NOVEMBER 2025  |
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| Welcome to our newsletter round up of November’s UK libraries news! |
KING’S AWARD |
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Congratulations to the Friends of Pontesbury Library (FOPL) in Shropshire, who have won a 2025 King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is described as “equivalent to an MBE for voluntary groups”. It was created in 2002 as the Queen’s Award, to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. FOPL is the only Friends group among the 231 winners. FOPL was formed ten years ago, when Shropshire sought to close many of its local libraries – unless local communities could raise funds and set up a local organisation to support their library financially and administratively. FOPL chair Caroline Wright reports: “Activities for all ages have expanded exponentially and are very well-supported. Alongside fundraising, they include illustrated talks, plant sales, literacy, writing competitions, children’s craft activities, Christmas activities including Santa Fun Runs, Santa Sleigh tours and tree recycling, coffee mornings and a monthly lottery. “Working with Pontesbury Parish Council and Shropshire Council, FOPL negotiated the library’s move into splendid purpose-built, multi-use premises in the village centre. We have also provided additional equipment and resources, to enhance the library’s relevance to the growing needs of the community. “Figures recently released show that over the past five years, at a time when library use is generally declining, active users of Pontesbury Library have increased by 17% – the highest in Shropshire. This shows that partnership between the voluntary and public sector can produce positive results and reduce costs.” Pictured – FOPL Committee members. |
BRIGHTON Not for the first time in recent years Brighton City Council has been consulting on plans to close libraries- this time three of them – Rottingdean, Hollingbury and Westdene. They also suggested cutting the opening hours of the flagship Jubilee library and the one in Hove. And not for the first time locals are up in arms. The consultation report said, amongst other things, that closures and reduced opening hours could be expected to lead to a loss of study spaces for older secondary school pupils.  |
There were also concerns about the loss of warm spaces and community access. “Respondents living with a disability said they would find accessing alternative libraries via public transport very challenging.” At the committee meeting which considered the proposals and consultation responses it was also remarked that when the PFI contract set up to build the Jubilee library ends in 2029, the position should be better – though the Council has to find £15m to pay off that contract by then. The committee agreed to request a pause to the closure etc. plans so we wait to see what follows. Picture of Hollingbury Library: Mark Kychma |
ALL POWER TO POWYS |
It’s a sign of the times when a big headline is a local paper is: “No current plans to close library buildings in Powys”! Irony apart, it’s good to report that Powys County Council has managed to find some savings and “a number of grants” – thus avoiding possible moves to “reduce library provision”. This may not last. The Senior Manager of Community and Wellbeing (where libraries reside) told a council meeting: “With pressure on budgets we have to look at those options from time to time, but currently I don’t have any plans to share.” Still, it’s good news for now. |
LAMENTABLE LAMBETH |
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We reported in February that Lambeth suddenly (and pretty secretly) announced a whacking £1m cut to its £4.5m library budget. Department Directors did not consult the Head of Service, but were confident this saving could be made. So how is it going? One bright idea was that chronic under-staffing could continue thanks to clever new rotas. That has died a death. Months of negotiations with Unison – and repeated threats to strike – showed that the plan was not workable. Six new posts (still not enough) were finally agreed. Unfortunately the council’s internal processes are so slow that, months later, nobody has been recruited. Some staff are working seven days a week to keep things going. Meanwhile, the book fund for this was reduced to NOTHING. Library staff scraped up £40k (it should be more like £200k) but that’s all gone. This is pretty shocking. How the £1m is to be found remains a mystery. The head Director has jumped ship. Above: Tate South Lambeth Library |
NORWICH |
Norfolk County Council has agreed plans for a one million pound revamp of the Millennium Library in Norwich. It was opened in 2001 following a devastating fire which destroyed the old central library and, in the words of the councillor leading the plans, is a commitment to the library’s future. The children’s area will get a complete revamp along with a dedicated buggy area. Lighting will be improved and there will be better space for meetings and events. Other elements of the plan are in this story Work will start next year and will be done in phases with no complete closure planned. OLD AND NEW |
 Newcastle has a flourishing Central Library (left – opened 2009), all glass and flashiness. It also has one of those 18th century gentlemen’s libraries (founded 1794), affectionately known as the Lit & Phil and looking bit different. Both are now equally free to use. We are charmed to see that they get together every year to run a festival with lots of author talks. The programme is put together each year by Kay Easson, librarian at the Lit & Phil, and Derek Tree, publications manager for Newcastle Libraries. “It’s great for us to work together because the two venues are very different,” says Kay. |
Meanwhile, Milton Keynes is doing its bit for youth. In fact, 30% of members are under 18 – with 28,000 local children holding their own library card. And the Central Library now has a bigger, better children’s library. At its opening, the council’s deputy leader said: “At a time when many councils across the country are sadly having to reduce or even close their library services, we are proud to be doing the opposite. We know our libraries are really valued by families and over the summer people borrowed 105,000 children’s books plus thousands more e-books. “Our newly expanded children’s library is at the heart of the city and is easier to access than ever before. It’s great to see children of all ages making the most of this wonderful space.” |
PAT RICHARDSON / LIBRARIES FOR LIFE FOR LONDONERS |
