries segment - Live with Gabby, Channel Five, 41:30 to 50. Concentrates on Kensal Rise library, [including a cameo from myself at the beginning, so best to skip to 42:50 at the start - Ed.], with interview by Margaret Bailey and with local library users, including a "pop-up" library. Authort Kathy Lette says "Britain is famous for its's writers and to cut off that lifeline ... it makes you stupid if you can't read". Gabby Roslin
Saving our Libraries - Big Issue. Lauren Smith writes in the "Our Issues" column on the threats facing libraries and why campaigning is so important.

Local News

Brent - Protest held outside Brent Town Hall as council chiefs rubber-stamp budget - Brent & Kilburn Times. "Around 30 members of Brent Fightback, the borough’s anti-cuts campaign group, Brent SOS Libraries, National Union of Teachers (NUT) members and representatives from the latest library group Keep Willesden Green rallied outside the building in Forty Lane with placards and a megaphone."

Library money earmarked for better flowerbeds in Brent - Preston Library Campaign. "Having convinced the government and the judiciary that there is no money for libraries, and that cuts will now be made in essential services, Brent has found £420,000 extra to give to Ward Working, a fund that local councillors spend on grafitti workshops, noticeboards and flowerbeds."
DCMS is "not minded" to investigate mass library closure in Brent - Preston Library Campaign. "They met Brent Council in June, but have refused to speak to us, or hear our (ample) evidence. Now, after a letter from our legal team challenging their year-long silence on the matter, they have finally spoken. We have until Thursday March 1 to challenge this provisional decision. Email them (using info below) – enquiries@culture.gov.uk"

Essex - Homework club in Greenstead to be axed - Chelmsford Weekly News. "A homework centre which helps dozens of childen iis being axed. The centre at Greenstead Library in Colchester provides support for 65 students, mostly from Colchester Academy, but funding is being withdrawn."

"Originally homework centres in libraries were set up with time-limited funding from the National Lottery. When this funding ended, the majority of such arrangements across the county had to be discontinued. We were able to avoid this in Harlow and in Greenstead by means of a one year grant from the Essex County Council study support budget. Unfortunately, this too will no longer be available after March."

Gloucestershire - Multi-million pound businesses Tesco and Sainsbury to benefit from brutal library cuts ... at our expense - FoGL. "It has been brought to our attention that Gloucestershire County Council are running “library workshops”as part of the libraries consultation and are paying attendees £40 each in shopping vouchers to be spent at Tesco and Sainsbury as detailed in this invite Invite – workshops BME (this was sent to us by a FoGL member, we have not been notified by GCC, nor have we been asked to circulate the invite. We have no idea who this invite has been sent to). The invite states that the library review is happening due to “limited resources”. We are disgusted that Gloucestershire County Council sees fit to place tax-payers money into the pockets of retail giants like Tesco and Sainsbury when they claim they do not have the money to run basic public services?"

County Council approves £29 million cuts package - Stroud News & Journal. "Proposals to invest £1 million to help keep the county’s libraries open over the next two years were rejected as Gloucestershire County Council approved cuts totalling £29 million last week." ... "The opposition group wanted to use money from the authority’s £106 million reserves to fund a further £2.2 million worth of road repairs, a £3 million investment in infrastructure, a £1 million contribution to assist the county’s libraries and a £600,000 spend on youth work."

Harrow - Children win a librarian for a day - Harrow Times. "Three schools in Harrow won a librarian for a day, in celebration of World Book Day. Pupils at St Bernadettes, in Clifton Road; Longfield, in Dukes Avenue, and Stag Lane, in Collier Drive, won the librarians after they entered an open competition run by Harrow’s library service."
Isle of Man - Save our libraries: petition launched - Isle of Man Today. "Two have launched a petition against the closure of the Department of Education and Children’s family and mobile libraries. In just two days Michael Synnott, aged 11, and his classmate Robert Moore, collected about 50 signatures."
Kent - Edukent Packaged Services - Kent Council. Charges for school staff to use public libraries after the recent withdrawal of the school library service there.

"A visit to the library and a session with library staff to set up individual library tickets for children and regular book exchange visits to library. The school will manage future sessions"

Somerset - Councillors reject library safeguards - This is Somerset. "Somerset Liberal Democrats hoped to persuade Somerset County Council to agree that no library should have funding withdrawn without a consultation based on residents' needs. They also sought to promote libraries as "community hubs" and "public space.""
Wiltshire - "Yes" to council budget, "no" to free car parking plan - Wiltshire Times. "On libraries, Jane Scott says: "Unlike other local authorities we have opened a new library in Pewsey [where they sacked the manager on the same day it opened - Ed.] and work on our new Trowbridge library is well under way. We have kept all of our libraries open withthe help of over 600 volunteers."
Wokingham - Private library firms shortlisted - BBC. "The Conservative-led council currently pays out about £2.1m a year to run its library service but said it believed it could pay firms less to take them on. However, a report to councillors said there could be an "increase in staff turnover" and "loss of influence" over the service."

The Last Ten Years. Good and bad in libraryland.

2012-02-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

It's often difficult to find simple and straightforward figures for national library usage, especially those over any length of time. The following will, I hope, therefore be of use for those interested in the subject.

They show good news and bad news. For the doomsayers, we can see that overall visits and adult borrowing has indeed declined, although perhaps not at the catastrophic pace that some seem to believe. This decline is mirrored in the reduction of the number of libraries and mobiles available and in the number of books available for lending.

For good news, we can see that child usage has stayed the same and has indeed slightly increased recently. A strange trend for a supposedly outmoded service.

Tim Coates, who kindly provided these charts, argued in a final slide that the points to be made were (a) "The library service has been well resourced with both capital and revenue", (b) "Book collections have been neglected and as a result the use of books have fallen and (c) the rise of council overheads have stifled improvement". A video presentation by him analysing Somerset's expenditure is also available. However, one should say that Tim's views are not one uniformly shared, especially by librarians. For my part, I don't know enough to make a firm stand either way, although I would agree with Tim that an easy correlation can be made between bookfund and the resultant book borrowing.

There is something, though, that most would agree on. We should expect the revenue and capital to fall off a cliff in 2011/12 and into 2012/13. Whether there will be a corresponding decrease in usage will be the key to the survival of public libraries, at least at the local branch level. A steep decline would set off a vicious circle where the decline in revenue leads to a decline in usage leading to a further decline in revenue. This is what many fear. It's up to us all to make sure that it does not happen.

I have amended this commentary due to feedback kindly received. And added paragraph (29/2/12) is in italics.

Number of libraries was already accelerating downwards
before 2011.

Spending on new library buildings and refurbishments
increased greatly.


Staff costs have largely stayed the same


Available books dipped significantly from 2001 (c. 68m) to 2007 (c/ 59m) then levelled of to some extent.

Budgets rose 2001 to 2006 then levelled off, with a decline
starting in 2010/11


However, the amount that Councils took from these budgets started shooting up from 2005 from around 10% then to 14% in 2010/11, presumably making the recent overall decline in libraries budget more noticeable.


Child usage has levelled/slightly risen.


Adult borrowing's decline slowed by 2006/7, with decline starting again in 2010/11

Visits increased to 2004/5 but have declined since.

From CIPFA data, charts kindly supplied by Tim Coates

The bridge to reading is having its foundations removed

2012-02-27T13:34:00.001-08:00

News

Engineers crashing our gates - Nicolas Morin (USA). Librarian written blog article: "We’re the nice guys, the not-for-profits, we’re working for the common good, we’re small, we’re poor… but we nevertheless are members of the incumbent class. It’s uncomfortable, since we mostly think of incumbents as people of power who want to preserve the status quo in their favor, but that’s the way it is: we’re incumbents with little power.". Not the easiest read or especially relevant to library cuts now but it does point to possible future paths.
Lauren Smith to step down as CILIP Vice President - CILIP. "Lauren Smith has announced her decision to step down from her role as Vice President of CILIP. Lauren said that she did not take the decision lightly but wanted to focus her time and energies more on active campaigning than she feels is currently possible within the scope of the Vice President role."
Nearly half our kids don't have anyone to read to them - Mirror. "The Mirror's Get Britain Reading campaign aims to encourage viewers to pledge 10 minutes of their time to read every day. Daybreak is to launch a similar reading campaign this week."

"So what is missing? What is the bridge, the conduit, the middle cog between those children whose parents don’t foster a habit of reading and the necessities of a print-rich world? It is the librarian and the teacher. Thank goodness, I don’t (yet) have to defend the role of the teacher. But why, in the name of all that is coherent and sensible, do I have to defend the role of the professional children’s librarian? Why, in county after county, are they being made redundant? Why, up and down the country have talented children’s reading ambassadors become an endangered species? Why are schools dispensing with their services or failing to sign up to School Library Services?" Alan Gibbons

Changes

Gateshead - £305k cut, some staffing cuts, possibility of volunteers replacing staff in some branches.
Kent - Sturry Library temporarily closed due to arson attack.

Local News

Doncaster - We need your help: Legal Aid to match - Save Doncaster Libraries. "Efforts to match the Legal Aid funding awarded to our brave resident heading our fight for justice through the Courts, have begun. A hardy group of campaigners stood outside Doncasters’ fantastic Markets to inform and enable people to drop cash in buckets. We are also commencing targeted requesting, and facebook/twitter campaigning. We need to raise a significant amount in a very short time, £15,000 (+VAT)." [Plus VAT? Not only are the Government forcing people to fight their battles for them but they're also taxing them for the privilege of doing so - Ed.].
East Sussex - How do you rate library services? - Eastbourne Herald. "The county council library and information service is looking at how it provides rural and mobile library services – including its libraries in the Eastbourne area. The council wants to ensure it is giving residents the best service at the best price – and in the right place at the right time. The review runs for 12 weeks from Monday, February 27 to Monday, May 21, and people can complete a survey in paper copy or online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay."
Gateshead - Hundreds of jobs under threat at Gateshead Council - Chronicle. "Some £305,000 will go from libraries and arts services, with staffing reductions likely and talk of voluntary groups helping keep some branches open."
Greenwich - Conflict of interest allegation halts Greenwich libraries transfer - This is Local London. "Greenwich Council has announced it will reconsider decisions on leisure and library services at a future cabinet meeting "to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest in the council's decision making process." Unite branch secretary Onay Kasab described the surprise move as a "temporary victory"."
Kent - Sturry library shut after suspected arson attack - Kent Online. "A library has been damaged in a suspected arson attack after a bin was pushed up against the building and set alight. Three fire crews were called to Sturry library, near Canterbury, at about 8.30pm on Sunday. They managed to stop the blaze spreading, but some of the roof and internal areas - including books - were damaged."
Warwickshire - Warwick Library reopens after move to save money - BBC. "Warwickshire County Council said the move from Barrack Street to Shire Hall was part of plans to save £2m from its £7.4m Library and Information Service budget."

More than 100 libraries withdrawn since April

2012-02-26T12:47:00.003-08:00

Comment

The list of "withdrawn" libraries since April 1st last year has now gone over 100. Of these, 38 buildings and 46 mobiles have just plain closed, while most of the balance have become volunteer-run. It is expected from media sources that there will be many more volunteer-run branches over the next two months. Three times more than these one hundred have been announced in the media as under threat, with doubtless more having plans drawn against them by councils up and down the country.

People in the Isle of Wight were apparently watching open-mouthed while the Leader of their Council talked to the Select Committee on library closures. It seems that here is not much that he said that is not disputed in some way or another. He came under some very direct questioning, some would say grilling, by MPs at the Committee over apparent differences between his statements and the perceptions of those on the ground. Indeed, it was an object lesson on how people can have completely opposite views on the facts. Cllr David Pugh thinks he volunteers a lot in his local library; some local people think he doesn't. He thinks people are enthusiastic about volunteering; library campaigners say they were blackmailed into it. Cllr Pugh thinks library staff were happy to train volunteers; while others think they were about as enthusiastic about it as turkeys are about Christmas. It must be very strange in the Isle of Wight with such basic arguments about the facts. What they need of course are properly funded libraries with professionally trained staff who are expert and neutral in their provision and give such answers. It's a shame that this is exactly appears to be disappearing there.

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

Doncaster - Appeal for funds for legal case against the closure of twelve libraries. Anyone who wants to donate can contact SDL treasurer John Sheppard. Email johnshep50@talktalk.net or call 07951 382 703.

News

Library Book, edited by Rebecca Gray: Review - Guardian. "A refrain runs through this essay collection, published to support the Reading Agency's library programmes: libraries made me what I am. Val McDermid, growing up in Kirkcaldy, made a "home from home" of her local library. Stephen Fry first read Oscar Wilde thanks to the mobile library near his home in rural Norfolk. For many contributors, personal recollection mutates into anger at the current government's library-closing tendencies"
LSSI's written evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee‏ - Stop the privatisation of UK public libraries. "Reading this you could mistakenly believe that LSSI is a philanthropic organisation only interested in the literacy levels and well being of poor little children and not a library company bankrolled by a private equity firm seeking to turn a profit."
Shhh! The iLibrary sneaks up on Kindle with 30p eBook rentals - Sunday Times (behind paywall). ”The Bilbary site, which features a virtual library where visitors enter through saloon bar-style doors to browse the on-screen shelves, will launch in America next month, with a British and European launch to follow.”
Woman stole 2,000 library books to sell on the internet - Los Angeles Times (USA). "In exchange for pleading guilty to one count of felony burglary, Nater is set to receive probation when sentenced April 25. She has agreed to pay $7,600 in restitution, stay away from public libraries, and not use any internet accounts such as ebay, Craigslist, or Amazon, according to prosecutors." ... "The investigation began when Carlsbad librarians noticed that shelves were being depleted of books over several months."

Local News

Bolton - Residents face fortnight with no library facilties - Bolton News. "A library will shut two weeks before its corresponding neighbourhood collection opens breaking Bolton Council’s promise that replacements would be in place before any facilities closed. The announcement about Heaton Library came yesterday on the same day another library, Oxford Grove, closed its doors for the final time."
Doncaster - Booking up ideas to help save library - South Yorkshire Times. "Leading the group is Stuart Bolton, he said the band of volunteers were determined not to let the site – which caters for 500 people a week – disappear. He said: “We formed a new group called Stainforth For All when we heard that the council was going to close the library."
East Sussex - Rural and mobile libraries in East Sussex - Sussex Express. "Rural and mobile libraries are coming under the microscope as East Sussex County Council asks users for their views during a three-month review. The council wants to make sure that it is giving residents the best service at the best price – and in the right place at the right time. The review will run from Monday February 27 until Monday May 21 and people can complete a survey in paper copy or online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay"
Gloucestershire - Library consultation event in Matson - This is Gloucestershire. "The council had planned to hand 10 libraries over to the community but a High Court legal challenge forced a rethink. As a result Matson has received a reprieve and will be staffed by the council for between 12 and 21 hours a week."
Thousands share library views with two weeks to go - Stroud News and Journal. "With two weeks left to go on the new library strategy consultation, Gloucestershire County Council has spoken to 2,400 people from many different areas and backgrounds, and is urging more people to have their say. "
Isle of Wight - Friends write to Committee over inquiry into library closures - Ventnor Blog. Complaint regarding statements by David Pugh, leader of the Council that (a) volunteers reluctantly did so as a last resource rather than enthusiastically like Mr Pugh said, (b) that Mr Pugh has done very little volunteering unlike the impression given by him, (c) library staff were very unhappy to train volunteers, not happy like Mr Pugh said. From this article, one wonders if there is anything that Mr Pugh said to the Committee that is not disputed. Double taxation also caused by local councils having to support libraries that Wight no longer has decided to. Volunteer-run libraries have a questionable future, dubious finances and poor to non-existent long-term planning. Loss of Act, suggested by Mr Pugh, would mean some areas having a very poor service and the likelihood of the closure of all but two Wight libraries.
Sheffield - Novel idea to take used books to city libraries - Sheffield Telegraph. "All libraries in the city now accept donated books and CDs that can either be added to the libraries’ collection or sold in a ‘give and take’ section for 50p. Frecheville, Firth Park and the Central Library will be the first libraries to offer readers the chance to buy the donated books and the council intends to roll out scheme across the city in the next few months."
Suffolk - In 1851, Suffollk libraries and education lagged behind, they still do - Suffolk Wordblog. "Suffolk county council was ranked close to the bottom of the table for library spending by English counties in 2010 (latest available figures) and GCSE results ranked the county as 121st out of 152 education authorities according to a report this year." ... "Glyde was worried not only by the lack of educational books available in Suffolk libraries but by the paucity of good fiction. He would have been shocked by the pile of discounted chick lit I saw being unpacked to fill the shelves of one Suffolk library recently."

"A love of books was with me from the very start," he said. "Libraries to me were magical places and they continue to be so. When I walk through the door of this place there is that feeling of excitement, all these books around you. The internet won't do that for you, it's the books themselves and this place creates that. It is superb, a great example to the rest of Surrey and to the rest of the country of what can be done." Surrey - Dorking's new library "should be an example to rest of England" says BBC newsreader - This is Surrey. "Ian Caldwell, who led the Leave Our Library Alone campaign, said: "The council were determined to push it through before they even listened to what we had to say. I am just pleased we have still got a library."

Dame Joan Bakewell, Jamie Oliver and Alan Bennett

2012-02-24T13:39:00.003-08:00

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

Boyd Tonkin: How to quench the book-burners - Independent. "Dr Mastafa Jahic and his colleagues – including a cleaner and a nightwatchman from Congo - put their lives on the line to rescue 10,000 books and manuscripts, under sniper fire, from the library of the Gazi Husrev Beg mosque." plus also Our barbarian bureaucrats about the closure of Friern Barnet Library: "A new library is, in due course, promised at an arts centre elsewhere, but the timetable is clear as mud - again, par for the course with so many authorities. Polite, resourceful and eminently reasonable, the Save Friern Barnet Library campaigners justly feel that the council has treated them with scant respect. They certainly had no joy this week from Barnet CEO Nick Walkley, who earns £200,976 pa from public funds."
Dame Joan Bakewell says sorry to Jamie Oliver over library campaign - Daily Telegraph. "The veteran broadcaster had taken Oliver to task over what she claimed was his failure to support the bid, tweeting: “Jamie Oliver’s children use Chalk Farm Library. He won’t join the appeal to save it. Shame!” Oliver replied saying: “please get your facts straight joan I have offered loads of support”."
David Harte: The book in a digital age - Birmingham Post. "What surprised me about the system is that once an ebook is taken out, it’s not available to anyone else. In other words, it works just like a real library book. Each book in the elibrary can only be taken out by one user at a time. Until you return it, no-one else can read it. These restrictions seem bizarre to me. I thought the digital age would be an age of plenty, of infinite available copies."
Playwright Alan Bennett on libraries, cycling and "celebrity" neighbours - Camden New Journal. "Mr Bennett said families in Primrose Hill and beyond should be able to take their local library “for granted” – and not be in fear that it could close down. The 77-year-old said on Tuesday: “I think that at this stage it doesn’t matter what children read or where they read it, whether it is in a book or on the computer, what matters are words.". Save Primrose Hill Library, in association with Primrose Hill Books, are inviting residents to an evening with Alan Bennett at Cecil Sharp House next Thursday (March 1) at 7pm for 7.30pm.

