AUGUST 2026 |
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| Welcome to our round up of August’s UK libraries news! |
PUBLIC LIBRARIES NEWS IS COMING BACK! |
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Public Libraries News (PLN) is coming back! The Library Campaign has stepped up to revive this unique online resource for the public library world. PLN was set up by Cheshire librarian Ian Anstice in 2010. Every Sunday, he listed all the available news stories about public libraries nationwide, and many from outside the UK. Over time, it built into a substantial database, searchable under many topics. The Library Campaign was among those who found PLN invaluable. Laura Swaffield, its Chair, says: “Up-to-date information on public libraries is shamefully scarce. With PLN, we could keep up with local plans, and see what had led up to them over the years. We could trace public campaigns and legal developments. PLN also publicised the good things libraries are doing, alongside the not so good news. And we often referred press queries to PLN to get extra detail.” PLN built up over 3,000 subscribers. Library staff and users began to contact Ian Anstice direct with inside news. His editorial comments became a must-read. He spoke at conferences and was invited to lunch with Private Eye. Awards, including the British Empire Medal, piled up. In September 2025, Ian announced he was quitting: “In 2010, the word ‘austerity’ was being used for the first time. Writing PLN was at first a professional development activity, as I simply did not know what else was going on in other library services. Then, in short order, it became a campaigning one as the first mass library closures were being announced. After that, it became more part of my identity and, to be honest, a source of personal pride. Now, though, with the hope of the new Labour government being smashed as they continue cuts, it’s all a bit samey… In short, doing PLN is no longer fun… It’s time to move on.” There was widespread dismay among the whole public library community. But no action. The Library Campaign and PLN have now agreed a partnership that will see the website revamped and improved, and will enable Ian to resume work. Ian Anstice says: “Ever since I stopped writing PLN, I meet people from the sector that say how much they used and miss it. These range from new graduates to the most senior in the profession. My thanks to The Library Campaign for the chance to revive the website, and I hope it maintains its position for many years to come.” Looking ahead, TLC and PLN will continue to report on and advocate for libraries, Friends groups, and library users. While PLN will maintain full editorial independence, the partnership wants to plan new links with sponsors, LIS departments at universities, the press, and campaign groups working on literacy and related causes. The partnership also recognises the need for new research into library policy and data. The new website will launch in early October. |
THE LIBRARY CAMPAIGN AGM – AND MORE! |
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Our AGM will take place – online only – on Saturday 3 October at 2pm. The link to join the meeting will be in next month’s newsletter. This year, there is much to discuss! We’ll have two sessions, before and after the AGM proper. First – we are in a position to expand our activities, and have already started by forming a partnership to relaunch the popular and much-missed Public Libraries News website (see story above). What next? What do members want? Let us know! In the middle, a short session for AGM business: reports, and electing officers and trustees*. Voting is restricted to members, but everyone is welcome to attend, especially (but not only) Friends groups. Second – open session for Friends groups to “meet” each other, swap notes, tell us what they are doing, exchange ideas and discuss problems and solutions. * We are always looking for new trustees. It doesn’t involve a huge amount of time, but it’s a chance for members to feed in to what we are doing. If you might be interested but want to know more, get in touch via email ([email protected]) or phone (0845 450 5946). |
FERRY GOOD! |
It was great to hear from one of the winners of last year’s £400 competition – Friends of Broughty Ferry Library. Rachel Burn reports: “We were able to take on two main projects. The first was to set up an open access information system in our library where local groups could leave and update paper information about their activities and contacts under several broad headings – children/sports/health and so on – so that anyone coming to the library could easily have a look and decide if they wanted to pursue anything which piqued their interest. “The second was to fund the prizes for this year’s public competition. As it’s the National Year of Reading, we asked entrants to write a review of a book they had enjoyed. We had wonderful entries from one of our local primary schools, as well as a book group in a residential nursing home and many other children and adults. “The winners all got book tokens and we had an awards ceremony for the winners and their guests with fizz and nibbles, and a display of the winning reviews and the books they were recommending. “All of this was possible due to the Library Campaign’s prize. This year we are continuing with our garden project, an autumn programme of talks which starts soon and it’s not long until our AGM, so we will have to get to work on our 2027 Business Plan as well as some tentative thoughts about the library’s 100th birthday in October 2028.” |
AI ALERTLibraries Connected (LC) has been quick to latch on to growing concern about AI. As soon as the Minister for AI, Kanishka Narayan MP, was promoted to Cabinet level by Andy Burnham, LC wrote with congratulations – and a message. CEO Isobel Hunter called for stronger national co-ordination and investment. And pointed out that public libraries are ideally placed (and trusted) to work where it matters, at community level. LC has already held a round table to agree priorities with its members (the chief librarians in England, Wales and Northern Ireland). And it has already carried out a government-funded project to develop practical guidance and tools for librarians, with details sent to the minister earlier this year. |
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AI vs HUMANSMeanwhile a different insight comes from Lorensbergs, who provide Netloan internet connection to many libraries. They collected almost 80 views from staff, ranging from library assistants to heads of service. The report says “they show a sector that is confident in its role and clear about what it offers that AI cannot.” AI can’t replace human connection and belonging, 46% said. Smaller numbers cited the trust placed in libraries, and the professional skills of staff, as effective against AI misinformation. AI gives confident answers but “can’t apply judgement: knowing which answer is right for the person asking, weighing sources, or recognising when a question needs a different kind of help altogether”. Interestingly, “senior and strategic staff” were more likely to talk about connection, trust and civic space. Frontline staff were “considerably more likely to mention misinformation, inaccurate AI answers or fact-checking”! In sum, says Lorensbergs, libraries’ offer is “well practised. It is trust between a person and an institution, professional judgement applied to information, and the simple fact of human contact. AI has not created the need for these things. It has simply made their absence in people’s lives more starkly visible.” This makes them entirely relevant to today’s needs. |
