Do you feel more Irish than Australian?

Editorial

The big news for me this week was the spreading of the idea that councils can decide what books libraries should have on their shelves to that normal paragon of library-ness, Australia. In descriptions that sound almost identical to similar debates in the USA, one said it was a matter of following their religion. Meanwhile, in Ireland, such challenges are being met with a strengthening in the power of libraries in being able to oppose those who wish to direct what others are allowed to see and read. There’s been no such strong challenge in the UK as yet to that common in the USA and now in Australia. When there is, we’ll see if we are non-geographically closer to the USA or Ireland.

Some things happen over time so slowly that one does not notice them happening until years afterwards. I had one of these “oh” moments a while ago when thinking about children’s fiction and non-fiction sections and then adult non-fiction sections. The realisation was that, actually, there’s no hard difference between them now in terms of why they’re used. If one can get the answer to most factual questions by speaking a question to one’s watch, as one of my daughters does, there’s no need for a Library of Alexandria type approach to non-fiction sections. What this means in practice is that the purpose of most non-fiction books, child and adult, are essentially leisure now. And, scarily, that means that all of the books in a library are essentially for leisure purposed. That’s not to say they’re not important, due to their power in health and welfare, literacy, awareness etc. But it does mean that those staff who want one of everything are missing the point. For that, see the internet. For the library, see the stuff people actually want to read. And that is overwhelmingly the fun stuff, one way or another.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Brought to book: Library cash plea amid ‘brutal cuts’ to budgets – Scottish Sun. Scottish Labour says “Years of brutal cuts to council budgets have devastated communities, causing the closure of one in seven libraries and threatened the future of more.” … ““The SNP must give a cast-iron guarantee it will not inflict more cuts on these vital services by reducing the Public Library Improvement Fund.”” … “Investment fell from £135million to £92million in ten years.”

“Our local volunteer-run library has recently reopened after being unceremoniously dumped by the local council as a cost-saving measure: a common occurrence as I understand it. We took over the original building, which was a small branch library (and I mean small!). Again, like so many similar enterprises, refurbishment has been protracted but we now have a popular, pleasant space which is also destined to become a small community hub. So, we have a staff toilet downstairs, but in no way shape nor form is this accessible by anyone but an able-bodied person. Building costs and lack of space mean that we can’t afford to get a loo installed on the ground floor and the downstairs loo is unlikely to change. I don’t think this problem is widely discussed(?) but I’d appreciate any other readers’ experiences and hopefully solutions to this tricky problem! Can you help? “

“Captain Bogbrush”
  • How rental ‘libraries of things’ have become the new way to save money – Guardian. “Clothes rental for children is one of the latest chapters in how “libraries of things” are becoming an increasingly common way to save money, space and waste. The theory is simple: instead of buying a household item or a piece of clothing or some equipment you might use once or twice, you take it out and return it.”

“Libraries Change Lives, 24-28 June 2024 – building on a proposal from Baroness Sanderson’s review of public libraries this will be a week of advocacy demonstrating the value of libraries ahead of this year’s General Election.

Green Libraries Week, 7-13 October 2024 – our annual celebration of libraries with a focus on the climate and sustainability.”

CILIP explains the about the two Weeks
  • TikTok bookshelves to open across UK to get young people reading – Independent. “TikTok is teaming up with the National Literacy Trust (NLT) to place “BookTok Bookshelves” in 11 UK areas that need a boost in literacy levels. Cities like Birmingham, Blackpool, Bradford, Doncaster, Manchester, Middlesborough, Newcastle, Nottingham, Peterborough, Stoke and Swindon will get 20 BookTok Bookshelves starting with around 100 books each. The shelves will be placed in areas which see a lot of children over 13, like youth clubs and community centres.”

International news

  • Australia – I’m no stranger to having work banned. If you want to protect kids, this is not the way to do it – Guardian / Opinion. ” I know a book ban is not something we can simply spin as good publicity. These bans come from a rightwing playbook designed to continue a culture war against LGBTQ+ people that chips away at fundamental human rights protections in policies. These attempted bans – whether they are upheld or not – do real world harm to members of my community.”
    • Labor councillor stands by vote to ban same-sex parenting books in Sydney council libraries – as it happened – Guardian. “This decision was made in line with my religious beliefs and I will not be comprising those beliefs.”
    • Rainbow Street Libraries Launch in The Face of Book Ban – Star Observer. “Following the recent decision by Cumberland City Council to remove books about same sex parenting in local libraries, local organisation Street Library Australia have launched a colourful campaign against the book ban.” … “The group took to their facebook page to offer free local libraries to residents in the area, on the proviso they paint them rainbow in support of the issue.”
    • Sydney council bans same-sex parenting books from libraries – video – Guardian. “Western Sydney’s Cumberland city council has voted to place a blanket ban on same-sex parenting books from local libraries in a move the New South Wales government warns could be a breach of the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act. The amendment, put forward by a councillor, Steve Christou, proposed that the council take “immediate action” to remove same-sex parents books and materials in its library service. Six councillors voted in favour of the amendment and five voted against, while four councillors were not present to vote”
  • India – Beyond shelves, binding selves – Times of India. A look at public libraries in the country.
  • Ireland – Dublin City Council condemns recent anti-LGBTQ+ library protests – GCN. “Following the recent spate of anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrations and actions targeted at Irish libraries, Dublin City Councillors have passed a motion condemning the attacks and have endorsed their faith in the Library Management” … “the Dublin City Libraries’ management has confirmed that no publications have been removed as a result of the protests.”
  • Italy – Public libraries as social infrastructures: libraries’ response to the COVID crisis in the Emilia-Romagna region – Cultural Trends.
  • USA – John Oliver on public libraries: ‘Another front in the ongoing culture war’ – Guardian. “You do get the sense that people who want to censor these books can have no real idea of what’s inside them or, indeed, if they’re even at the libraries they’re protesting at all,” Oliver said, citing a case in Idaho where activists demanded that more 400 books be removed from the library, even though it already didn’t have them. “As far as protests go, that’s about as meaningful as marching to the Hollywood sign to demand that Frankie Muniz return his Oscar for Schindler’s List,” he joked. “He’s not there, he wasn’t in that, and the very fact that you’re protesting this tells me you’re probably not familiar with the material.”
    • SNF Dialogues Recap – Beyond Books: How Libraries Can Serve the Publ”ic – National Herald. “he first SNF Dialogues discussion in the US explored the multifaceted role of libraries as cornerstones of democratic societies, and how they transcend their traditional role as repositories of books to actively facilitate community participation and advance civic engagement.” … “They are community centers, safe havens during crises, bastions of knowledge and equality, and shining examples of democracy, especially in uncertain times”
    • The Week in Libraries: May 10, 2024 – Publishers Weekly. Legal action in defence of library rights in Alabama.

Local news by authority

  • Aberdeenshire – Portsoy and Whitehills communities asked to help shape future provision of local library services – Aberdeenshire Council.
  • Birmingham – Umbrella group launched in Birmingham to help save city’s libraries – Planet Radio. “Local campaigners are urging others to have their say in the council’s public consultation to save as many as possible. Acocks Green campaigner Joe Simpson’s told us they’re making good progress so far and that locals should use it as incentive to keep fighting.”
    • Hundreds gather to protest against council cuts – BBC. “”What we’re seeing today is the people of Birmingham people coming together to protest about the council cuts that have been forced upon Birmingham City Council by austerity that’s been implemented through government cuts to council funding,” “
  • Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – Residents asked about future of libraries – Bournemouth Echo. “BCP Council wants to know how you currently use the library service and what you hope to see in the future.Library open hours have been slashed by an average of 10 hours per library each week, as part of cost-saving measures for its 2024/25 budget.”
  • Bracknell Forest – Twyford Library announces opening of new location next month – Bracknell News. “The new library will open in the newly refurbished Old Polehampton Boys School on the opposite side of the close. The beautiful new space will benefit from improved library spaces with high ceilings and large windows letting in natural light.” Open 21 hours per week.
  • Bromley – Orpington Literary Festival 2024 – Orpington 1st. “A week of town centre events celebrating the written and spoken word, brought to you by Orpington 1st in partnership with Bromley Libraries, supported by Orpington Rotary.” … ““We’re really pleased to work with Orpington’s business community for this year’s literary festival. It’s a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of literature and the vital role which libraries play in our community.”
  • Cheshire East – Fears Bollington Library could be shut down within months – Macclesfield Nub News. “The recently-formed Friends of Bollington Library Committee claims that Cheshire East Council is planning to consult the public on proposals to close Bollington Library with effect from January 1 2025.”
  • Devon – Beach toy plea for seafront libraries – Mid Devon Advertiser. “Teignbridge Leisure is looking for donations of unwanted buckets, spades, balls and beach toys to fill its seafront libraries in Teignmouth and at Dawlish Warren.”
  • Falkirk – Falkirk Council libraries branch out with new garden lending initiative – Falkirk Herald. “Gardening bags can now be borrowed from all eight libraries across the area and are designed to equip budding gardeners with th -e tools and knowledge to cultivate fresh, home grown fruit and vegetables.” … “Each bag contain hand tools, gardening books and kneeling mat, as well as seeds, plant markers and growing advice cards and recipe cards so people can start cooking with what they have grown.” Due to  £8300 from The Europe Challenge Fund.
  • Hampshire – Blood pressure monitors now available from Hampshire libraries – Hampshire Council. “Each monitor is borrowed on a ‘first come-first served’ basis. It comes in a box, with a leaflet containing easy-to-follow instructions on how to use the device and understand the results, as well as what to do if you are concerned about the readings. “
  • Haringey – Haringey Council’s Head of Libraries, Brian Mihayo, receives nationwide Top Talent recognition – Haringey Council. ” Brian helped secure trust and foundation funding for a major project supporting young people to design and organise diverse cultural events and innovative programmes across Haringey libraries, including concerts, comedy nights and spoken word performances.”
  • Havering – Havering launches new library strategy – Havering Council. “The library strategy consultation, which will run for 12 weeks until 2 August 2024, comes at a difficult time for the borough. The Council continues to face financial challenges while delivering our legal duty to provide services for the most vulnerable along with the services residents say they value most.” – £300k cut. Five libraries to close: Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood an South Hornchurch.
  • Manchester – The Enlightenment – Simon Armitage lyric shines a light on libraries for Manchester’s Festival of Libraries – About Manchester. “The track has been specially commissioned for Festival of Libraries 2024, with words by poet laureate Simon Armitage, music by Richard Walters and Patrick Pearson, and guest vocals from Josephine Oniyama. The Enlightenment will be released on streaming platforms on Friday 7 June and will be performed live for the first time at Manchester Central Library as part of the festival on Wednesday 12 June (doors open at 7.30pm)”
    • Blue Peter Book Club live takes off in Manchester Central Library – Manchester Council. “Blue Peter, the BBC’s iconic children’s TV series is partnering with Manchester Libraries and The Reading Agency on an exciting new project – Blue Peter Book Club Live. It launches in Manchester Central Library on Saturday 18 May with a fun-filled, free event, open to all and the chance to meet Blue Peter presenters Abby, Joel, and Shini along with Henry the Blue Peter Dog. ” … “A book inspired art-installation created by 10,000 local school children, creative crafts, special story times, masses of books and a chance to meet some magical classic book characters will make it a day of adventure and fun where classic stories come to life in the library.”
  • Norfolk – Plans for new library and bus station in Hunstanton – EDP. “Norfolk County Council has finalised plans to redevelop the former library and revamp the bus station at Hunstanton and hopes to start work later this year.”
  • Somerset – Could you volunteer to help the Home Library Service? – Somerset Council. “olunteers are needed across Somerset to help keep a vital Somerset Council library lifeline thriving.”
  • South Lanarkshire – Award-winning authors back protests to save libraries in Cambuslang, Halfway and Blantyre – Daily Record. “Just under 40 authors and literary figures have shown their support for the Save Our Libraries protest taking place this week.” … “Author of Fallen Angel, Chris Brookmyre, added: “We all appreciate that in these difficult times, difficult choices must be made but, in my opinion, libraries should always be among the last things a council cuts when it needs to save money.”
  • Southend on Sea – Pub-goers see ‘light’ – and save burning library – BBC. “At about 21:00 BST on Tuesday, drinkers at a table in The Old Walnut Tree, Southend-on-Sea, noticed a ‘light’ inside Southchurch Library. They realised it was on fire. With the help of pub staff they filled “large containers” with water, dashed over, and poured it through a broken window.””
  • Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries Board member takes on tandem skydive – Suffolk Libraries. See Just Giving page..
  • Wirral – Gym sorry over library bench ‘alcoholics’ claim – BBC. “A firm which wants to turn an ex-library into a gym has apologised over comments suggesting a bench outside is “popular with local alcoholics” and should be removed. Nomad wants to convert the former council building in Hoylake, Wirral. A document lodged with Wirral Council said the use of the bench by “alcoholics” jarred with its brand.”
  • Worcestershire – Dementia in Focus at Worcestershire Libraries – Worcestershire Council. ” Library Service is teaming up with the Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire, and The University of Worcester for Dementia Action Week, taking place from 13th May to 19th May.” Reading Well books. “Groups include Classic Film Club, Reminiscence Groups, Knit and Natter, Hook Buddies, and Scrabble, all of which offer engaging activities beneficial for individuals with dementia.”
    • Libraries Unlocked to be introduced at Malvern Library – Worcester News. Once the system is up and running, library members aged 15 and above will have the chance to upgrade their membership.They will then be able to use the library facilities outside the regular hours of operation”
  • York – ‘It’s a safe space, welcoming and free’ – York’s unique library service celebrates ten years – York Mix. “Explore York Library and Archives is marking a whole decade of providing the community of York with a public library and archive service with a series of family-friendly fundraising activities and events.” … “There is currently no further comment on the contractual dispute” between Explore and York Council over proposes budget cut.