"People do say children don’t need libraries because they have got a computer – that’s rubbish,” he said. And it’s rubbish because they just don’t all have computers, poor children don’t have computers, and a lot of children who go to Chalk Farm Library will be poor. You are not supposed to say that these days, it is supposed to be bad taste to say that, but it is the case. The library is for every section of the community but it is the children who are the most vital it seems to me.”" Alan Bennett.

"Schools minister Nick Gibb met Tesco in February and March last year......The government did say the meetings were held to discuss literacy, reading and how to get children to read more. But no more information, such as who came from Tesco, was released. The Eye pursued the matter under freedom of information laws, but the department refused to say anything about the meetings, simply pointing out that ministers needed to discuss sensitive and high profile issues without distracting, disruptive or otherwise detrimental effect of disclosure. The Eye appealed, and while the minutes of the meeting remain secret, some sketchy e-mails were passed on. They show that Gibb met Tesco boss Lucy Neville-Rolfe, who was accompanied by Tesco's senior buying manager for children's books and government affairs director. Another e-mail says that between the two meetings civil servants set up a meeting with Tesco marketing team based on the direction the minister wishes us to go in." The Tesco Problem, Private Eye, 10/2 to 23/2/2012.

Truth behind the "Team London Library" project - Stop the privatisation of UK public libraries. Questions whether being a London library volunteer is additional to or, as the article suspects, replacing staffing. "Another authority involved in the project is Hackney. Hackney libraries have cut 25% of the workforce but have recently advertised for a 'Volunteer Support Officer' costing £25-£27,000 a year, this isn't 'supporting' this is a co-ordinated attack on paid library staff"
Vennesla Library and Culture House - Paranoias. One of the most beautiful small library designs I have seen for a while, this one being in Norway. Star Trek Meets Star Wars (doesn't that look like the Jawa's transporter from some angles?) meets Gutenberg.

Changes

Local News

Devon - Residents invited to see Colyton's new-look library - Midweek Herald. "Renovation and improvement work, costing around £35,000, is currently under way and the building is set to reopen on March 13. The library will have a new entrance and a new improved flexible layout, designed to make browsing easier and to expand the use of the building for the local community. A new self-service kiosk will be installed and a redesign of the children’s area promises to make it easier for youngsters to look for books." ... "Following the revamp, the library will be open for longer, with special ‘Library Extra’ sessions hosted by the Friends of Colyton Library group taking place each Tuesday from 10am to 12.30pm, which is when the library was previously closed."
Doncaster - Legal fight to stop community-run libraries - Star. "Mr Davies had proposed making £110,000 available to meet the running costs of the 12 libraries which are being switched to being run by their communities. But Labour has tabled an amendment which would see a £382,000 contingency fund created to provide a member of staff and a self-service machine in each of the community-led libraries, as well as re-opening Carcroft and Denaby libraries which were closed outright earlier in the year."
Edinburgh - Libraries closure move is shelved - Scotsman. £300,000 from reserves used to reverse cuts in opening hours after public protest. "At 10,000 responses this is one of the biggest consultations we’ve ever had and it reflects how important libraries are."
Gloucestershire - Tuffley Library to be a community hub? - This is Glos. ""If the council was really interested in serving the community, rather than getting opinions on library closure, it would be gathering opinion on turning library sites with development potential into better facilities. "Even in the current economic climate it is necessary to look to the future as well as retreating from and repairing the damage from the past." Mrs Howard believes the Windsor Drive site in Tuffley could become a real community hive of activity."

Hester's Way urged to have their say on proposal for new community centre - This is Glos. "The hope is that the library would be moved to the Oasis centre building off Princess Elizabeth Way from its current location in Edinburgh Place. It would enable the centre to remain open and allow organisations to provide additional services. The site has a sports hall so people could get involved with activities including basketball, badminton, gymnastics, judo, zumba and football."

Greenwich - Union plans legal challenge on Greenwich libraries - News Shopper. "Their proposed challenge centres on cabinet member Councillor John Fahy's organisation Meridian Link, which he runs with Mark Sesnan, managing director of Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) - the group given control of the libraries. During the cabinet's library vote this month, Cllr Fahy declared an interest and abstained from the debate and subsequent vote. But the Unite union is asking why he did not do the same thing at a cabinet meeting in November when GLL was given control of leisure facilities and tasked with drawing up a plan for the libraries." ... "The union, which claims it has 1,400 signatures against the plan, also insists there was a lack of proper consultation with only three public meetings, which they say were called at short notice, and no online survey. Mr Kasab said: "The demand from the community is clear - no transfers, no privatisation, hands off our libraries."
Suffolk - Swap it don't drop it at Ipswich Library - Suffolk Reads. "Bring your garments & accessories to out ‘swap it, don’t drop it’ event and look good for less. Whether it be shirts, skirts, dresses, jumpers, cardies, trousers, coats, jackets, shoes, handbags, necklaces, hats or more, simply bring what you want to swap, leave it on the swapping tables and take as much as you want when you leave. Simple as that!"
Waltham Forest - Chingford: library service launch date announced - Guardian series. "A former Waltham Forest Direct shop in Chingford Mount Road was secured and volunteers have pledged their time to making the library a success."
Wokingham - Libraries move closer to privatisation - Reading Chronicle. "Four shortlisted companies have already presented ideas on how they would improve the library service if they were successful in their bid for the five-year contract. Cllr Ullakarin Clark, executive member for internal services, told the full council meeting: "We believe people in the borough deserve to have access to a library service that is fit for the 21st century and this will allow us to provide great value for money."

Doncaster campaigners take the next step

2012-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Doncaster campaigners have confirmed that they will be taking legal action against their Council. Surrey campaigners have already started along this road following in the footsteps of Somerset, Gloucestershire, Brent and the Isle of Wight.

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

News

Arts Council England opens consultation on the libraries of the future - Arts Council England. "Envisioning the library of the future will begin with an assessment of trends in society which may affect the delivery of library services in the future. Following on from this, we will undertake a programme of consultation with library experts. In mid March 2012, an online consultation will open to all, with a series of short articles prompting public thoughts and opinions on the future of public library services, providing a deep understanding of the public value of libraries."

"Give Mayor control of all London public libraries" - London Evening Standard. "Tim Coates, who was the chain's [Waterstones] managing director and now campaigns on libraries, said a single service with a centralised management function should replace the separate services in the 33 London boroughs. The duplication of administration costs £80million a year out of the £200million spent on the capital's 380 libraries, he claimed."

"Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many libraries were (a) closed and (b) opened in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative)

Data about the library sector are published annually by the Chartered institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and are available for the last five years. The Department supplements them by monitoring proposals about changes to library services across England through information gathered via correspondence, media coverage and from relevant bodies such as Arts Council England. It is difficult to get an accurate picture, as many local authorities are still developing and consulting on proposals and consequently the overall picture is always changing. While a definitive number is open to interpretation, we understand, from information we have gathered to date, that fewer than 50 static libraries ceased to be funded by their local authority between April and September 2011. Of these, responsibility for around a dozen libraries has been transferred away from the local authority and they remain open. Initial assessments also suggest around 40 libraries are being refurbished or are being opened—for example, large scale library building and improvement is happening in Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Blackpool, and significant new builds have opened, for example in Southwark and Hertford." (Hansard - via They Work For You 20/2/12).

Changes

North Somerset - Backwell Library to close from April.

Local News

Barnet - No reprieve for library while freeze on council tax planned - Barnet Today. Poor writing in libraries report attacked. "Mr Rawlings said proposals by the Save Friern Barnet Library group to take over the running of the library in Friern Barnet Road were never properly considered.". Council says they did. "Negotiations are ongoing with the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents' Association, which is hoping to take over the running of the library in Market Place, while the council continues to pay the lease.".

Labour councillors to call-in Cabinet's decision to close Friern Barnet Library - Times series. In defence, council said. ""Unfortunately, the proposal submitted for Friern Barnet was not viable as it isn’t a no cost or low cost solution. Their proposal required the continued provision of staffing by the Council – which, with associated overhead costs, would have made it unaffordable."
Campaigners share their disappointment over Friern Barnet library closure - Times series.

"Disappointed campaigners say they have been “robbed” of their community library after plans to relocate its services were given the go ahead on Monday. More than 3,000 people signed up to the Save Friern Barnet Library (SFBL) campaign, but despite their desperate attempts to save the much-used public space, Barnet Council’s Cabinet ruled in favour of its closure on March 31."

Brent - Libraries fight latest - Harrow Observer. "Kensal Rise, Barham Park, Tokyington, Preston Road, Cricklewood and Neasden are now just shells after Brent Council emptied them of books and equipment.". DCMS "minded" not to intervene, campaigners still fighting. "“We are submitting yet more evidence to his department in the coming week and are taking advice from our legal team on the options available to us.”"

Read the letter from DCMS legal advisers about library closures in the London Borough of Brent - DCMS. Letter from department explaining why they are "minded" to intervene.

Brighton and Hove - An open letter to Brighton Green councillors - Bear by Sea. "My worry is this; once the principle of a small cut here, a small cut there is established what next? Will a change in opening hours this year progress on to a full closure next year?"
Carmarthenshire - Library plan's cash setback - This is South Wales. ""Ammanford library scheme not going ahead now due to unsuccessful Cymal bid," said the report."
Conwy - Public meeting called to continue fight to keep Penrhyn Bay library open - Weekly News. "People have vowed to fight to the end to try to keep Penrhyn Bay library open. And after a meeting with Conwy County Council officers, have decided to set up a steering group to formulate a plan for residents to run it."

Volunteers needed to help run library - North Wales Pioneer. "Despite the Penrhyn Library Users Group (PLUG) being dissolved, former members believe that the library can be saved if enough interest is shown. A meeting will be held at St David’s Church Hall in Penrhyn Bay, at 7pm on Thursday March 8, where organisers will ask the public what they want from their library and how much time they could put into it."

Croydon - Milly, aged six, tells Croydon Council off - Crystal Palace Local. "Six-year-old Milly Maker has written her own letter to Croydon council telling them what she thinks of their plans to stop funding the Upper Norwood joint library from April 1st. We reproduce it in full:..."
Doncaster - Legal action planned against Doncaster library cuts - BBC. "Lynne Coppendale, of campaign group Save Doncaster Libraries, said taking this action was a "great sadness". She added the mayor and cabinet had been inflexible "from day one." Meanwhile the council said 200 people had already volunteered to help the library service and it appealed for more people to come forward."

Volunteer appeal for community libraries - Yorkshire Post. "Doncaster Council unveiled plans last year to off-load 12 of the borough’s libraries to be run by volunteers, and the scheme is set to begin in the next four weeks. Yesterday, the authority said “really good progress” had been made with around 200 volunteers coming forward, but appealed for more people to cover the required hours."
Save Doncaster Libraries and judicial review - Save Doncaster Libraries. "SDL has never said the public library service was perfect, we acknowledged improvements and changes were necessary. However we dispute this meant wholesale closure of Denaby and Carcroft and vehemently decry the change to Community Libraries of 12 others, whereby communities were forced to volunteer or lose them (closure by stealth)."

"Any donation, no matter how small, can be managed by contacting SDL treasurer John Sheppard, email address johnshep50@talktalk.net; telephone 07951382703, or by contacting the blog author (see contact link above) for discussion of your preferred method. Please note that if donating by cheque it should be made out to ‘Save Our Libraries’."

Durham - Public meeting on cuts to library - Teesdale Mercury. "The Friends of Barnard Castle Library organisation is rallying residents to voice their opinions on Durham County Council’s controversial proposals. The council’s cabinet last week agreed to seek feedback on plans to reduce opening hours at Barnard Castle Library to 36 hours a week.". Mobile libraries also to be cut.
Gloucestershire - Mr Hunt, action is overdue - FoGL. Library book budget is amongst lowest in country and will be cut even further to less than 79p per resident. The Secretary of State should take his duties seriously and intervene.
Greenwich - Organise against the cuts in Greenwich - Socialist Party. "Over 1,300 members of the public have signed the Unite survey cards opposing the transfer. Nearly 500 have signed petitions. Now, following a council decision to press ahead with the transfer despite the huge opposition, Unite members in libraries are preparing for strike action and a real victory is possible."
Kent - So what were Kent's secret plans for libraries? - Infoism. Lists the 45 libraries that were originally aimed for offloading by the council. "With this number of libraries under threat, Kent could see the largest assault on public libraries in the country. And all this in an authority that is headed up by the Secretary of the Society of Chief Librarians"
Lambeth - Cooperative libraries consultation - Lambeth Council. "Our 'pop-up' library idea is that we could have library services in different locations such as community centres or even cafes - this is about finding and creating a service that meets your needs. If we can get this right then these places can become the centre of our communities."
Leeds - Friends group in battle to save Leeds community centre - Yorkshire Evening Post. "The Friends of Rawdon Library led a determined campaign to stop Leeds City Council from closing the venue and replacing it with a mobile service last year. Now the team of volunteers have to demonstrate to the authority that the community hub is worth saving for future generations." ... "council bosses have agreed to look at the possibility of Rawdon staying open and being put in the hands of the community under a system known as Community Asset Transfer."
North Somerset - The end for library - This is Somerset. "Backwell's scaled-down library service is to close from April – with villagers being left to rely on a fortnightly mobile service." ... "A number of books were transferred to the library along with a computer which the public can use to check books in and out. But the authority is now planning to withdraw the £600 it costs to run the service. It has asked Backwell Parish Council to step in but it refused after learning that the computer had been used for only 92 minutes during the last month."
Sheffield - Save Sheffield Libraries campaign meeting - Library Workers for a Brighter Future. "Come and talk about what we can do to protect libraries in Sheffield, at the Quaker Meeting House, Wednesday 29th Feb, 6.30pm onwards. (Donations for room hire very welcome!). Just because there are no libraries closing doesn’t mean that there aren’t problems - the cuts are affecting the service, and there are more to come."
Warwickshire - Warwick Library to reopen on Monday - Coventry Telegraph. "The town has been without a library for last few weeks as it moved from its former home in Barrack Street to its new base in Shire Hall. The move is part of a refurbishment of the council’s headquarters and comes as cuts were made to libraries across the county, with several closing."
Westminster - Two locations in the running for new Marylebone library site - Ham & High. Existing library to be sold off next year ... "ut the council is now committed to building a new library either as part of a larger mixed-use development alongside housing at Luxborough Street or on a vacant car park site at Moxon Street."

Site wanted for Marylebone Library - BBC.

Wokingham - Libraries in Spotlight - Bracknell News. The "executive committee is due to approve plans to move to the tendering stage of the process after more than 20 companies submitted bids in June last year to take control." ... "It is hoped that the partnership will save the council £170,000 each year, but the plans led to uproar from residents who feared library closures, job losses and cuts in services. It also brought the first debate in the history of the council triggered by a public petition, which contained 1,500 signatures."

Council defends bid to privatise libraries - Get Wokingham. "The council agreed to investigate privatising its libraries in May 2010, with the expectation of appointing a partner in March this year, however the project has been delayed and is now expected to be operational by October." ... "Although the council is putting conditions in place, such as engagement with library users when making decisions, there is no specific condition to keep all libraries open.". All the comments after the article are negative.

One in five public librarians have gone, this year.

2012-02-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

Comment

The headline comes from Annie Mauger, chief of CILIP, who said that 700 out of the 3500 people working as public librarians in the UK may have lost their jobs this year. It was made in giving evidence to the DCMS Select Committee on Public Libraries this morning. A summary of the other main points raised in the hearing will appear as a special posting shortly.

The DCMS have made it clear that they are not going to intervene over the closures in Brent. This will surprise no-one who has followed the department's, and the relevant ministers, approaches to the cuts in libraries over the last year. Let's make this clear. In bold and in italics. Anyone who is following libary cuts at least privately believes that there is no way the DCMS will intervene in any case on any terms. It would go directly against the perceived localism agenda and the need to force through the biggest cuts in local government in peacetime history. There are aspects of the response to cuts, notably the use of volunteers and non-profit organisations in the running of libraries, that ties in so beautifully with the Big Society that it almost seems designed for it. The only way that the Government will intervene is if they are legally forced to by a judge deciding that the Secretary of State is in breach of his statutory duties. Even then, it is likely that the Government will simply change the law, as they are doing with the recent case of a court deciding that saying prayers in council meetings is illegal. It is up to the campaigners and the organisations involved to see if the effort to force the DCMS to intervenese is therefore worth it.

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs, #librarieslobby
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

News

APPG for education calls for school library support - EdExec. "in its inquiry report, the APPG raised concerns over the Government's lack of support for school libraries and the impact this had on child literacy. In response, the DfE stated that it recognised the positive contribution to literacy standards of good libraries " ... "However, DfE stopped short of promising future funding by adding that it preferred schools to make their own choices about book resourcing and library provision."
Join us at the consortia conference 2012 in Bath on Thursday 3rd May - Consortia Conference 2012. "The consortia conference 2012 offers the opportunity to listen to speakers from two of the biggest UK public library consortia (LibrariesWest and London Libraries Consortium), to find out more about shared services in action and to participate in workshops and panel discussions."
Ministers don't understand libraries - Huffington Post UK. Annie Mauger, CILIP chief, said at the Inquiry that politicians often don't understand what libraries do. She also singled out Jeremy Hunt for failing to intervene to stop closures. Arts Council England chief complained of the lack of breathing space libraries had to cope with the cuts and other changes.
Select Committee hears of librarian job loss toll - BookSeller. "Research by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) has indicated that as many as 700 of 3,500 professionally qualified librarians have lost their jobs in the current financial year, chief executive Annie Mauger told the culture select committee at its second oral evidence session, given this morning (21st February)."

