OCTOBER 2025  |
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| Welcome to our newsletter round up of October’s UK libraries news! |
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COUNCILLORS CONNECTEDToo many local councillors don’t really “get” what their libraries can do. The same, frankly, also applies to some high-ranking Directors who have libraries as part of their empire. So we welcome a new section on the Libraries Connected website that explains the basics. A mercifully brief guide sets out what libraries offer, why this matters to council priorities – and councils’ legal duties. There’s also a painless two-minute video, with click-throughs to some longer webinars for those who want more ideas. This is in good time for next year’s local elections – but useful right now for anyone trying to get the message across. |
THE NEXT 175 YEARSBaroness Twycross, the libraries minister, has survived one government reorganisation. (So, indeed, has Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, much briefed against at one point.)So it was well worth seeking hints from the Baroness when she spoke at the October mini-conference celebrating 175 years since the first Public Libraries Act.  |
Of course she said that libraries are a Good Thing (“As someone who always has at least one book on the go, for whom a weekend or holiday well spent is measured in books read, being libraries minister is an absolute delight and privilege.”) She emphasised the “sheer breadth”of what today’s libraries provide. She called them “engines of social mobility – a radical opening up of access to information. Founded on the notion that everyone should have equal access to knowledge. “In an age of digital connectedness, where information and ‘facts’ are disputed, this trust and this universality is key… We are witnessing a moment in history where the ability to distinguish truth from lie is critically essential. “The public library is arguably the purest expression of democracy in action – the idea that knowledge should be freely available to all citizens, regardless of their background or ability to pay.” Libraries, she said, are “strong partners” in delivering the government’s official Plan for Change. They are also key to Nandy’s vision for Arts for Everyone. She promised to “promote the critical contribution public libraries can and do make to so many important government strategic objectives to my ministerial colleagues across the whole of government” (good luck with that one). But she needs “robust data on library usage and impact – quantitative as well as qualitative – that I can use to help me to make your case”. You can read the whole thing here Also worth reading is a few home truths about under-funding (“libraries are low cost and high impact”) from Libraries Connected CEO Isobel Hunter – well placed in council must-read the Municipal Journal |
A LIBRARY IN EVERY PRIMARY SCHOOL?The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is not in the news for much generally applauded stuff, so her announcement that she is committing £10 million to create a library in every primary school in England by the end of this parliament was a welcome surprise. She told Labour Party conference about her own school library being “turned into a classroom, because there were more students than there was space.” There is little flesh on the bones of the plan – some schools are, after all, strapped for space and most seem to be short of money so another expense – the £10 million will presumably only be to set them up – is likely to cause some anxiety. That said, the irony that it is a legal requirement for every prison to have a library but not every school, makes this a welcome step in the right direction. Another irony may be that the headteachers’ union has come out against a Plaid Cymru plan to do exactly the same in Wales. The National Association of Head Teachers Cymru insists that every school already provides access to books and the the money should be directed to more pressing educational concerns than reading. |
KEEPING IT TOGETHER IN ESSEX |
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| Following their tremendous success in keeping all Essex libraries open in a campaign a few years ago, Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE) has turned it’s attention to the future. Essex will be facing local government reorganisation by 2028 and SOLE has written to all major political parties asking their views on the future of the library service, given that the County Council and two existing unitaries could be redivided into as many as five unitaries – each, in theory, with their own library service. SOLE has suggested using the provision in the Public Libraries and Museum Act 1964 to create a ‘Joint Board’ running libraries for all the new authorities and thus keeping the service together. At the time of writing all parties except Reform UK had replied positively – in the case of Labour and Conservative, very much so We may know in a month or so what is likely to happen with the revision of local authorities – it’s just been announced that Surrey will be split in two – then we wait to see how libraries fare. |
BARNSLEY EURO-BOOSTA Barnsley Libraries green project has won a prestige award, which also helps keep the UK relevant within Europe (despite Brexit). It’s not life-changing money at €9,520, which will be supplemented by Arts Council England. But it’s a good look. Barnsley was chosen as one of 60 recipients, out of 300 applicants in 20 countries. It Only Takes One Seed builds on previous work by Barnsley Libraries and local charity Creative Recovery. It aims to turn the town’s new-ish Library@The Lightbox into a “vibrant green hub”. That actually means a seed library, and various workshops to inspire communities to “reclaim nature one seed at a time and take small, practical steps towards making Barnsley a greener place”. As part of the Europe Challenge 2025-26, Barnsley joins an international initiative sharing ideas and contacts. Who knows what might grow from this seed? |
GO, GO GATESHEAD! |