The reason for it

Editorial

One of the strange things about covering public libraries since 2010 is seeing how things could have gone with more funding. The Library of Birmingham was one such. Opened in the years of coalition government but planned before, this was seen as a big shining symbol of the city and for the future of libraries generally. But the money ran out. Now it is open only 40 hours per week, areas of it hired out and many other libraries in the city under threat of closure. In an alternate world, the Library of Birmingham is a world leader. Not in this one.

Similarly, there is the movement to going fines-free. The arguments for an against are many and are listed here but a report by libraries in New York last week suggested that if was a big success, with an increase in issues, visits and late books being returned. But fining customers creates income, at least in the short-term and if one ignores associated costs (which, to be fair, like staff, may be built-in to some extent) and so cash-strapped English libraries have started not only stalling on going fines-free but also, this week, one service has returned to charging fines again after being fines-free. The reason Havering gives for this is, simply. financial. Sadly, I suspect, the future historian looking for the reason for the decline of public libraries in the UK – as opposed to success stories like New Zealand or Ireland – may give the same reason.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Blue Peter Book Club Live to kick off at Manchester Central Library – Literacy Trust. “Local primary school-aged children can come and join Blue Peter presenters and top authors at the free launch event at Manchester Central Library. They’ll enjoy a fun day of stories, crafts and lots of books. A special Blue Peter Badge Trail will also launch on the day, which will challenge families to discover massive Blue Peter Book Club inspired badges at 12 different venues across the city with an additional bonus badge in the Blue Peter Garden in Salford.”
  • Development of the residents’ protest campaign against the closure of public libraries in the UK – Bulletins of Japan-UK Education / J-Stage. “This study analyses an intensified residents’ campaign against cuts in public library services（library campaign) in Lincolnshire. “

International news

“Libraries are supposed to be a quiet place for learning. However, across the U.S., many libraries have found themselves under siege by crime. Calls coming from libraries are inundating many police departments. According to police records, more than 500 calls were made to police from the San Diego Central Library in the past year. To see for ourselves, Inside Edition spent the day at the library. It was not long before we witnessed cops rushing to the scene of a suspected overdose.”
  • USA – 2024 Library Systems Report – American Libraries. ” a handful of large organizations with considerable resources—Clarivate, EBSCO Information Services, Follett School Solutions, and OCLC—continue to expand their portfolios, covering multiple business sectors and library types. Middle-tier companies, including Axiell, ByWater Solutions, The Library Corporation (TLC), and SirsiDynix, offer growing suites of products used by thousands of libraries. And finally, a group of smaller companies round out the industry, covering specialized libraries with niche products and services.”
    • Adams Hints $58M Funding That Forced Libraries to Close on Sundays Could Be Restored in Near Future – Westside Spirit.
    • City Libraries Eliminated Late Fees Three Years Ago — How Has it Gone? – The City. “In October 2021, the city’s libraries abolished fines on overdue materials and predicted it would unlock hundreds of thousands of people who had their cards blocked. The result two-and-a-half years later has been a resounding success with a spike in materials taken out, library cards issued, and program attendance, according to officials in charge of New York City’s three library systems. ” … “In New York City, patrons returned thousands of long overdue items shortly after the fines were lifted, the New York Times reported in March 2022.”
    • How Ben Franklin Invented the Library as We Know It – Smithsonian. In the next issue, how the Americans invented soccer and fish and chips.
    • Libraries Without Borders: Using Outreach to Build Community – Information Today. “it’s harder for decision makers to say no or be dismissive when they know your face, your name, and something about you as a human being.” … “When your policies take into account the needs of the community, your library is positioned for maximum outreach impact.” … “The modern library is a place and an idea. Consistently engaging in the improvement of people’s lives through community outreach leads to strong libraries that are part of the solution.”
    • Viva La Library – Nautilus. “Rebel against The Algorithm. Get a library card.”

Local news by authority

Halton
South Lanarkshire
  • Staffordshire – Perton Library Science Fair & Spring Festival is back – Staffordshire Council. “The event, being organised by Perton Library and Wild About Perton, is packed full of family fun and is part of the celebrations for Green Libraries Month.” … “Dr Phil Jemmett and his team of scientists from Warwick University will be demonstrating experiments all day”
    • Libraries going green to highlight sustainability and environmental issues – Lichfield Live. “Sessions across Staffordshire include exhibitions, author talks, craft workshops and recycling projects. Among the initiatives will be a trial of biodegradable library cards at Shenstone Library.” … “Green Libraries Month is being delivered in partnership with Staffordshire Community Learning, who are offering taster sessions in things such as upcycling, mini-bug hotels, cress caterpillars, kitchen composters and saving money by growing your own veg. “
  • Suffolk – Suffolk Libraries launches daisy chain fundraising campaign – East Anglian Daily Times. “The Make a Difference with a Daisy campaign from Suffolk Libraries is to raise money for the 45 libraries across the county, and projects they run like the period poverty service and warm spaces project.”
    • New base in Lowestoft for East Suffolk’s customer services? – Eastern Daily Press. “East Suffolk Council leaders are set to discuss potentially spending £165,000 to move its customer services from the Marina Centre, in Lowestoft, less than half a mile away to the town’s library.”. Part of plans for new “cultural quarter”.
    • Suffolk Libraries Day book binge is the height of fundraising for Maureen – Diss Express. “Maureen John, who manages Debenham and Stradbroke libraries, read the equivalent of around 18,000 pages, which works out at 5 foot, 2 inches when the books are stacked on top of each other.” She “raised £2,200 for Suffolk Libraries Day last month as a result of the challenge”
    • We welcome our new Environmentalist in Residence – Suffolk Libraries. “During his residency Martin will be working on the development of a project called Seconds of Sound (S.O.S), inviting people to take part in weekly sound walks that connect all 45 of our libraries (plus some of our local prison libraries too).”
  • Wirral – Former library set to become gym – West Kirby. “Plans have been submitted to turn the former Hoylake Library into a gym and wellness centre. The building was closed by Wirral Council in 2022 as part of a series of budget cuts, and a bid by community interest company The Life Tree to turn it into a venue for book clubs and events was rejected as not being viable.”
  • York – Young Reporter: Explore Libraries are turning 10. Sorcha L, Huntington – York Press. “Explore is an important part of York, with the libraries acting as community hubs and education centres, with multiple around the city. Each library is running its own events. “

Irish Libraries Are Smiling

Editorial

A few news pieces catch my eye today. The first is an ex-magistrate sating in the Mail – where else – that libraries could be turned into court venues as they are under-used public buildings. Words fail me sometimes. Sadly, they don’t fail the Mail. Then we have the normal US madness of censorship, with 17 states now considering imprisoning librarians for their stock choices. There’s also a heart-rending story from that torn country about a child, are regular visitor to a library, whose parents decided to play the story-time song at the funeral. Oh my.

The thing that really caught my eye though was news from Ireland. The government there is spending – get this – £21 million to provide 11 new libraries and 12 new mobiles in rural areas. That’s twice as much as the Libraries Improvement Fund right there. But then scale that up to take into account the relative populations and you’d have, if it happened in the UK, £210 million in capital expenditure with 110 new libraries and 120 new mobiles. Then lift your jaw off the floor. Ireland led the way a few years ago in national publicity and national initiatives like removing all fines and now it is apparently reaping the benefits.

National news

International news

“Founded in 1905 under segregation, Louisville’s Western Library helped lay the foundation of Black librarianship in the U.S. The oldest library in the U.S. run independently by and for African Americans, Western was also the earliest training ground of Black librarians from around the South.”
  • USA – 17 States Are Considering Laws That Would Imprison Librarians – Vanity Fair. “Ron DeSantis has been forced to limit certain Floridians to only one book-banning attempt per month.”
    • Beloved Bunny’s Death Shows How Libraries Help Parents – Ms Magazine. “rather than forcing children to think a certain way, libraries help us find our words in life’s most challenging moments.”. When a child passed away who was a regular attender at story-time, ““They sang the goodbye song from story-time” at the funeral.
    • Does The Future of Libraries – or Narrative Itself – Include Books? – Indiana Public Media. Podcast. Book issues down. Non-fiction section “irrelevant” in age of the internet. More library events. “more librarians now have a performance mindset”. People are still reading but doing it digitally. Libraries “are for bringing people together in a free and open space”.
    • It’s Time to Take a Hard Look at Public Libraries – Cato. “Like local post offices, neighborhood libraries once served an important community function but are now becoming increasingly irrelevant. And, as with post offices, libraries continue to receive funding because they enjoy support from a relatively small but vocal segment of the population, while the rest of us are usually too reluctant to question their utility.”
    • The Week in Libraries: April 26, 2024 – Publishers Weekly. “a deadline looms for federal library funding; the FCC votes to restore net neutrality rules; Maryland passes a law designed to discourage book bans; and why Alabama librarians are feeling exhausted”

Local news by authority

  • Barnsley – Book festival attracts more than 3,000 visitors – Rotherham Advertiser. “saw locals enjoy a packed schedule including 49 library and six partner events and 42 authors and artists.”
  • Birmingham – Future of Birmingham’s libraries sparks row as campaigners pledge action – Express and Star. “Asked why steps were not taken to notify ward councillors and communities in good time of the consultation programme, cabinet member Saima Suleman responded: “There were some online consultations that were registered last week which I believe councillors were not informed of.” … ” in Hall Green, residents gathered once again on Saturday for a ‘read-in’ at the local library – following similar events elsewhere in the city. The demonstration was attended by over 100 people, spanning all ages and backgrounds, as well as authors and renowned woodcarver Graham Jones.”
Blaenau Gwent. Musical “Nye” has public library scene

Not a ban

Editorial

Not a big week for news with, sadly, the main theme being the continued issue of difficulties in American libraries. There’s continued pressure in many states to make librarians accountable for the books that children can access, up to an including fines and prison sentences. Not that this is apparently banning books according a large comment free-to-access piece in the pay-to-view Telegraph this week, which is perhaps an unsurprising indication of how that newspaper feels about the subject. Another article, not in a right-wing national newspaper, argues that such banning (of events as well as books) does exist and is showing signs of spreading to the UK. Unconnected with this, perhaps , is the news that there’s also a sign (or rather, no longer a sign) that Norfolk Libraries are not quite the “safe space” for Trans people that they were once advertised as being.

Local news by authority

National news

  • Book banning: warnings the UK must heed – The Boar. ” if you think this is a purely American issue, you are sorely mistaken. As protests sprout here in the UK, we should prepare to fight the growing culture of censorship, lest we lose the right for expression, integrity, and inclusivity that facilitates great literature.” … “the urge to suppress unconventional and under-represented topics remains constant. However, research suggests that these efforts of suppression are much more harmful than the content within the books, particularly for children.”

International news

Local news by authority

Libraries turning into drug-infested sex dens

Editorial

In a shocking expose from the ever-balanced and fair Fox News, we discover that American public libraries are drug-infested sex dens. This must come as something of a surprise to their users. Also, to their library staff too, it seems, as many have taken to Twitter to ask where these libraries are (including, suspiciously, wanting their precise addresses, presumably for private research purposes).