Local News

Barnet - Campaigners "devastated" over Friern Barnet library closure - Times Series. "Campaigners are “devastated” after plans to close Friern Barnet library were given the go ahead last night." ... "SFBL had gained the support of more than 3,000 people who were fighting to keep the library open. The group argued the Arstdepot is too far away, and the closure would affect the most vulnerable people in the area as well as detriment hundreds of children’s literacy levels. But speaking in favour of the library strategy at last night’s Cabinet meeting, Councillor Robert Rams, cabinet member for customer access and partnerships said: “We will see libraries that will open longer, more money will be spent on books, new libraries will be built and every child at school will be signed on to the libraries service.”"
Barnet Council agrees to close Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries - Times series. A new library will be set up at Artsdepot in North Finchley, although Councillor Robert Rams, cabinet member for customer access and partnerships was unable to say exactly what services would be on offer by April 1. Hampstead Garden Suburb library will remain open after councillors agreed to enter negotiations with Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents’ Association on housing a “community library” in the existing building."
Brent - Legal bid to halt library closures ruled "academic" - London Evening Standard. Jeremy Hunt "dismissed their claim that he was obliged to intervene on libraries under threat as "academic"

"It seems they accept Brent's reasoning at face value. It seems to me a very dismissive response. They gloss over what is a lot of chaos on the ground. They seem to have accepted whatever it is Brent has said to them about the library service being comprehensive and sufficient." Brent campaigner.

"I don't see how they can go further now in legal terms", adding: "We're actually going to have a better library service from our six libraries than we had for the 12, in that sense campaigners have been very misguided." Brent councillor James Powney

Secretary of State hints he might not step in to save axed libraries - Brent and Kilburn Times. "...a statement on the Department for Culture, Media and Sports’ website has revealed that Mr Hunt is ‘not minded to intervene by way of a local inquiry into Brent Council’s library plans."
Minister refuses to investigate library closures - Harrow Observer. "Brent SOS (Save our Six) has announced today that Jeremy Hunt has refused to look into the council's closure of six treasured libraries, despite receiving more than 10,000 submissions from the public." Brent campaigner shave 14 days to reply.

Ealing - New Ealing libraries strategy "is rehashed muddle" - Save Ealing Libraries Campaign. "We’d been told [at the Ealing Council Cabinet meeting] on January 24 that a new libraries strategy would be launched in February. As there was no evidence of this on the council’s website I phoned Committee Services and learned it’s not a new document at all, but a tidying up of last July’s Draft Ealing Library Strategy 2011-2014". The good practice of Hillingdon nextdoor is highlighted by the article.
Gloucestershire - Shoppers in Cheltenham uninterested in future of libraries - This is Gloucestershire. "Council staff at the shopping centre approached people to fill in the library questionnaire. The previous plan failed due to lack of consultation with all users. In a bid to combat this, a Polish translator was available at the Cheltenham roadshow, as well as literature in other languages such as Japanese. There is also an "easy read" paper questionnaire for people who prefer a simpler version and the council has drafted extra guidance to help people fill in some of the questions." [Japanese? Really? - Ed.]
Isle of Wight - Council leader defends library closures - IWCP. "As part of his early evidence, Cllr Pugh told the committee the community could hold councillors to account over the changes to library service at the ballot box at the next election. He also urged the secretary of state to continue his 'light touch’ approach to local authority library services."
Leicester - 250 sign petition against closure of library - This is Leicestershire. Protest against closing St. Matthew's Library and moving some of its books into nearby leisure centre with a self-service machine. " "A lot of school children use the library to study and the availability of school books is crucial given how expensive they are to buy."

South Ayrshire - Ebook Revolution

Suffolk - "Virtual" council gives way to people power - Guardian. "Some residents are prepared to accept that things cannot stay as they are, given the financial constraints the council is facing. Former libraries campaigner Colin Owens is one of them. He has just joined the board of a new industrial and provident society (IPS), a social enterprise created by the council to run its libraries. It will enable all 44 libraries to stay open, instead of the council's original plan of closing two-thirds. The theory is that the IPS will have lower overheads and its charitable status will enable it to make tax savings and apply for grant funding."

"The Wickham Market partnership began by asking local people what they wanted from their library. The answer was longer opening hours, a coffee machine, soft seating, more groups and more use by children. It looks as though people are going to get all of that. Some 20 volunteers will help staff to extend opening times from 22 to 38.5 hours a week, while on Mondays the library will be handed over to the local school."

Surrey - Libraries judicial review now set for March - BookSeller. "A start date of 19th or 20th March is now expected for the proceedings, following a postponement."
Trafford - Council hopes £1m fund will help Trafford libraries turn over a new leaf - Manchester Evening News. Level of protest against cuts to library staffing and in other services has led to creation of £1m budget to "soften the blow". "Under the plans Old Trafford and Hale libraries would only have one paid council worker each. But anger among voluntary groups has sparked a contingency plan by the council. Although bosses are unlikely to back down entirely, they say they will listen to the results of a public consultation in the coming weeks. If necessary, the new pot of money will be used to soften the blow. It could also be used to tweak £6.8m of cuts to adult services, depending on the public’s response."
Wiltshire - Have your say on mobile library routes in Wiltshire - This is Wiltshire.

Brent's cunning plan

2012-02-20T15:12:00.002-08:00

Comment

Brent Visitor Figures since the six libraries closed.

Part of the reasons that the DCMS is using in order to avoid intervening in the Brent Council's closing of half of its libraries is that the Council had confirmed that "the figures they hold for library visit numbers for December 2011 and January 2012 show substantial increases in visits to the six remaining libraries – as compared with figures for the same months for the previous year.". While this may be true of each individual branch, it is clear that there has been a major detrimental effect to the service as a whole. Probably, this has something to do with overall opening hours have decreased from 544 hours per week to 349 hours a week.

"The Secretary of State is relying on flawed evidence to justify his reluctance to get involved. Brent Council appears to be trying to pull the wool over his eyes by claiming that library usage in Brent has increased. Tragically the facts show otherwise. Since Labour closed half of our local libraries far fewer local residents are visiting, studying and enjoying their local library service." Cllr Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat Leader, Brent.

More details on this can be found in this letter to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State.

Staying in Brent, the Council, in a very novel - some would say counterintuitive - approach to improve culture, has decided to terminate the contract for Willesden Bookshop in order to make way for a new "Willesden Green Cultural Centre". The bookshop somewhat ironically specialises in children's and multicultural books. One thousand people have already protested about the decision. There's going to be a meeting partially about the closure in the Library tomorrow. This points to another problem with the lans as the building work will also involve closing Willesden Green Library for 18 months and its "Cultural Centre" replacement does not appear to have meeting rooms. The council have refused to allow one of its local recently closed libraries to be a substitute during that time.

This could be of course a very cunning Labour plan. Brent may have been cutting its libraries despite massive popular pressure and demand in order to show that the Conservatives will not intervene in any circumstances and thus cause a national decrease in popularity for them. When this approach initially failed to embarrass the Secretary of State into action, Brent ramped up the pressure by awarding a prize to the team that closed the libraries. When even this failed to cause any intervention, the cunning Brent strategists may have thought it a wheeze if it were to effectively close another one while as an added bonus destroying a book shop as collateral damage in the process. How could the Coalition stand by now? Surely, such cunning strategy will cost the Cameron the next election?

Well, I know it's far-fetched it's the only possibility for the Council's actions I can think of that makes any kind of sense.

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

News

500 libraries shut down or managed by unqualified staff - Tribune (Pakistan). "An Education Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that out of the 445 public colleges in the province 200 have libraries run by non-qualified staff. Out of more than 400 government higher secondary schools across the province, 336 do not have librarians appointed." [The Punjab is blazing the way for the UK it seems - Ed.]
Evidence sessions for Parliamentary Inquiry into library closures - Voices for the Library. Summary of the points made during first inquiry session.
Iain Banks campaigns against "barbaric" cuts to libraries - Scotsman. "Best-selling author Iain Banks is launching a campaign to stop Scotland’s libraries from cutting their opening hours. Banks, who is spearheading the protest alongside fellow sci-fi authors Ken MacLeod and Charles Stross, has described the moves to slash opening times by up to 20 per cent as a barbaric act." ... "The libraries campaign will be launched next month in Edinburgh, where the council has cut staff and plans to restrict access to save money.".

"The reason so many in the book world reacted lukewarmly to Nick Gibb's words about reading is the record of the Government ("Top marks to our Schools minister", 12 February). The coalition turned down our request to make school libraries statutory, a status prison libraries have. It cut the very successful book-gifting schemes run by Booktrust, and would have cut them even more had we not howled with outrage. It is, as D J Taylor notes, inflicting shocking damage to our libraries. Secretary of State Michael Gove praised a New York reading scheme while failing to mention our own highly successful Summer Reading Challenge co-ordinated by the Reading Agency. We authors love words, but without action to nurture the reading environments in which they nestle, germinate and grow, their power to educate, inform and inspire is reduced." Alan Gibbons in letter to Independent.

"Self-interested authors want to save libraries" - Philip Ardagh. "I could go on, but you get the picture. We complain about the not-in-my-backyard culture and I’m just as bad. I’m one of those ‘yes-in-my-backyard’ people. Yes, I want libraries to remain in our communities, for the selfish reasons already outlined and the million-and-one other reasons other people may selfishly have. There’s a rally and lobbying of parliament on 13th March, in London (and you can find out more about it here http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/). I’ll be there of course, along with people from all walks of life, no doubt including other self-interested authors, and the most self-interested of all: those disgraceful librarians."
UK Supreme Court rejects appeal over Brent library closures - World Socialist Web Site. "In place of the existing comprehensive coverage of local libraries, the major political parties and the media are promoting the construction of one centralised “super library”. As hundreds of libraries are threatened with closure in London and across the country, three new London “super libraries” are reportedly “bucking that trend”, with more to follow."

"Libraries, like other social services, cannot be defended on a piecemeal, council by council basis. Councils will look to incorporate opposition groups that take this approach and use them as advisers or pawns in their cuts agenda."

Vaizey to give evidence in library inquiry - BookSeller. "Culture minister Ed Vaizey will be interviewed by the culture, media and sport select committee on 13th March as part of the inquiry into library closures. Vaizey is the only witness called to give oral evidence at the session that day. The evidence session will coincide with the lobby of parliament by librarians and authors set to take place on the same day."

Changes

Isle of Man - 2 to close: Family and Mobile Libraries. School Library Service as well. Facebook Group. Petition.
Wiltshire - Review of mobile library service (but no cuts to total numbers, staff or hours).
Wolverhampton - £900k renovation of Central Library enters final stage.
Worcestershire - Upton Library under threat.

Local News

Barnet - Library closure plans go before Cabinet tonight - Times series. "Barnet Council Cabinet members will discuss proposals to close Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries tonight.". Friern Barnet has 3000 supporters, Hampstead Garden Suburb Library also to be discussed.
Brent - Terminates Willesden Bookshop lease - BookSeller. "Willesden Bookshop is searching for new premises after Brent council plans to develop the Willesden Green Library Centre, where it is based, into a "brand-new multi-million pound cultural centre" led to the termination of its tenancy."

Speaking at doomed Willesden Green Library - Another Green World. "I am speaking at Willesden Green Library tomorrow, I am sad though that library is to be demolished, this seems to be the reality in Britain today, a symbol of a wider assault on culture." ... "This meeting is in the tradition of stimulating public meetings at Willesden Green Library which will be demolished under regeneration plans. The rather sketchy proposals for the replacement Willesden Cultural Centre do not appear to include plans for public meeting rooms"

Bradford - Council budget plans changed "to protect vulnerable" - Telegraph & Argus. "...proposals to reduce library opening hours and cut the book fund by £350,000."
Buckinghamshire - Great Missenden to decide library's future - Prestwood and Great Missenden. "A new model will see a business move into the premises to create extra revenue for staffing - a cafe and the Post Office have so far put forward proposals. It is one of 14 which BCC earmarked in 2010 to become volunteer-run in order to save £688,000." ... "After a campaign by the community to keep permanent staff, a working group was set up last December to come up with a solution."
Isle of Man - Prospect hits back at library cuts - Manx.net. "Prospect members, were amongst members of staff at the Department who were informed on Thursday 16 February that their services were being shut. Staff in the library services broke down in tears at the news that services, which provide a vital link to the elderly, housebound, disabled and least privileged in Manx society, would go forever."

Prospect Union on library closures - Manx TV. 4 minutes interview showing how important libraries are and what an impact the closures will make.
Proposed libraries closures "sad but inevitable" - Manx Radio. "Mr Karran says both are nice-to-have but non-essential and, to avoid damaging cuts in schools, had to go." ... "Mr Karran says things we've taken for granted have become luxuries we just can't afford any more:"

Lambeth - What does Lambeth's "cooperative libraries" plan mean for Waterloo? -London SE1. Waterloo Library could have 40% budget cut. "This Wednesday the council will host a public meeting at Waterloo Action Centre to enable local residents to comment on plans for the future of the library service. Open for just 31.5 hours a week, Waterloo Library received 40,156 visits last year and 24,552 books were issued."
North Somerset - Village library service set to be closed - This is Bristol. "BACKWELL's scaled down library service is to close from April – with villagers being left to rely on a fortnightly mobile service. The village's main library at Station Road was closed last year as part of North Somerset Council cost cutting measures. Following objections by residents and local councillors an agreement was reached with Parkwood Leisure to base the library in the village leisure centre. A number of books were transferred to the library along with a computer which the public can use to check in and check out books. As part of North Somerset Council's cost savings, the authority is now planning to withdraw the £600 it costs to run the service."
Portsmouth - WeLL what's your story? - About My Area. WeLL means "We Love Literacy". "Two wonderful things happened this week - the logo for my residency was finished and most of the events for the first half of this year have been organised. Half of these events are school based and the other half are a mixture of outreach work with support groups and public drop in relaxing WeLL conversations."
Surrey - Stephen Fry invited to discuss Surrey library plans - BBC. Council says ""Perhaps when we've had a conversation, at the end of it, I would hope that Stephen would realise why we are doing this and what our objectives are. Perhaps he would like to come and meet some of the volunteers who are going to do this and then perhaps he might be in a position where he can then make a judgement from a constructive point of view.". Mr Fry tweeted his support for those against the cuts a couple of days ago.

Stephen Fry tweets support for Surrey library action group - BBC.
Libraries judicial review delayed for a month - Get Surrey. "...due to issues with the "availability of counsel", the local authority said. The review, which was applied for by Surrey Libraries Action Movement (SLAM), will now take place on either March 19 or March 20."

Wiltshire - Review of mobile library service - Salisbury Journal. "The council has said there will not be a reduction in the number of mobile libraries, the number of mobile staff or the time mobiles spend in communities."
Wolverhampton - Central library renovation final stage - BBC. "The work, which will start on Monday, is expected to take 16 weeks and will be in two phases meaning customers will still be able to use the main entrance to the building at all times. The year-long restoration of the library has included the installation of a new lift and the rewiring of the entire building. The interior has also been redecorated."
Worcestershire - Everything will be done to avoid closing library - Malvern Gazette. "Both Upton Town Council and Malvern Hills District Council have established working groups to monitor the situation, with the town council issuing a “use it or lose it” warning to residents in a bid to secure its future."

Brave New World

2012-02-18T06:04:00.001-08:00

396 libraries (307 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

This post brings Public Libraries News back up to date with all of the known media mentions of public libraries this week. It includes some news from both before and after yesterdays posting "Bit by Bit". All of the other pages have now also up to date. There were no postings from Monday to Thursday due to myself and the family going on holiday. Ian A.

Actions

National: Lobby your MP to help public libraries, 13th March. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

Surrey: Any donations to the legal action against cuts in Surrey will be gratefully received.

News

£230,000 grants for library projects - DCMS. Grants "designed to test new approaches to library service delivery, looking at ways libraries can work together with arts and other cultural organisations."
Arts Council and Local Government Association announce successful Libraries Development Initiative projects - ACE. Lists organisations which have gained funding.
Brave New World? - BookSeller. "So the coalition government has given the green light to local councils—which are struggling to balance their books in the face of the biggest public sector cuts in peacetime history—to hive off their public library services into the voluntary and community sectors. Many have already dipped their toes into these choppy waters. Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire were early adopters of this governance model, but others have followed in their footsteps—including Lewisham and Swindon, where usage and book loans have gone down dramatically since libraries were staffed by volunteers.". John Pateman criticises the increasing moves to replace skilled library staff with enthusiastic but often unsustainable and untrained volunteers.
Celebrating libraries and the people who love them - "However you use your library, I want to hear from you! Celebrating libraries through the lovely people who use them. Please get in touch and let me know how, when and why you use your project."
DJ Taylor: Top marks to our Schools Minister - Independent. "Following the advice of the former children's laureate Michael Rosen, he declared his intention to issue all children of primary school age with a library card and a map..... And how was Mr Gibb's speech received? There were, of course, countless jokes about the library map being vital as there were so few libraries left."
Illiteracy levels a tragedy, PM says - Perth Now (Australia). Government "contributed $1.3 million to the campaign, which is also supported by Australian libraries, state governments and the private sector. It will involve children's competitions, peer-to-peer book reviews, adult book clubs and workplace literacy programs, as well as a challenge on August 25 for Australians to read for one hour."

Changes

Middlesbrough - 2 branches under threat - Grove Hill and Thorntree. 2 other branches appear to have been saved. Mobile library appears to have been closed

Local News

Croydon - Upper Norwood Library campaigners hold day of protest - This is Croydon today. "strong feelings among library users who, on Saturday, took to the streets to express their anger. The group included actress Freya Copeland, who donned a burglar's stripey jumper and swag bag to make her feelings clear over the council's decision. Protest organiser Lou Garratt demanded a face-to-face meeting with council leader Mike Fisher, to give campaigners a chance to have their say. She said: "Councilor Fisher should come here and tell the children of the area why their library is closing."
Gloucestershire - Library users not silent - This is Gloucestershire. 400 have so far responded to consultation.

Campaigners make complaint against Vaizey - Alan Gibbons. Full text of letter of complaint from Glos campaigners to Jeremy Hunt, David Cameron (and sent also to MPs concerned with library matters) about Ed Vaizey's failure to respond to a letter sent two months ago with 456 signatures, including celebrities and experts.
Residents urged to have their say on the future of libraries in Minchinhampton - Wilts and Glos Standard. "Residents in Minchinhampton and Stonehouse have their chance to have a say on the future of libraries in the county today. More than 600 people have already had their say on Gloucestershire County Council’s new library strategy proposals."

