Author: Andrew Coburn

Sighs of relief all round this week when the government announced – it is not changing the libraries minister! It’s still Lord Parkinson. [Apologies to those who caught up with Liz Truss’s short-lived appointment / allocation of the library brief to someone else.]

Over the years, libraries ministers have changed almost as rapidly as Prime Ministers in the past few weeks. Each time, DCMS civil servants and library bodies have patiently taken them on visits, talked to them and taught them what libraries do. They usually need it.

So it’s good not to have to start all over again. Libraries Connected trustee Ayub Khan told an LC webinar: “He’s been pragmatic and thoughtful, shown a genuine interest. I’m really, really pleased.”

Meanwhile, a well-timed boost to libraries – tying them very firmly in to the levelling up agenda (what’s left of it) – from the Parliamentary select committee for culture*. 

It endorses libraries as “an important part of a community’s infrastructure for people who are digitally excluded or who live in deprived neighbourhoods” – but also for quality of life, flourishing local high streets and as “engines for entrepreneurship, economic growth and job creation”. 

And it actually asks for proper funding. (Grim footnote: “Evidence to our inquiry posited that, for every £1 spent on library services in 2009–10, 58p was spent in 2017–18: an even sharper decline than spending on culture and heritage in the round.”)

Here again, no change is good news. Michael Gove is back in the saddle as secretary of state for levelling up. Whatever one might think of him in general, it’s good not to have to start all over again with a new boy. And the starter work he supervised was mostly well thought of. The one agreed flaw – lack of proper, stable funding… 

* https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1744/reimagining-where-we-live-cultural-placemaking-and-the-levelling-up-agenda/publications

Busy taking notes, here’s Baroness Sanderson on a fact-finding tour. She is, you’ll remember, chair of a panel working on “a new public libraries strategy”, as we reported on this website on 5 September.
https://librarycampaign.com/surprise-a-new-library-strategy
We gather that the library sector was keen to get this set up before any big changes took place in the political world. How right they were!
“As someone from outside the sector,” she says, “I have a lot to learn and a lot of people to meet but my first priority was to visit frontline library staff and volunteers – to see for myself the work that they do and to understand the challenges they face.”
Her first tour included Wimbledon, Woodford, Yeovil, Taunton, Sutton and Deepings volunteer-run library in Lincs.
“Readiness to adapt, while working with the local community to address their specific needs, has been central to every library branch I’ve visited,” she reports, “whatever their size, location or management
structure…
“They should be recognised as one of the most valuable community assets we have… I feel privileged to work with the sector to help develop ideas as to how we may protect them into the future and widen
the understanding of what they do – across government departments and more widely through society.”
Hear hear to that! For her full report, go to: https://dcmslibraries.blog.gov.uk/2022/10/13/stamford-to-sutton-and-beyond-visiting-library-branches-across-england

A cultural festival to go with the Rugby League tournament? Why not?
The ever-ingenious Libraries Connected is partnering with the confusingly-named Rugby League World Cup 2021 to deliver arts events as part of the festival.
More than 593 libraries in 34 authorities in the north of England are involved. Events will  run for the duration of the tournament and beyond.
They include art, designing and decorating rugby balls, creative writing, dancing (“Bollywood meets Haka”), panels with rugby experts, plays, poetry and information packs on RLWC events.
RLWC2021 says: “Libraries act as a real hub for local communities, so they offer the perfect setting for bringing together sport and the arts, sparking imagination and inspiring curiosity.”

This Thursday, October 13, 4-5pm at Bethnal Green Library – all welcome. Make a (small) mark in history! The library service will be taking a photo of library lovers at the entrance, to recreate the picture taken on its opening 100 years ago. The new photo will be hung in the library. Refreshments served.
Followed by the official launch of Kate’s book about the library’s wartime underground service, with Siddy Holloway, presenter of Secrets of the Underground.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kate-thompson-the-little-wartime-library-tickets-379555610047