After we have stopped laughing, it’s worth considering where this headline is coming from. It’s from the classic exaggeration/slander/don’t-look-behind-the-curtain realm of propaganda. To impose one’s views on a democratic country, there needs to be a reason, and this is it for libraries: we are a bunch of pro-drug gender extremists that need to be controlled. It’s nothing to do with freedom of speech, heaven’s no, it’s protecting the children. Thankfully, it has not quite come to this in this country, but it’s getting closer each day. Heck, it’ll probably be an item on officially-not-a-news-channel GB News any day now.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • CILIP Appoints Louis Coiffait-Gunn as new CEO – CILIP. “Louis was introduced to public libraries at a young age as his grandmother was a librarian in a neighbouring village. As he currently finishes a period of parental leave, he has continued this tradition by taking his baby to storytime at libraries across Hackney.”
  • CloudLibrary finds a new home in OCLC – Bibliotheca.
  • Fun Palaces Workshops – Fun Palaces. Various workshops on who to involve, what they are, where and how, funding, sustainability and advertising.

Libraries, join the Blue Peter Book Club this May! We are inviting librarians to join this online workshop at 4pm on 16 April 2024 to hear about how you can get involved in the Blue Peter Book Club and encourage children in your library to explore the world of books together. There are some exciting things lined up for the Book Club in May with opportunities for public, community and school libraries to join in, and we want you to be the first to hear about them. Join us in this webinar to find out more about the Book Club, the selected books, and how your library can take part and support children to earn their book badge. The webinar will be recorded and shared to catch up on. Register today – 

The Reading Agency, by email.
  • Sir Roly Keating to step down as Chief Executive of the British Library in April 2025 – British Library. “Under Sir Roly’s leadership, the Library has undergone a transformation in its public impact and its visibility across the UK and internationally. With a focus on openness, creativity and innovation, his tenure has seen the establishment of major new partnerships including the Knowledge Quarter around its London HQ, the Business & IP Centre National Network and the Living Knowledge Network of public and national libraries across the UK.”
  • The vorfreude secret: 30 zero-effort ways to fill your life with joy – Guardian. ““Making a regular trip to your local library is a great way to insert vorfreude into your life””
  • ‘Weathervanes of their Communities’ – The Sanderson Review, public libraries and information literacy futures – Edinburgh Napier University. “Recent independent reviews of public library services in England have argued for a more comprehensive and cohesive strategy to promote the many benefits of these services. However a critical lack of quality data to support these conclusions, particularly on the impact of information literacy formation, means that such reviews are in danger of missing further opportunities to develop the wide and varied roles public libraries play in their communities.”

International news

What are our library leaders thinking about the future? Erik Boekesteijn (National Library of the Netherlands) interviewed many library leaders from around the world and put them together in one documentary video.
  • Pakistan -Tall tales but no dessert: the storyteller of Karachi and his ice-cream cart library – Guardian. “About 15,000 children have attended more than 700 Kahaani Sawaari storytelling sessions since the project was launched in 2021. Erum Kazi, GoRead’s programme director, says parents have told her how their children have developed a love for reading since the scheme began”
  • Ukraine – Send a mobile library to Ukraine – Crowdfunder. “To date over 600 public libraries and 2,000 school libraries have been damaged or destroyed by Russian troops” … “When we asked our partners in Ukraine how we could help, they said they needed a mobile library. With a mobile library they could continue to provide a service when their library buildings have been destroyed or damaged.”. £10,000 needed for reconditioned mobile library: £160 given at time of accessing webpage.
  • USA- ALA Releases State of America’s Libraries 2024 Report – American Libraries. “ALA recorded 1,247 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries, schools, and universities in 2023. Of the 4,240 unique titles that were challenged or banned in 2023, here are the top 10 most frequently challenged”
    • Analysis: A Statehouse rite of spring — a showdown over libraries – Idaho Ed News. “The 2024 legislative session is ending the way the 2023 session did. And the way the 2022 session did. With a showdown over libraries. Something that has become an informal rite of spring at the Statehouse. On Wednesday, the Senate and the House passed a bill that would require school and public libraries to take steps to keep obscene materials away from minors. House Bill 710 now goes to Gov. Brad Little, who vetoed a library bill at the end of the 2023 session.”
    • MAGA Rage Targeting Local Librarians Is Getting Uglier – New Republic. Podcast.

Local news by authority

Croydon – “We are fighting to keep our library open! #bradmoregreenlibrary #oldcoulsdon” via Twitter.
  • Devon – Devon libraries launch reading adventure for under-fives – Tavistock Today. “Almost 7,000 children have so far signed up to read 50 books on The Secret Book Quest, and we are hoping to reach just as many little ones with Libro’s Friends.”
  • Flintshire – Flintshire Council strikes “short-term” deal with Aura for running of county’s leisure and library services – Deeside. “The authority is understood to be planning to bring the management of libraries, museums, and play areas back in-house, while exploring an “alternative delivery model” for leisure services.” .. ” the council had offered the company £1 million to continue delivering leisure services in the short-term from April, which would last for approximately three months. But proposals related to libraries, museums, and play areas were described as “less clear”, with Aura unwilling to use its reserves to fund services.”
  • Gloucestershire – Library of Things helping Charlton Kings residents save money – BBC. “The Library of Things was launched by CK Futures – a division of the parish council – Vision 21 project Planet Cheltenham, and Gloucestershire Libraries. Residents can borrow pressure washers, carpet cleaners, tools and even chocolate fountains, alongside the library’s books.”
  • Hackney – Stoke Newington Library’s refurbishment gets £500k funding boost – Hackney Citizen. “The cash will go towards a redesign of the library’s interiors, with the council hoping to kit it out with the “best facilities possible”. Those include improved reading rooms, study spaces, a new children’s area, and a cultural and digital hub. The community library service will also get its own integrated space.”
  • Lancashire – Rawtenstall Library to close it’s doors for ‘investigation into staircase’ – Lancashire Live. “Rawtenstall Library will close for around four weeks from Monday, while investigative work is undertaken on the staircase. A precise schedule for the closure will not be given until the work begins. However, customers are being reassured that fines for overdue loans from Rawtenstall Library will be waived while the building is shut.”
  • Monmouthshire – Borrowing a laptop as easy as borrowing a library book with Monmouthshire County Council – Monmouthshire Council. “The laptops that will be available were initially purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic to help pupils continue their learning remotely. Now, residents can use them to access online resources from the comfort of their own homes.”
  • Norfolk – Norwich man threatened to kill library staff in The Forum – Eastern Daily Press. “Jamie Turner, 32, became violent and abusive when he was asked to leave the Millennium Library at The Forum in Norwich on January 7. Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he assaulted one member of staff telling them: “If I see you in the street I’ll kill you.””
  • North Northamptonshire – Doors open at new community library and well-being hub in Higham Ferrers – Northamptonshire Telegraph. First library provision in town since 2019.
  • North Yorkshire – Discover Skipton’s hidden heritage with three new trails – Craven Herald and Pioneer/Yahoo. “The four trails produced for the HSHAZ programme join three other North Yorkshire trails based on collections from Harrogate, Scarborough libraries and one for Northallerton curated by North Yorkshire County Record Office on the ‘What Was Here?’ app, created by East Riding of Yorkshire Archives, which is free to download now on Google Play and the App Store. Check out the accompanying website at www.whatwashere.org.”
  • Sheffield – Stocksbridge 519 library plan approved – BBC. “The three-storey building will replace the town’s existing library and community shop.” Existing library to be demolished to make way for £24m new build.
  • Shropshire – Library to close for a week while council spends Arts Council money on new shelves – Shropshire Star. “Last year Shropshire Council was awarded £236,950 by Arts Council England to install new equipment that will make library spaces more accommodating and accessible to the wider community.” … “Shropshire Council has used the funds to purchase 1:1 interview pods with supporting technology, enabling private consultations with the public” … “It has also purchased new mobile shelving to create flexible space to accommodate health and wellbeing sessions offered through social prescribing and creative health models.”
    • Anger as school library service cut to save money – BBC. “Parents and teachers have reacted angrily to a decision by Shropshire Council to end a service providing schools with new books and learning material. The School Library Service has a catalogue of more than 250,000 books, artefacts, DVDs and online resources. Two-thirds of schools across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin pay to use it. Shropshire Council, however, has said it can no longer afford to subsidise the service. An online petition has been started by the head teacher of Christ Church CE Primary School in Cressage, which paid about £1,300 for the service last year.”
    • Whitchurch Library ‘pop up’ service expanded – Shropshire Council. “Library staff have been running a temporary ‘pop-up’ service on market day every Friday morning since Whitchurch Civic Centre was forced to close for safety reasons in September 2023”
  • South Gloucestershire What South Gloucestershire Council library cuts mean for your branch – Bristol Post. “The local authority is slashing £273K from its annual spending on the vital community facilities, including £25K for books”… “South Gloucestershire’s libraries will be closed for an extra 40 hours every week in total as part of huge cuts. But that is about half of what was originally proposed. This is becauser the authority managed to find some savings elsewhere to cushion the blow for the books budget, which was initially going to be slashed by a quarter – £50,000 – but will now go down by £25,000.”
  • Suffolk – New Stoke Library Open Day – Suffolk Libraries. “The new library occupies a slightly bigger space and has new carpets and furniture with flexible wheeled shelving to make it easier to hold events and activities in the library.”
    • Suffolk Libraries shortlisted for national library awards – Suffolk Libraries. “The Be Kind to a Kid appeal was run by Suffolk Libraries in partnership with BBC Radio Suffolk in late 2023. All the county’s libraries acted as collection points for 2,500 donated new toys which were then passed on to over 20 local charities and organisations who then got them to families in need to ensure their children got an extra much-needed Christmas gift.”
  • Surrey – Weybridge Library and Weybridge Centre co-locating as part of Hub plans – Elmbridge Council. “there will be a temporary relocation of Weybridge Library into the Weybridge Centre for the Community, while it undergoes a major refurbishment to create the Weybridge Hub, which is expected to open in Spring 2025. “
  • Wakefield – Wordfest 2024: Popular celebration to bring hundreds of free events to Wakefield libraries next month – Wakefield Express. “Hundreds of free and exciting events, from author talks and storytelling, film showings and music, will be held in the district’s libraries and other community settings during the month-long festival celebrating words – which aims to encourage residents of all ages to explore their own creativity. The annual celebration has become a staple within the community, with a full programme that has been developed with community partners and features activities across the district.”

Thank you Aunty Hilary

Editorial

A quiet week this week, and all the better for it, really. Whether this is because things naturally go quiet over Easter or because I was internet-free for a week while on a cruise I can’t say. Probably a mixture of the two. So, let me know if I have missed anything via emailing me (ianlibrarian@live.co.uk) or getting me via Twitter @publiclibnews. I’ve also just relaunched the Public Libraries News Facebook page to cover the stranger and more humorous stories in the sector if you’d like to give that a go. And, yes, the cruise was very good (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Bruges) and no I couldn’t afford it on my salary – a very kind relative stepped in. So, thank you Aunty Hilary.

Changes by authority

National news

BBC Breakfast: “Actor Michael Sheen visits Port Talbot Library as part of the Warm Welcome Campaign. Warm Spaces across the UK are open this Christmas, offering warmth and community connection. Find your nearest space at www.warmwelcome.uk”

International news

USA – Californian library talks about there services: free food for children no questions asked especially in Summer, lego clubs, reading dogs, early years programme, drug alternative. Children read 5 books or 500 minutes to get free burger.

Local news by authority

The meaning of LIF

Editorial

There’s a lot of good news for various library services in England this week, with the announcement of the third round of the Libraries Improvement Fund. 43 library services received a share of £10.5m funding with £245,417 being the average amount given, ranging from £499,999 for Camden to a humble £50,000 for Bradford. Looking at what the money is being spent on – well, let’s say makers of moveable shelving units are celebrating as are the normal digital suspects. That old stand-by “Maker spaces” is a phrase used on more than one occasion as is the newly popular word “sensory”. Closer to my heart, there’s a few refurbishments and nicer children’s libraries coming from this. There’s also some very location specific stuff like a new place for sheet music or space for an exhibition. All in all, though, all of the projects that there are details about look defendable and there is reason for delight here.