Isle of Wight - Government committee explains why IW library campaigners not called to give evidence - Ventnor Blog. Leader of Wight council will speak, defending his cuts and much criticised consultation process. Committeee says "You will no doubt have noticed that this week the Committee heard evidence from three library campaigners who put across their views about closures, many of which echoed your comments below. The library campaigners were chosen from national campaign groups, as the Committee decided this would be fairer than trying to select specific witnesses from the many campaign groups across the country."
Leicester - Charitable trust approach could save libraries - This is Leicestershire. Letter suggests a trust could stop library closures. "Any library is an important community facility, much supported by local people and which should operate as a central meeting place with a cafe, information centre and internet access, plus, of course, a facility for lending books. The building could be leased to a local community group or charity which could fund-raise in the area and assemble volunteers to help with the various activities."
Leicestershire - Pledge to share 20 books with your children - This is Leicestershire. "It is estimated that in the 20 years of Bookstart, 30 million free books have been gifted. In Leicester last year 13,428 Bookstart packs/books were gifted through our partnership and 2,000 families borrowed early years books via the community book loan scheme."
Middlesbrough - Libraries and community centres face demolition - Gazette. "Grove Hill Library and the Grove Hill Youth and Community Centre will be demolished and the sites linked into the Grove Hill regeneration project." ... "Thorntree Library and Thorntree Youth Centre will be demolished with the sites being brought forward for development.".
Stoke on Trent - Council plans to combine libraries and services under one roof - This is Staffordshire. Libraries likely to be merged with children's centres. ""We've been assured that any services put in with children's centres will be appropriate. We would love something like a library. "I'm happy with the ideas at the moment, but we'll see how it goes."
Suffolk - Eight join board set up to run county libraries - Bury Free Press. Backgrounds of members are of the new board are libraries (2), charities/volunteering (2), IT (1) and, surprisingly, finance (3).
Surrey - Stephen Fry lends support to library campaign - Guardian series. Campaign group says that the celebrity tweet has caused a big increase in interest: ""Our twitter has been inundated and our website has had thousands of hits in one morning. I’m surprised the website is coping to be honest."

Trafford - Hands Off Old Trafford Library

Viz on Libraries

2012-02-18T00:19:00.000-08:00

The following has been kindly typed in and sent to me. It's from a recent copy of Viz. It's supposed to funny but it also has a disturbing basis in fact. By, at best, showing benign neglect, this Government is moving down a path which will lead to the end of the superb system of public libraries that this country was once so proud of. I would, by the way, like now to completely dissociate myself from the Third Reich overtones of the piece.

There's also, more obviously, something else at play here. This is the belief that printed books now have no place in the modern world and thus closing libraries is OK and that passing on the supply of books to what amounts to a technological and commercial monopoly is fine. It is ignored that this would limit access to those who have the access to internet (that's one-fifth of the country excluded) and can easily afford to buy anything they need. People with money enough for books, admittedly quite large but it would be a fool to say that it is ever going to be all the population. Indeed, the current proportion of the population with sufficient funds appears to be getting smaller, not larger ... and, of course, children are always those most in need of books but with the least resources to purchase them.

It's also interesting seeing in the following that the librarians are described as supporting the process. There's an element of truth in this. I know of many professionals who think the future will be entirely digital and that we are in some sort of almost embarrassing transitional time. We're not of course. It's not a case of books vs. ebooks. It's a case of a new complementary medium coming into the market. Television did not kill radio. Paperbacks did not kill hardbacks. There will always be a place for books in our society. Unless, that is, our politicians and professionals sleepwalk into such a nightmare world by thinking that there isn't.

Anyway, read and enjoy...

Printed works set to go up in smoke in libraries re-think

BRITISH LIBRARIES are set to burn ALL their books after a government think-tank deemed them “old-fashioned”, “out-moded” and “behind the times”. Giant pyres will soon become a common sight in every town centre as stocks of obsolete volumes built up over hundreds of years are put to the torch.

“The rise of the internets has left the printed word looking hopelessly antiquated in the modern world,” said Universities minister David Willetts. “Look around any first class railway carriage and everyone’s got a google, a mobile telephone or a youtube. If you got a book out and started reading it, you’d be pointed at and laughed off the train,” he added.

Jane Plainspinster, spokesperson for the Association of British Librarians told us: “Of course it’s sad to see all our old books going up in smoke, but most people who come into the library these days are here to use our internets, emails and websites.”

blogs

“The shelf space freed up by the destruction of books will be used for the storage of CD-roms, floppy discs and blogs,” she whispered.

“Shhhh,” she added, before removing her glasses, seductively biting the arm and shaking down her lustrous tresses of hair in slow motion.

LIBRARY PICTURE: A picture of an old-fashioned library, yesteryear.

Thousands of books are being piled up outside the British Library on London’s Euston Road, and Prime Minister David Cameron will be setting fire to them, using the Domesday Book as kindling. He told reporters: “All this stuff is available on the email these days. If I want to read a Shakespeare first folio, Dr Johnson’s Dictionary or the complete works of Jane Austen, I can just look them up on Twitter.”

mugins

“Paper books are for fuddy duddies. They’re just a dusty relic of the past, like Betamax video cassettes, wooly mammoths or Sinclair C5s,” he said.

The Euston Road pyre is already over 60 feet high, but only contains a small proportion of the British Library’s vast book collection. “Ninety percent of the stock is still in the building, so once we’ve got this lot ahad we’re going to need lots of volunteers to get in there and fetch books out to keep the flames fed,” said Mr Cameron.

“It’s going to be a real party atmosphere,” he added.

stabins

And Mr Cameron had this warning for any book-lovers with plans to disrupt his planned “Büchfeuernacht”: “Don’t stand in the way of progress or you will pay the price.”

“Anyone who attempts to spoil the fun will suffer very serious consequences, which will involve being taken away and dealt with,” he added.

(from Viz, Issue 212)

Bit by bit

2012-02-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

Comment

The following is a comment from a BookSeller article. It shows the insidious nature of the current cuts in library services, the threat to the jobs of librarians and the terrible dilemma that faces those who are trying to help:

"A library builds up a group of volunteers and the permanent library staff really want and need this help. They keep asking for it as they feel that without volunteers the library could be closed earlier as the service would be poor. The volunteers aren't specifically to replace trained staff - in fact it started with the porters and more volunteers were needed to help set up events and clear chairs away.

But bit by bit the build up of voluntary helpers is used to keep the service going smoothly. At a certain point the librarians are interviewed for their jobs, and lose them, which has now happened. By the time the local newspapers are building up a campaign to stop a library closure, this has all happened. You could end up saving a library which you already need to run as a team of volunteers. The damage is done earlier and librarians have already lost their jobs.

This happens even if the librarians do a wonderful job in an excellent library, while building up events and services that are vital to the local community. The events I've been holding there provide a London venue to support publishers all over the UK who want a reading for their books launches followed by open mic which helps the audience get a foot in the door of publishing by submitting to an anthology.

None of this seems to change anything. Volunteers are gradually built up, librarians lose their jobs, and the libraries we save at the point of closure will have been dismantled already as far as I can see. Funding is one of the few things that can help, and I also believe libraries could be more financially viable. I don't see why they can't charge a small fee for lending out ebooks, in the same way they lend out audiobooks. Ebooks are taxed not as books, but as electronic services, so it should be possible to charge for them, and this could be a large market. Just a small charge could help build an ebook lending service that's really needed and would help fund the libraries. Competition is needed for Amazon and the libraries provide a network that could really help with that." Adele Ward commenting on ACE library choices attract campaigner criticism - BookSeller.

Speak Up For Libraries - Lobby your MP to help public libraries. Website: http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Up-For-Libraries/346716692029129

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/speakup4libs
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/z8U3mM

398 libraries (309 buildings and 89 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

£230,000 grant announced amid library closure threats - Public Service. "...to help fund 13 new library projects across the United Kingdom to allow libraries to test new approaches to "service deliveries". It is expected that the grant will be used to demonstrate ways in which libraries can work together with other arts and cultural organisations to help reach out to broader audiences and become better value for money." See also:

ACE library choices attract campaigner criticism - BookSeller. "Clarke said that overall the choices were "bizarre" and "so sad", in the light of the widespread cutbacks and closures facing the library service. He said: "The Arts Council and the Local Government Association haven't faced up to the issues everyone is talking about within the public library service. Libraries desperately need leadership and they have just been shoehorned into the Arts Council's priorities, where they do not fit." ... "Kirklees Council has threatened seven libraries with closure unless they are taken over by volunteers. Meanwhile, the Arts Council offer funding for a cinema in one of the libraries.". However, another commenter points out that it is not the job of ACE to fund libraries, but rather to help initiatives and new strategies. Some very interesting comments from a lady helping her local library which shows the problems there are with volunteering and poor funding.

Bilbary seeks to heal the digital rift between publishers and libraries - Good E-Reader. "Founder Tim Coates, the former CEO of Waterstone’s, Sherratt & Hughes, and WHSmith and a long-time advocate for public libraries, developed Bilbary with the intention of bridging the current divide between public libraries who wish to lend ebooks to their patrons and the publishers who have to guard the interests of their companies and their authors." See also:

Tim Coates discusses eBook access for all - eBook Newser.

"I have spent the last ten years working in the public library system, trying to save them because they are at the brink of destruction and closure. It’s a shame, but not entirely unpredictable. They are very different than bookstores because they provide enormous low cost access to reading. Two-thirds of reading is books that come from public libraries, while one-third of reading material comes from bookstores. Therefore, libraries are not just a player in the game, they are the player. People who don’t see that are not conscious of how important libraries are. There’s a gulf between the libraries and publishers and it’s coming from 150 years of tradition."

BookStart celebrates 20th anniversary with sharing scheme - BookSeller. "A pledge postcard will be available in libraries and children's centres in England, Northern Ireland and Wales from this week, with members of the public encouraged to share books through reading to children, whether family members or through a local school or library. Booktrust will also be celebrating with a "birthday bash" during National Bookstart Week in June, with libraries, children's centres and schools encouraged to take part."
Calling the Mayor of London - Good Library Blog. Lack of leadership from anyone else means the Mayor is the last hope. 33 different library services with their own structures should be more unified to avoid wasteful duplication in management, bureaucracy etc. Only 5% of £200m budget is spent on books.
CILIP CEO to give evidence at Culture, Media and Sport Inquiry - CILIP. "“I am extremely pleased to be giving evidence on behalf of CILIP at the inquiry ... This is an opportunity to expand on our evidence and let MPs from all parties know how damaging cuts to public library services in England could be. I will be talking about the importance of a professionally run service and calling on Westminster government to provide the national leadership that an effective, locally delivered service needs."
LSSI answers library campaigners' questions - Stop the privatisation of UK public libraries. Campaigner responds to points made by LSSI.

"“It was hard to understand their concerns,” Pezzanite said. “They were coming from a very emotional place.” LSSI executive Pezzanite doesn't understand "emotional" library women - SCVTalk (USA). See also comments below article.

President Obama's 2013 budget keeps library funding at current level - Library Journal (USA). "President Obama requested $231,953,777 for fiscal year 2013 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as part of his budget for 2013. The amount is equal to the agency’s current funding. (As LJ reported, last year the President’s budget cut funding nearly 10 percent compared to 2011; the final budget came to a 2.3 percent cut.) Of that sum, $184,704,000 is meant for the country’s 123,000 libraries. Approximately 85 percent ($156.3 million) of that will be distributed to the State Library Administrative Agencies according to a population-based formula. Other programs funded by this allocation include National Leadership Grants, which support the creation of new tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances to shape tomorrow’s libraries; Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants; and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants, which build the professional capacity of libraries by improving staff knowledge and skills. (The Laura Bush program took the biggest hit from funding cuts in 2011, as LJ reported.)"
Public libraries: past, present and future - University of Bath. "This lecture surveys in outline the history of the public library, looks at some of the challenges they currently face, and speculates on how they can adapt to our age of public funding cuts, increased personal affluence and the Internet. Politics aside, the lecture considers how publicly funded libraries are adapting to changing needs and, where supported, are finding new ways to engage their communities." [Nice to see my old boss talking about public libraries - hello Mr Nicholson! - Ed.]
Summary: 9th Feb 2012 National Libraries Day - Uklibchat. General feeling appears to be day was less well covered and supported than the Save Libraries Day last year, with many authorities (notably Kent but many others) not getting behind it. See also:

National Libraries Day: Why did some authorities refuse to participate? - Voices for the Library. "As an organisation that seeks to highlight the value of libraries and librarians, we are deeply concerned about the actions taken in Kent. National Libraries Day is an annual national initiative created to celebrate the vital contribution libraries make in our communities, enriching our society and providing the tools to help individuals prosper."

"Electronics are here to stay, but someday the digital revolution in publishing may well be seen as just another phase in the natural evolution of a vital and resilient industry." Why book publishing can save the digital age - Bloomberg (USA). "Although there was much grumbling along the way, the industry gradually accepted that the new products and distributors, including libraries, were not evil incarnate. To the contrary, they were something of a boon in that they generated interest in reading among people who didn’t frequent bookstores."

Changes

Bath and North East Somerset - Two mobiles saved from closure after public protest.
Caerphilly - School Library Service and one mobile library closed in 2011 (source: email).
Calderdale - Consultation on moving Halifax Library delayed at least until June.
Edinburgh - Longer Saturday openings, existing Sunday opening safeguarded. Balerno, Balgreen, Colinton and Gilmerton are still set to see their Thursday service cut, while late Thursday openings will end at all of the city’s facilities. Stockbridge, Portobello and Morningside libraries recently upgraded.
Kent - Kent has the most libraries of any council in the UK, with the need to cut its libraries budget by £4m by 2014. Plans include withdrawing direct council control from many (un-named) branches. Considering possibly of tending library service to private companies.
Leeds - Rawdon Library is run by volunteers on Thursdays.
Northamptonshire - Daventry and Towcester libraries to move into new buildings shared with other services. 2 mobiles closed.
Portsmouth - Paulsgrove Library to move to better shopping centre position, new library to open at Drayton (but dependent on volunteers).
Suffolk - 20 jobs (from 160) to go, cut in budget from £9m to £6.4m.

Local News

Barnet - Last ditch plea to save library - Barnet Today. "... the proposal’s by the Save Friern Barnet Library group are set to be rejected because it would still require £124,000 from the council’s budget and would mean the authority would lose up to £37,000 in potential rental income. It is recommended the library will be closed on March 31."

Council officers recommend Friern Barnet Library closure - Times series. "If Barnet Council cabinet members agree to the plans on Monday, Friern Barnet and North Finchley libraries would close, and a new one would be set up at Artsdepot in North Finchley. But Martin Russo, a member of Save Friern Barnet Library (SFBL), said: “We don’t see this as a transfer – we see it as a closure.The idea of transferring services sounds exciting but some people, like children, won’t be able to commute to the Artsdepot."

Bath and North East Somerset - Mobile library service is saved as villagers bring council to book - This is Somerset. 860 name petition saves service. "Villagers of all ages in Timsbury turned out in force at the mobile library's recent visit to take part in a hug-in organised by the Women's Institute."

Mobile libraries to stay on road as cuts are abandoned - This is Bath.
Mobile libraries saved as B&NES confirms council tax freeze - This is Bath.
Mobile libraries: we're still listening says council - This is Bath.

Brent - Magazine gets it wrong again - Preston Library Campaign. "The loss-making Brent Magazine this month proclaims Ealing Road Library to be the top venue for the events on March 1. Yet on the previous page we have just been told it will be closed for improvements between 27 Feb and 26 March."

Anger over Willesden Green library plans - Harrow Observer. "Chaos broke out at a council meeting this week as it was agreed Brent’s closed libraries would not be used during the redevelopment of Willesden Green Library Centre." ... "There was also anger that Willesden Green Bookshop is being turfed out of its premises at the centre and will not be given space in the new cultural hub."
Visually impaired Brent resident makes a splash for local libraries - Save Kensal Rise Library. "“This is a cause very close to Marcos’s heart. Marcos began volunteering his time at the library as soon as he heard about the closures. Marcos is very keen to do the sponsored swim to raise money. We are all very proud of him. Go Marcos!”

Caerphilly - Library in Aberbargoed to close next month - Campaign. "Aberbargoed Library will be closing its doors on Friday March 9. The library services have been relocated to the new and exciting Hanbury Chapel Library in nearby Bargoed."
Calderdale - Halifax library consultation will be re-run in June - Halifax Courier. "The entire consultation process which started in December is being scrapped and the detailed views of more than 2,500 people consigned to the dustbin. In a humiliating climbdown, the council’s Lib-Lab coalition had decided to begin the whole process again in June - a month after the council elections. But it might not take place at all if there is a change of political power at the town hall."
Camden - Third community run and managed library approved - Camden Council. "The Council approved transitional funding and grants from the Camden People’s Fund of over £100,000 for each group to deliver libraries and community projects through a radical new approach. This will mean that for the first time in the UK, these facilities will be run by residents offering their time and managed by Primrose Hill Community Association (Chalk Farm library); The Winch (Belsize library); and Keats Community Library (Heath library in Hampstead)."

"We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response from the community and have worked extremely hard with Camden Council to come to an agreement. We still need more offers of help and donations to ensure that we can deliver this bold ambition but hope that with this agreement in place these will continue to be forthcoming. To date 350 people have pledged to donate £521,000 and over 150 people have volunteered to give their time to help in the library building which is fantastic."

Darlington - Campaigners hand over library petition - Northern Echo. "...mothers and children have joined campaigners working to save a library threatened with closure to hand over a petition of more than 3,000 signatures against the plans."
Dorset - MPs support campaigners' fight to save Dorset libraries - Dorset Echo. "Members of the Ad Lib (Association of the Friends of Dorset Libraries) are trying to keep eight libraries in the county open as community-run facilities when Dorset County Council withdraws funding in September. The group has now received backing from West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin and South Dorset MP Richard Drax at a meeting in Dorchester, as well as the support of MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Annette Brook."
Edinburgh - Libraries receive a welcome boost - Deadling. "A new future for some of Edinburgh’s libraries is to be decided next week following a consultation with almost 10,000 people." ... "Views on the top priorities for investment in libraries services included provision of books, music and DVDs but also highlighted strong support for new technology, such as access to computers, to enhance these facilities."

Major changes in store for city library opening hours - STV.

Gloucestershire - Doctor! Doctor! Has GCC's Chief Exec got amnesia? - FoGL. Council boss suggests to BBC that council has been listening to population regarding cuts and are still on track. FoGL, and presumably the 16000 people who signed a petition against the cuts, see things differently.

Council "on track" with £114m cuts - BBC. "Mr Bungard said: "Every time we have stopped doing something we have tried to find a way of getting the community to step in."
County council urges residents to take part in library consultation - Stroud News and Journal. "“So far we have spoken to more than 1,200 people and more feedback is coming in every day - that’s exactly what we’re aiming for."

