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.

Phil Bradley’s Weblog : 26th January
When is a volunteer not a volunteer?
So we’ve now got a private company making money – the money that the tax payers are paying for a service that they’re not actually getting any longer – out of people who are being given no option but to work or starve.   ……….  This has been an entirely insane week in the world of librarianship, with this nonsense following on hard from the ridiculous ‘report’ produced by the Arts Council, which is a total disgrace.
http://philbradley.typepad.com/phil_bradleys_weblog/2013/01/when-is-a-volunteer-not-a-volunteer.html

Don’t Privatise Libraries : 26th January
Is Harrow going to privatise its Library service? 
Harrow responds
http://dontprivatiselibraries.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/is-harrow-going-to-privatise-its.html

Local Government Lawyer : 25th January
Court of Appeal agrees to hear Doncaster libraries case 
http://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12991%3Acourt-of-appeal-agrees-to-hear-doncaster-libraries-case&catid=56%3Alitigation-articles&Itemid=21

Public Libraries News : 25th January
Arts Council England decision to give its outgoing Exec £200k for a “sabbatical” attracts ire
http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2013/01/that-would-have-paid-for-a-lot-of-library-volunteers-arts-council-england-decision-to-give-its-outgoing-exec-200k-for-a-sabbatical-attracts-ire.html

Arts Professional : 17th January
Stark facts on ACE severance package
http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/exclusive-stark-facts-ace-severance-package

Journal Live : 26th January
Newcastle | Libraries sell old stock 
Library books, CDs and DVDs are being sold off in Newcastle this weekend, although the city council says it has nothing to do with proposed library closures.
http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/2013/01/26/libraries-sell-old-stock-61634-32682502/

The Scotsman : 26th January
Letter | Taken as read – from (Cllr) Bob Constable, Leader, Midlothian Council
http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/opinion/letters/taken-as-read-1-2760016

Save Croydon Libraries : 25th JanuaryWake up New Addo! 
Croydon’s New Addington Library is back in the news but the ‘facts’ and even the headline are seriously questionable.
http://soslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/spotting-lies-in-new-addo.html

Lucy Marcovitch : 24th January
What has the library ever done for us?
http://lucymarcovitch.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/what-has-the-library-ever-done-for-us/

 

Libraries News Round-up: 1 March 2016

Socialist Worker : 1st March Escalating library strikes can bring Lambeth Council bosses to book https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/42277/Escalating+library+strikes+can+bring+Lambeth+Council+bosses+to+book Get Bucks : 1st March Bucks libraries could be run as charities due to…