Of course, me being me, there is also cynicism. The public library service has been increasingly grossly underfunded for over a decade and, in a healthily supported sector, a lot of the projects would not have needed this special one-off funding. And, while the support is to be welcomed, there at least two hints as to the real reasons for the money. The first is that the announcement seems to have caught quite a few councils unawares. As I write this a few days later, quite a few haven’t yet had time to produce press releases about it. This suggests the announcement was to tie in with a central government timetable rather than the local council one. Perhaps it was always so. More tellingly of course, the funding was used this week to defend in parliament the government’s questionable stewardship of the sector. The amount – ten million – also seems to be the lowest that can be given in double figures, with a few hundred extra thousand given so as not to make it too obvious. Kind of like a reverse of Camden’s frankly hilarious cheek at asking for £499,999, the very maximum that could have been asked for, to the pound. I salute you, Camden.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Dozens of library services and 26 museums to receive £33m government funding – Guardian. ““With upgraded buildings and technology, we can expect to see many more people experiencing and enjoying what their local library service has to offer.””
  • Forty-three libraries win slice of £33m funding boost – BookSeller. Libraries Connected say ““We do need to see much wider and longer-term investment in the library network, however. Without a more secure financial settlement for local government, libraries will remain particularly vulnerable to cuts and closures. The next government must take decisive action to avoid a crisis in our libraries over the coming years.””

We are again disappointed by UNITE’s decision to call for strike action. We have made every effort to engage with the union and listen to their views.  However, it should be noted that the UNITE strike does not reflect the opinion of the vast majority of our colleagues; with UNITE membership across our organisation sitting at less than 3% of the workforce. A well-received pay award was made in 2023, which was underpinned by the Real Living Wage and we are proud to be one of only 14,000 organisations in the UK to be accredited as a Real Living Wage employer.  The Real Living Wage for 2024 is set and we will implement this in April of this year. 

Over the past 30 years, we have developed terms and conditions of employment that work for our business and our employees.  Our people have choices about how they work and engage with us.  This commitment to our staff is underlined by the fact we have been awarded Investors in People Gold status. We do not offer zero hours contracts, as erroneously suggested by UNITE.  We do offer flexible working arrangements and give staff the opportunity to transfer from flexible contracts to permanent contracts via our You Choose scheme, which is open to all. Planned changes to GLL’s sick pay scheme will be implemented as part of our 2024 pay award. Our focus remains on ensuring that a quality library service continues to be delivered to local communities in Bromley and Greenwich and that was the case on 26 March.

GLL spokesperson on strike action in Bromley an Greenwich
  • Libraries to get near £800k boost – BBC. Makerspace money for Hull: “Michelle Alford, library services director for Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd said the funding would create “exciting centres of digital innovation” in more of its branch libraries.”.
  • Library staff celebrating victory after strike sees 20% increase in sick pay – Morning Star. “The Unite members walked out on Tuesday this week and staged a mass picket at Woolwich Centre Library in London. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “While this is a welcome step in the right direction, Unite won’t stop here. “Our members deserve better pay and conditions and GLL is in a position to improve its offers across the board. “Outstanding disputes with GLL include a pay increase and better treatment for staff on zero-hours contracts.””

Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service which meets local needs. It is for each local authority to consider how best to deliver this. His Majesty’s Government has provided an additional £600 million on top of the £64 billion Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 — an increase of 7.5% in cash terms. This uplift will help to reduce pressure on councils’ budgets, and protect services including public libraries.

In addition, DCMS announced on 25 March that 43 library services in England would benefit from Round 3 of the Libraries Improvement Fund which is allocating £10.5 million across this financial year and next. The Fund has allocated £20.5 million since 2021 to public library services across England to support them to upgrade their buildings and improve digital infrastructure so that they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people want to use them.

Julia Lopez MP, Parliamentary Secretary, DCMS
Camden CouncilOne Kilburn£499,999
Hackney LibrariesStoke Newington Library Improvement Project. See Stoke Newington Library awarded £499,700 grant to improve reading, study, culture and children spaces – Hackney Council. Stoke Newington Library redesign for “creative, inclusive and innovative new spaces.”. Part of £4m renovation.£499,700
Reading Borough CouncilReading Libraries – Reading Central Library and Branch Digital Improvement – making all our spaces amazing.
See Library Users to Benefit From A Further 495K of Investment (reading.gov.uk) – Reading Council. Borrowable tablets, streaming technology, microbits, self-service machines in 3 libraries, auto check-in, self-service lockers, sensory/interative tables and projection equipment.
£495,000
Cheshire West and Chester Library ServiceNorthwich Library Transformation£473,623
Wakefield LibrariesConnect Wakefield Library and Museum. “for a children’s library which Wakefield Council said would deliver a “transformative experience” for children and families and cater for “those with sensory and physical disabilities”.”£446,587
Medway LibrariesForward Medway£409,552
Hull Culture and Leisure Library ServicesMaking Makerspaces. £395,000
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Libraries ServiceLibraries reimagined – Guisborough£391,050
Newcastle LibrariesWalker LIF 3. “a new reading facility in a disused part of the Walker Activity Dome. Newcastle City Council’s Christine Herriot said: “This extra funding will help make the library bigger by bringing unused storage space back into use, give it a new entrance and enable us to widen digital services.”£382,159
London Borough of RedbridgeFulwell Cross Library – Transformation Programme. See Fullwell Cross Library to receive grant funding of nearly £400,000 to help modernise and refurbish much-loved facility – Redbridge Council. For “vital repairs, renovations and the development of digital infrastructure “: makerspace, refurbishment and redesign esp. children’s library, Hublets, Tovertafel table, museums boxes on shelves.£379,899
Warwickshire LibrariesSensory Discovery Mobile Library. See Warwickshire Libraries secure funding for sensory mobile library – Warwickshire Council. “Discovery Den” mobile “safe and inclusive space for children, young people, and adults with additional and more complex needs.”£372,638
Rutland County CouncilLIF3£359,000
Trafford LibrariesSale Library – A Cultural Hub. See Funding boost for Sale Library – Trafford Council. ” integrating the library into the foyer, a general refit and installing a permanent Cosgrove Hall Films Archive exhibition.”£347,000
Dorset Council Library ServiceDorset Council Libraries Asset Improvement£309,971
North Somerset LibrariesRe-designing Library outreach services. See North Somerset Council secures £300k funding for electric mobile library vehicle – North Somerset Council. Replaces diesel powered mobile. £40k match funding from council. £309,748
Worcestershire County Council (libraries)Communit-E-Bus£301,450
Shropshire LibrariesWork well with your Library£280,250
Oldham Council LibrariesAdaptable Library Project (ALP) – Oldham£277,000
City of York CouncilYork Explore Libraries£250,000
East Riding LibrariesBridlington Libraries Refurbishment. Sensory areas and moveable shelves to Bridlington North and Bridlington Central libraries£246,000
Sunderland City CouncilLibraries Uplifted£230,000
Staffordshire County Council – Libraries & ArtsConnecting Communities Wombourne Library£199,400
Doncaster Heritage ServicesMexborough Library Reimagined£182,000
Walsall CouncilWalsall Dementia Friendly Libraries£181,674
Sutton Council’s Cultural ServicesOn-screen: Building Inclusive Digital Communities£179,340
Nottinghamshire County Council – Cultural ServicesInspire Hucknall Library Reconfiguration£178,500
Sandwell Library and Information ServiceDeveloping Cultural Spaces£177,000
Lancashire County CouncilBurnley Library Music Collection & Flexible Space. See Burnley Library’s £165k boost to host music collection – BBC. “Burnley Library is to turn a disused children’s library area into a home for the Stocks Massey Music Collection.”£165,000
Doncaster Heritage ServicesMexborough Library Reimagined£182,000
Isle of Wight Library ServiceAccessible libraries . See Funding boost for two popular island libraries announced – Isle of Wight Radio. Improved accessibility at Cowes and Ryde libraries.£150,000
Dudley MBC – Planning and RegenerationDudley Libraries. Lye Library will have moveable shelving, refurbishment, VR headsets and hublets (source: GLL)£144,715
North Lincolnshire CouncilScunthorpe Central. £141,766
Kirklees LibrariesKirklees Libraries Open Access Development£137,068
London Borough of IslingtonArchway Library Digital Hub£136,800
Leicester City Neighbourhood ServicesGreen Libraries£130,000
Wigan CouncilLeigh Library. See Big plans to transform Leigh Library after Wigan Council bosses secure £110k – Wigan Today. Moveable shelving, lighting, projection equipment, staging/seating/blackout blinds. £110,000
London Borough of BromleyInspiration Room – Room of Requirement£98,380
London Borough of BarnetGolders Green Reading Garden£85,150
Sefton LibrariesAccess to Bootle£79,973
Telford & WrekinRenovating the Digital Front Door£68,000
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough CouncilWombwell Children’s Library£65,470
Herefordshire Museums Libraries & ArchivesHerefordshire Libraries£57,087
Bradford LibrariesBradford Libraries Digital Readiness£50,000
  • Public Library Forum 2024 – National Acquisitions Group. London, Thursday 16 May. “A full programme is available below with a broad range of topics including Oldham’s NAG Grant project “Language Barrier Breakers” and LibrariesUnlimited’s “The Secret Book Quest” alongside “The Life of a Dewey Number” with Jo Maxwell from BDS.”
  • Regional Offer Launch – Libraries Connected. Recording of webinar. “To mark the first six months of the Regional Development Programme, we are launching a set of offers for Regional Networks. Our aim is to build an understanding of how the Regional Development Team can support you to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.”
  • What Libraries Risk When They Go Digital – Time. “Digitization has been a transformative tool for scholars and a valuable shield against the dangers that threaten paper-based historical records. But it is time to consider the vulnerabilities of digital repositories as well. Fires, theft, and physical neglect are no longer the only major threats archives face: now we must also add ransomware to the list.”
  • Yorkshire museums and libraries to get £3m funding boost – BBC. “Wakefield Libraries will receive nearly £450,000 for a children’s library which Wakefield Council said would deliver a “transformative experience” for children and families and cater for “those with sensory and physical disabilities”.”

International news

Local news by authority

See here for virtual tour
  • Essex – Rayleigh High Street library to host new Barclays service – Echo series. “Barclays has announced it will now operate a service four days a week from Rayleigh Library, in the High Street, following a series of branch closures in the area.”
  • Flintshire – Flintshire Council assurances over leisure services – Leader. “In a letter seen by the Leader Aura Leisure – which runs most leisure centres in Flintshire – has claimed the council is “contemplating” withdrawing funding support for it. The organisation, which runs the Buckley, Mold, Flint and Deeside leisure centres, has issued a letter to its employees, saying its funding agreement with Flintshire Council ends on March 31.”
  • Gateshead – Crawcrook Library reopening next week – Gateshead Council. “Since the building closed for refurbishment in January, its lighting, decoration and internal fittings have been upgraded to create improved space for community activities and book borrowing.” … “Pelaw Library is also currently closed for refurbishment and expected to reopen within the next few weeks”

“We are not looking to take away Performing Arts Library’s statutory status as it doesn’t have any, indeed no performing arts library does as they were not included in the 1964 Act”

Somerset – Correction to BBC article

Better on balance?