Greenwich - Union threatens strike over Greenwich Council's decision to transfer library services management - News Shopper. "At a Greenwich Council cabinet meeting last night, councillors voted unanimously in favour of the transfer to shouts of “shame on you” from the public gallery." ... "“In terms of closures, there are no closures planned and one thing that would happen to some of the libraries would be to expand the provision of library services.”"
Hertfordshire - County Hall urged to rethink plans to scrap schools library service - Mercury. " "All in all, we have reduced the cost of providing the service by 43 per cent over the last five years, but it is still in deficit, and it has become increasingly difficult to develop a service offer at a contract price which individual schools are now prepared to pay. If the value that schools place on the schools library service does not translate into actually buy subscriptions, then the service is no longer financially viable."
Kent - Secret library plans revealed: are they still under threat? - Kent Online. Council report from 2011 leaked, showing options for closing up to 44 branches and/or withdrawing council support. Kent has the most libraries of any council in the UK, with the need to cut its libraries budget by £4m by 2014. Plans include withdrawing direct council control from many (un-named) branches.

"KCC has just confirmed it is reviewing these and among the options being considered is whether to put them out to tender and allow the private sector to run them. At the smaller end of the scale, watch out for reduced opening hours. Either way, anyone who thinks that Kent will be able to preserve its network of libraries as they are now is probably being unrealistic."

Kirklees - Leader hits back at Tories' quite "ridiculous" criticism - Yorkshire Post. "The Labour administration is committed to keeping libraries open against the backdrop of budget cuts. We would like people to help us with that and to find innovative ways of providing an effective long-term service. The number of library users has fallen quite significantly across Kirklees, but community-run libraries have been successful elsewhere and this is an idea that is very much worth exploring.”"
Leeds - Supporters urged to back Rawdon library campaign - Wharfedale Observer. "Rawdon Library was earmarked for closure by Leeds City Council, but was given a reprieve to assess its viability. Since then, volunteers from the Friends of Rawdon Library have received training to keep it open on Thursdays and now they are hoping to rally more support from library users to “ensure a viable and exciting future”."
Northamptonshire - The Chron looks at what the future holds for Northamptonshire's libraries - Northamptonshire Chronicle. "Currently about 450 volunteers contribute their time to local libraries and, by March next year, it is hoped this figure will have almost doubled. Grace said: “Since 2008 we have been looking for people to be more involved in the service. We now have 26 Friends groups and also there are individuals who have become a ‘Friend.’" ... "By 2014, Grace said, libraries in Daventry and Towcester would have moved to newly-built premises which they will share with other facilities. In Daventry’s case, the building also looks set to house the council’s registrar service."
Portsmouth - Budget speech by Portsmouth City Council leader - About My Area. " I cannot speak more highly of the great success of the new Southsea Library. This has encouraged many more people in the library and help give support for the shopping in Southsea. "I am happy to be able to announce that the council intends to make additional investments in libraries in the north of the city. In Paulsgrove the intention is to move the library (subject to survey) to a shop location on Allaway Avenue so that more people use the library. In Drayton we aim to open a library this year. This is something for which local people have campaigned for 30 years and we will deliver it. This will have to have volunteers to help run it and again will have a shop front location. Finally, in Cosham, we will be looking for a location to move the library onto the High Street."
Suffolk - New libraries board recruits teenager - BBC. 18-year old has been volunteering for five years in local library. 20 jobs to go (from 180), large budget cut, board of Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) will be nominate to begin with but be elected by its own members by late 2013.

New board members for libraries IPS - Diss Express. "Eight new board members – three more than originally planned - join the three founding members after being nominated by the local library groups they are members of."

Save Rosehill Library - a 2011 video showing the importance of local libraries

Surrey - New friends group set up to support Molesey Library - Elmbridge Today. ""The friends group will help to promote the library in the community by fundraising and organising events, and just to get the word out that Molesey Library is here.". Origins were in initial proposals to pass library over to volunteers last year.

Is SLAM opposed to volunteers? - Surrey Libraries Action Movement. "The truth is that SLAM has always been pro-volunteers. Indeed, most SLAM supporters are library volunteers, but they want to support SCC by volunteering alongside paid staff, not in place of, and certainly do not want to take legal responsibility for the running of their libraries, an unusual demand to make of an unpaid volunteer."

"He appealed to his 3,915,262 followers to donate money to SLAM to aid them in their legal fight. Fry's tweet read: "Do help @surrey_SLAM fight the good fight for libraries and librarians. Give the price of a book: a fine cause."" Stephen Fry tweets his libraries support - Get Surrey.

LSSI make a good argument so let's have one

2012-02-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

Comment

There is an excellent paper by LSSI available on why it should be considered as a provider of UK public library services available on the website of Alan Gibbons. Readers of his website will know that he is generally against privatisation and it is greatly to his credit that he has allowed the American private-equity-firm-controlled company to put its case forward. Readers of Public Libraries News will also know that I also am generally not in favour of passing services, and much needed cash, to private companies for the profit for their shareholders. An article I wrote that was published in CILIP Update magazine summarises my knowledge and understanding of the subject so far.

However, the response by LSSI contains many valid points and they need to be addressed. There are benefits entailed with the economies of scale that their running several services would allow. To counter this argument of course, one should point out that many councils - notably the tri-borough - are already doing this without any money going to private concerns. There are also some cases cited by LSSI, which I have no doubt are genuine, of poor quality customer service, although they themselves report that Sefton and Bournemouth libraries are excellent in this regard and thus automatically concede the point that one does not need a private company to sort such things out. Other points such as the company's "long" experience - they have been up and running since 1981 - are easily dealt with by pointing out that UK public libraries have sometimes been running since 1850, with most having their origins over one hundred years ago. The point about local managers being hamstrung by bureaucracy (although the worst case stated here, of a manager not being able to paint a front door for months, is hardly a convincing enough call for overturning the entire current system) is sadly true in some councils, especially the more cash-strapped ones.

The difference, perhaps, between me and the author of the LSSI report, Stuart St V Fitzgerald, is that he has lost faith in council-run library services while I have not. For you will notice that none of my counter-arguments are from a moral or ethical position, although it is worth noting that LSSI concede such arguements are genuine. I don't include them here because they can seem airy-fairy and special pleading to newcomers to the subject. No, the counter-arguments put forward here are simply on economic grounds. For, simply put, there is no magic privatisation bullet that will sort things out that a well-run council library service does not have access to as well. Rather, Stuart's excellent piece should be seen as a call to arms for council library services to ensure that they get their own act together. For, if they do, private companies simply cannot compete. After all, companies need to feed outside (not necessarily foreign; I have no special beef with private companies being American, British or from anywhere else) shareholders a significant percentage of the money that should by all rights be spent improving libraries. Such profit would be seen if it happened by a council-run service as pure waste, or worse. It would be deeply ironic if councils chose, for a belief in its efficiency, to give the money to an organisation that due to its very nature could never hope to beat that of a well-run council service.

Readers of Public Libraries News will also know that it can be a deeply depressing thing to browse sometimes. Such times as these do not breed jollity. There is though, even in the darkest of times, some hope to be had. For there is now an opportunity for all those poor examples that LSSI cite to be done away with. Libraries, and councils, now have all the incentive in the world to be as efficient and customer driven as they can. They should be, and to their credit often are, exploring ways to work at a lower cost. Councils should also be thinking about the long-term and thus be wary of the quick cheap ways so often documented below like blackmailing local people into running services for them, cutting staff, reducing investment ("sweating the assets" it is called) or opening hours. Such things may appear to be the answer to short-term financial and political necessities but doom libraries to medium or long-term decline. Other ways should be found that keep libraries open and thriving. This is not going to be easy. But giving a noticeable percentage of the money to Islington Capital Partners is hardly going to help either.

399 libraries (309 buildings and 90 mobiles) are currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK. The librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

Lobbying Parliament on 13th March,http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

@speakup4libs , http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Attend if you can, invite your MP or send message of support.

News

LSSI response to Alan Gibbons and Alan Wylie's challenges - LSSI. A full and well-thought out response from US private company LSSI answering questions from two well-known library campaigners. The statement about economies of scale is a good one, the point about local managers being hamstrung by bureaucracy rings true and the criticisms about the poor quality service in some libraries is valid. [However, there is nothing stopping councils doing anything that is suggested here while at the same time avoiding handing c.10% in pure profit to an American private equity company. This paper should rather be seen as a rally call to any poor council library service to get its act together. Ed.].
Move to privatise Simi Valley Library blocked by Ventura County Court - SEIU721 (USA). Union takes council to court over outsourcing/privatising library service to LSSI and delays takeover. ""We are pleased that the judge heard our case and has blocked Simi Valley from contracting out their library services to a private contractor. We look forward to the next hearing on April 9 which will determine the legality of the actions taken by Simi Valley in establishing a new library system"
One flew over the library - Jettison Cocoon (USA). "Two years ago, before working on the bookmobile, I worked in a mental health facility. You know it as a library. Our "patients" had a variety of symptoms and problems, but rather than turn to therapists or psychiatrists they came to the library and self-medicated with books, magazines and the internet." Excellent piece on an often invisible but vital service public libraries provide.

Porn in public libraries - Young Turks (USA). ACLU argues for porn on libraries.

Sense of scale - Library Data. Chart shows that publishers' revenues dwarf public libraries expenditure so companies, with the absence of any legal rules on the subject, can pretty much do what they like with their ebooks in public libraries policy.
Ten ideas for public libraries in college towns - 658.8 Practical marketing for public libraries (USA). Check to see if your public library is doing all of these if it has a nearby university.

Changes

Doncaster - Legal action being considered against closures. New group: Sprotborough Community Library.

Local News

"Ken regards libraries as a valuable resource for the whole community and is opposed to their whole sale closure. Ken supports the campaign to keep libraries open in Brent and wishes the campaign every success. If he is elected Mayor in May he will add his voice and use his office to help prevent library closures." Brent - Ken Livingstone backs campaign to save Brent's libraries - Save Kensal Rise Library.

Sex pistols artist, Tim Dowling and Police Dog Hogan, One Man and His Beard raise thousands for the campaign - Save Kensal Rise Library. " Guardian columnist Tim Dowling and his Country & Western band Police Dog Hogan rocked the joint. They were supported by One Man And His Beard who has just recorded a single ‘We need libraries’, which can be downloaded from the iTunes store. Meanwhile, limited edition signed Jamie Reid posters featuring the library were on sale at £30 each. There are still some left! Contact Rachael Newberry."
Brighton and Hove - Book grumbles - Argus. "Mr Trimingham asserts that technology is supplanting books. However, public surveys have continually shown readers want more book stock. The book fund is increasing.".
Doncaster - Latest news from the SDL HQ - Save Doncaster Libraries. "Perhaps the most important news is that we are considering and consulting regarding legal action. The Council, led by the Mayor and his Cabinet, have proven so inept and unable to consult regarding changes in a proper, fit and statutorily required manner that it seems we may have a very good case for a judicial review."

Sprotborough library group to hold public meeting - Sprotborough Community Library. "Volunteers will be sought to run the library on a day to day basis and training will be provided by DMBC for these people to help make the take-over smooth for the volunteer group. If you are interested and have a few hours to spare each week then join this group and get out of the house to meet and help people, and find a new interest."

Save Ealing's Libraries

Ealing - The Save Ealing's Librares Campaign

Gloucestershire - Share library view - This is Gloucestershire. "Gloucestershire County Council is undertaking a six-week consultation to get people's views on proposals to reduce opening hours of some libraries and to close others."

Library consultation - West Country Tonight (ITV). Two minute video on consultation. "People are once again being asked to comment on the future of Gloucestershire's library services. The council has gone back to the drawing board after a judicial review ruled against plans to shut ten libraries. Its new revised proposals are now on display, but campaigners say they still go too far."

"I went to a "public information" meeting last night at West Greenwich library about the proposal to transfer Greenwich Libraries to Greenwich Leisure Ltd. It was surprising there were around 25 people there as it was hardly advertised at all -a couple of lines in the Council paper and a notice in the library a few days before. I believe there have been 2 other meetings plus 2 "friends" meetings but no information to library users generally. Apparently as there will be "no material change" to the service, public consultation is not required. Everyone was very suspicious and angry, so if it is going to be so good for the future of the libraries, the PR has been a disaster! No doubt the transfer will be rubber-stamped at Cabinet on Tuesday." Greenwich - Via email.

Kirklees - Council's cabinet "discriminating" against non-Labour areas say leading Conservative - Huddersfield Daily Examiner. "“It is proposed that seven libraries are to become community-run and those in Denby Dale, Honley, Lepton, Slaithwaite and Shepley all happen to be in wards with no Labour councillors whatsoever." ... "This means 57% of the 14 Lib Dem councillors on Kirklees are due to lose a staffed library; 33% of the 21 Conservatives and 11% of the 27 Labour councillors."
North Yorkshire - Craven residents urged to volunteer at local libraries - Telegraph & Argus. "Young people in particular can benefit from the opportunity to add volunteering to their CV. For people who feel lonely or isolated, volunteering is also a great way to build their confidence and make new friends. Anyone interested in library volunteering should contact ..." [The only ones not suffering under the current cuts seem to be those who can put the best possible gloss on them. Ed.]
Warwickshire - Community managed libraries in Warwickshire - Warwickshire Council. 11 more libraries forced out of council control by April 1st, to follow Kineton (managed by volunteers) and Bedworth Heath (turned into an unsupervised book swapping store or "honesty library"). Kingsbury and Binley libraries likely to close.

Sutton Coldfield librarian works as naked butler - Sunday Mercury. "Russell Davies enjoys helping bookworms to get the most out of the services offered at Hartshill Library, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. And when he finishes his shift, the 28-year-old from Sutton Coldfield, has fun stripping off for hen parties.". Warwickshire points the way towards future careers for its library staff.

Speak up for libraries

2012-02-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

Great website for the lobbying of Parliament on 13th March

http://www.speakupforlibraries.org/

@speakup4libs

http://www.facebook.com/events/161723770607515/

Attend if you can, invite your MP, send message of support.

"A great opportunity to spell out the value of public libraries to decision-makers and power-brokers. It's a positive event and a chance to talk directly to your and other MPs. Really important that library users can go as well as library workers - its about important services; vital too that library 'supporters' - who may not be users today but they know their value to their families and the community (I don't need a hospital or a school but I want them there - and pay for them). have a look at the website; there'll be lots to see and do!" John

Closing libraries? Now that's crazy - Independent (Boyd Tonkin). "The most discordant enemy within has been the councils' own umbrella body, the Local Government Association. In a fit of Orwellian Newspeak, the LGA blithely maintains that "closure of a library does not automatically mean a decrease in access to library services". Yes, and (if you remember Nineteen Eighty-Four), war is peace; freedom is slavery; and ignorance is strength.". Visits local library as part of National Libraries Day march of 200 people at Friern Barnet Library.
Dan Cox Library for the Unfinished Concept of Thingly Time A project by Andy Holden.Including: The Language of the Flowers and the Stars. An exhibition within the Library with works by Ed Atkins, Ruth Beale, Steven Claydon, David Raymond Conroy, Michael Dean, Daniel Eatock, Grubby Mitts, Philip Jeck, Neal Jones, Mark Leckey, Georgina Leeson, Claes Oldenburg, Johnny Parry, Francesco Pedraglio, Heather Phillipson, Philip Root and Kurt Vonnegut. - Cubit Art Gallery.
Digital library fallout continues - BookSeller. Publishers are increasingly blocking library e-book provision due to fear of cutting sales [ahem, it never hurt your printed booksales - ed.] "If libraries seize the opportunity to loan ebooks and appeal to a wider and larger audience they could undermine today’s revenue streams. If they don’t seize the digital opportunity and remain wedded in the physical world they could spiral into obsolescence.". See also Penguin ends E-book library lending and relationship with Overdrive - PaidContent.org.

"Just received the Conservatives’ Culture and Media newsletter and there is no mention of the Culture, Media and Support Select Committee on libraries. Some mistake surely." Alan Gibbons.

Welsh Heritage Minister gives his support for National Libraries Day - CILIP. "Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, has been presented with hundreds of ‘Love your Library’ postcards from Welsh Women’s Institutes. The postcards began with “I Love Libraries because….” and have been filled in by WI members across Wales, sharing their messages about why libraries are important to them."

Changes

Brighton and Hove - 17 job losses (but new library equal access officer and income generation officer), cuts to opening hours at Hangleton and Portslade libraries.
Darlington - Cockerton Library (previously under imminent threat of closure) likely to remain open for a year with reduced hours while Friends group co-operates in finding ways to fund continued opening.
Southwark - Brandon, East Street, Grove Vale and Nunhead libraries will have hours cut from April. £400k cut library budget 2012/14.
Warwickshire - Studley Library will close at end of March, with volunteer-run library (funded by parish council and a few others) opening in Village Hall with 30 volunteers in April.

Local News

Brent - "Transforms" Town Hall Library into a rubbish dump - Wembley Matters. Stock from closed library piles up in town hall library as insufficient staff to sort it. Also, fears that community side of library will be lost when it moves to town hall. Event days at nearby stadium will also mean entrance area too packed for effective use of library.
Brighton and Hove - Shake up for Brighton and Hove library staff - Argus. "A document seen by The Argus shows budget proposals by Brighton and Hove City Council could lead to 17 post reductions as well as a change to the way the library service operates. Meanwhile the council would create new positions including library equal access officer and library income generation manager.". 800 people sign petition against axing of mobile service. "The council estimates 17.84 posts will be lost with 10.7 of those eliminated by not filling vacancies."

Darlington - Council announces plans to save Cockerton Library - Northern Echo. "...the service now looks to have won a reprieve following an announcement from council leader Bill Dixon that the authority’s cabinet will be asked to consider keeping the library open, with reduced hours, for at least 12 months.". 3000 name petition led to meeting between supporters, council and local MP.

"'After our meeting with Bill Dixon, local councillors and our MP, as a group we would like to re-emphasise our thanks for a constructive and positive meeting. However the discussions about the library continue as a final decision will be made until the 1st March. The friends group will hand in a petition of 3000 signatures to Town Hall at 10am on the 14th February. The friends would welcome your support on Tuesday and also at the Council Cabinet Meeting on the 22nd February at Central Hall where they have been allowed 5 minutes to present their case. The meeting is open to the public. Thank you to everyone who has suppported the campaign'. Friends of Cockerton Library Committee"

Ealing - "Mystery" volunteer group to run Hanwell Library - Save Ealing's Libraries Campaign. No-one, not even other councillors at a council meeting, are being told the identity of the group. Fears that it will not be a broad-based or neutral group.

