A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
Change.org
Petition | DfE: Ensure that all school students have access to a well-run school library
http://www.change.org/
SUNDAY SUN : 6th January
Newcastle | Kids in street protest over council budget cuts
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
ITV News : 5th January
Newcastle | Protests over plans to close city libraries
includes video
http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-
ITV News : 5th January
Springwatch presenter speaks out against library cuts
http://www.itv.com/news/
BBC News : 5th January
Chris Packham attacks Cobbett Road Library plan
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Daily Echo : 5th January
TV wildlife expert Chris Packham slams Southampton City Council’s proposed library cuts
“We have approached the very active Friends of Cobbett Library but they do not want to run it or prop up council services – and that’s no clearer an example that what the Tories suggest is just not working.” article has attracted comments
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/
This Is Gloucestershire : 5th January
Michinhampton | Much-loved author launches new era for library
But in future, the maintenance of the library building in School Road and its £10,000 to £12,000-a-year running costs would be down to the trust, supported by a small army of volunteershttp://www.
Huddersfield Examiner : 4th January
Kirklees | Friends group for Golcar library
http://www.examiner.co.uk/
Times Series : 4th January
Barnet Council ‘disappointed’ by Friern Barnet Library squatters’ plans to appeal eviction
http://www.times-series.co.uk/
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
THE BOOKSELLER : 4th January
Packham defends Southampton Library
http://www.thebookseller.com/
Times Series : 4th January
Squatters will launch two-pronged attack to prevent eviction from Friern Barnet Library
http://www.times-series.co.uk/
This Is Somerset : 4th January
Frome Library to close for installation of self-service point
“There will be staff support to help customers get used to the new technology.”
http://www.thisissomerset.co.
The Library Campaign latest –
We have revised the gift aid declaration wording on our membership forms to reflect the change that came into effect on January 1st, 2013. The revised forms are now available here.
National Libraries Day 2013 will be held on Saturday the 9th February, with various events running in school, university, work place and public libraries in the week running up to the day. To find out more about getting involved click here.
Join in the celebration of libraries and if you aren’t already a member of your local library it is the ideal time to join!
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
Bitterne Park Info : 3rd January
Chris Packham: cutting library hours ‘short-termist lunacy’
“This place has become a real focus for a rich community of children and adults alike. We need all our libraries to be strengthened, to be better resourced and better funded, we need them open longer hours – not fewer. These proposals betray a serious shortcoming in the reasoning and priorities of those who we have elected to act in our best interests. It is a betrayal of trust and an insult to sensibility. Please oppose it vigorously.”
http://bitternepark.info/
Bolton News: 3rd January
Library closure campaigners fight back over ‘luvvie’ slur
http://www.theboltonnews.co.
Evening Times : 3rd January
Glasgow | Libraries could act as food banks for needy
Glasgow SNP councillor David McDonald has called on the city’s leaders to widen the range of services offered by libraries. He said this could include the loan of electrical goods or small-scale food banks to help families who are struggling to put meals on the table.
Earlier this year the Evening Times revealed how starving shoplifters in the north of the city were being referred to food banks by police. Chief Inspector Ann Hughes, of Maryhill police, said some of the thieves – including a pensioner caught trying to take three tins of salmon –needed help from charities rather than trouble from the courts.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/
Telegraph & Argus : 3rd January
Massive decline in visitors at Bradford Central Library
The true impact of the closure of Bradford Central Library has emerged 12 months after it partially shut when it was condemned as a fire risk
http://www.
Dorset Echo : 3rd January
Volunteers taking up duties in new era for Puddletown library
The task will be aided by a high profile launch today, which will be attended by former BBC chief foreign correspondent Kate Adie.
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/
Kidderminster Shuttle : 3rd January
Worcestershire | Wyre Forest authors fear for library’s archive
A group of of 30 Wyre Forest authors and researchers have teamed up to sign a letter outlining concerns about the future of Kidderminster Library’s “invaluable” archive collection.
http://www.
Chronicle Live : 2nd January
Protesters will take to streets over Newcastle cuts
http://www.chroniclelive.co.
Phil Bradley’s Weblog : 3rd January
3D printing – is it for libraries?
http://philbradley.typepad.
University of Oxford : 22nd December
UK teenagers without the internet are ‘educationally disadvantaged’
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
Campaign For The Book
Newsletter : January 2013
While the DCMS has managed to transform itself into a grotesque hybrid of Pontius Pilate and Lord Nelson stubbornly pressing the telescope to the wrong eye, this doesn’t come close to a serious analysis. The reality is simply that this government has no interest in the continued existence of a publicly funded library service, run locally by full time staff.
http://alangibbons.net/2013/
Don’t Privatise Libraries Blogspot : 2nd January
Boris and the Mystery of the Public Libraries Trust!
http://dontprivatiselibraries.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner : 2nd January
Library expert Biddy Fisher criticises Kirklees Council’s short-sightedness
http://www.examiner.co.uk/
This Is Gloucestershire : 2nd January
Two libraries to shut for revamp
http://www.
