SEPTEMBER 2026  |
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| Welcome to our round up of September’s UK libraries news! |
THE LIBRARY CAMPAIGN AGM – AND MINI-CONFERENCE |
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A reminder that this take space on Saturday 3 October at 14:00. Before and after the brief Annual General meeting itself there will be discussions on the way forward for The Library Campaign and then on what Friends can teach or learn from each other. The registration link is https://us02web.zoom.us/ |
CAERPHILLY FIGHTS ON |
Dogged lawyers (and campaigners) for Caerphilly libraries gave the courts a busy summer. And there’s more to come. The story starts back in May 2025, when the council announced a drastic “strategy” to close over half its libraries – 10 out of 18. The rump would be confined to the big towns as “centres of excellence”. Cue the usual outrage, consultation and, as the council remained adamant, a judicial review (JR). On 26 August this year, the High Court dismissed the JR. So the lawyers prepared to appeal. Losing so many small libraries would “take things back to Victorian times”, campaigners said. The council said it would (as it should) await the result. But it would carry on talking to anyone who fancied taking over the buildings “for community use”. The local Senedd member, Lindsay Whittle, pointed out: “It’s not just about stamping books, handing them out and collecting them back. Running a library is a big and responsible job.” Then the council decided to go ahead with the closures anyway, on 8 September. In a flurry of activity, the lawyers applied for an interim injunction to stop the closures, were turned down, made an emergency appeal (on 4 September) – and succeeded. The JR appeal is pending. The libraries are still open. “We found it extremely disappointing that the local authority sought to press ahead with the closure of these valuable community assets, whilst the lawfulness of their decision to close them is subject to judicial scrutiny”, said lawyers Harding Evans. Now they are taking things much further. They are bringing in the fact that Welsh Ministers have duties under the 1964 Act to superintend libraries (etc) “and that the Court will accord particular respect to Ministers’ informed, specialist oversight… “Your superintendence is designed to ensure that strategic aspirations translate into accessible, affordable, and inclusive use on the ground over time.” The JR judgement had noted that the Welsh government had not intervened in, or criticised, Caerphilly’s strategy, and the Welsh public library standards had been considered. But say, Harding Evans, those 1964 duties still remain as new evidence is gathered. And the key issue in the appeal will be rural communities. The consultation had shown that most respondents would have trouble reaching town centre libraries, for various reasons. And 15% had no affordable internet access. It’s a long letter, with a lot of questions for the Minister to answer. Several focus on the kind of “mitigations” offered by councils (like Caerphilly) when they want mass closures. You know the kind of thing: “outreach” services, digital provision, dumping buildings on to volunteers. Do these really compensate for libraries? We’d love to see an authoritative answer… The letter is pointedly copied to a host of other ministers, responsible for social justice, education, local government and … er, “rural resilience”. The photo of Caerphilly Library above is by Ianw Stokes |
SENSORY SPECIAL |
Warwickshire has launched Discovery Den – the first-ever sensory mobile library in the UK (picture below.)“We are incredibly proud to be leading the way in reimagining how library services can support wellbeing, learning and connection for people of all ages,” says head of libraries Ayub Khan. The project brought together libraries, children’s services and – importantly – Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice, who made a joint application with libraries to ACE’s Libraries Improvement Fund.  |
The library service already has sensory story times, accessibility guides and other resources. Children, families and SEND professionals were asked for their ideas for the new mobile. The all-electric vehicle has an inter-active sensory space, specialist books and equipment to try out and borrow.It will tour schools and communities with sessions for both children and adults with complex needs.In a nice accessibility touch, two other new all-electric mobiles have lifts to help people get into them. |
COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELSA survey conducted by Libraries Connected finds that 73% of public libraries in the UK report far higher demand for graphic novels and comic books than five years ago. 82% expect demand for this format to increase over the next five years. This format, which is usually lushly illustrated, spans all genres. The idea that they are not just for children has been increasing in public awareness for many years. Towns often have at least one graphic novel and comic shop as well as the library collections. There is a far greater range than 20 years go, with biographies and novels being adapted for the format, as well as educational guides and original stories. Perhaps the UK is set to one day match France with its graphic novel (bandes dessinées) interest, as they are considered a true art form there and enjoy massive popularity with the French public. LC’s survey also discovered that demand is strongest among younger readers. Libraries reported: “significant benefits for reluctant readers, children, teenagers, dyslexic readers and neurodivergent readers. More than nine in ten respondents said comics benefit reluctant readers and children, while two-thirds highlighted benefits for neurodivergent readers” Th. report also reveals that comics and graphic novels support general reading pleasure, can assist in literacy development and increase reading confidence. They are visual and increasingly intellectual in their content. There are also challenges, Many respondents had difficulties maintaining complete series of cross-issue comic story arcs, replacing missing volumes, managing access to digital content, as well as often inconsistent age restriction guidelines. As is so often the case these days, budget constraints were cited as an obstacle to acquiring more stock to meet this growing demand. Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive, Libraries Connected, said: “Libraries have always been champions of emerging and diverse forms of literature. The growing popularity of comics and graphic novels demonstrates the value of offering readers choice and responding to changing tastes. The challenge now is making sure libraries can continue to build on this success. We need sustainable investment, better digital access and stronger support across the supply chain so that libraries can keep providing the collections that readers are increasingly asking for.” We would love to hear if your Friends group runs comic or graphic novel-related events, activities! Pic below borrowed from Libraries Connected |