Editorial

Interesting mixture of news from GLL’s several library services this week. On the one hand, three of their library workers are up for national awards, it’s been confirmed that they are continuing to run Dudley’s libraries and there’s a nice refurbishment in Bromley. On the other, there’s strike action in their Bromley and Greenwich library services, with ““low pay and shoddy working practices” being cited. Away from them. there’s a refurbishment in Staffordshire and protest moves against the huge cuts in Birmingham. There’s also a positive news article written by CILIP on the Business and IP Centres out now in the Big Issue.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • British Library did the right thing by not paying cybercriminals – Guardian / Letters. “At the National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ, we have long shared the view of our law enforcement partners that paying ransoms should not be condoned, encouraged or endorsed. Doing so does not guarantee a return of access to data or computers, and in fact makes it more likely that the victim will be targeted in future.”
  • CILIP Conference – CILIP. 10-11 July, Birmingham. “Intellectual Freedom will form our headline theme, but per our leadership remit, we will also explore wider challenges and opportunities within our sector.”
  • CILIP North West Away Day and AGM 2024 – CILIP. 17 April, Liverpool. Speaker is Andrew Walsh, neurodivergent librarian, trainer, and National Teaching Fellow.
  • For The Love of Literacy 2024 – Better World Books. Webinar, 27 March 11am. “Join us on Wednesday 27th March at 11am, for 45 minutes, to meet some of our literacy grant and book donation recipients. They’ll tell you about their exciting projects and how our partnership will help achieve their project aims.”
  • Future of Scotland’s Libraries – RSE / Eventbrite. Wednesday 17 April, Edinburgh. “being asked to deal with challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, book-banning requests, misinformation, the need for climate emergency awareness and more, and all of this in the face of growing budget challenges.”
  • GLL library staff nominated for prestigious awards – GLL. “Nominations and categories are as follows – Gill Nutkins, Stock Librarian, Bromley Libraries “Nominated for her dedication to making library services more accessible to people with additional needs.”. Loretta Awuah, Strategic Business Support Manager, Greenwich, Bromley and Wandsworth Libraries “Nominated for creating the business support section in Greenwich and delivering the British Library SILL (Start Up in London Libraries) programme”. Georgina Carr, Partnership Marketing Programme Owner, Lincolnshire Libraries “Nominated for championing online improvements and bringing in innovative ideas which have enhanced the customers’ experience”
  • Libraries closing across the UK: What could the future hold – BBC Newsround. “Since 2010 nearly 800 libraries across the UK have closed, and visitor numbers have dropped too. A recent report looked at how libraries in England might be different in the future. So Emma-Louise went to meet some children and author, and Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, to find out what they want from libraries.”
  • More than 100 Bromley and Greenwich library workers to strike next week over pay – News Shopper / Yahoo. Union leader says “There are severe injustices that come with zero hours contracts and a so-called social enterprise should be ashamed to use them. “Our members are ready to fight for better pay and working conditions and we are right behind them.””
  • SLIC CEO Announces Retirement – Scottish Library and Information Council. Pamela Tulloch “A powerful and articulate advocate for libraries, during her time as chief executive she has grown and cemented the role that libraries play in all areas of social, cultural and political life, with successful and robust community initiatives which have had an impact on both the provision of funding and clear strategic lead.”
  • Spine Festival: Bringing poetry to South London’s libraries – London News Online. ACE funded. “Libraries in Lewisham, Southwark, Bromley and Wandsworth will be taking part in the festival, hosting performances across the next month. Each poet has been selected to create three relatable and fun creative writing workshops for their community’s children, exploring the themes of magic and imagination. “
  • They’re in everyone’s good books: Two librarians on shortlists for awards – London News Online. “Two dedicated and hardworking staff members at ‘Better’ libraries covering Bromley, Greenwich and Wandsworth have been shortlisted for distinguished awards from ‘Libraries Connected’.”
  • Want to rebuild the UK economy, Jeremy Hunt? Start with our beautiful public libraries – Big Issue. Jo Cornish of CILIP writes on Business and IP Centres in public libraries: “Over a three-year period (2016-2019), these centres helped no fewer than 12,388 business to launch – nearly half of which were in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’. Over the same period these ‘library start-ups’ generated £239m in additional sales, creating 7,800 new jobs in the process.”. These businesses were demographically diverse.
  • What’s the point of libraries? – Unison. “Library activists from Walsall and Hampshire explain the reality behind the stats that funding has been decimated and libraries are closing at an alarming rate” … ““It’s people in the cracks in society, without a support network around them, those are who rely on libraries.””

International news

Local news by authority

Birmingham
  • Bournemouth Christchurch Poole – BCP Council cuts hard copy newspapers in libraries – Daily Echo. “BCP Council has made the decision to cut all physical copies in its 24 libraries across the conurbation, saving the authority around £15,000 a year. Instead, around 1,000 newspapers will still be available digitally with the usual national papers and the Bournemouth Echo. ” … “Hours are set to be cut by an average of 10 hours a week, at each library, from April, which could save the authority £440,200.”
  • Bradford – Family fun at Bradford Libraries this Easter – Rombalds Radio. “Libraries will be reading stories and singing rhymes and there will be craft activities including making fluffy bunnies, designing Easter eggs, decorating bird houses, building Easter baskets, and creating Easter plant pots.”
  • Brighton and Hove – Changes to Hove Library archive stock collection – Brighton and Hove Council. “our libraries will be looking to sell a part of the archive stock collection through public auction. All funds raised from sales will be put aside for future spending on Hove Library.”
  • Bromley – Refurbishment of Southborough Library to begin soon – Bromley Council. “The council is undertaking an extensive repair programme across nine of the borough’s libraries, investing over £10m over the course of two years. The programme will deliver essential repairs to the libraries and seek to provide improved accessibility and sustainability throughout the buildings. The £500k refurbishment of Southborough Library will include a comprehensive repair programme with end of life materials replaced and repairs made to the building’s infrastructure, as well as new public access toilets with baby changing facilities.”
    • ‘Appalling’ GLL is facing strike by library workers in Bromley – Inside Croydon. “Library workers in Bromley are to take strike action over “low pay and shoddy working practices”, according to their union, Unite.” … “The union says that they employ library workers on zero hours contracts and implement “policies that do not align with local government conditions”.” … “, pay awards would have been higher if staff were still in-house.””
  • Croydon – Exploring the vague proposals on the table for Croydon’s libraries – Save Croydon Libraries. “The proposal and the consultation use misleading language, expressed in overly-positive terms, about changes that will purportedly improve access to libraries. What is being proposed is so vague that it is very difficult to understand what is really intended. For example, a ‘community book collection’ could mean anything: a box of random donated books; a shelf of library books in the corner of a post office, pub, or church hall; or a more comprehensive, well-curated offer in a large inclusive space. Self-service could mean self-service checking in and out of books, or it could refer to fully staffless ‘self-”
    • £51,000pa saved on library won’t touch council’s £1.6bn debt – Inside Croydon. “since 2019, our libraries service has had it budget reduced by more than £800,000 and opening hours have been reduced. Now, they’re at it again and Sanderstead and three other Croydon libraries are earmarked for closure as part of proposed changes. I suspect I’m not the only one who sees the cruel irony of London’s Borough of Culture proposing such an act of cultural vandalism.”
  • Darlington – Record numbers make a beeline for new look library – Darlington Council. “Among the new innovations which has proved most popular since the library reopened last September has been The Hive, a cutting-edge space designed to ignite curiosity and fascination in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activities. After securing a £30,000 grant from LibraryOn, Darlington libraries teamed up with North East company Fuzzy Logic Studio to improve its online presence and engagement. The Hive boasts an interactive wall mural …”
  • Derby – Council invites bids to run Derby’s ten community libraries – Derby Council. “Derby City Council is inviting organisations to formally register their interest in running the city’s ten community libraries as a Trust.” … “As part of their application, organisations need to show that they have the knowledge, experience, and resources or support to manage the buildings or spaces to deliver a range of services, including library provision.”
  • Dudley – Books will be on sale at Stourbridge Library for just 25p – Halesowen News.
    • GLL to continue providing Dudley library service – Dudley Council. “Following a competitive tender process, the charitable social enterprise has been awarded the contract for the day-to-day management of the 13 libraries and Dudley Archives and Local History Service. GLL, which has been running Dudley’s libraries and archives since 2017, is committed to continuing to maintain and build on the service for borough residents. It is currently planning an official launch in the coming months of Brierley Hill Library, following it’s £670,000 refurbishment, and later this year will be launching the GLL Literary Foundation, which will support talented authors who are based near local libraries.”
  • Gloucestershire – Exciting event to return and library gets another funding win – Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Standard. “To help with the annual operating costs of the Library, the Gloucestershire County Councillor for Fairford and Lechlade-on-Thames, Dom Morris has announced that a one-off grant of £2,000 will be paid to the Library alongside the existing annual £10,000 at the start of this financial year and is to be used at the discretion of the Library volunteers to assist with any increased costs.”
  • Essex – Update on new Shenfield Library – Essex Council. “A topping out ceremony has marked a key milestone in the construction of Shenfield’s new library. The project will deliver a modern library and commercial space. Nine high quality apartments will be for sale above.”
  • Hampshire – North Baddesley Community Library raises more than £150 – Hampshire Chronicle. “Money raised will go towards buying replacement book shelves and new large print books which are popular among local readers.”. A further jigsaw sale is planned.
  • Kirklees – Kirklees Council set to sell off buildings and land to plug £47m deficit – BBC News. “Also on the list is the former Almondbury Library and community facilities including the DRAM Sport and Community Centre at Dalton.”
  • Knowsley – Teenage Writing Competition at Knowsley’s Libraries – Knowsley News. “Knowsley Libraries are running a writing competition for aspiring teenage writers. You can write a short story, poetry, a script or even a novel in any genre, the only criteria is that it should be an original piece of work and should be no more than 2,000 words in length”
  • Leicester – UK council won’t say whether two-week ‘cyber incident’ impacted resident data – Register. “Libraries and community centers remain open, and waste services continue to operate as normal, but access to public computers, Wi-Fi, and printing is down. “
  • Lincolnshire – Lincolnshire librarian in line for prestigious award – Lincolnshire World. “Georgina – who is the Partnership Marketing Programme Manager in the region – has been nominated for championing online improvements and bringing in innovative ideas which have enhanced the customers’ experience. These include a bespoke video sharing customers’ library stories, integrated catalogue functions, and room and activity booking facilities within the website.”
  • Manchester‘Unique’ south Manchester library set for major revamp – with closures announced – Manchester Evening News. “Chorlton Library will undergo a revamp, with work starting later this month. Once it fully reopens next year, the grade-II listed building will boast new meeting rooms, longer opening hours, and improved stonework and windows.”
  • North East Lincolnshire – Review of library and archive service across North East Lincolnshire closing this week – North East Lincolnshire Council. “The first stage of the review of library and archive services across North East Lincolnshire is coming to a close at the end of this week with nearly 600 people already having contributed their views. The current statutory library service and archive service is operated by Lincs Inspire Ltd …” … “The results of the first stage of consultation will inform proposals about how the services may look in the future, which will be the subject of the second stage of consultation, likely to be released in the late spring or summer of 2024.”
  • Nottingham – Nottingham library opening delayed after contractor goes bust – West Bridgford Wire. “The opening of the revamped Sherwood Library has been hampered by the collapse of a construction company and subsequent “snagging issues” – but remains on target for the summer.”
  • Redcar and Cleveland – ‘Let’s not remove the magic’: Pleas fail as council agrees library cuts – Darlington and Stockton Times / Yahoo. “The council said it received interest from 112 people who would like to become a library volunteer, while a number of organisations indicated that they would be interested in taking over Laburnum or Dormanstown Library buildings.”
  • Sandwell – CBeebies Bedtime Stories chair comes to Sandwell – Sandwell Council. “The chair will be located in Central Library, West Bromwich, for the next few months before being a tour around other libraries in Sandwell later this year. CBeebies Bedtime Stories legacy reading corners are being introduced at libraries in Sandwell, Leeds, Blackpool, Hartlepool, Leicester, Brent and Somerset.”
  • Somerset – New library scheme tackles abuse against women in Somerset – County Gazette / Yahoo. “Purple chairs are being installed in libraries across Somerset to provide a beacon of safety for women and girls. The “Purple Chair Scheme” will aim to provide safe spaces for women and girls across the county to get information about health and wellbeing, along with support and resources to help with any difficult circumstances.”
  • Somerset Libraries Neurodiversity books – Somerset Apple. “The collection includes 50 books and aims to provide ‘something for everyone’ including books for children, young people, adults, parents, women and those without an official diagnosis but who experience neurodivergent traits.”
    • Performing arts library in firing line of council cuts – BBC. “Somerset’s only performing arts library is facing closure as the council looks to save money. Located on the second floor of Yeovil library, the “unique” performing arts section offers music and drama study resources to the public. But Somerset Council is considering its removal from the Statutory Library Services.”
South Lanarkshire
  • Staffordshire – Burton Library set to undergo £1.3m refurb with extensive improvements – Staffordshire Council. “An allocation of £265,000 was secured from the Government’s Libraries Improvement Fund with Staffordshire County Council investing the remainder.” … “The refurbishment will involve repurposing the ground floor of the library into a vibrant, multi-purpose, accessible and inclusive space. It will include a flexible creative area for social activity and community learning which could be used by a range of groups and learning providers.”
  • Suffolk – Know Another Mocktail EventSuffolk Libraries. “Know Another is our new drink-awareness campaign to help you understand your alcohol intake and get advice to help cut down.”
    • Suffolk Libraries Day is coming – Suffolk Libraries. “libraries across Suffolk are hosting events and activities to raise money to support the vital work of the organisation in nurturing children’s literacy, tackling isolation and promoting wellbeing.” … “Suffolk Libraries Day has been running since 2019 and has so far raised over £50,000 to support Suffolk Libraries work in the community.”
  • Swindon – Swindon borough and parish councils to work more closely – Swindon Advertiser / Yahoo News. “One major service could be libraries. Cllr Grant’s report says:” There are five core libraries delivered by the borough council which forms part of the council’s statutory service and nine community libraries delivered by parish councils or community organisations, with agreed services such as stock management and training delivered by the borough council library service. As part of planning for sustainable delivery of library services, the council will explore the opportunities for further collaborative arrangements between the councils with regard to the future delivery of library services.””
  • Warwickshire – Warwickshire Libraries celebrates Shakespeare Week with pre-school ‘Storytelling with Shakespeare’ sessions – Warwickshire Council.
  • West Berkshire – New Thatcham Library part of wider regeneration plan for Brownsfield Road site – Newbury Today. “West Berkshire Council has allocated £1.2m in its budget for next year for a new build under ‘Thatcham Library’.”
  • West Northamptonshire – Self-funded community library calls for volunteers – BBC. Roade: “Without our volunteers it just wouldn’t exist. “You can have the funds but unless you’ve got the people to staff the library you are nowhere really.” The library is open Wednesday to Saturday and there are two volunteers at every session.”
  • Wolverhampton – Residents offered free health checks in libraries – BBC / Yahoo. “City of Wolverhampton Council said health monitors had been installed so people could also measure their height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and heart rate. No appointments are required and the checks are free and confidential, the authority said. Results are printed on a slip of paper for users to take away with them.”

