FEBRUARY 2026   Welcome to our newsletter round up of February’s UK libraries news! GO ALL IN – GOLD DUST  The National Year of Reading is (or should be) in full swing now. The public libraries bit is mainly being handled by The Reading Agency (TRA), working with the National Literacy Trust. TRA has gathered all the materials on its website, and it’s well worth eavesdropping. To see the advice your own library service is getting and maybe pick up some ideas, download the NYR Libraries Toolkit. It explains the thinking behind that ‘Go All In’ slogan; lists ‘calendar moments’ throughout the year to latch on to (eg World Book Night on 23 April); offers ideas for possible partners and ways to attract people in – especially those who don’t use libraries; and gives the basic reasons why they don’t. Basic but informative. The real gold dust, though, is the advocacy toolkit – Why Reading Matters. Its 30 pages are crammed with references, conveniently sorted into five groups that fit neatly with the priority areas of local authorities. They are: language, literature and learning; employment and economic growth; health and wellbeing; belonging and connections; a fairer world (ie, inequality, diversity, democracy). Each section has a load of references to choose from, summarised in three key messages, plus examples of what libraries do to help. Plus extras such as advice on communication, possible survey questions – and links to (mainly) government websites to find vital facts about your own area. This is a solid resource that belongs on every library advocate’s bookshelf. HOORAY FOR HACKNEY The latest funding allocation for local councils (in December) was bad news for some, but brought a windfall for Hackney, London. First idea is to reverse a severe cut in library hours that was set to save £773,000. This, says the Mayor is ‘something I promised to do if our financial situation changed’. February also saw the re-opening of the Central Library after its first revamp since it opened 22 years ago. It has a new children’s area, new reading spaces and more digital resources. Plus, says the Mayor, ‘newly commissioned artwork, murals, wallpapers and fabrics… designed by artists in collaboration with staff and schoolchildren, taking inspiration from the rich culture, history and heritage of Hackney’. All this is a welcome contrast to events in 2023, when 19 posts were cut (several had to be restored when the effects became obvious). PRISON READING LAUREATE  There will finally be a Prison Reading Laureate, the Ministry of Justice has announced. This move comes as part of the National Year of Reading 2026. Author Lee Child, known for the Jack Reacher series, will hold the post. He had already been running a small literacy programme in prisons, which will now be expanded. The government scheme will use other existing schemes as ‘delivery partners’, including the Shannon Trust (peer to peer learning and support) and Storybook Mums and Dads (enabling parents in prison to record themselves reading stories for their children). Lee Child said: ‘This isn’t about being soft on crime, it’s about being smart. Improving literacy is an evidence-based, practical approach that works. When people leave prison better equipped to read and learn, they’re less likely to reoffend. That makes communities safer for everyone.’ ‘Low literacy skills are predictors of offending and reoffending,’ said Sussex Prisoners’ Families. It is ‘part of the reason prisoners, and their families, are often stuck in a cycle of trauma, societal exclusion, and poor socio-economic circumstances… an officer at a Sussex prison recently said that between 50% and 80% of [their] prisoners are illiterate. This is staggering and clearly needs addressing.’ There will be a new laureate every year, who ‘will bring their own passion and experience to the role, with the freedom to promote specific areas such as supporting children of prisoners, creative writing, or post-release employment in publishing’. We at TLC are greatly encouraged by this news. Prison libraries are a vital part of the public library service. NEWS FROM ESSEX Essex County Council took two steps back and (perhaps) one step forward in setting its budget this month. They have decided to charge adult users for making reservations for books, even when they do so online. The argument is that may books reserved in this way are not collected and that most are reserved by users in better off areas. Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE) responded by pointing out “Experience shows that when library services are made less accessible, usage falls. That decline is then too often cited as justification for further cuts or even closures. Charging for reservations risks setting off exactly that cycle.” The council also proposed to reduce the bookfund by £100,000 – apparently a 6% cut. However at the budget setting meeting they announced £120,000 more, “specifically for children and young people’. It is unclear how the two proposals fit together but SOLE pointed out that in the National Year of Reading of all years, the original proposal was a strange step. Separately the Council has told all book (reading) groups that they can no longer reserve copies of books they want to read from other authorities in The Library Consortium. The Consortium comprises 23 library authorities which share one computer system and normally allows library users to borrow from anywhere in the Consortium. As Essex apparently has over 400 book groups this restriction is going to make things very difficult . One Group was sent a list of 142 titles that Essex says it can supply. However, even if each group only meets every two months, it is difficult to work out how they are all going to be able to get the titles they want. The group remarked ‘This will result in ECC receiving more requests to buy books from book groups or ECC causing a reduction in book groups. The former may not be popular with your budget holder. And the latter will not be popular with library communities.’ VOLUNTEERS UNVEILED  Surprise! Relying on the goodwill of volunteers is not the easiest way to run a service. We’d already had news (in the 2023-24 Community Life Survey by the DCMS) that in 10 years their numbers had fallen from 45% of adults to just 28%. Now a new report from Libraries Connected (LC) focuses on Volunteering In Public Libraries. There’s a lot of it about, it seems. A third of services have 100 or more (sometimes it’s 750+) The volunteers love it – 86% have a good or excellent experience. And obviously (as Friends Groups know) community input brings social cohesion, local pride, ‘energy, local knowledge and practical skills’. Libraries want (or rather need – for financial reasons) more volunteers. But managing them as part of the service is no easy ride. It’s a real job, for paid staff. The main problems are lack of staff time (71%), the admin burden (60%) and ‘supervision demands’ (59%). Worries include ‘the risks of job substitution, over-reliance and inconsistent support for volunteers’. LC Chief Executive Isobel Hunter says: ‘This report shows how central volunteering has become to the modern library service, but also that its success depends on adequate staff time, training and clear structures… sustained investment and strong leadership.’ The report is a fascinating read – who volunteers and why, how they are recruited, what they do, how valued they feel, and more. Some interesting parallels with Friends members, maybe some tips. LC has ideas about ways to expand the scope of volunteering. It is now developing a ‘volunteering management strategy’. One wish we don’t endorse is the creation of more fully volunteer-run branches. We can’t help feeling that being in an independent Friends Group means less hassle, more scope, more fun. But that depends on having adequate proper staffing. Maybe that’s a bit of a luxury these days. What do readers think? NEWHAM NEWS We raised the alarm here last July about possible plans in Newham, London, to cut the libraries budget IN HALF by 2027-8. Details weren’t then available. The official consultation was due to start this April. Wisely, local people did not wait for that. Save Newham Libraries has made a cracking start, with a petition, a packed public meeting, poster making, a demonstration outside the Town Hall – and a very informative Facebook page.  The council has already rowed back. It now promises no closures this coming year. But there will be cuts, and it admits ‘some’ closures might be decided for 2027-28. Not good enough, say campaigners: ‘We still need a huge push from our community to say NO to ALL library cuts and ensure going into the May elections that our libraries will come out stronger – not weaker.’ REFORM UK AND LIBRARIES There have been two news stories recently about Reform UK and public libraries. In Lancashire they have withdrawn all 63 libraries from the “Library of Sanctuary’ scheme. This initiative helps new arrivals with integration by offering tailored support such as English for Speakers of Other Language (Esol) classes, children’s activities and help accessing other public services. The Reform spokesperson said it was not a good use of taxpayers money though the scheme is free. A City of Sanctuary spokesperson argued that the scheme ‘simply helps library staff do their jobs better – sharing knowledge, resources and best practice across the UK.’ Not far away Cheshire Reform councillors were less successful. They do not run Cheshire West and Chester Council and their objection to a ‘mini Pride’ event at Chester’s much praised Storyhouse library failed. Reform questioned whether the event would be suitable for children and the Conservative group argued for a review and a different name for the event. The ruling Labour Group and the Storyhouse Chief Executive responded by defending freedom of speech and inclusivity, and assessing that the organisation’s responsibility to safeguard children was well understood and met. The opposition parties were unsuccessful and the event went ahead.LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD This year’s Library of the Year award (run by the Bookseller magazine with DK) has drawn up a formidable shortlist. Karen Napier, chief executive of The Reading Agency, said: ‘Across the country, public libraries are making a real and positive difference, with imagination, ambition and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Our finalists have demonstrated how libraries continue to deliver impactful reading initiatives while also acting as welcoming, trusted spaces where people can connect, learn, create and thrive.’Leaving out Ireland and Scotland (which TLC doesn’t cover) there’s still a lot on the list. Frustratingly, no details are yet available about exactly what these services are doing that’s so good. Sometimes it’s a single library, sometimes a whole-borough programme. The list is divided into regions…East & South-East England: Dover (Kent County Council), Hertfordshire, Jersey, Surrey, West Sussex.London: Camden, Southwark, Bromley, GLL Literary Foundation, Hackney, Lambeth, Newham, Hillingdon, Richmond upon Thames. Midlands: Dudley, Warwickshire (twice!)North England: Bradford, Darlington, Hull (twice!), Newcastle, Oldham, North Yorkshire, Redcar & Cleveland, Stockport. FACEBOOKROUND UP  Cardiff’s Friends of Whitchurch Library, who run a weekly coffee morning on Tuesdays, have posted on Facebook about collaborating with the ‘Centre for deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People’ to turn their coffee morning into an advice drop-in regarding issues for those who have or support people who are losing or have lost their hearing ability. Friends of Lancaster Library have e posted photos of their displays and library users to promote that it is LGBTQ month. They encourage to come and swap book recommendations and have a place to get to know each other through literature. They have a real focus on diversity and community. West Yorkshire’s Carnegie-associated Friends of Batley Library holds a weekly crochet morning on Fridays, a great reason to get feet in the door of their venue. They make tea and coffee and encourage lots of chatting around all the crochet. This, in addition to other regular events, includes helping people find and apply for jobs, reading groups, and free warm soup and roll afternoons. Dorset’s Friends of Wimborne Library group have been posting their thermometer of donations… they have to reach £4000. Another group that runs coffee mornings, as well as games events and readings – we wish that they did not have to rely on private donations to keep things going to the great standard that they achieve regularly. Friends of Southampton’s Cobbett Road Library have been posting some very fun photos of giant towers made from LEGO on their Facebook page. It was all a part of the Corbett Brick club! They will be taking a half-term break, but usually run on Fridays. AND FINALLY… JESSE JACKSON  Earlier this month we heard of the death of the black American politician and activist Jesse Jackson. Amongst his many campaigning and political activities was one involving libraries. Indeed it may have been his first open challenge to the status quo. While at college he needed a book and went to his local public library to find it. He was told that he could not use the ‘whites-only’ section where the book was available. Six months later Jackson and seven other young black activists returned to the ‘whites only’ section and sat down to read books, magazines etc. They were, of course, arrested but as they kept repeating the effort and using the law to challenge the library, it was desegregated only three months later.Please get in touch with us if your local library is under threat, you have a Friends group that you wish to promote or you would like advice about how to start a Friends group for your local library – currently under threat or not. Feel free to ask any questions about what Friends groups get up to. We have now created an archive of our previous newsletters, which you can view here – check it out if you haven’t already and share the link as it’s also a place for new subscribers to sign up. If you are new to getting our monthly newsletter this is a way to see what we’ve been getting across since we started this newsletter in Autumn 2022. |