"1) the 5 volunteer run libraries are being funded by the parish councils through what I understand is an illegal rise in the Parish Council precept on the Council Tax (in the case of East Cowes a 21% rise in the current year).

2) During and after the so called "consultation" many of the campaigners tried to get Cllr Pugh to meet us and to try and sort out a mutually agreeable way forward- the replies were varied, one lady emailed him on, I understand 7 occasions, and never had a reply, I was told "we know what we're doing and I will not discuss it". The result was that there was NO meeting of any kind between councillors and campaigners.

3) There never was a genuine impact assessment done- it was all done in County Hall after the volunteer steering groups refused to do it for them." Isle of Wight - Email from campaigner.

Kent - Villagers hug their library as part of WI initiative - This is Kent. "Residents in Kemsing and Otford turned out this week to wrap their arms round their local services – literally.". Amazing photograph of loads of people hugging the library.
Somerset - Book lovers show support for Watchet Library - This is the West Country. "People turned out in force to donate more than 500 books to Watchet Library as part of a National Library Day event on Saturday. The place was buzzing as library-users old and new joined the librarian, members of Watchet Library Friends and several local authors who donated signed copies of their books in support of the facility."
Southwark - New opening hours for four Southwark libraries - Southwark Council. Brandon, East Street, Grove Vale and Nunhead libraries will have hours cut from April. £400k cut library budget 2012/14, "More than 5,000 people responded to Southwark's consultation with residents indicating that they would rather see reduced hours at some of the borough's libraries rather than have library closures as has happened in other boroughs." [5,000? Yes. Five thousand. This sort of public reaction is normal for libraries - Ed.]. 14% increase in visits for council libraries in 2010.
Surrey - Reprieve for Surrey libraries as volunteer plan goes to High Court - Guardian series. "Following the review full time professional staff could still be returned to Byfleet. Speaking after the decision SLAM said: "We are very pleased with yesterday’s outcome and were heartened by the Judge’s comments that SLAM has shown a considerable commitment and dedication to the library service, and has shown significant resilience in coping with the hard work and stress necessary to bring to the Court’s attention this "potential abuse of power" by Surrey County Council."
Warwickshire - Community library is on track - Redditch Standard. Studley Village Hall will have library inside it when council closes current library on 23rd March. "The project has also received an unexpected boost from communications company Talk Talk which has donated £1,000 to help with set-up costs." ... "In future the library will be funded by Studley Village Hall Committee and Studley Parish Council with some support from the county council. It is hoped the new library will be open on April 3. More than 30 volunteers have come forward to help staff the new library with training due to begin shortly."

For each local authority to decide

2012-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

Bookstock increases in Japanese public librares 1967-2005

From Public Libraries in Japan by Haruki Nagata

House of Lords Debate: Libraries - They Work For You: 7th February. Baroness Rawlings gets asked several questions on libraries. Emphasis on localism (Councils can do what they want): " Every local authority in England is required to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service, as I said to the noble Lord, Lord Sheldon, and it is for each local authority to determine at the local level how much it spends on libraries and manages and delivers its services."

"Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging letter and to assure you that I take great pleasure in accepting the invitation of the committee of the Manchester Free Library. My engagements are very numerous but the occasion is too important and the example too noble to admit of hesitation. Very faithfully yours, Charles Dickens." Revealed: Charles Dicken's support for Manchester's first free library in letter to Lord Mayor - Manchester Evening News.

‘Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging letter and to assure you that I take great pleasure in accepting the invitation of the committee of the Manchester Free Library. My engagements are very numerous but the occasion is too important and the example too noble to admit of hesitation. Very faithfully yours, Charles Dickens’.

Read more at: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1481237_revealed-charles-dickens-support-for-manchesters-first-free-library-in-letter-to-lord-mayor

"If promoting the reading of bestselling thrillers is what public libraries are about, then they don’t have much reason to exist. A long time ago librarians thought that reading popular tripe would help cultivate the people’s taste for better books, but they gave that up when they realized that reading popular tripe cultivates a taste for reading more popular tripe." Why should libraries focus on popular books? - Library Journal (USA). [This article by Annoyed Librarian pretty much goes against everything I believe to be true but it is, like a lot of the stuff on PLN included for completeness and to make people aware of the issues - Ed.]

Local News

Camden - Chalk Farm Library deal agreed - Camden New Journal. "There had been a delay in confirming a joint bid for the Chalk Farm branch in Sharpleshall Road lodged by the Friends of Chalk Farm Library and the Primrose Hill Community Association. The bid had asked for a 20-year lease. Camden will now give the library group the building for six years, rent free, with an option for a further six."
Durham - Council planning £26m of cutbacks - Northern Echo. "...councillors also ordered a 12-week consultation on cutting opening hours to 36 a week at 11 town centre libraries and 20 a week at 27 community branches. Mobile library services would also be reduced to save £1.5m overall. About 250 library staff could be affected. Only Clayport, in Durham, will escape the cuts, having had its hours reduced last year."
Kent - Bear club children get early start on reading - This is Kent. "The free service means children can join and receive a library passport. Each time they visit the library they get a stamp and once they have collected six they receive a certificate. Teacher Tanya Foy said: "Children as young as four months have joined the library. Reading is one of the key activities a parent or carer can do with their child to improve their achievements later on in life."
Kirklees - Councillors kick off party spat over library transfer proposals - Yorkshire Post. "The council is seeking to reduce its budget and wants community groups to take over several smaller libraries. The transfer will mean job losses and possible changes in opening hours at libraries in Denby Dale, Golcar, Honley, Lepton, Kirkheaton, Shepley and Slaithwaite.". Conservatives accuse governing Labour party of choosing to cut libraries in Conservative areas: "Five of the seven wards affected by the library changes have no Labour Party representation."

"The answer I got back was ‘the criteria used was verbal discussions between senior managers and Cabinet members. In other words there is no audit trail and, therefore, no evidence for the general public as to whether the correct libraries have been selected for this venture."

Norfolk - Crime thrillers are the most borrowed fiction in books in Norfolk's libraries - Norwich Evening News. "Romance used to be the most popular genre, but now people seem to be escaping into a grittier world.”
Sefton - Cremation fees hiked, lifeguards reduced and mobile library axed in the latest round of cuts by Sefton Council - Crosby Herald. "Two posts are to go from the local history / information service, saving £37,000. The service, based at Crosby Library, responds to 12,500 local history queries every year. Axing Sefton’s mobile library will save £42,000. The council argued that the service has declined by 31% in usage between 2006/07 and 2010/11 from 7,149 issues per year to 4,946."
Southwark - Inside the library of the future in Canada Water - Wharf. "Coinciding with National Libraries Day on Saturday, we went along to see how the grand building has been faring since its opening late last year. Designed by architect Piers Gough and built to replace the old Rotherhithe library in Albion Road, the light airy space overhanging Canada Water basin has been pitched as a blueprint for libraries of the future."
Surrey - Investment in new library sees visitor numbers double - Surrey News. "Visitors to Dorking library more than doubled when it re-opened in plush new premises. A new chapter in the library’s life began with a bumper first week that saw 4,806 people through the door. This compares to 1,791 visitors during the final week at the library’s old location in Pippbrook House – an increase of 168%. More than 250 new members signed up during the opening week, which is more than the number of people who joined throughout the whole of January 2011.". £30,000 new stock and wifi.

County Council's plans to be reviewed - This is Surrey Today. "A SLAM spokesman said: "This moment has been a long time coming. Surrey County Council has not consulted with library users, has not assessed the impacts of community-partnered libraries on the affected communities, and has avoided scrutiny of its plans at every turn.". The council disagrees.

Inquiry Day Two announced - who is in it, what it means

2012-02-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Comment

The next Culture, Media And Sport Inquiry session will be on Tuesday 21st February. The list of people who are being interviewed is useful for giving clues as to how the committee is thinking. At 10.30am, it's reassuringly good to see Annie Mauger of CILIP on board and Alan Davey, Chief Exec of Arts Council England, the body which has taken over the library quango duties of the MLA, pretty much had to be included. It gets far more interesting, though, at 11.30am. The people being talked to then are:

David Pugh, Leader, Isle of Wight Council: This council tried to close 9 out of 11 libraries last year, the biggest cuts of any authority in the UK. After the inevitable outcry, the proposals were changed so that five branches had to be be run by volunteers instead. An attempt by campaigners to take the case to court had to be cancelled due to failure to secure legal funding. Watch out for Mr Pugh saying how wonderful the volunteer model in local communities and what a great saving it is. He may also, if he is brave, defend the council's initial decision and hope that the council's impact assessment is not mentioned. In fact, the Isle of Wight is a great example of last year at its worst: the council seems to have decided on cuts without sufficient consultation or assessment, only u-turned after massive public protest and then blackmailed local communities into working for free or facing closure of their library, in a parody of the Big Society ideal. The failure of the DCMS to show much interest beyond one meeting, let alone intervene, even when the Council was proposing an almost complete annihilation of the service and then the subsequent demonstration that the Courts were only available to the wealthy in such cases pretty much completes the set. How much of this comes out, though, is another matter and, certainly, Cllr Pugh is going to be as good as gloss on it as possible.

Elizabeth Campbell, Councillor, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council: The reason for this one will be the "tri-borough" collaboration between Kensington and Chelsea Council, Hammersmith and Fulham Council and Westminster Council. This is seen as the Great Hope in cutting library budgets while at the same time maintaining services in that savings can be made in the behind-the-scenes stuff (Human Resources, Legal, computer systems, purchasing, processing etc) with relatively little damage to the front of house. However, it is seriously early days for this collaboration - it was agreed on only in June last year - and so it may be hard to tell what its effects are. In addition, all three councils are Conservative-run which must smoothe things over somewhat. Still, it will be interesting to see what is said and how differences are settled as collaboration between services is very much one of the stronger possibilities for defending libraries at present.

Nigel Thomas, Service Delivery Manager, Leicestershire County Council: This is the most perplexing one. Leicestershire is losing a full 40% of its library budget over four years, which has got to be, shall we say, a tough one to defend. It seems to be achieving the cut in fairly depressingly familiar ways: cutting 384 hours per week off its total opening hours for example and increasing the use of volunteers. Then one looks at its submission to the Inquiry. There's mention of co-locating other services (including, amazingly, day-care services) into libraries. It looks like inter-council collaboration is also happening and there is an interesting parish council partnership in Quorn. Then there are other ways like philanthropy (Bill Gates must be getting lots of begging letters recently), setting up Friends groups to raise money, self-service ... In fact, it seems to be reading through a compendium of all the many ways to save money without closing libraries, and this is probably why it has been chosen.

This session should be as interesting to library campaigners as the last one, possibly more so as it will give an insight into the minds of those people who have been making the headline-making decisions. As such it should be essential viewing. Then there's also the suspense element: will Louise Mensch throw in as many hard and searching questions as she did on Tuesday? Will Steve Rotheram be as pro-library? Will Cllr Pugh be publicly humiliated or treated with kid gloves? In addition, there are also the bones of a third morning here that can be discerned from the gaps in the testimony from the first and second. For this, and I must stress I have no inside information here, it seems probable to expect to see a morning with interviews from a spokesman from the LGA, from a private library company and a volunteer community group in the first three-person session and (who knows?) Ed Vaizey in the solo spot after tea and biscuits.

Amazon, up in flames - New York Times. The suspicion that Amazon are aiming for a monopoly on bookselling is increasing and even super-librarian Nancy Pearl is caught up in it.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with which local authorities his Department has had discussions on the scale of library closures carried out or planned since May 2010. [93901]

Mr Vaizey: In 2011-12, departmental officials met with council officers from the metropolitan borough of Bolton, the London borough of Brent, the metropolitan borough of Doncaster, Gloucestershire county council, the London borough of Lewisham, Isle of Wight, and Somerset county council. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the respective council's library proposals in light of the Secretary of State's duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. Hansard, 6th February.

February is Public Library Month on Libraries Thriving - Credo Reference Blog (USA). "In response to the work of Voices for the Library, a UK campaign aimed at spreading the value of public libraries, Libraries Thriving, a collaborative space and community for e-resource innovation, has decided to drum up some attention for public libraries in their community as well. For that purpose, they have established February as Public Library Month on Libraries Thriving!"
Five compete to run Croydon and Wandsworth libraries - Guardian series. "“Closure is not an option for us. Our central library is the third busiest in the country, and last year we consulted widely on the future of all of our branches. We got the message loud and clear that these are important community facilities that must be kept open as a matter of priority.”. Library campaigners, however, are not altogether happy at giving money away in the form of profit to companies at a time of great shortage.
Reading a book "adds a year to children's education" - Telegraph. "Nick Gibb, the School Minister, said that reading books for just half an hour a day could be worth up to 12 months’ extra schooling by the age of 15. Today, the Department for Education will unveil plans for a national reading competition for children in the last three years of primary education and the first year of secondary school." As some of the comments suggest, without school libraries and public libraries, only the rich kids stand a chance of winning this competition. See also Alan Gibbons on This time, some sense from Mr Gibb. "The single most effective transmission belt for reading for pleasure in schools is a well-stocked library staffed by a well-trained library. So why the dogmatic rejection of any demands for statutory school libraries? The last time I wrote to Secretary of State Mr Gove the rejection was issued with unseemly haste."
Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence to be published as HC1815-i - Parliament. Full text of Tuesday's inquiry into library closures.

Changes

Aberdeenshire - Eight branches taken off threatened list. A report from early 2011 suggested eight were endangered. However, the council confirmed via email today hat none are under threat this year.

Local News

Bath and Northeast Somerset - Final chapter for consultation on bid to scrap mobile libraries - This is Bath. "Meanwhile Conservative councillors have said the authority’s plans to increase the hours of other part-time libraries by using volunteers and to extend the home library service, will eat up the savings made by axing the mobile service."
Cornwall - Vote on fate of arts library - This is Cornwall. "The fate of St Austell's Performing Arts Library will be decided tomorrow when Cornwall councillors vote on proposals to reduce staffing levels and move some resources. A committee will consider plans to keep just one of the three part-time specialist librarians at the facility and redeploy the library assistant."
Croydon - Council insists National Library Day events were not shelved - Guardian series. " Council failed to publicise any of its events for National Libraries Day" but many events were held.
Durham - County Durham library opening hours cuts to save cash - BBC. "Durham County Council has said it does not plan to close any of the 12 town centre and 27 community libraries. The mobile service, which has suffered from a drop in membership, would only visit communities at least four miles from a library building. A 12-week public consultation on the proposals starts on Friday."
Isle of Wight -IOW council leader to speak at Library Inquiry - BookSeller.

Island's library changes defended - IWCP. ""We needed to develop a service that was affordable and sustainable and as we progressed the changes we adjusted the plans along the way to respond to particular needs and issues.

"This flexible approach has not only ensured the successful establishment of five community libraries but has complemented the local enthusiasm and efforts to secure the long-term future of these valued facilities."

Milton Keynes - Dozens watch Josephine Cox open new library - Milton Keynes Citizen. "The new library is the result of a new Partnership Agreement between Milton Keynes Council and Woburn Sands Town Council. The library is more accessible than the current library premises in Hardwick Road and is located in a prominent site on Woburn Sands High Street."
North Yorkshire - Library is open for longer in shake-up - Yorkshire Post. "Coun Chris Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s executive member for the library and information service, said: “Our library service has been one of the most outstanding in the country, and the necessity of making savings has provided the incentive for us to step back and come up with innovative plans to maintain a vibrant service into the future. “Our communities have risen to the challenge of finding solutions to keep our libraries open in a way that is sustainable so that they can grow and develop to meet future needs.”". £1.7m cut. Volunteers will take over many libraries.
Surrey - Library volunteers "thwarted at every turn" - Get Surrey. "Plans to re-open Byfleet Library under the stewardship of the Friends of Byfleet Library group had to be postponed after the Surrey Libraries Action Movement (SLAM) successfully applied for a temporary injunction, preventing Surrey County Council from rolling out its proposals." ... "“We think we can turn it into a really good community centre with a library and we know people would like to see it open more hours so, in actual fact, where we diverge from SLAM now is that we believe we will offer a bigger service."

Big News

2012-02-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

Comment

Libraries news continues to be Big News. The BBC gives coverage to the Select Committee on Library Closures, along with a video clip of my colleague Abigail Barker from the Voices of the Library group giving evidence. She also appears to admit to illegal activity in this short clip but we'll gloss over that as the longer video makes clear she did a grand job of defending libraries throughout the rest of the morning. The Brent campaign has also issued a "Letter Before Claim" against Ed Vaizey for failing to act over closures in their borough. That is likely to be a very big story in the weeks to come. Locally, of course, library cuts are amongst the biggest news there is, with protesters in Halifax managing to rack up 1,435 signatures on a petition in just two hours. Two hours? The article then goes on to point out that “if that doesn’t sound very impressive, then consider that, on a national scale, it would represent around 500,000 signatures.". In two hours.

That's the Big News but a video from St Matthew's Library in Leicester shows the small. Videos show library users from the Somali community in Leicester talking about the impact that its closure (ahem, did I say closure? - sorry, I meant to say a transfer of stock from a library building into a community centre where staff will be replaced with a self-service machine) will have on them, their lives, their life chances and their community. The video shows that libraries are for everyone, with local libraries being for everyone the most all.

And, that, ladies and gentlemen, would be Big News for many of the bureaucrats and politicians closing libraries today.

407 libraries (317 buildings and 90 mobiles) are currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK. The librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

Goodbye, state funding for California libraries - KALW (USA). "This past July, state library funding was sliced in half, and there was a trigger amendment attached to the budget that would eliminate state funding for public libraries at midyear if the state's revenue projections were not met. Needless to say, they weren’t.". Local councils also pay for libraries so the cut does not mean loads of closed libraries but it will mean the end of many "literacy programs, InterLibrary Loans, and miscellaneous expenses such as librarian training programs and books. Libraries in rural areas will be hit the hardest because they receive more state funding than libraries in larger cities with larger budgets.". Ten years ago, the state gave nearly $57m p.a.
HOC Culture, Media and Sport Committee - Parliament TV. Video of the inquiry.
Library closures inquiry begins - BBC. "Librarians are as important as the libraries" Abigail Barker, from Voices For The Library: "The role of the librarian is almost being ignored.". Sue Charteris "said local authorities needed to look at their budgets to assess whether they could they run "a comprehensive and efficient service. You can't reduce budgets and expect it to be the same but you need to see where the money is being spent and that needs to be done in consultation with the people that use the library."
Library inquiry opens as Brent campaigners threaten to sue Vaizey - BookSeller. "Public policy consultant Sue Charteris has told the media, culture and sport parliamentary select committee into library closures that Hillingdon libraries have been "a fantastic success" and that the triborough library project run in London is "a model" for the service to follow. "

"You can't take 20-30% out of the library service and expect it to stay the same, but the more you do it in partnership with your local community, the more you will get robust decision-making and consensus."