It’s back – the annual celebration of all that libraries offer, run by librarians’ association CILIP. This time (3-9 October) the theme is lifelong learning. And that, says CILIP’s enterprising Scottish branch,
means anything “from knit n natter to mindful meditation and much more”.
Follow @librariesweek on Twitter. Or head to CILIP’s website to register for updates on what’s on, some bright ideas and a heap of advice on planning and publicity. This is a resource worth consulting
whether you are taking part in Libraries Week or not: http://librariesweek.org.uk
CILIP is also holding a FREE national online chat (Tuesday 4 October, 6.30-7.45pm) with author Kate Thompson. The theme is only too topical: “the power of public libraries to support a community through the worst of times”. The reference is, of course, to her book about the World War II underground library in London’s East End. We featured this in our magazine no 102:
https://librarycampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/LC102_amended.pdf
Today, libraries are busy planning to be “warm banks” and all-round welfare centres, but let’s hope not bomb shelters.
Register here: https://cilip.org.uk/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1678054&group=

The Library Campaign is very sad to report the death of Guy Daines. Most recently the Policy officer for CILIP, Guy was briefly the Campaign Secretary (before we were a charity) and had always been extremely helpful to us ever since.
He started his library career in the London Borough of Camden where he was also an active NALGO steward (NALGO became part of UNISON.) In that capacity we think he was one of those who attended the conference in Sheffield which founded the Campaign.
Later he joined the staff of the Library Association (now CILIP) initially as one of the team who advised on employment issues though as the LA / CILIP is not a trade union, this also involved liaison with the relevant unions.
After a while Guy took on a more all-embracing policy advice role. He became Policy Officer dealing with professional ethics and equalities, as well as governance and many other issues. 
As part of this role Guy represented CILIP to the Library Campaign and was involved in the set up of Speak Up For Libraries (SUFL) the coalition of organisations and individuals who  organised conferences, parliamentary lobbies and other activities in the 20-teens. 
Guy was always well  connected  -if he did not know the answer to some library question he probably knew who did. He could brief on current policy issues more or less at the drop of a hat.
Outside work Guy was sociable – always up for a drink after official business finished and keen on cricket, but also involved with his church. Indeed, when he retired, one of his ambitions was to study ecclesiastical Latin.
After his retirement we did not see much of Guy but he remained a member of the Campaign and we will miss his common sense and friendship. We understand that’s death came after a ‘short illness’. He will be much missed.

Well! There is to be ‘a new public libraries strategy due in 2023… to make sure [they] are providing the best possible service for their communities’.
Whatever that means, it will be based on work by a new ‘advisory panel’ led by one Baroness Sanderson. Her job will be to act as an ‘independent chair’ and ‘provide a fresh, challenging and impartial
perspective on libraries to help formulate innovative new policy ideas’.
It’s not yet known who will be on this panel. TLC has been quick to urge that it should include library users.
In a hastily-sent email to the Baroness, we said: ‘We believe that library users and supporters have a lot to contribute to any review of the service at national level, as well as whatever contribution they may make locally.
‘Their perspective will be different from most, if not all, of the library bodies and others who have in the past been part of this sort of panel / review.’
Baroness Sanderson is billed as ‘an experienced former journalist [for the Mail on Sunday] and government adviser [to TheresaMay] who joined the government benches in the House of Lords in 2019’.
Meanwhile, we must go by what she has so far said: ‘I’m thrilled to be taking up this new role.
‘Libraries play such an important part in our lives, be that instilling a love of reading in childhood or encouraging economic, social and mental wellbeing throughout adulthood and into old age.
‘Too often undervalued, they are one of the most critical forms of social infrastructure we have and I look forward to working alongside the experts, and listening to a wide range of voices, so that we may
help develop ideas as to how we may promote and protect our libraries into the future.’
The government claims there has only been one previous national strategy, in 2016. TLC would say there have been quite a few, under different names. If you want to check up on the 2016 version, it’s all
there in the back issues of our magazine: issue no 93, pp 8-9.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/baroness-sanderson-to-help-develop-new-public-libraries-strategy

Does your library’s name or location in the UK (village, town or city, but not street) begin with the letters E, F, G or Welsh Ff or Ng? If so, you can ask the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, to visit you on his next library tour: March 20-25, 2023.
Simon plans to give free readings in libraries for one week each spring, ‘from the flagship libraries of the big cities to smaller or mobile libraries serving rural areas… from A to Z, wherever the invitations take me’.
His ten-year journey will involve local communities, poets, high school students and/or writers’ groups in activities around the visit and in the audience. Each visit will also be live-streamed for an online audience.
Simon adds: ‘I also want to find a way of including alphabet letters from other languages spoken in these islands such as Welsh, Urdu or Chinese, and to involve communities where English might not be the
first language.’ Ideas welcome.
He launched his tour in 2021 in Ashby-de-la-Zouch (A to Z in one go, as librarians suggested!), with C-D in 2022.
Details: https://www.simonarmitage.com/the-laureates-library-tour Deadline 19 August.