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UNION WARNINGSTwo of the main unions representing library workers have recently issued worrying warning about the state of local government.UNISON (the biggest union in libraries) sent Freedom of Information requests to local authorities and analysed their public financial plans . The result reveals that four out of every five councils across England, Scotland and Wales are still struggling to balance their books despite modest improvements in local government finances.The projected financial gap across 368 local authorities (not all providing library services) is £7.1 billion. This is the difference between what a council needs to continue providing its current services and what it actually receives. You can read more here.And the GMB has been looking at figures from the Office of National Statistics which indicate that More than 600,000 council jobs have disappeared across England and Wales since 2012.. The numbers range from a 43% loss in the East Midlands to only (!) 15% in Wales.GMB National Officer Will Dalton said losing a third of the workforce had ‘torn the heart out of our communities.’ He added that well-funded councils with well-paid workers must be central to any pledge to spread prosperity nationwide.At The Library Campaign we know that even where closures have not taken place, staff numbers have reduced in libraries as authorities try to make savings to cope to with the financial losses reported by UNISON. |
“THE LIBRARIANS” WINS AN EMMY |
We wrote a few months ago about ‘The Librarians’, a powerful documentary directed by Kim A. Snyder that follows school and public librarians across the USA who found themselves on the front lines of the fight against book bans. The film documents librarians facing harassment, threats, job loss, and efforts to criminalise their work simply for defending access to books and the freedom to read.Now it has won the Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. You can see an excerpt from the awards ceremony here. The award is well deserved and we know of some friends groups and possibly libraries that have shown it in the UK. |
ISLINGTON LIBRARY CUTSThe London Borough of Islington is planning to cut up to 25% of its £3.9 million library spend. Consultants were brought in (themselves costing £110,000) and it is their recommendations that the council is considering. At the time of writing it was not known what the suggested cuts – of between £500,000 to £1m – are. But the staff, through their union UNISON are mounting a campaign to halt the plans in their tracks and held a protest outside the Town Hall on 24 September. |
FLOWERS FROM LAMBETH FRIENDS |
 Friends of Lambeth Libraries (FOLL) have lost count of the times they have demonstrated at the Town Hall against various daft library plans. This time it was very different. They brought flowers for the libraries Cabinet member!After 20+ years, Labour lost control of the council in May. But they left behind a massive library cut – and plans for a further “review” by the very Directors-plus-consultants combo (ie not librarians) who had imposed the unworkable cut. |
Green Cllr Natalie Kane has fought against the odds to kill all this. “We know it was hard,” says FOLL. “We are happy to congratulate her.”Unfortunately Cllr Kane has a further mountain to climb. Given an exceptional head of libraries who has made huge improvements on a lousy budget, Labour planned to make her redundant, delete her post and replace it with post so impossible to fulfil that nobody would be able to make such improvements, ever again. Briefly, the job in future would also involve running the entire leisure service – a huge area requiring completely different qualifications and experience. Library users are outraged.FOLL and UNISON are right behind Cllr Kane in opposing this.They hope flowers can again be presented. They would be well earned. |
GREEN LIBRARIES WEEKCILIP (the librarians’ professional organisation) is promoting Green Libraries Week from Wednesday 12 October till Wednesday 28 October. The aim is to show how libraries (of all types) are helping local communities live and grow sustainably. They have some downloadable resources and a link to a webinar on the first day here. The main page also has a map to show what is happening where and links to examples of what has been done in previous Green Libraries Weeks.The webinar is open to all including non-members of CILIP though if you are not a member you will need to create a guest account to book your ticket. |
FACEBOOKROUND UP |
The Friends of Whitchurch Library have several upcoming and regular events for the new season that could serve as inspiration for Friends Groups wondering how to get more feet in their library and a sense of community. Over the next few months, this industrious Bristol-based group have coffee mornings, Lego clubs, craft afternoons, fitness afternoons and one-off events such as a dementia info evening and ‘Girls Allowed ’, which connects women to explore volunteering, training and other events. Friends of Acklam Library, Middlesbrough have had a very large 1000-piece puzzle on one of their tables where members of the public can come help get it to completion! We’re not sure how long the one they posted to Facebook has been laid out, but we’re hoping they don’t lose any pieces along the way! This month in Lancashire, Friends of Fulwood Library posted about their four-week acrylic painting course that is free for the public to attend. They have also been hosting a ‘Seasons of change’ painting course with a focus on autumnal colours. A very creative friends group that clearly leans towards the arts! The Friends of Hornsey Library, Haringey posted about their event of September 14th, where they hosted a ‘meet the author’ session where the writer Robert Lustig read from his book ‘And The Cello Came Too’. It was a very busy and, hence, sold-out event, judging by the photos from Facebook, which included documentation of audience participation. Oxfordshire’s Friends of Watlington Library have announced that they are to hold free monthly sessions of technology help using a grant from Watlington and District Age Concern. This seems like crucial for people who may feel left behind by the pace at which technology and hardware move. The monthly sessions will include help and advice on how to spot scams online, file management, online shopping, photo editing, using QR codes and emails and documents. We’d love to hear what kind of events your friends group is planning or indeed any challenges you may be facing and wanting to make others aware of so please do get in touch and ask for your Friends group to be featured! |