Last year we reported the death of Peter Richardson, one half the team behind the Users and Friends of Manor House Library in Lewisham. We are very sad that we now have to announce that Pat Richardson (Peter’s widow) has also died. Pat and Peter were longstanding members and supporters of the Library Campaign as well as libraries in Lewisham.  |
The Richardsons were also heavily involved in Libraries for Life for Londoners (LLL). With their passing it seems probable that LLL will have to be wound up – anyone who has been involved in that group is encouraged to get in touch through The Library Campaign, particularly if you are interested in keeping it alive. |
BIDDING GOODBYE?The Library Campaign has long complained about the culture of having lots of odd “levelling up” pots of funding, with all sorts of names, that library services could bid for alongside everyone else. Often they got turned down, after wasting much time and effort. Too often, the winners have been larger services with more resources to play with, a better stock of fancy phrases to catch the prevailing trends. And projects always had to be “innovations”. It’s no substitute for reliable core funding, we have argued, alongside most of the library bodies, the Local Government Association, a Commons select committee et al. Maybe that culture is changing. We note that big pots of funding for local authorities (with all sorts of names) are now increasingly likely to bypass the bidding game. The multi-million Pride in Place and Community Wealth Fund are both going straight to smallish areas selected for their levels of deprivation. No messing about. |
FILM RECOMMENDATIONS The Friend of Putney Library (also FOPL – see above) have recommended two films which may be of interest to other groups. They intend to show both once they have got the hang of licensing issues (if anyone can advise on this please contact The Library Campaign and we will put you in touch.) The first film is“The Librarians” – currently on BBC iPlayer under their “Storyville” wrapper and described by FOPL as a MUST watch. “In an era of escalating censorship, librarians have found themselves on the front line of America’s culture wars. This film follows the dispute between librarians with a deep academic tradition of access to knowledge and campaigning groups who seek to ban books that they find objectionable. Urgent and deeply human, this film is a powerful reminder that access to knowledge is never guaranteed and that democracy depends on those willing to protect it. Link: Storyville – The Librarians – BBC iPlayer The second is “Free for All: The Public Library” currently unavailable in the UK but easily available in the US. “From award-winning filmmakers comes the story of how a simple idea shaped a nation, and the quiet revolutionaries who made it happen.” Link: Free for All: The Public Library  |
FACEBOOKROUND UP |
It’s beginning to got a look a lot like Christmas in library friends’ land. Oxfordshire’s Friends of Chinnor Library are already in the festive spirit, having hosted a Christmas tree decorating workshop last Saturday, which itself was in preparation for their Christmas tree decorating weekend, which takes place on the weekend of December 13th. The decorations looked wonderful with contributions from children and adults alike. Birmingham’s Save Hall Green Library has been posting about their library’s Winter Fayre’ event on Saturday, 13th December. There will be brand new children’s books for sale at bargain prices, a tombola, and light refreshments available. Also in the West Midlands, Dudley’s Friends of Cradley Library have been promoting their Christmas Tree decorating event set to take place on December 6th. The event will also include a chance to make some handmade tree decorations and Christmas cards. They have teamed up with the local community garden group, so it’s likely to be a very busy and entertaining seasonal event. Bristol’s Friends of Whitchurch Library have a very special display that is interactive, at least until Saturday, Nov 30th – a letterbox to Santa. Presumably, some elves need to come to pick up the letters at the weekend. The display features a green, snow-covered felt letter box with miniature seasonal trees and decorations surrounding it. Behind the display is a logo for this industrious friends group and another with the face of Santa that reads North Pole Post Office. An inspiring way to get more children into their local library. Richmond’s Friends of Whitton Library have a jam-packed day coming up on Wednesday, December 3rd. Their Christmas event will run from 15:15 until 19:00 and includes a chance to meet Father Christmas, festive story time readings, the lighting of the library Christmas tree, a screening of the Raymond Briggs children’s classic ‘Father Christmas ‘, as well as finishing off with a disco with live deejaying. They write that all are welcome and that drinks and nibbles are available for this free event with no booking required. We hope they have fun! Pembrokeshire’s Friends of Narberth Library have been posting about their creative writing event on December 3rd with tips to move beyond writer’s block, prompts for beginning writers to get moving on their stories, as well as a chance for more experienced writers to gain tips and share their work. The event is free and open to all, but places are limited. Save Our Libraries Essex – SOLE, a very busy group, has marked their 7 year anniversary on Facebook with a moving piece of writing about what they’re about. They say:“From a first, small, organising meeting, we built a people-powered campaign that was unprecedented in our county. And we saved every single library in Essex! So next time anybody tells that you can’t change anything, that protest doesn’t work, tell them about this.”They go on to explain more about how they are currently keeping vigilant towards any further threats to local Essex library services. Well done to them for making such sustained efforts for their community! |
| AND FINALLY… |
OUR MINI-CONFERENCE |
A reminder that we are holding a mini-conference to announce the winners of our competition for Friends Groups and to hold The Library Campaign AGM, on Saturday 13 December at 15:00. It will be online and the link to register on Eventbrite is here – you must register to be sent the Zoom link a few days before the event. We apologise that both announcing the competition results and holding the AGM have taken far longer than they should or we would like. As far as the competition is concerned that was mainly because of the high standard of the entries – we hope people will turn up to hear what others have been doing and perhaps discuss, steal (sorry – borrow) ideas etc. |
| Please get in touch with us if your local library is under threat, you have a Friends group that you wish to promo |