AI – NOW WHAT?So what’s to be done? ACE (Arts Council England) agrees that “Public libraries are well positioned to play a key role in addressing mis/disinformation in UK society”. Its new report reviews research on current practice in America and Europe, and includes the first-ever national research into what libraries in England are actually doing. It starts with the Chief of the UK Secret Intelligence Service, no less, who says: “The foundations of trust in our societies are eroding. Information, once a unifying force, is increasingly weaponised. Falsehood spreads faster than fact, dividing communities and distorting reality.” The report is an 80-page whopper, a very solid read. It delves, as it must, into the finer points of ethics, neutrality, critical thinking, stock policy, the press etc. But it’s also full of eyebrow-raising titbits from the 372 respondents, mostly frontline staff. Most (83%) don’t feel their own service is doing all it could. Nor is it an easy task. One quote says it all: “I personally take mis/disinformation very seriously, but I lack the skills/training to address it professionally, and fear for my safety when such issues arise.” Another adds: “Not enough resources – time, staffing, money. Keeping libraries open is a statutory priority, being responsible for ensuring the general public is aware of disinformation is not”. The main request was for training – including “how to tactfully help people”. Those who need guidance most are the most likely to distrust it, and can’t be “rationalised” out of worrying beliefs. The report recommends:1. A national programme of training. 2. A national open access repository of library resources.3. A national partnership agreement for addressing mis/disinformation. 4. National library policy and operational guidance.This will clearly cost money, But it’s very important indeed. |
LONDON LIBRARY SURVEYLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan and London Libraries want to know what you think about the public library services in the city. They want to know how users use, value and trust in their local libraries as well as what difference it has made to people’s lives and how libraries could play even more of a roll in their local communities. It’s a survey for individuals not organisations but people in London are encouraged to participate. You do have to create an account with ‘Talk in London’ – the sign up link is on the page about the survey here. And the survey closes on 6 September so you may need to. be quick! More |
MORE GOOD NEWS – FROM NORFOLK Library services in Norfolk County have recently benefited from a lot of new investment, with relocated services in Great Yarmouth and Kings Lynn. The Great Yarmouth library moved to the site of the old Palmers department store in the Market Place and now also incorporates adult education services, registry office and citizens advice. The new more central and accessible site has seen an increase in library use. The ex-retail premises theme is continued with Kings Lynn central library being relocated to the old Argos store as part of a £17m rejuvenation project for Kings Lynn (featured in our March newsletter.).Finally, the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library has experienced a £1.3m revamp to celebrate its 25th birthday and recognise its position as one of the busiest libraries in the country with one million visitors a year. Improved services include increased provision for children and a bookshop style entrance with large seating area, described by one user as “a bit like an airport departure lounge”. There is a redesigned river-themed early years library and dedicated areas for children and teenagers, as well as a gathering space for events and talks. I appreciated the display of large photographic views of old Norwich. Accessibility has been improved but I was concerned by the location of hardback adult fiction to the first floor, with only paperback (Express section) on the ground floor. If you have mobility issues or if the lift develops a fault your access is limited. On the first floor the layout has been opened up with more seating and tables and lower shelving.A Council spokesman stated “refurbishment has been shaped by the people who use the library and that’s exactly how we should be approaching these projects”. Overall the new more open layout and increased children’s services have improved the Millennium Library.Jim Rawlings (Library Campaign Trustee and Norfolk resident.) |
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BOB USHERWOODBob was a Professor of Library and Information Science at the University of Sheffield for many years and a long-standing supporter (possibly founder member) of the Library Campaign. Bob died a few weeks ago. It is possible that his interest in public libraries stemmed from his claim that he was born on the site of what is now Ilford Central Library – something he was not tired of repeating in appropriate circumstances though the story is belied by the obituary we found. He was one of the youngest Chief Librarians in the country when he was at Lambeth. He also became president of the Library Association (now CILIP.) He will be sorely missed. |
 BANNED BOOKSOctober 4-10 is Banned Books Week UK. This has been celebrated for years in the USA, and it was revived here last year by Index on Censorship. UK libraries are being invited to join a special “relay” on 7 October. Find out if/how your own library is taking part – and join in. The issue has never been so topical… Briefly, the idea is to use social media and/or have a display in the library. Last year, Friends of Carnegie Library in Lambeth had fun looking at eye-popping lists of what’s been banned in the past, ordered the books from the library service and displayed them (with an explanatory note inside). |
For full information, and to be part of the national picture, register your interest here by Monday 21 September NB: the best list of classic books (and reasons for the bans) that we have found is here. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was banned for “encouraging homosexuality”, and as for Alice… |
ROYAL READING |
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It’s the Queen again! Nominations are open for this year’s Queen’s Reading Room Medal for “individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to increasing reading and/or storytelling”. Closing date 1 October. Last year’s joint winner was Liz Waterland, volunteer at Deepings Library in Lincolnshire (on the left.). The prize is basically going to an incredibly star-studded reception, and the nomination form is pretty demanding… but you probably know someone who’s worth it. Photo by Ian Jones |
REDDITCH RULES! We gave evidence and support for Redditch Library last year, when it was threatened with demolition. A large, modern(ish), well-sited building, it was absolutely buzzing with activities that often brought footfall of over 1,000. It was due to be replaced by…er, an empty piazza, to…er, increase footfall in the vicinity. Local people, when “consulted”, were 72% against. Hands Off Redditch Library ran a brilliant and determined campaign. Local elections, fought largely on this issue, finally knocked the idea on the head. So it was a special pleasure to see the library celebrating its 50th birthday in August. They transformed the place into a real wonderland! |