National Library Day raises importance of libraries in todays's society - World News Today. "I fear for the future of libraries because councils are cutting funds and attempting to change what libraries are about. If they keep it is simple, providing books and information free to all, they won’t need to worry about anything else. People need libraries and pressure groups like Voices for Libraries or the #savelibraries campaign on Twitter to prove there is a groundswell of support. Councils and government don’t appear to be listening. They certainly aren’t learning. Maybe they should go down to their local library?"
Threat to sue minister over axed libraries - London Evening Standard. "...the group -which represents the users of axed libraries in Kensal Rise, Barham Park, Cricklewood, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton - is targeting the Government instead. Lawyers acting on their behalf have written to culture minister Ed Vaizey with a Letter Before Claim alerting him of his failure to act on the closures."
Your favourite libraries and librarians - Guardian. Public praise their local libraries and librarians: "It's very good because every time we go to it it is our favourite so we don't want it to close down. Ps, it's Wyke Library in Bradford. It's very important. You should never shut people's libraries. Libraries are good. We go to the library on Thursdays after school. Kate is our librarian and we like her because she is always getting us new things that we ask her for. We like reading different books."

Local News

Brent - Fight libraries to continue - Harrow Observer. "Margaret Bailey, a director and trustee of the Friends of Kensal Rise Library and one of three who took the case to court, said: “I think in this instance what the judges have done is simply state the council decision was lawful, meaning it’s lawful to make cuts, but the impact of that is that things like the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act could be disregarded if local councils don’t have the wherewithal to enforce them.”"
Buckinghamshire - Libraries go futuristic - Mix 96. "The days of overdue library books could be numbered - as libraries across Buckinghamshire begin lending e-books." People can borrow 3 ebooks at a time for three weeks each.
Calderdale - How the new Halifax Central Library will look - Halifax Courier. "...the move faces substantial public opposition from people who say they would prefer to see the existing library restored. In just two hours on Saturday morning, members of the “Don’t Bulldoze Our Library” campaign collected 1,435 names on a petition. Coordinator Anne Kirker said: “If that doesn’t sound very impressive, then consider that, on a national scale, it would represent around 500,000 signatures.". There are 60 comments as of time of checking on this article.
Carmarthenshire - Review calls to book place for library in future - This is South Wales. Council reviewing library provision, being seemingly very keen to emphasise the need for computers/online in preference to books/buildings. Experienced library observers may be scenting large numbers of proposed closures in this council shortly, soon to be replaced by a massive backlash as users of those books/buildings show that they exist and are angry.

Croydon/Lambeth - Save Upper Norwood Library Campaign 2012

Devon - Self-service comes to Exmouth - Exmouth Journal 24. "“Self service kiosks have already been installed in fourteen libraries across Devon, and are proving a hit with borrowers, both young and old. “It is excellent news that we are investing in the library in Exmouth, and this new simple technology will be hugely beneficial to improving the library service experience for our residents.”"
Durham - Fine condemns "short-sighted" Durham library cuts - BookSeller. "According to a local news report, Fine, who lives in Barnard Castle, has spoken out against plans which are likely to see 250 library staff, the equivalent of 134 FTE posts, affected, as well as widespread cuts to opening hours and reductions in mobile services. Following the cutbacks, Durham county council proposes to transfer libraries to a charitable trust. The changes are due to bring £1.4m cost savings in the cutbacks, and £1m with the transfer to the trust."
Gloucestershire - Make sure your views are heard - FoGL. "This is a dreadful questionnaire of huge complexity, filled with loaded questions. There have been rumours that FOGL were involved in designing it!! Nothing could be further from the truth. It is designed by a company called Vector, who are being paid £60,000 by the council to manage the consultation process. Because of our concerns and the many complaints, we have received, we have asked the council to withdraw this questionnaire. If you do complete one, and find the questions unanswerable, make sure you use the white free text boxes to express your views.".

Have a Dickens of a Week at Fairford Library - Wilts and Glos Standard. "The town’s library is holding the special event from Monday, February 6 to Saturday, February 11 to mark the bicentenary of the author Charles Dickens’ birth on February 7, 1812."

Isle of Wight - Shanklin Library now fully under local management - Ventnor Blog. Shanklin Library now run by volunteers. "Maria Darbon heads up the volunteers for the library, of which there are currently thirty. These include council leader David Pugh who will doing a shift later this month. Maria tells us that all the volunteers have undergone training at library HQ with five more on the waiting list. The two and a half hour training session was followed by shadowing at Shanklin Library for two sessions."
Lambeth - Libraries Campaign: Lambeth's guide to how you can take part - Vauxhall Society. "Thanks to The Friends of the Tate South Lambeth, the Durning and other Vauxhall libraries and community groups such as The Vauxhall Society, Lambeth’s politicos and officials at last seem to have got the message that closing libraries is both a legal minefield and an election-loser." ...a guide ot how to put forward views in the consultation.

Leicester - Closing down St Matthews Library

Video: Mohamed, 18, campaigns to save his library from the axe - This is Leicestershire. "Mohamed Ahmed, 18, filmed the YouTube video in Leicester's St Matthew's estate, interviewing people about the "devastating" effect the closure would have. Leicester City Council wants to shut St Matthew's library, in Malabar Road, and move books to the nearby community centre in the same road, where there would be a self-service book checkout machine."
Wirral - Council launches cultural consultation on libraries and parks and countryside service - Wirral News. "There are plans to extend the opening of all 24 Wirral libraries – which are currently closed on Wednesdays – to six days a week."

Select Committee into Library Closures

2012-02-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Inquiry into Library Closures starts tomorrow, Tuesday 7th February at 10.30am. Witnesses will be Miranda McKearney (Director, The Reading Agency), Abigail Barker (Voices for the Library), Andrew Coburn (Secretary, The Library Campaign) and Sue Charteris (author of the Charteris Report into the Wirral library cuts. It will be televised here.

Six hundred pages of evidence from 130 different organisations/individuals have already been submitted by interested parties and it is available to read here. Some of it is most depressing but interesting such as the LGA arguing that the 1964 Act is somehow a barrier to reform when the DCMS fails to act on any of it anyway. Their submission also includes the gem line that a "closure of a library does not automatically mean a decrease in access to library services". Um, yes it does, LGA. Other bits are highly predictable, such as the American private equity-owned libraries company LSSI arguing, amazingly, for the further privatisation of public libraries. Most, however, is heartwarming and vociferous in its support for public libraries. It is to be hope that the Committee takes the latter to heart.

The importance of this inquiry can be seen over the last couple of days in the 200 people who endured freezing conditions and "joined a community walk from the old Town Hall site to the [Friern Barnet] library, in Friern Barnet Road, where an event was held to raise awareness of its threatened closure." It can also be seen with The Friends of Irchester Library, which was among those earmarked for closure last year, who physically hugged the building. The well over a thousand people who have signed a petition so far at the callous replacing of paid staff with volunteers in Trafford should also get a hearing as one fears that the mantra of the Big Society may be music to the ears of the many Conservative MPs on the Committee.

News

1964 Act is "barrier to reform" claims LGA - BookSeller. LGA argues that "A modern Libraries Act without the superintendent role of central government would give councillors the scope to re-design their library services to meet local people’s needs." and includes the gem of a line "Closure of a library does not automatically mean a decrease in access to library services".

"When an authority refuses to pay its library staff, and lays down the Sophie's choice that either they work for free or the service is shut down, the real baddies of the piece are, of course, the authority. But knowing that doesn't help us any. We still have to choose between descending into charity or watching as a community suffers. At least as things currently lie, I believe the only responsible action is the latter. I believe this in part because I suspect the voluntary model to be ultimately unsustainable, but principally because I believe we have a collective responsibility to our trade on a broader level. The communities we serve can only prosper if we can afford to serve them." Are you experienced? Volunteer now! - Succentorship Without Sneers.

Big Society? Legal wrangles turn voluntarism into big headache - Guardian. "Surrey council's legal battle over libraries shows how volunteer-led public services can fall at the first legal hurdle" ... "Another problem is the procurement legislation that requires councils to ensure that various hoops are jumped through before any transfer of services can take place. Councils cannot close facilities by transfer of responsibilities (including libraries, as Surrey found out) without full consultation, and ensuring that a reasonable council service remains"
Community libraries in Spain: does this sound familiar? - Voices for the Library. "Two weeks ago the Arts councillor from Madrid, Fernando Villalonga, announced that two new libraries in the city would be run partly by volunteers. To support his idea he said it is common in English speaking countries to have volunteer-run libraries. After some complaints from professional associations, Madrid’s Mayor Ana Botella the spouse of the former Spanish President, Jose María Aznar, backed the Arts councillor saying that not only should libraries be run by volunteers but also several other public services. She said that “We have to be able to give back to our society what society gives tous” (Does that sound familiar?). “I refuse to believe that a library won’t be opening because there aren’t volunteers to run it”, she added."
Culture committee publishes inquiry evidence - BookSeller. "Six hundred pages of written submissions to the library inquiry being held this week by the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, including those from The Booksellers Association, The Publishers Association, The Reading Agency, and The Bookseller, have been published online."
Culture, media and Sport Committee publish library inquiry responses - Voices for the Library. "It is interesting to note the balance of responses from these different groups of respondents, especially from public library authorities. Only approximately 16 authorities or their representatives responded to the Inquiry. Considering that there are over 140 public library authorities in England this is a very low response rate. Compare this to 33 recognisable library user and campaign groups who responded, plus further individuals whose names we recognise as local campaigners."
Culture minister visits library - Salisbury Journal. "Ed Vaizey popped into Salisbury Library on Saturday. Mr Vaizey was in the area and wanted to visit a local library as it was National Libraries Day.".
Evidence published: CMS Select Committee investigation into library cuts - FoGL. "We are very proud of the impact that Gloucestershire residents have had on the national dialogue regarding unprecedented, eye-watering library cuts. Let’s hope that, unlike GCC, the Select Committee listen to us. Thank you to everyone who made submissions and those who supported us with the JR."
Unequal library campaigns - Spectator. Compares Brent's legal fortunes with that of Somerset and Gloucestershire. "It only goes to show how integral bureaucratic equality regulations have become in the fabric of our national life. The West Country councils, having failed to show ‘due regard’, are having to reconfigure their plans. Whereas Brent council can now execute what Philip Pullman has described as its ‘philistine’ strategy." [However, the article misses the key legal point that the situation was different in the two cases - Ed.].

Changes

Plymouth - New Plympton Library reopened after old building destroyed in fire in 2008.

Local News

Barnet - Campaigners show support for Friern Barnet Library - Times series. "Around 200 people joined a community walk from the old Town Hall site to the library, in Friern Barnet Road, where an event was held to raise awareness of its threatened closure. Young and old came out and braved the elements and held heart-shaped banners emblazoned with the message, "I Love My Local Library"."

"Ken Livingstone has also sent a message to the group, in which he said: "It is always a tragedy when the heart of a local community is ripped out, and so I am delighted to send your campaign a message of support.""

Brent SOS Libraries not giving up

Brent - The next stage: challenge the DCMS - Preston Library Campaign. "Today, our legal team has sent a letter demanding action. The DCMS met with Brent Council last year, but has so far ignored thousands of complaints made by us."

Library campaigners denied further closure challenges - Guardian. ""We are definitely fighting on – the question of whether Brent is meeting its obligation to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service isn't a question for the courts – it's a question for Jeremy Hunt, the secretary of state, who has so far spent some nine months failing to answer our complaints," said resident Philip Bromberg. "We will now be pressing him to reach a decision on those complaints.""

Dudley - Cradley and Long Lane libraries get self-service system - Halesowen News. "The two libraries are the last in the borough to have the system installed, which is It is expected to be in place by the spring."
Durham - Library plans "as bad as Beeching's rail axe" - Teesdale Mercury. "A former Children’s Laureate says plans to cut library services, axe staff and hand the buildings over to a charity are “short sighted” and “almost immoral”.Best-selling author Anne Fine, who lives in Barnard Castle, said council officials will be “vilified” in the way Lord Richard Beeching was following cuts to railway services in the 1960s."

"“It is said they are hoping to save £1m by doing this, which is a paltry sum considering the loss, because in a recession libraries become even more important. They are a haven for older people, a focus for families, and for unemployed people it’s a place where people can try to get their lives back on track. "

Gloucestershire - Tuffley Library Support Group: we need your support - FoGL. "We want to make sure that Tuffley Library is kept as a local, easily accessible library. The draft “new” library strategy, currently out for consultation, is proposing a statutory library for Tuffley. It is to be branded as a “Partnership Library”. We have concerns about who the partners may be and how such an arrangement might work. We are also worried that Gloucestershire County Council might wish to re-locate the library to smaller accommodation in a remote location."
Northamptonshire - Library users hug to show their support - Evening Telegraph. "
The events were special for many as last year eight libraries in the county were under threat of closure as part of Northamptonshire County Council’s budget cuts. Following tireless campaigning by residents, they were saved from the immediate axe but the authority is hoping to recruit an army of volunteers to run them to save funds." ... "The Friends of Irchester Library, which was among those earmarked for closure last year, physically hugged the building. The library also held a Nintendo DS Swap Shop and cake sale on the day."
Plymouth - Wait for new library is over - This is Plymouth. "The town has waited three and a half years for a replacement after its old library burned down in the summer of 2008." ... "
The library has been built next to Harewood House on the same site as its predecessor, which was destroyed by fire in 2008. At 458 square metres it is 50 per cent bigger than the old library."
Suffolk - Future of Halesworth's library is discussed - EDP. "About 30 people attended Dr Jones’s talk which focused on three main themes - the importance of the library to the town, how it will funded and the uncertain future of its staffing arrangements."
Surrey - County Council disappointed by High Court library decision - Eagle Radio. ""It was never our intention to close any of Surrey's Libraries. Our Intention was to give some of those that account for only 7% of Surrey's Library take up over to the community as a Community Run Libraries so we could have done what other counties have done and just closed them - but we didn't want to do that."

Library campaigners to have their day in court - Get Surrey.
Library volunteers want campaigners to drop county council court battle - This is Surrey Today. "The 12-strong volunteer committee already plans to open the library in Tattenham Crescent on six days as opposed to the current four, although some will be mornings only. Among the 80 volunteers, eight have formerly worked in libraries, including Mrs Sowry, 62, a retired librarian." [This is an especially illuminating piece showing the difficulty lovers of libraries have in deciding what is best for libraries, and for themselves. I refuse to condemn either side, although my heart is with those who seek to maintain a proper public service rather than replacing it with the unpaid. I also greatly fear for the long-term. Ed.]

Trafford - Council plans to run two libraries entirely with volunteers - Third Sector. "All library services at the two libraries will then be run by volunteers. One paid member of staff will remain at each library to run a separate project that offers advice to local residents on council services including benefits claims, council tax and pothole reporting. However, the paid staff will not work on library services."

"If the council's logic were followed through, then every time a paid position became vacant, they could advertise for it to be filled by a volunteer instead of an employee, and then claim that this is not a breach of the Trafford Compact because they are not making anyone redundant. That is clearly absurd. That section of the Compact is about role replacement, not specific individuals."

Battlelines drawn in the fight for Old Trafford Library - Mancunian Matters. "“We think it is outrageous that the Council is effectively punishing Old Trafford for having a strong history of volunteering and community activism." Very detailed report.

Wirral - Write for the movies with Marc Gee - Wirral Council (press release). "On 16^th February Leasowe library will host author and playwright Marc Gee who has previously run writing courses for the British Film Institute, BBC and Wirral Metropolitan College. The session runs between 10.00am and 12.00pm and is free and open to all members of the public."

Threatened species

2012-02-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

407 libraries (317 buildings and 90 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

News

Boyd Tonkin on National Libraries Day

Call me irresponsible: a meeting with Ed Vaizey - FoGL. "Vaizey is responsible to the Secretary Of State, Jeremy Hunt, for superintending public libraries. Yet both Vaizey and Hunt have not lifted a finger to stop the widespread cutting of public library services in many parts of the country, notably Gloucestershire." ... "In the 45 minutes of the meeting. Vaizey shifted his ground constantly, showing time and time again his lack of conviction, or even interest, in the serious plight of the public library service."
Defence of the book: a story by Julian Barnes - Guardian. "To mark National Libraries Day, the novelist adds an extra scene to his 1998 satire England, England in which he imagines what happens when the 'National Coalition' closes every library down."
Four fantastic libraries - Fantastic Reads. Looks at four fictional libraries - the ones in Buffy, Lirael, Discworld, Harry Potter ... "Hogwart's Castle, has another great magical librarian, Madam Irma Pince, for whom JK Rowling has apologised, explaining that if she helped Harry, Hermione and Ron the way she should, there would be no adventures!"
I can't believe you're throwing out books - Perfect Whole. "What I’m done with is the fetishization of the codex, with books for books’ sake. I see no point in stockpiling stories that no longer speak to anyone, scientific knowledge decades out of date, speculations about the future that never came to pass, information shaped blithely by the racism and sexism of its time. But more than anything else, I’m finished with the idea that books just by virtue of their existence are precious things that can never outlive their usefulness."
Julia Donaldson poem against library closures - Telegraph. Excellent save libraries poem. "Yes, come to the library! Browse and borrow, And help make sure it'll still be here tomorrow.". See also Children's laureate Julia Donaldson pens protest poem - BBC. "If we lose libraries, we would lose readers and we would become a less literate country," she said. "People are kidding themselves if they think adults will download books to their Kindles if they haven't got the reading bug as children," she added."
My National Libraries Day Out - Information Twist. Visits to the British Library, CLR Dalston Library, Canada Water Library, and the "Idea Store" in Whitechapel.

"I estimate I was probably taking out aroud 100 books a year by the time I was 10, and reading dozens more in the library itself. My parents could not possibly have afforded to buy that many books, and so without the library my world would have been a lot smaller, a lot duller, and I doubt I’d be doing the job I do today." National Libraries Day - Barry Hutchison.