Get Surrey : 2nd January
Villagers volunteer to take over library services
The library is one of 10 in the county which will become a community run project as Surrey County Council decided that paid staff members will no longer be used to manage them.
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/
Daily Echo : 2nd January
Hampshire | Council chief to open new library
The new library for a Winchester estate will open this month following the closure of the previous branch.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/
Dorset County Council : 2nd January
Roll-out of community-run libraries in Dorset
http://news.dorsetforyou.com/
This Is Scunthorpe : 2nd January
North Lincolnshire | Bottesford in line for new £150k library at Cambridge House
Bottesford Library is currently located in a shop unit on Cambridge Avenue, but will reopen in the new facility next summer.
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.
HughRundle.net : 2nd January
Mission creep – a 3D printer will not save your library
http://hughrundle.net/2013/01/
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
Northern Echo : 1st January
Durham libraries face hours cut
Eleven town centre libraries will be open for 36 hours per week, while 27 community branches will be open for 20 hours. The mobile library service is also being reduced, so vehicles will only stop at communities more than three miles from a library building – and only once in each community.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.
York Press : 1st January
“Community benefit society” plan for York’s libraries moves step closer
“Public libraries are vitally important, but continuing to run York’s library service as it is currently structured is not viable in the long-term with ongoing Government funding reductions.”
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/
Don’t Privatise Libraries Blogspot : 1st January
Canada beware, the ‘red menace’ is no longer under our bed!
http://dontprivatiselibraries.
THE GUARDIAN : 31st December
MP pledges to fight fuel price rises and illiteracy in 2013
He added: “In 2013, I would like to do more work on literacy and for this reason I have been elected chairman of the all-party literacy group in Parliament.”
http://www.guardian-series.co.
DAILY TELEGRAPH : 31st December
England’s local government system must be fundamentally reformed, says MP
“Neither the oppressor nor the oppressed are comfortable with this relationship, together they need to work out a sustainable relationship.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Thurrock Gazette : 1st January
Library to close until March as community hub plans get underway
The aim is to open a wider system of hubs around the borough in the coming months and years.
http://www.thurrockgazette.co.
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.
Chronicle Live : 31st December
Letter | Why we need our libraries
http://www.chroniclelive.co.
THE GUARDIAN : 30th December
We need a coalition of resistance against local council cuts
Let’s draw on the experiences of Occupy internationally, UK Uncut and the assemblies’ movement that has swept Spain. Why not mobilise communities to keep open services earmarked for closure, even if on a temporary volunteer basis like at Friern Barnet library?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Happy New Year’s to all our followers. Please consider joining The Library Campaign if you are not currently a member, to support our work to provide support for users and friends on libraries and to campaign for libraries. The more members we have the louder the voice!
A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter
DAILY TELEGRAPH : 30th December
Tory shires in revolt over cuts
Shire Tories are to launch a New Year rebellion against “grossly unfair” cuts in local government spending which they say will “crucify” rural communities
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Letters | THE OBSERVER : 30th December
What will happen if a library service from birth is replaced by a free Kindle at four (Report, 19 December) is that children will miss vital early years experience enjoying books and will arrive at school poorly equipped to read their Kindle content or anything else.
Mary Steele
Dunstable, Bedfordshire
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter
THE INDEPENDENT : 29th December
L is for library
http://www.independent.co.uk/
News Republic : 28th December
Let’s use – not lose – our local libraries
http://uk.news-republic.com/
Reproduced here, with kind permission of Shirley Burnham. For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter
Bolton News : 28th December
Big drop in lending after library axe
Now, the first council report published on the impact of the closures has been submitted to the Government and has revealed that borrowing fell by almost a fifth.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.
A good number of library user comments on this one, including those who can no longer access a library because of the expense of travel.
Bolton News : 28th December
Bolton Central still a place for information
Those using the computers seemed drawn from every demographic and age range, from fathers with prams to people of retirement age and students. In this information age, computer and online use is perhaps the most important thing when the issue of library closures is raised, because it is not just a loss of access to books, but to information itself.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.
Express & Star : 28th December
Home library service revamp to save £60,000
An overhaul of Wolverhampton’s home library service, which could save around £60,000 and see several staff posts axed, has been unveiled.
http://www.expressandstar.com/
Get Reading : 28th December
Wokingham | Library use on the up
http://www.getreading.co.uk/
Good Library Guide : 28th December
What are public libraries for?
http://www.goodlibraryguide.
