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 GUARDIAN : 1st February
Eric Pickles’ brand of toxicity will kill off local councils, warns NAO
The auditors make two big points, only one directly about councils. The headline calculation is that councils are barely halfway through the cuts the chancellor, George Osborne, is demanding by spring 2015. In principle, that means that for every library closed since 2010 and for every planning department post expunged, another will have to go during the next two years – barring huge increases in council tax in 2014 and 2015 or depletion of council financial reserves.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Public Libraries News : 1st February
Government response to Inquiry into Library Closures: no worries and, besides, volunteers “grow” the service
http://www.
Skegness Standard : 2nd February
Lincolnshire | Spilsby library proposals are a ‘criminal shame’
If you would like to help Dominique support Spilsby Library email dominique.pettitt@laposte.net
http://www.skegnessstandard.
Don’t Privatise Libraries : 2nd February
Proposal to cut the Library Enquiry Service in Somerset
This is happening at the same time that the SCL, ACE and partners have announced that ‘Information’ will be part of their ‘Universal Offer’ to Public Library users.
http://dontprivatiselibraries.
Swindon Advertiser : 2nd February
Book up for celebration
The national celebration of libraries will be held on Saturday, February 9, and will see a number of Swindon Council’s libraries highlight their services to the public.
http://www.swindonadvertiser.
Times Series : 1st February
No eviction for squatters as Friern Barnet Library deal with council comes ‘very close’
A council spokesman said this morning: “We’ve been speaking to the Friern Barnet Community Library group and we’re very positive about reaching a conclusion shortly but we would rather have those discussions in private.”
http://www.times-series.co.uk/
This Is Croydon : 2nd February
Deal between Croydon and Lambeth saves Upper Norwood Library
But he complained that the £75,000 promised by the council was £114,000 less than it had been under the original joint agreement, and also claimed this cut could lead to the loss of five jobs and hit the children’s and reference library services. Cllr Ryan said: “This level of funding from Croydon does not really give the trust a fighting chance.”
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.
About My Area : 1st February
Volunteers Required For Northamptonshire Libraries
http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/
Volunteer Policy document:
http://www.northamptonshire.
This Is Hull & East Riding : 1st February
Households told to expect council tax rise
The budget also includes plans to shut Anlaby Park library in west Hull and …
http://www.
This Is Dorset : 1st February
Friends of Charmouth Library celebrate grant success
http://www.thisisdorset.net/
This Is Cornwall : 2nd February
Universal offers | Streamlined libraries keep standards high in Cornwall
Cornwall’s libraries have signed up to a national scheme to help book lovers and other users get more out of the service.
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.
South Yorkshire Times : 2nd February
Centre could close as part of cost cuts
A range of council services offered at the town centre facility, such as council tax and benefits enquiries, would be transferred over to the library next door. Drop in sessions would be offered as a replacement two days a week. It is also planned to extend council services available at nearby Wath Library.http://www.
THE INDEPENDENT : 1st February
Boyd Tonkin: Timbuktu is a cultural tragedy – but if e-books burn, no one will see the flames
Why should we trust in their permanent commitment to the principles of freedom, openness and plurality? Given a boardroom coup in a quoted company, the censors could take charge at any time. If they do, and when e-books “burn”, no one will even hear the crackle, smell the smoke or see the flames.
http://www.independent.co.uk/