The sharp end of the Curve

Editorial

Some weird news from Slough, where the Curve, which only opened in 2016 at a cost of £22m, that the council may be considering closing it cut costs. If so, this shows the weird current financial logic forced upon councils by reduced funding from central government combined with increasing social care costs where costs are more important than value or previous investment. There’s a hardening of attitudes towards library budgets in some councils. For instance, more news this week of councils reducing staff pay by introducing staff-less technology. I remember the days when allowing the public in through card-and-pin-entry was seen as an addition to normal opening hours. Not so much any more, the gloves are off.

Interestingly, in Birmingham which recently announced perhaps the deepest cuts in local government history, the opposition to library closures appears to be coalescing around keeping the service alive through alternative service models rather than protest/volunteering/demand for return of budget. Such trusts have been a bit hit and miss if combined with Leisure, apart from with GLL, which is big enough to have obvious economies of scale. Stand-alone library trusts – Devon (Libraries Unlimited), Suffolk (Suffolk Libraries) and York (York Explore) – have had a far more positive record while no less than seven single-council leisure-and-library trusts have been forced back into council control.

Changes by local authority

National news

“This webinar discusses the challenges facing rural library services and the vital role they play in supporting rural communities, economies and infrastructure. We reflect on the recent Defra policy document Unleashing rural opportunity and explore opportunities for rural libraries to innovate and develop new approaches. With Krystal Vittles, Deputy CEO of Suffolk Libraries, and Kerry Booth, CEO of the Rural Services Network.”
  • Books and beyond – Municipal Journal. Sponsored content. “GLL, a co-operative and charitable social enterprise, has diversified and grown over the past decade, to become the largest single provider of public library services in the country.” … ” visitors to some of our libraries don’t just have the option to borrow books, they might borrow a sewing machine, power washer or a drill.” … “The Literary Foundation will support authors who are local to the libraries that we operate, helping them to create their brand, deliver events and reach a wider audience. It will provide library users with the unique opportunity to see stories written, attend author-driven events and read diverse books authored by home-grown talent.”
  • British Library cyber attacks: Lessons learned – Arts Professional. see also The British Library looks to the future as it reveals the incalculable damage of its ransomware attack – Diginomica. ” Despite that, library visits are dwindling in the UK – down to 100 million annually in 2021-22 from 299 million ten years earlier, but that is partly because nearly 800 libraries have closed since 2010, due to austerity. Even so, those attendance figures still outnumber those for cinema and football combined, so don’t write off libraries just yet – though Statista data suggests that the most common age group for users is 45-64.”
  • Daily Mail Comment: Fund our libraries, not diversity tsars – Daily Mail. Councils “have almost doubled their spending on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) roles that most council taxpayers would regard as superfluous in such straitened times. In the great gamut of public spending a rise from £12million a year to £23million may not seem enormous. But with libraries closing and social care being squeezed it shows a warped sense of priorities.”
  • Expression of interest: Ukrainian–UK public library twinning programme – Libraries Connected. “here is a strong appetite for twinning with Ukrainian libraries to show solidarity, exchange skills and experience and connect audiences.”
  • Libraries Connected Awards Shortlist 2024 – Libraries Connected. Nominations for the various awards, including brief descriptions.
  • Protecting Local Libraries: Designing a New Strategy Placing Public Libraries at the Heart of Communities – Public Policy Exchange. “In the five years to 2020/2021, the number of statutory libraries open 10 hours or more a week in England, Scotland and Wales fell by 681, leaving the total number at 3,064. In the same period, the number of annual library visits fell by 59% and the number of print books issued fell 40%. “
  • Public Library Forum 2024 – National Acquisitions Group. Thursday 16 May, London.
  • Pyjamarama is back for 2024 – Booktrust. 17 May. “Thousands of children all around the country – in schools, nurseries, community groups and at home – will spend the day reading, enjoying, and sharing stories all in the comfort of their pyjamas to raise vital funds to help every child enjoy story time”
  • Review into Arts Council England spending announced – Shropshire Star. “The use of public money by Arts Council England (ACE) will be reviewed by the Government. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced on Friday that Dame Mary Archer, the wife of Lord Jeffrey Archer and former chairwoman of the Science Museum Group, will lead the review.”

International news

  • Kenya – Kenyan Libraries Should Incorporate Queer Literature Without Exception – Business Today. “… acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals remains a contentious issue in predominantly conservative African societies. Library materials and programs related to sexual orientation and gender identity often provoke controversy, leading to self-censorship among librarians and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ resources. Public libraries, including school and academic libraries, must commit to serving and representing their entire community, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. They should provide welcoming environments and resources that cater to the diverse needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Ultimately, libraries have a responsibility to ensure equitable access to information and services for all patrons, fostering inclusivity and respect within their communities.”
  • Poland Digital Books in Polish Public Libraries: Case Study of Partnership with the Commercial Distributor Legimi – Public Library Quarterly. ” Arrangements for Legimi’s services are negotiated mainly through library consortia. Currently, approximately 42% of all libraries in Poland provide digital books through Legimi.”
  • South Africa – Libraries Get Dressed Up for National Library Week – Good Things Guy. “This year, SALW also runs at the same time as Fine Free Week, which means that those who haven’t returned outstanding items can do so without paying any fines—a welcomed sigh of relief for anyone who’s sweated over an overdue book in Cape Town.”

“The beautiful irony of a library after all, is that they are both a place for solitude and community in a single space.”

  • Ukraine – No more Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, or Tolstoy: Ukrainian libraries clean out shelves – Le Monde. “Like all the country’s libraries, hers received official recommendations to remove authors who support the invasion or Russian supremacy from its shelves in the name of martial law. “For any educated person, removing a book from a library is a difficult thing to do,” argued the sexagenarian, whose commitment to her country is beyond doubt. Yet she feels like the entire world is watching her. No other war has ever turned literature and poetry into such a minefield.”
    • Book Aid International to Donate Another 15,000 Books to PEN Ukraine’s Unbreakable Libraries Project – Publishers Weekly. “Ensuring continued access to books for Ukrainians who are facing immeasurable challenges must remain at the forefront of this collaboration. I urge more publishers to join this important initiative by donating books, funds and spreading the word.”
    • Why Suppression of Libraries Corrupts a Nation – Library Journal. “While annihilation of libraries has historically featured as a component of war, this war revealed a new form of destruction, where the invader corrupts the library into an instrument of aggression. In occupied Ukraine, libraries are increasingly used as a means of spreading Russian propaganda. The Russian government has spent millions to publish sources justifying the war, to control Ukrainians in occupied areas and also to mobilize the population at home. With the closure of many schools in the occupied lands, libraries also are forced to conduct events celebrating Russia and diminishing the history of Ukraine, encouraging youth to turn away from their roots.”
  • USA – Dungeons & Dragons kits coming to WA libraries, with an event planned in Yakima – Yakima Herald-Republic. “Renton-based Wizards of the Coast is donating 75 kits, each including materials such as character sheets, organizer instructions, a demo adventure and a learn-to-play guide, according to the news release.”
    • American Library Association says book ban challenges in 2023 broke new record – Yahoo / The Hill. “The ALA announced Thursday that 2023 saw 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship, up 65 percent from the previous record in 2022 of 2,571 unique titles.”
    • Critics: NYC library systems must slash ‘obscene’ exec salaries to avoid service cuts – Yahoo / New York Post.”New York Public Library President Anthony Marx earns $984,338 [£773k! – Ed.] annually, Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson pockets $652,035 and Queens Public Library President Dennis Walcott rakes in $336,953″
    • Libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books, seek new state laws in fight with publishers – Independent. “Librarians in several states have been pushing for legislation to rein in the costs and restrictions on electronic material, which has been growing in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrons are stuck on long waiting lists for audio and e-books, and digital offerings are limited.”
    • Safety Net – Longreads. One of the best articles I’ve ever read on being a US librarian: “I love it because every day requires me to meet humanity face to face. It reminds me that I am actually living in an actual society where I am responsible to other people.”
    • ‘So happy you’re here’: how a librarian became an advocate for mental health – Guardian. ““I grew up in libraries, raised by libraries, loved everything about libraries,” he said in an interview. “It is a place where you can just be as you are, you can come on inside, you can take joy in that as an introvert [or] an extrovert.” … “After months of his fans promoting Threets to PBS, home of the iconic TV series Reading Rainbow, he announced he would serve as the network’s resident librarian for a social media series. “

Local news by authority

  • Birmingham – Charity challenges legality of Birmingham library closures – Arts Professional. “The Library Campaign says Birmingham City Council’s plan to close 25 of its local libraries as part of far-reaching budget cuts would breach the Public Libraries and Museums Act.”
    • Birmingham residents plan ‘resistance’ to possible library closures as budget fallout continues – Birmingham Mail. “Dozens of concerned Acocks Green residents met on Saturday, March 9, to discuss how to fight back if closures do go ahead and how important libraries are to the wider community. The Save Acocks Green Library Campaign says they are part of a “rapidly emerging trend” of grassroots campaigns which have begun to recently emerge across Birmingham.”
    • Hope for Birmingham’s under-threat libraries as ‘alternative model’ explored – Birmingham Mail. “Katherine Iroh, Labour councillor for Billesley, has now seen more than 1,200 people sign her petition to save Yardley Wood Library and said she discussed the possibility of saving libraries through an “alternative model” with cabinet member Cllr Saima Suleman.” … “We are looking at a community asset transfer where a community organisation (or a group of community organisations) sets up a trust which runs the library and applies for grants to help with the costs”
  • Cambridgeshire – Libraries and community centres benefit from £5m investment – Hunts Post. “Libraries in Bar Hill, St Ives, Littleport and Whittlesey along with youth centres in Whittlesey (Scaldgate) and Ramsey (Ailwyn) as well as The Horizon Resource Centre in Cambridge will see a range of energy efficiency and environmentally friendly heating upgrades.” … “The projects will be funded by a grant of more than £1.2m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme following a successful bid by council officers.”
  • Camden – KFC turns Kentish Town library into a mock-up restaurant – Ham and High. “Fran Bernhardt, of the food charity Sustain, said this move was a “flagrant disregard of local children’s needs” and “an outrageous example where profits have been prioritised over people”. Speaking to The Times, Ms Bernhardt said: “Councils must champion residents’ health by stopping companies like KFC from flooding our high streets with unhealthy foods.””
  • Central Bedfordshire – Police install terminals for supermarket shoppers to report crime – BBC. “”When we trialled this in the library we found a high level of people who were reporting domestic abuse,” Mr Akinbusoye said. “For some reason they were not doing that at home or in other areas.””
Manchester: Councillor Adele Douglas celebrates all 24 Manchester Libraries.