 It’s rare, but such a pleasure, to cover a library service that is positively booming. In August, Gateshead reopened the last of four branch libraries to be refurbished in its Transforming Libraries project. As well as general brightening up, new flooring and heating, it features a new children’s area and – more unusual – a teen space and a fully-staffed Citizens Advice office. The Cabinet member greeted it as showing “exactly what we can achieve by adopting a place based working approach”. This may look like waffle, but it’s a smart way to think. The refurbs were paid for by the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. These grants are not library-specific, so it was a canny move to snap up one for libraries. It doesn’t stop here. 2026 is the 100th birthday of Gateshead’s Central Library. The celebrations have already started, and will last a whole year! The website already shows a fascinating 100-year history and a mass of events including walks, talks, collecting local people’s memories, loads of crafts both physical and digi and – of course – a 100th birthday party for Winnie the Pooh… Picture above is from Gateshead’s past and the one below from the present (and future we hope!) |
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 January 2026 will see the beginning of the 2026 Year of Reading led by The National Literacy Trust. The brand theme for 2026 is titled ‘Go All In’. Promoting reading, a key message will be ‘If you’re into it, read into it’, aiming to inspire people to pick up a book on whatever they are passionate about, or show an interest in, or have done previously. With one of the mains goals of “Go All In” is to draw people back into reading that may have, in recent years, lost the habit. Libraries are partnering with The National Literacy Trust as well as other high-profile organisations such as the Premier League. The focus is on the enjoyment that reading can bring, which was highlighted by MP Bridget Phillipson after recent data garnered from various questionnaires showed a general decline in reading for pleasure in recent years. The snazzy website, has a great FAQ section and will be indexing the various ‘Go All In’ events that will be taking place across the UK. The site also, amongst much other info, includes advice for how schools and libraries can get involved. As it says on the site: “We’re asking the nation to Go All In on their passions and see how reading can unlock more of what you already love – be that music, baking, family time, films, sci-fi, or anything’ |
A DIFFERENT KIND OF CO-LOCATIONCo-locating libraries with other services run by local authorities or public organisations is not new. And the news that Gloucester has now opened a library on the site of the University of Gloucestershire’s City Campus is also not groundbreaking in that Worcester and Southend (and maybe others) have shared their central libraries with local universities for a while. But it is good to see such co-operation between the Council and the UnIversity – it is to be hoped that the cross-fertilisation of learning and culture continues. As part of the opening there was a symbolic “Pass the Book” event, where members of the public formed a human chain to transfer books from the old site to the new. Watch the video here. |
FACEBOOKROUND UP |
If you are quick Friends of the Watlington Library i Oxfordshireare hosting a “spark-tabular” story time session on the morning of November 1st at 10:00 am ahead of bonfire night. We’re guessing that there will be some special effects in the form of sparklers during these readings! This busy group has also been posting about their Lego building sessions, naturally with a Halloween theme, as well as their art displays with work from locals on show. From November 6th to 8th, the Friends of Lancaster Library are hosting, after the success of last year’s event, their – ‘After Dark: Light Up Cafe’ – as part of Lancaster’s wider seasonal ‘Light Up Lancaster’. The Library cafe will stay open until 21:00, with the event starting at 18:00. They encourage late-night browsing, and they’ll be serving up hot drinks and snacks. It sounds fun! Friends of Ventnor Library on the Isle of Wight posted photos this week from their recent Halloween bat workshop, where children were invited to come and make cut-out bats. Goggly eyes a’plenty, and the photos also showed lashings of creativity from the little ones that attended. Friends of Portswood Library, Southampton, celebrated their 125th anniversary on October 25th with a busy event which included bunting draped over the library entrance, homemade tea, and cakes. Not only was the sheriff of Southampton in attendance in full traditional dress, but they also received a video message from a previous resident, library champion, and onetime user of their library – TV’s naturalist and conservationist Chris Packham! Back on the Isle of Wight and the Friends of Lord Louis Library have been posting about their weekly story-time sessions for toddlers with a teddy bear theme. They’ve also been hosting a Christmas quiz – replete with prizes and a raffle – with soft drinks provided, and adults allowed to BYOB! Tickets weren’t available to buy online, which likely encouraged people to visit the library in person to grab them and then spend more time there, too, we hope. Buckinghamshire’s group Friends of Burnham Library have been hyping up their own Halloween costume and craft-making session, which is happening ahead of Halloween. As well as this, they’ve been promoting their Christmas craft fair, due to take place on November 22nd. West Berkshire’s Thatcham Library will be hosting an event on November 22nd, raising awareness of the existence of (menstrual) period pants. They write that: “If you’ve ever wanted to try period pants but weren’t sure how they work, or have been put off by the cost, this is your chance.” This is part of the wider national theme of period equity with a focus on sustainable period products. |
| AND FINALLY… |
A SIDELINE ON CAERPHILLYIn the last couple of newsletters we have highlighted what’s going on in Caerphilly – plans to close over half it’s libraries. We have not heard any more on that except that the Labour candidate in the recent Senedd by-election – allegedly imposed on local party members by Labour Central Office – announced that he was opposed to his own party’s plans for libraries (i.e. the closures.) We think we saw a story about him starting his own petition but can’t now find it. As you will know it did not do him a lot of good even if true. |
| Please get in touch with us if your local library is under threat, you have a Friends group that you wish to promote or you would like advice about how to start a Friends group for your local library – currently under threat or not. Feel free to ask any questions about what Friends groups get up to. We have now created an archive of our previous newsletters, which you can view here – check it out if you haven’t already and share the link as it’s also a place for new subscribers to sign up. If you are new to getting our monthly newsletter this is a way to see what we’ve been getting across since we started this newsletter in Autumn 2022. |