National Libraries Day: The real cost of library cuts - Huffington Post (USA). Excellent article showing the importance of local, real, community libraries. Visit to Newbiggin Hall Library in Newcastle. "The group of local residents sat around Eileen don’t agree on everything, but for a surprising variety of reasons, they agree on this: their library means a lot to them. And they’re worried. Because in the coming weeks, the building they’re sat in is going to be demolished." ... "When I heard that Newcastle City Council were planning to shrink it into a nearby community centre, cut the opening hours and reduce the staffing down to one, I wondered what sort of an impact this would have on a working class area that supports four schools and a population of 11,500, 24% of which are on benefits and 53% of which have no academic qualifications whatsoever." Impact in poor area shows the lie to the accusation that libraries are middle class and not important.

"Among the hardest hit by closures at libraries like this one will be the group in society least able to object: local children and teenagers, who use the space as a warm, safe place to hang out in the evenings."

National Libraries Day 2012 - Geeks shall inherit the Earth. 1 in 3 children aged between 11 and 16 do not own a book in the UK. "This isn’t just about the economy and having a skilled workforce, although that’s a big deal in itself, it’s about quality of life and creating the future. The report suggests that the potential of a huge number of children and young people is being squandered and that’s not only a shame, it’s a crime."
No one in charge - Good Library Blog. Minister says councils are responsible, councils say its government cuts, chief librarians say its the councils, etc. "Today is National Libraries Day - may I here offer my congratulations to all those who have striven to make people aware of what is happening to our public library service. You have done a wonderful job. ... and people are aware. You needed to tell local councillors to watch out for what they do - and you have. And it has been cold, bleak, infuriating and diffcult. But you have told them."

"... 407 are now closed, on death row, facing privatisation or being handed over to the community to be run by volunteers. Frankly, the last two options both sound like mere stays of execution. This is, of course, a direct result of Britain’s austerity measures, imposed by ministers whose local libraries, you might think, had insufficient copies of the works of JM Keynes."
On borrowed time: Britain will regret the current wave of library closures but that does not mean that its network must stay the same - Financial Times. Another excellent article, so good I am going to quote it twice:

"And now all the Foggy Furzes, like the country stations, are being mourned by people who never made use of the facilities when they existed. Among adults, library usage has been declining quite sharply – there were 253m book issues in 2003-2004 and 215m in 2008-2009. Against that, the figures for children’s books are up. And the other side of the argument also holds good: Dr Richard Beeching, the Fat Controller who axed the trains, could read a balance sheet but utterly failed to predict the renewed importance of railways in the 21st century. One detects the same lack of strategic vision behind the current tactics."

Save our libraries - Taking words for a stroll. A poem to celebrate. Not sure I like the "stern-faced" librarian bit though. There is another one, Threatened Species.

"I love reading because of libraries and I have no doubt, that I am a writer today, because of all the books I devoured from their vast shelves . . ."Today is National Libraries Day - Susan Condon (Eire).

We love to #shoogle - Anabel's Travel Blog. Even library enthusiasts travel around Glasgow.
Writers who found the door that opened to a wider world - Yorkshire Post. Quotes from Alan Bennett, Stephen Fry, Kate Mosse, Lionel Shriver, Tom Holland, Val McDermid and Lucy Mangan.

Changes

Buckinghamshire - Flackwell Heath, Ivinghoe, Long Crendon and Wing libraries to be volunteer run (30/1/12). Chalfont St Peter became volunteer run on 2nd January. Ebooks launched.
West Sussex - 16% cut in budget 2012/13: public asked to donate books, bookfund cut from £1.2m (2010/11) to £1m (2011/12). This on top of 15% cut 2011/12.
Wirral - Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington and West Kirby to be main libraries, with others offering lesser services. Many branches to be co-located with council One Stop Shops.

Local News

Brent - A truly Dickensian night at the Windermere - Preston Library Campaign. "Readings from the man of letters and Whitbread Prize-winner Paul Bailey and music from the inimicable CLOS made it an night to remember. Let’s not forget the children – and yet more distinguished authors, like Leon Rosselson, Kaye Umansky (below), Daniel Kitts, Dyan Sheldon and Jenny Newland. Brent has no plans to ever hold an event locally here. That ended when they closed our only portal to the council, and lied to us that they would make it up via “outreach”"

Campaign will go on: despite Supreme Court setback - Preston Library Campaign. "Samantha Warrington, Preston Library supporter, believes there should be a public inquiry. She said: “We have always been pursuing other routes. Now the legal avenue has closed we hope there will be a public inquiry and that Brent will consider alternatives in a way Camden has done it so positively.”"
Labour leader's plan to save libraries, just not in Brent - Preston Library Campaign. Comment on Dan Jarvis MP's article: "Blaming the government for allowing them to close, he is silent on the fact that in Brent, it is his own party that has been fighting for the right to close libraries."

Buckinghamshire - Brighter future ahead for threatened library - Thame Gazette. "Long Crendon Library has been handed a lifeline after Oxfordshire [sic] County Council agreed to a partnership system which will give communities a far greater role. Plans are in place to improve the village library’s opening hours to reflect demand, to offer a toy library and extend the range of activities to include film nights, educational classes and a delivery service for those who find leaving the house difficult."

Greenlight for four further community libraries in Buckinghamshire - Bucks CC. "The Communities of Flackwell Heath, Ivinghoe, Long Crendon and Wing are currently working with the County Council to finalise their plans, to secure savings of £53,000, and improve local facilities."

Camden - Council approves community run libraries - BNC TV. "“We will be doing everything possible to support these groups and make this innovative approach a success before handing over the keys to the community”, added Councillor Siddiq."

National Libraries Day - Marcus Moore. Tapestry made by library supporters, with a pro library poem on it, toured Gloucestershire Libraries.

Gloucestershire - National Libraries Day in Gloucestershire - FoGL. "This was a day for celebration, but it is also worth reflecting that if it wasn’t for campaigning by us library users, many of the libraries where events took place today would have closed their doors for good last year – some still might, including the library with the highest usage per head of population in the county, Minchinhampton, where people of all ages took part in a vibrant programme of events today.". All events organised by the public as the Council chose not to be involved.
Leicester - Alternative budget "can save homes and libraries" - This is Leicestershire. "It comes after city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby put forward budget proposals last month which, if accepted, would see the council's eight care homes closed or sold, three libraries shut and subsidised bus travel for students axed."
Nottinghamshire - Peter Gaw, of Notts County Council, talks about libraries as the UK celebrates National Libraries Day - This is Nottingham. "The county council did not close any of its 60 libraries amid the challenging budget reductions last year because the belief is that once a library closes it is very difficult to reopen in the future."
South Tyneside - National Libraries Day - CILIP Local Studies Group. "Author Denise Robertson, and Councillor Tracey Dixon, Lead Member for Culture and Neighbourhoods, opened events. Throughout the day we are having a readathon - local people, writers, authors, library staff, volunteers are contributing. "
Surrey - A last minute stay of execution for nine of Surrey's libraries - Eagle Radio. "SLAM have won a Judicial Review at the High Court into the matter. It'll start on the 20th February - and look into Surrey County Council's plans to have volunteers run 10 of Surrey's libraries."

"The Council has stopped trying to argue for the plans from a cost-saving perspective, and rightfully so, because the claimed savings are just 0.1% of the libraries budget and it has been established that the Council has not been recording the costs involved in setting up the CPLs, and have no idea how much it will cost to support them. With no cost-benefit justification, we are now wondering why they are so intent on committing a significant amount of Council-taxpayers money on a full Judicial Review that , judging by what the Court has decided to date, they look very likely to lose."

High Court grants permission for Judicial Review - SLAM. "The Royal Courts of Justice in London has ordered that Surrey County Council’s library plans will be subject to a Judicial Review. In a four and a half hour hearing on Friday, Judge Thornton QC concluded that the case against SCC had sufficient prospects of success to warrant the full scrutiny of the High Court.". Several technical objections by the council were overruled. Byfleet Library will be allowed to become volunteer-run but may revert back to council control if review is won by the campaigners. £12,000 still required for £15,000 legal fees.
Court orders pause to library plans - Surrey Heath Residents Blog.

West Sussex - Libraries call for book donations after cuts hit - Argus. 16% cut in budget 2012/13: public asked to donate books, bookfund cut from £1.2m (2010/11) to £1m (2011/12)
Wirral - Council consults on library plans - BBC. "The proposals include integrating many library services and staff with the council's One Stop Shops ... The new Wirral Library Service Strategy reveals that, while nationally library visits and book lending has fallen, in Wirral there has been little change in visitor numbers and book issues have increased."
Worcestershire - Use the town library now or lose it, warn councillors - Malvern Gazette. "“There is a squeeze coming, and unless we do everything we can to make our library an all-singing, alldancing facility then there could be trouble."

National Libraries Day, but not in Brent

2012-02-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

409 libraries (319 buildings and 90 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK, complete list below. Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.

Can you help...?

Attend the Speak Up for Libraries lobbying event on 2.30pm 13th March at Central Hall, Westminster, London. #librarieslobby hashtag. Beforehand there will be a rally from 12 – 2pm at Central Methodist Hall featuring keynote speakers, films and entertainment. There will also be a ‘pop up’ library on display to demonstrate the range of services offered in a modern library.
National Libraries Day, 4th February 2012 - Attend or publicise an event on the excellent NLD website or check your local libraries website

News

Accessible websites, airline fees and community libraries - Radio Four (You and Yours, 39:00 to 48.20). Looking at volunteer run libraries, pointing out the importance of commercial support even to them. Includes Chalfont St Peter (Buckinghamshire): "nothing much has changed": "it's enthusiasm and commitment that marks the difference between success and failure", "I can't imagine this village without a library". The only option to Chalfont St Peter was volunteering or closing. Local business sponsorship vital to the success even in this prosperous leafy neighbourhood. Fairweather Insurance now has logo on library sign outside for £18,000 over three years. Also looks at Eco Computer Systems in Lewisham, "It's basically a site for my business" - computer recycling makes the library possible as it provides the funding for the library parts. Fear libraries will close anyway as council money dries up but Cheryl Gillan MP (Conservative, Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire and - surreally - apparently also Secretary of State for Wales) reckons that enthusiasm will be permanent.
Alan Gibbons: National Libraries Day - Book Trust. An interview for National Libraries Day from one of the greatest of all library campaigners.

"I would not be a writer if it were not for public libraries. Books were a luxury we couldn’t afford when I was growing up, but the working-class culture of my time and place was that education was the way you escaped your history. And education came courtesy of books. My mother used to take me to the public library years before I could read." Best selling crime writer Val McDermid on the importance of public libraries - Mirror.

Bleak times mean crime takes over from romance when it comes to library book lending - Telegraph. Overall borrowing figures for the year 2010/11 was 300 million loans down from 309 million the year before – and from more than 370 million on the previous decade. But the most dramatic change is the with from romance novels to crime and thrillers."

"Many of the campaigners involved in tomorrow's events around the country will, rightly, focus on the negligence and contempt exhibited by Coalition politicians towards the welfare of the library service and its users. They deserve every brickbat. All the same, the myopic idiocy of these false economies cuts straight across party lines. In spite of ferocious competition, from Cumbria to Dorset, I would argue that no local authority has behaved with quite such pig-headed arrogance in pursuit of the destruction of much-loved branches as Labour Brent. Which makes it dismaying, if predictable, that the libraries initiative now launched by shadow arts minister Dan Jarvis contents itself with kneejerk Tory-bashing and fails to examine the mess on Labour's own municipal shelves." Branch line to another life - Independent (Boyd Tonkin).

Councils must take library duties seriously in difficult times - Yorkshire Post. Councils think anyone can work in a library. "Modern libraries are the result of professional management and development; the application of new technological developments; high professional standards in the education of librarians and information service providers and an ongoing commitment to provide information that supports local democracy."
Don't forget that tomorrow is National Libraries Day #NLD12 - Voices for the Library. "Unlike Save Our Libraries Day, tomorrow is a celebration of all types of libraries throughout the UK, including public, academic, school, business and specialist libraries. Many organisations running these services have planned events to support the day and are listed on the National Libraries Day site."
Last chance - BookSeller. Blog by Desmond Clarke. Savings can be made by reducing the number of library authorities and the cost of council overheads. DCMS must produce guidelines and help for volunteer run branches. Comment by Shirley Burnham points out Ed Vaizey must either be in denial or under orders.

"Many credit the vigour of the campaigning for the fact that the tally of library buildings to have closed their doors is much lower than had been suggested. A year ago, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals predicted that 600 libraries could go – yet so far, according to the website Public Libraries News, only 32 in the UK have closed. Forty-three mobile libraries have also shut down; eight libraries have been handed over to local communities to run; four more, in Lewisham, have been transferred out to a social enterprise company." National Libraries Day marks a year of protests against library closures - Guardian. ""I think the public library service would have incurred phenomenal damage had not Brent, Somerset and Gloucestershire campaigners created a knowledge in councillors that there would be resistance" says Alan Gibbons. 550 out of 600 could continue as volunteer run, says Desmond Clarke.

Novel events keep libraries on the front page - Herald Scotland. "Activities are planned across Scotland, which has over 500 libraries, many of which are finding that their services under strain." Fines amnesties, librarithons, flashmobs are all happening.
Revenent Branch - Golau Glau. Library related orchestral music. Is that a datestamp? A computer? A library door closing ... for the last time?
Save Our Libraries: Reader's reports - Guardian. Each story is different: Including Mar Dixon (#savelibraries), Cockerton Library (Durham), Isle of Wight, Stony Stratford (Milton Keynes), Sonning Common (Oxon), Brent, Upper Norwood (Croydon), York Gardens (Wandsworth), Doncaster, Gloucestershire, Alan Gibbons.

"Of course libraries could be improved but we will not have the libraries of tomorrow if we allow the libraries of today to close."

Stand up for your library tomorrow - London Evening Standard. Dan Jarvis MP, shadow for libraries ""The cuts imposed by national government are the driver for cuts in local government. The challenge I have is to articulate why people shouldn't take the easy option and cut these services." National Libraries Day takes place as dozens of facilities face closure in London, sparking protests."
Support National Libraries Day - BookSeller. The [arguable] success of library campaigns described "The Bookseller's editor-in-chief Neill Denny says: "On National Libraries Day tomorrow, take your family and friends to your local library, take out some books, cheer up the staff, make a point.

"Although the big trends shaping the book trade can sometimes seem too powerful to change, the story of the fight for libraries shows that they are not. Individual stands and actions do make a difference.".

Why do we love libraries? This is why - Voices for the Library. Superb colleciton of tweets on why people support public libraries.
Your library needs you - Afeitar. And why you need the library.

Changes

Leicester - £1.24m cut inc. Aylston Library to close, with books moved to local leisure centre with a self-service machine, transport for disabled to library scrapped, opening hours to be cut.

Local News

Brent - Case refused by Supreme Court - BookSeller. Bad news for campaigners as their final legal avenue against council closures ends. No "arguable point of law" says Court. Legal action now may be possible against the DCMS.

Library closures: Supreme Court rejects appeal bid - BBC. Campaigners say "We remain of the view that the secretary of state for culture, media and sport should hold a public inquiry into Brent's failure to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for those living, working and studying in the borough. We have submitted petitions with more than 12,000 signatures against the closures."
Library supporters vow to carry on campaign - Brent and Kilburn Times. Council says "“This final decision of the Supreme Court fully vindicates Brent Council’s actions and upholds the earlier decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the High Court that the council acted lawfully.". Large number of events being held in Brent by campaigners to show the fight is still alive.
Library campaigners take appeal hit - Grantham Journal.

Carmarthenshire - Putting spotlight on library revamp - This is South Wales. Llanelli has £3.8m revamp, ""Our aim was to provide a wholly integrated, modern public library, housed in a safe, secure and attractive building, on the present library site in Llanelli."
Croydon - Under fire over national Libraries Day - BookSeller. Croydon has no NLD themed events tomorrow, although some non-NLD events being held. The council is currently trying to outsource its libraries and is involved in a dispute about the Upper Norwood Joint Library that may end in its closure.

Bovvered? National Libraries Day, but not in Croydon - Inside Croydon. Council is ignoring NLD, as it is the Olympics.

Greenwich - Union's warning over Greenwich library transfer proposal - News Shopper. Council aims to transfer libraries to GLL Trusts. Unite union not happy with this as it simply means cuts will be made by GLL instead, especially staff wages.

Leeds - A space for you - Leeds Libraries.

Leicester - Hundreds sign petition against library closure - This is Leicestershire. "A petition signed by more than 200 people who oppose the closure of their library has been submitted to the council. Leicester City Council wants to shut Aylestone library, in Richmond Road, and move books to the leisure centre in Knighton Lane East, where there would be a self-service facility."
North Yorkshire - Sign up as library volunteers - Wetherby News. "Volunteer Linda Clark, who works in Harrogate Central Library, said: “When I started I was so nervous. “I thought I’d maybe last one or two weeks at most, but I became addicted and just love helping at the library."
Northamptonshire - Show a little love for your local library - Evening Telegraph. "This time last year, eight libraries in Northamptonshire were facing the axe. After an overwhelming show of support from people who use those libraries, Northamptonshire County Council back-tracked, announcing it would no longer close them and would look at other ways of saving money. But councillors made it clear that money must be saved and revealed it wanted to recruit an army of volunteers to help run our libraries. If this couldn’t be achieved, it reserved the right to reconsider closing libraries."

"A lot of people think because we were not shut, we were saved. That is not the case. It is only a reprieve. We need people to come in and use the library and the events we run."

Use library or lose community's heart - Biceser Advertiser and Review. "Mrs Webb said footfall in libraries is carefully monitored, and although Towcester is safe at the moment, future spending reviews could find the library at risk of closure. She said: “They do work out how much per person it costs to go into a library, but often people don’t even know their library is there or the facilities it provides, and a few years down the line it will be under the cosh again.". WI to hug library on Saturday.

Rotherham - New reading scheme for kids is launched - Selby Times. "The ‘Chatterbooks’ reading groups have been introduced by Rotherham Library and Information Service to help inspire more children to read for pleasure."

"The launch of Chatterbooks 2012 gives libraries and schools a best practice framework for creating inspiring reading groups for primary school aged children. The scheme captures and shares the expertise of librarians and is backed by 17 publishers who are working with independent charity The Reading Agency to offer a year round menu of exciting reading opportunities. It also harnesses the involvement of young volunteers." Chatterbooks.

Trafford - Residents have their say over plans to help run Hale and Old Trafford libraries - Manchester Evening News. "Library staff said they feel 'very undervalued and demoralised', and that the council should be looking at ways of increasing revenue from the libraries, rather than replacing staff."... "Residents are planning a 'day of action' at Old Trafford Library tomorrow (Saturday, February 4) between 2pm and 4pm to protest against the plans.". However, 100 people have already expressed an interest in volunteering.
Wakefield - Talks still ongoing on the future of library services in the area - Express series.