Conwy – Library protest to campaign against 25% reduction in opening hours – Conwy Herald. “Dr Samah Massalhan, a consultant at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, who lives in Llanfairfechan with her partner Steve Wilson and their two children Carys, six, and Jonathan, three, is organising a “read-in” at Llanfairfechan Library this Saturday 16 March.”

“Libraries NI, like many other public bodies, proclaims that its resources are tight and that it is short of money. I was therefore very disappointed to discover from the exposé in yesterday’s Belfast ‘News Letter‘ that Libraries NI has thought it appropriate to spend thousands upon thousands of pounds on books promoting the trans agenda, with toddlers no less … Why is Libraries NI in the business of corrupting young people through a trans agenda”

Northern Ireland: They Work For You: Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice 
  • Kirklees – Fears for future of eight libraries in borough – BBC. “Cynthia Collinson, chair of Friends of Mirfield Library, told the BBC they feared the library would be left with a lack of support. “We can run day to day, putting books on shelves et cetera, but we do not have the expertise of managing a library of this size,” she said. “My fear is it might have to close, and it would just be cutting off a lifeline for so many vulnerable people.””
  • Lewisham – Lewisham Library – Lewisham Council. “We plan to transform the library into an exciting multi-use space for the community. As well as retaining the core library and archive services that we know are so important to residents, the venue will also offer fantastic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, arts organisations and community groups, as well as plenty of space to host cultural events. “
  • Manchester – Historic Chorlton Library refurbishment plans unveiled – Manchester Council. “Work to the Grade II listed building will enhance the existing structure of the building and the fabulous dome which has been hidden for years will be unveiled when it reopens as part of the refurbishment plans.” see also ‘Unique’ south Manchester library set for major revamp – with closures announced – Manchester Evening News.
    • View our new virtual tours – Manclibraries Blog. “You can now take 3D walkthrough virtual tours of all 22 Manchester Libraries, enabling you to explore our fabulous venues, discover the nuances and architecture, and find out much more about them before you physically visit, all from the comfort of your screen.”
Norfolk telling it like it is
  • North Somerset – Creative wellbeing courses at North Somerset Libraries inspire local residents – North Somerset Council. “North Somerset libraries recently offered several six-week courses in different creative pursuits for adults who may be struggling with their wellbeing”
  • Nottingham – Children’s play area opens outside Nottingham Central Library – BBC.
  • Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen to step down – West Bridgford Wire. “uccesses such as the opening of the new Nottingham Central Library” … ” an advocate for reading and literacy and have long supported the development of the Nottingham Imagination Library that has given more than half a million free books to children aged 0-5 in our city”
  • Pembrokeshire – Library service reductions backed by Pembrokeshire councillors – Milford Mercury. “over the last 11 years of financial austerity, the Library Service has reduced its costs considerably,” listing a wide range of changes including  reducing opening hours of some libraries, working with Town and Community Councils and the local community to create Community Managed Library Partnerships, and negotiating financial contributions from Town and Community Councils to support the running of libraries.” … “Further opening hour cuts in 7 libraries. Some town councils funding hours, staffless technology to reduce staffing in Pembroke Dock.”
  • Redcar and Cleveland – Campaign launched to save library from council cuts – BBC. “Redcar and Cleveland Council have proposed turning Laburnum Road Community Library into a community-run centre from April. The move is part of a wider £400k cost cutting proposal which would affect several libraries in the region. One campaigner said that the closure of Laburnum Road’s library would be a “disaster for the community”.”
  • Sheffield – New opening times for Sheffield libraries approved by users – The Star. “The new standardised opening times affect libraries in Chapeltown, Crystal Peaks, Darnall, Ecclesall, Firth Park, Highfield, Hillsborough, Manor, Parson Cross, Stocksbridge and Woodseats. They have been increased from 31 to 34 hours a week.” … “Libraries will also close on Tuesday or Wednesday morning one day a month to allow for staff training time. Running training on Thursday, when branches are closed, was ruled out as it would mean full-time staff working six days a week.”
    • Community Hub Libraries to keep five day week opening hours – Sheffield Council. “Following a review of library services, feedback from local residents has been largely positive and resulted in these times being made permanent. The decision was made at a Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee meeting on Monday 11th March, and will better reflect the demand patterns of library users. Council-run Community Hub Libraries* are now open on the same days and times across the city”
  • Shropshire – Oakengates Library to relocate while theatre is redeveloped – Shropshire Star. “Oakengates Library is preparing to move to a temporary location while work takes place on the town’s theatre.”
  • Somerset Nailsea’s former library building gets a new lease of life – Somerset Live. “Sale of the building follows the library’s successful move to a nearby site on Colliers Walk, previously occupied by HSBC. The move means the library is now in a more accessible and energy efficient multi-functional space, which has already proven popular with the community. This replaces the old building, which could no longer meet the needs of local people or access legislation and would have cost around £1m for the council to bring to standard. Sale of the old building has secured income to support future library costs, ensuring this valued provision can continue for years to come. It has also cleared the way for new owners to refurbish or redevelop the building, offering something new to Nailsea.”
  • Suffolk – Maggie is making a difference – Suffolk Libraries. “An intrepid library manager is undertaking a sponsored walk taking in every library in the Ipswich and Kesgrave area to raise money on Suffolk Libraries Day.” … “Suffolk Libraries Day is the annual event to celebrate Suffolk Libraries and raise money to support the work of the library service in the community”
    • Essential lifeline of libraries in rural communities – Rural Services Network. “exemplifies the transformative potential of libraries in addressing mental health and wellbeing within the community. Distinguished as one of the few library services in the UK to offer a dedicated mental health and wellbeing service, Suffolk Libraries actively supports both staff and patrons through comprehensive access to current and trustworthy mental health information and resources…”
    • New opening hours for Kessingland Library – Suffolk Libraries. “Following consultation with customers the hours are changing from Monday 18 March. The main difference is that the library is opening earlier on a Tuesday and Friday. This change is designed to meet customer needs and make the hours more consistent. It also means the library will be open for one extra hour per week with the library closing earlier on some days to enable the earlier opening.”
  • Surrey – Surrey Libraires Super Access extended to two new locations – Surrey Council. “Both libraries have been fitted with new technology that allows registered library members, who have had a short introduction to the new system, to access the library during the new, extended opening hours which are in addition to the existing staff hours. “
  • Wandsworth – New community space at Northcote Library adds to offer for local community – Wandsworth Council. “Northcote Library has been open to the public since April 2023, but as part of the council’s commitment to investing in local spaces, a new community space has been recently completed alongside the library. This ensures residents have another space to hire for community groups, local businesses and residents, with brand new facilities.”
  • Warwickshire – Warwickshire Libraries launches new creative practitioner role to engage with county’s Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities – Warwickshire Council. ” a new commission opportunity for a part-time creative practitioner”, funding as a NPO via Arts Council England.
  • Westmorland and Furness – Ulverston’s temporary library to expand in The Coro – Cumbria Crack. “The existing temporary pop-up arrangements in the Ante Room in The Coro and in the nearby Indoor Market Hall will be transferring to the Supper Room, creating a single location for the temporary library, which people said they would prefer to the current split sites.”. Council investigating final solution for Ulverston Library. ““Which ever option is eventually chosen, it will involve significant cost, with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds of public money needing to be invested. We therefore need to make sure we get this right.” see also New temporary library for Ulverston nears completion – Westmorland and Furness Council.
    • Boys to face no action over library fire, say police – BBC. “Three boys who were arrested after a library fire are to face no further action, according to police. Roose Library in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has remained shut since the blaze in May last year.”
    • Ulverston and Roose libraries’ future discussed by hundreds – NW Mail. “On Monday (March 11) evening, hundreds of residents attended the Red Rose Club in Ulverston for a meeting to discuss the closures of Ulverston and Roose libraries. The meeting was organised by councillor Michelle Scrogham who said residents ‘do not want’ a library service to replace their town libraries. “
  • Worcestershire – Great news for St John’s library members as Libraries Unlocked launches this week – Worcestershire Council. Continued conversion of libraries to unstaffed technology. Technology to allow library to be open unstaffed – BBC. Malvern Library.

A “material threat”

Editorial

It’s probably safe to say that the last budget of this government’s term was not met with unfettered joy by the public library sector. The expected focus on tax (well, OK, National Insurance) cuts means that there will be very little money left for councils, already facing perhaps the most serious budgetary pressures in their history. CILIP didn’t mince words in their response, saying that the budget represented a “material threat” to the sector.

And what this means in practice does not take much in the way of effort to imagine. Also this week, Birmingham voted through possibly the deepest cuts ever in the UK, with 25 libraries likely to be closed, 11 more to become co-locations and 47 staff to be lost. In London, two councils (Haringey and Sutton) are replacing paid staff with card-entry. Scotland had some (temporary?) good news with Stirling removing all cuts while it thinks about it again but some definite bad news with South Lanarkshire confirming closure of seven branches. The good news is that the people of Northern Ireland can have access to new library books again, something one imagines has been taken for granted for generations up until the last year.

Changes by local authority

National news

  • Angela Rayner Points Out A Very Obvious Problem With Nadine Dorries’ Endorsement Of Libraries – Huff Post / Yahoo. “Angela Rayner pointed out that a large flaw in Nadine Dorries’ new attempts to encourage people to go to libraries. Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, noted that hundreds of libraries have closed since the Conservatives were voted into power back in 2010, after the newly appointed culture secretary Dorries endorsed them on Sunday. Dorries tweeted: “It doesn’t matter where you’re from – a library card is a ticket to anywhere in the world. “It’s a chance to escape poverty, to broaden your horizons, to change your life, even.”. Angela replies “Why did you close 800 libraries then?
  • Jeremy Hunt, here’s all the ways your Spring Budget can start to fix our broken country – Big Issue. “Libraries are so much more than places to get books for free. They provide internet access – crucial for those claiming benefits – and in some cases act as warm spaces where community members can avoid the freezing cold. They generate £3.4 billion a year in value but are being neglected. Hard-up councils have reduced library spending by almost half since 2009/10. Libraries are often an easy target for cuts, but save the taxpayer money by improving literacy, wellbeing, employment and digital inclusion …”
  • LGA statement on Budget 2024 – Local Government Association. “It is disappointing that the Government has not announced measures to adequately fund the local services people rely on every day. Councils continue to transform services but, given that core spending power in 2024/25 has been cut by 23.3 per cent in real terms compared to 2010/11, it is unsustainable to expect them to keep doing more for less in the face of unprecedented cost and demand pressures.”
  • Librarians, apply to be an International Booker Prize Reading Challenge Ambassador – Reading Agency. “The prize is looking for three librarians from the UK and Ireland who are passionate about translated fiction to become Reading Challenge Ambassadors. The Ambassadors will be featured on the Booker Prizes and The Reading Agency’s channels, and have the chance to win tickets to the International Booker Prize 2024 ceremony. Reading Challenge Ambassadors will be sent a set of the 12 or 13 longlisted books after the announcement on 11 March”
  • Libraries: Protecting them helps everyone in the community – Herald. Regustrion required to read full article. “If the concept of a public library were proposed today, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be rejected by a great number of people as some kind of socialist utopian pipe dream.”
  • Library organisations call on government for long-term funding to protect services – BookSeller. “Libraries Connected and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) have called on the government for fair long-term funding for local government to protect libraries, in response to the Chancellor’s Budget Statement today (6th March). ” … “While both organisations welcomed the government’s announcement of new real-terms investment in cultural programmes, including £10m for the British Library North project in Leeds, they stressed the need for long-term sustainable support for libraries”
  • Passions: Libraries have been a lifelong focus from student social hub to parental inspiration and source of the latest titles – Scotsman. Registration required.
  • Show your work – finding & creating inspiration in the library sector – Artefacto. “We love seeing case studies, posts and articles from libraries and library staff celebrating their wins, whether big and small. But we also learn a lot from libraries sharing their experiences when things don’t necessarily go to plan.”
  • Statement: Libraries Minister must protect local library services – CILIP. “We hope that Government will take this final opportunity to avert further loss and hollowing-out of library services and to invest in the literacy, wellbeing and opportunity of future generations before it is too late.”
  • Sustainability in NHS Knowledge and Library Services Community of Practice joins the Green Libraries Campaign as a partner organisation – CILIP (press release). “The Green Libraries Campaign is the next stage of the Green Libraries Partnership, led by CILIP, which connects libraries across the UK through the annual Green Libraries Week and by allocating funding to enable libraries to launch green activities. It has also presented its inaugural Green Libraries Conference for knowledge sharing and green networking opportunities, and recently hosted free training workshops to support public library colleagues with tangible actions to embed and bring to life the pledges laid out in the Green Libraries Manifesto.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth asks “To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, if any, to protect spending on public libraries.”. Lord Parkinson replies “Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service which meets local needs. It is for each local authority to consider how best to deliver this.”