Of all the book prizes, the Booker remains the most prestigious media magnet. If you fancy a taste of this high life – and belong to a book group – read on…
The Reading Agency (TRA) is offering six reading groups the chance to review one of the six shortlisted titles. Two members get an expenses-paid trip to attend the shortlist announcement party. Two
more (chosen by the judges) will attend the final award party.
In between, each group will read one of the six shortlist books. They will be expected to share their views with the Booker Prize’s and The Reading Agency’s community of readers via social media and two
dedicated websites. They may be interviewed about their experience and photographed or filmed.
TRA will be looking for ‘the most interesting, passionate and wide-ranging set of readers possible, as well as those who will shout the loudest about this year’s shortlist on social media, to help
encourage even more people to pick up those books.’
Details: https://readinggroups.org/news/the-booker-prize-book-club-challenge

You only have until 12 August to apply.

The 2002 Booker judges (L to R): Helen Castor, broadcaster, author and
historian; Alain Mabanckou, author; Neil MacGregor (chair), best known
as director of the National Gallery and the British Museum; M. John
Harrison, author; Shahidha Bari, broadcaster, author and university
professor.

On the ball as always, libraries have a load of resources to help the nation celebrate the lionesses’ football triumph.
Libraries Connected has been working with The Football Association and UEFA to produce a bumper downloadable resource pack with something for all ages.
It includes activities inspired by football fan objects such as rosettes, fanzines and banners. Plus, of course, a reading list – books that feature trailblazing sports people. Other activities tie in
with the themes of Refugee Week/City of Sanctuary, inspiring women, and football itself. Ideas cover all ages and abilities including some linked to Rhyme Time, or Knit and Natter.
Artist Deborah Goatley-Birch developed the pack with a charity for adults with learning disabilities, autism and other health conditions.
Truly something for everyone.

https://www.thefa.com/competitions/uefa-womens-euro-2022/weuro2022-library-resources

Libraries were acknowledged to be essential venues for this nationwide “festival” of arts and tech. That’s good. What it means in practice is yet to be seen. The idea is to tell local stories via a variety of media – with a legacy of useful training for library staff to draw on in future. Check here to see if there’s a venue near you…

After the beer and the bunting, there’s still a jubilee feast for book-lovers. The Reading Agency (TRA) has compiled a book list for each of the seven decades since 1952.
Each has a theme, with some emphasis on the Commonwealth (the Games start soon). Plus a list of much more general questions to discuss in relation to any book you (or your group) might choose to read.
Get it all here: https://readinggroups.org/big-jubilee-read
AND THERE’S MORE!
Starting on 14 June (7pm), TRA and Libraries Connected are hosting a series of author events, again with a Commonwealth theme. Of course, you can join in online.
Find out more and sign for more updates here:
https://readinggroups.org/news/watch-the-big-jubilee-read

National Crime Reading Month is off to a galloping start, with events all over the country at book festivals, bookshops and – of course – libraries.
And there’s three more weeks to go, with more in the pipeline… Check regularly at www.crimereading.com
This weekend – 10 to 12 June – there’s Alibis in the Archive:
something special at the beautiful Gladstone’s Library in North Wales.
And you can sit back and see the whole thing on Zoom.
Find out more at
https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/events/events-courses-list/alibis-in-the-archive-2022

The Library Campaign operates in England and Wales. But we cannot ignore what is going on in Ukraine. Kate Thompson, who was heavily involved in the defence of Tower  Hamlets libraries a couple of years ago, has written this blog about the role libraries are playing during the war in Ukraine.

Maybe you (or your library service) will be holding a fun event for World Book Night on 23 April. Find out more at http://worldbooknight.org
Meanwhile, anyone can join the launch event run by The Reading Agency. Held at the British Library with both an in person and online audience, it is hosted by Bobby Seagull, with special guests Dr Alex
George, Lemn Sissay, Ayisha Malik and Dreda Say Mitchell. They’ll be talking about the stories that have shaped their lives, and why they tell the stories they do.
Perfect both for enthusiastic readers, and for those starting their reading journey. Following the event, everyone is invited to join in the #ReadingHour: https://worldbooknight.org/news/reading-hour, spending 7-8pm dedicated to reading.

Find out more and get your tickets now: https://www.bl.uk/events/world-book-night-2022