THE INDEPENDENT : 28th December
At libraries, dogs are all ears
http://www.independent.co.uk/
For wonks, & actually for all of us, here’s a treat…
CIPFA Stats: Library Authority Profiles Reports comparing each of the 147 library authorities (out of 151authorities) that submitted a return.
These statistics are collected annually, & almost no useful analysis is ever done. In a rare burst of helpfulness (credit where credit is due!) the libraries minister has funded some work to compare how nearby services spend their money, and how effective they are.
Click on the link to find yours… CIPFA data
Senate House Library (University of London) will be hosting Library Camp London on Saturday 2nd March 2013. It will start at about 10:00am with session pitches for the day and is likely to run until 4:30pm.
This will be an unconference style participant-organised event focussed on discussion and conversation. There are no Powerpoint presentations or conference papers. Anyone can suggest a session to be run during the day, as long as it is related to the libraries theme.
Tickets will be free and will be available via Eventbrite ticketing. General ticketing will be open soon but ticketing is now open for library and information science students, who have been given priority.
Further details of the event can be found at: http://libcampldn.wikispaces.com/
Twitter hashtag is: #libcampldn
Follow Library Camp on twitter at @LibraryCamp
In Wolverhampton the citywide campaign group Save Wolverhampton Libraries reports that they has been working away for months to save and protect their city’s libraries.
The Council will announce the future of libraries on 5th December 2012. The campaign group are not hopeful – their recent ‘consultation’ was poor and details were unforthcoming. The Council claims that they are not closing libraries – but the campaign group begs to differ. However the campaign group has one success to report – Penn Library in Wolverhampton has been saved (quite what saved means however they wait to find out!) Other libraries in our city are looking doomed.
See their website for full details.
Southend is currently in the first phase of a full library review, which is being undertaken by a cross party group, and are trying to ensure full community involvement in the process. You can find details here: Southend Library Review The consultation, which is the first phase of the process, is open until the 6th of January 2013.
The new £27m Forum Southend library building is due to open in under a year.
You can now bypass the big companies and buy e-books from Bilbary – which will give 50% of all profits to Kensal Rise Library, kept open by the local community. It gives access to over 300,000 e-books (compatible with e-readers, computers, tablets and smart phones).
For details (and to buy books) go to: www.savekensalriselibrary.org/2012/10/05/support-libraries-in-the-uk/
Rebecca M Jones is a freelance writer, currently researching the impact of public libraries on the causes and symptoms of poverty. She’s keen to access wide-ranging insight into who uses public libraries, who doesn’t, and why. She is also looking for information on the impact of funding cuts on library services, and whether this is encouraging a misconception of public libraries as outdated and redundant. If you’re someone who never uses their public library, why not?
You can find more information about this research on her website here.
Arts Council England (ACE) has opened applications to its £6 million Grants for the Arts libraries fund. Library authorities have to do the applying, & can get £1,000 to £100,000.
NOTE: this is not for useful stuff like mending the roof. It has to be ‘arts’. However, if you go to the Arts Council website you will find examples of previous winners who managed to get money for reading-related projects.
ACE wants “projects delivered by public libraries or library authorities working in partnership with cultural organisations involving all types of artistic activities including: music, dance, theatre, visual arts and literature… ambitious and innovative partnerships… that will encourage library users and those living locally to get involved with arts and culture”.
Public libraries can apply for £1,000 – £100,000, covering activities lasting up to three years. The fund will run until March 2015.
ACE will host a series of regional workshops and briefing sessions for public library staff. The workshops, which begin in October, will be an opportunity to hear more details about the new funding, to talk with representatives from successful Grants for the arts projects
involving public libraries, and to discuss ideas for projects.
Find out more: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
A group of school librarians are planning to lobby parliament for school libraries to be made statutory. This protest is planned for 29th October, 2012, which is during school half term. You can finds more information here.
This is not a demonstration but a lobby, so please contact your MP in order to lobby them on the day, or you can along on the day and show your solidarity.
A similar event was held on 13th March 2012 by Speak Up for Libraries, of which The Library Campaign is a part, in support of public libraries, and was very successful.
The thought behind the School Libraries Lobby is that if school libraries were on the Ofsted Inspection Schedule then that would force schools to keep libraries open and to think seriously about their provision.
The post on Heart of The School website gives all the details and asks that people please join them on the day. There is also a sample letter to write to your MP. 
Follow the Facebook page or Twitter @lobby4schlib to keep in touch.
Please publicise this as much as you can – the organisers would love it if lots of people can attend! This lobby is supported by both CILIP and the SLA.
There is a Facebook group set up specifically for the lobby too. This includes a useful bank of files with template letters, evidence and tips for lobbying.