They Work For You

International news

“We needed such a mega event with a focus on libraries to bring people towards books. There’s no doubt about it that libraries symbolise the progress of civilisation,” he pointed out. “Therefore, libraries need to be preserved, protected, promoted, developed, redeveloped and reshaped. As all of you know, there are multiple benefits of reading books, which can be “most conveniently done by visiting libraries,” he remarked.

Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, at the Karachi Festival of Books & Libraries
  • Ukraine – Ukrainian libraries: two years under fire. An interview with Oksana Bruy – EUI Library Blog. ” The most recent data available suggests the war has affected all types of libraries in Ukraine, including national, regional, public, school, and university libraries. The number of operational libraries dropped to 26,281 by the beginning of 2023 compared to the previous year, representing a loss of approximately 4,000 libraries in the first year of war alone.”

“Ukrainian libraries remain central to communities, offering essential support services such as internet access, study spaces, legal or psychological consultations, language courses in English and Ukrainian and, of course, books. They also foster a sense of community cohesion and strength. However, in many communities in remote or frontline areas, many libraries are sadly closed, destroyed, or lack librarians. The constant threat of shelling makes it impossible for some to operate.”

  • USA – Haters attacked an inclusive public library. So its director made the whole city a book sanctuary – LGBTQ Nation. “no one from the Hoboken community, itself, seemed to oppose the event. The hate largely came from out of state, but it nonetheless made it clear that not even urban liberal enclaves in predominately blue states are safe from right-wing attacks. After the experience, Pu wanted to make it clear where her city stood. So she initiated the process of establishing the Hoboken Public Library as a book sanctuary.”

Local news by authority

  • Bradford – Family fun at Bradford Libraries this Easter – Bradford Council. “here will be craft activities including making fluffy bunnies, designing Easter eggs, decorating bird houses, building Easter baskets, and creating Easter plant pots.” Easter egg hunts.
  • Buckinghamshire – New library collections will provide invaluable resource for families with children – Buckinghamshire Council. Available at two libraries. “Parenting and Childcare Topics (PACT) is a unique collection of 170 different books designed to help parents and carers of children and young people to navigate a variety of topics from pregnancy, to dealing with complex emotions and situations, right up to approaching university. The books cover everything from general parenting tips to specific situations such as being separated parents or caring for a child with special educational needs and disabilities.”
  • Calderdale – The joy of volunteering: why your community needs you – Yorkshire Bylines. Computer help volunteer describes experience. “Perhaps it’s too easy to imagine that the people coming for help with technology must be elderly and/or lonely. This is just not the case: they come from all age groups, all social walks of life, and with a variety of lived experience. IT knowledge isn’t age or class-specific, nor is the occasional need for a cup of tea, some cheery company from outside your usual circle, and someone to chat to, even if it’s just for an hour. Of course, some folks need more help than others, but even a little is often enough to get them started on the road to tech independence. There is not just a technological need, but a social need here that’s also being unfulfilled.”
  • Cambridgeshire – Listed Cambridge library back on market after last owner pulled out of deal – BBC. “The 19th Century Mill Road Library in Cambridge was sold last year. The buyer intended to use it as a charity headquarters, but then pulled out of the deal.”
Cheshire West and Cheshire
  • Cheshire West and Chester – World Book Day: Cheshire West libraries to give free books to children – Cheshire Standard. Libraries giving out £1 books and quiz. Fancy dress swap has ended. Theatre show.
  • Croydon – ‘The council is dismantling our borough, service by service’ – Inside Croydon. “So there’s yet another consultation over the closure of certain libraries in the borough. After fighting this for many years, I think this time we can all agree that the writing is on the wall.” … “The council has been trying to close libraries for over a decade now. The cost of running the service plus the high value of the land the buildings occupy makes them a good target for a council drowning in debt” … “if the people of Croydon are happy to see this happen, then so be it. As for me I still think seeing the look on a child’s face when they sit in the library surrounded by books and realise they can take some home is worth the fight.”
  • Cumberland – World Book Day: Carlisle offers best access to libraries – News and Star. “New data from TonerGiant has uncovered the areas in England with the best, and worst, access to libraries, with northern cities Carlisle and Lancaster taking the top spot” … “he data found that residents in Carlisle and Lancaster have the best access to libraries in England, with approximately nine libraries per 100,000 people in each city.”
  • Devon – After over 18s hours party with music, drinks and food at Barnstaple Library – North Devon Today. “Libraries Unlimited has held incredibly successful Library Lates at Exeter, and more recently at Paignton, and we’re really excited it’s now Barnstaple’s turn. “Our library building is perfect for a party. There’s plenty of room to roll out a huge variety of things for everyone to enjoy.”

“Bring your friends and make a zine, or just make a noise! We’re promising a great, low-cost night out for everyone to learn something new and meet new people. There’s even a free wristband for a proper festival feel!”

  • Haringey – Councillors clash over cut to libraries service during budget debate – Haringey Community Press. “A Lib Dem proposal to find a new leisure centres provider instead of cutting the libraries budget was rejected by Labour councillors” … Lib Dems “heavily criticised the proposed library service cuts, which the council announced late last year, representing a 31% cut to spending over the next three years. The plans include reduced opening hours and using volunteers instead of professional librarians.” and “criticised the council’s decision to insource leisure centres following the termination of the council’s contract with Fusion, saying the council should have found an alternative external provider to take on the responsibility.”
    • Haringey Council defends library cuts and tennis charges – Tottenham and Wood Green Independent. “Plans for the year from April 2025 would move libraries to a ‘self-service’ model, with users given a keycard to enter library buildings, professional librarians replaced with volunteers, no toilet access without staff present and no CCTV monitoring.” … “Haringey Council said the reduction in the libraries budget was “based on efficiencies, not cuts”, and that it would be co-producing its libraries strategy with local people and staff.”
  • Manchester – Package for Val campaign launches in libraries to fight city-wide period poverty on International Women’s Day – Manchester Council. “The Package For Val campaign was first trialled at Manchester Central Library and after helping countless women and girls who endure period poverty, it has now expanded to 18 other libraries across Manchester including Newton Heath, Gorton and Withington” … “The package contains 2 sanitary towels in a discrete paper bag, supplied to anyone who asks at the library counter for a Package for Val. Posters are put in public loos to raise awareness of the scheme to anyone who needs it”
  • North Ayrshire – Kilwinning banking hub open for business in the town library – Ardrossan Herald. “Cash Access UK have opened the hub in a temporary location for now – Kilwinning Library, on St Winning’s Lane. They are now looking for a permanent base for the banking hub in the town, which opened for the first time on Monday, March 4.”
  • Northern Ireland – New library books: £1m of funding announced for NI Libraries – BBC. “In September, Libraries NI said it did not have money to buy new books as it had a “significant funding gap” in its annual budget. Libraries NI chief executive Jim O’Hagan said the organisation was “very grateful to be able to buy books again”. The £1m award brings the total funding for book stock to £3m for 2023-24.”
    • Woman with disabilities ‘sat and cried’ after news that library service was suspended – Impartial Reporter / Yahoo. “A woman with disabilities who avails of the Libraries NI Homecall service, calling it her “last lifeline”, said she “sat and cried” when she was informed that it would be suspended over the summer months. The Homecall service enables readers to contact their local library and request a selection of books to be delivered to their home if they are unable to visit the library themselves or do not have someone who can go to the library on their behalf.”
Nottingham – “Take a virtual tour of your new Nottingham Central Library from the comfort of your own home. Accompanying poem written and performed by Georgina Wilding.”
  • Nottingham – Nottingham City Council statement as 500 jobs to go and sweeping cuts to services approved – West Bridgford Wire. “Reviewing Library Service provision while maintaining a comprehensive and efficient service offer appropriate to the needs of our citizens.”
  • Orkney – Read all about it: TV’s Simon and Trish ‘Race Across Libraries’ from Exeter to Orkney – Orkney Council. “Two intrepid literary explorers are hoping they won’t be ‘overdue’ when they attempt to travel 1,100 miles across the UK to visit seven libraries – including Orkney Library & Archive – in six days to promote accessible reading services. Taking part in the challenge later this month (March) are Simon Savidge from Libraries Connected and Trish Sail from RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People). Simon is the man behind the Savidge Reads YouTube channel and broadcasts on books on Sky Arts while Trish, who is registered blind, last year won series three of the BBC’s Race Across the World with her best friend Cathie.”
South Lanarkshire: CILIPS give this caption to it: “‘Dear Library’ by Jackie Kay, created by South Lanarkshire Libraries for National Poetry Day. Closing libraries now appear at 0.23-0.30, 1.08-1.35, 2.10-2.20 and 2.27-4.26.”
  • South Lanarkshire – Dear Blantyre Library – CILIPS. ” I, along with countless others in our community, were heartbroken this weekend to hear confirmation of Blantyre Library’s closure, alongside six other branches across South Lanarkshire.” … “Here at CILIP Scotland, such news remains shocking but sadly unsurprising – you can read our archive of open letters to local authorities considering or implementing similar cuts to library services or consult the heat map we have created to visually illustrate our advocacy engagement throughout the last three years. Invariably, community campaigners with unparalleled local knowledge prove critical in calling decision makers to account. “
  • Stirling – Libraries Secure Reprieve in Budget After Massive Public Support, £100K Review Funded – BNN. “Following public support, libraries won a budget reprieve, avoiding closures and receiving £100,000 for future reviews, highlighting the community’s role in safeguarding essential services.”
  • Stoke on Trent – Longton Library refurbishment nears completion – Stoke on Trent Council. ” Longton library will temporarily close on Saturday 16 March, and will re-open to the general public on Monday 15 April. Work has been ongoing on the refurb of Longton Library since £300,000 of funding was secured from Arts Council England, as part of the Libraries Improvement Fund.”
    • Stoke-on-Trent Family Hubs introducing community book collections to mark World Book Day – Stoke on Trent Council. “Stoke-on-Trent Libraries will work with the Family Hubs to provide a wide range of books for younger readers while also catering for parents who enjoy reading. Community Book Collections will be available at Bentilee and Westfield (Normacot) Family Hubs as well as Thomas Boughey (Shelton) and Stoke North (Chell Heath) Children’s Centres.  This will complement the recent introduction of library memberships in Family Hubs, continuing the city council’s commitment to giving children in Stoke-on-Trent the best start and increasing reading levels.”
  • Suffolk – Bury St Edmunds Library team are pedalling for pounds – Suffolk Libraries. “Anyone visiting the library is welcome to join in the challenge and hop on the exercise bike in the library foyer and add as many miles as they like, making a donation in the process.”
    • Menopause & Me: the first year – Suffolk Libraries. “Suffolk Libraries runs the project in partnership with Suffolk Mind and over the past year has developed a new range of support, guidance and resources to help people in Suffolk experiencing the menopause and perimenopause. New support groups have also been launched in some libraries and courses offered to local employers and those affected by menopause.”
  • Sutton – Sutton libraries to open for longer – Sutton Council. “councillors agreed plans to introduce self access technology in all eight of the borough’s libraries.” … “he busier libraries, Sutton Central and Wallington, will be fully staffed from 9am to 5pm and will be self-access during extended hours.  Smaller libraries will remain staffed at least one day a week, but will be open for longer with extended periods of self access.” … “Lack of money means we have to find ways to save money and self-service does this.”
  • Tameside – Tameside libraries prepare for World Book Day events – Quest Media Network. “two story telling sessions, ran by the theatre company 2 Boards & A Passion.” Crafts and giving out tokens.
  • Warwickshire – Warwickshire Libraries enhance sensory offer with introduction of social stories – Warwickshire Council. “The guides include plenty of photos to help customers to the library familiarise themselves with the look, feel and layout before they visit, as well as highlighting environmental factors that may impact people with sensory differences, such as noise levels and crowded areas. “
  • Worcestershire – Great news for Rubery’s library members as Libraries Unlocked launches this week – Worcestershire Council. Staffless technology introduced “extending Rubery Library opening hours for Libraries Unlocked members to 8am – 8pm, Monday to Saturday.”. Those 15 or under can visit if accompanied someone aged over 15 who is a member.
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