December 2018 – Community Managed Libraries National Peer Network

As part of the wider Government strategy to improve safeguarding practice across the voluntary sector in England, DCMS in partnership with Big Lottery Fund are investing a total of £1.14 million to improve access to training, support and advice.

The Safeguarding Training Fund will provide funding in two phases until 2022. For the first phase DCMS is seeking an organisation or partnership of organisations with the track record and knowledge to develop high quality resources which will be freely available to the voluntary sector to improve safeguarding practice.

This will then be followed by a second phase which will fund a small number or organisations or partnerships to share the resources developed during Phase 1 and support grassroots charities and community organisations to improve their safeguarding practice.

For details of how to apply visit: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/safeguarding-training-fund-phase-1

Phase 1 applications are open now. Applications invited for up to £570,000 and the submission deadline is Monday 14 January at 12.00pm.

Taken from (Office for Civil Society) OCS For Info (London and South) – December 2018

National/general

15 Nov: Bibliotherapy: how reading and writing have been healing trauma since World War I (The Conversation)
13 Nov: Public Libraries and the Place of Kindness (CILIP) On the recent research from Carnegie UK Trust
13 Nov: 21 Pictures That Prove Libraries Are The Last Magical Places On Earth (Buzzfeed) part of a series: celebrating libraries and free access to information. Also: 26 People Told Us How Public Libraries Make Their Lives Better
9 Nov: Higher Education and Public Libraries: Partnerships Research (ACE)

International

16 Nov: Ten library tips for teens and young people (NZ) would be valid for teens anywhere
15 Nov: IFLA at the Internet Governance Forum 2018: Libraries Central to Building a Trusted Internet ”Libraries were well placed to help communities to get into action. They could offer solutions to practical problems, a space for coordination between community members, leadership in new initiatives, and training in how to take advantage of new possibilities.”
14 Nov: “Calgary’s New Central Library is an example of the best practices in modern monument making” (Canada) “It is remarkable how, all around the world, libraries have become the main focus of civic activity. While they were always places that acted as access points to knowledge, they have in recent years turned into social centres, community halls, theatres, museums, and even a species of indoor park (this last function mainly of use to the homeless and socially disadvantaged), all rolled into one. They have also become the most active and active structure in many communities, the one public building that defines and serves neighbourhoods or whole cities without charging you for a cup of coffee or waiting until you are sick.”
13 Nov: Learning Lessons from DPLA the Digital Public Library of America – laying off staff and a change in strategic direction. Previously focused on aggregating and curating special collections and a technical approach that made sense for the web, now appears to be pivoting more towards ebook distribution systems.
9 Nov: Constructive Confrontation: Being Decisive Rather than Nice (Public Libraries Online) strategies for dealing with challenging library patrons.
Feb: A librarian’s case against overdue book fines (TED talk) Librarian from the US makes the case (talk dates from Feb 2018 – just appeared in alert!)

Blogs

21 Nov: VR Day! (Taskforce) HP Sprout and VR in Oxford
19 Nov: Drama, the library and senior citizens (Taskforce)
19 Nov: Curated resources on diversity, inclusion, accessibility and equity for libraries put together by an Australian librarian
16 Nov: Why In The World Would You Drop Fines? The Case Study Of C. E. Weldon Public Library (princh blog) Interview with library director from Tennessee, US
15 Nov: Official opening of the extension to the Great Ayton Discovery Centre (Taskforce) Award winning community project in North Yorkshire
14 Nov: How libraries are leading the way with diversity (ACE) Sue Williamson looks at how the libraries we have welcomed into our National Portfolio are championing diversity, while re-defining what a library is, and what it can be.
13 Nov: Top 4 skills Librarians have to navigate digital disruption (Jane Cowell) Empathy, curiosity, creativity and audacity.
13 Nov: GDPR 6 months on – Lessons Learnt? Concise notes
12 Nov: Seven broad statements that may or may not help your museum do a bit better at social media Adam is digital lead for MERL – but his comments are relevant to libraries too
12 Nov: Expert Advice on How to Work Diversity Into Your Library Marketing (superlibrarymarketing) interview with Kim Crowder, Director of Communications for the Indianapolis Public Library – includes practical ideas relevant to any library service.
11 Nov: A Librarian’s Take on Digital Disruption (Jane Cowell)
Nov: Knowing me, knowing you: do we really know our existing and potential library users? Marge Ainsley on evaluation (Public Libraries News)

Local/regional

Bath & NE Somerset: Bath Podium Library announcement Proposals for the remodelling of Bath Central Library at the Podium have been put on hold
- ALSO: ‘This is common sense prevailing’ – reaction to decision on Bath Central Library
Bradford: Top author to visit local libraries Illustrator Kate Pankhurst is visiting as part of the Reading Pictures: Seeing Stories Festival (a collaboration between 15 authorities).
Calderdale: Closure threat looms over Calderdale’s library buildings Total estate is: Halifax Central Library, hub libraries at Brighouse, Elland, Hebden Bridge, King Cross, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden, and 15 community libraries. Options to make the savings at community library level are being explored in more detail, and focus on looking at buildings that are too expensive to maintain – and providing library services from other community buildings
Cheshire West: Cheshire West libraries enjoy visitor boom in past year “Storyhouse has been a major contributor to the success of the borough’s libraries.”
Cumbria: Not a single book taken out of Barrow Island pop-up library for 12 months Pop up facility set up in a primary school “but the service was not open all the time”
- ALSO: No books loaned from Barrow Island library in a year (BBC)
- ALSO: Not a single book was taken out of a pop-up library in a YEAR as council reveals the only ones ‘checked out’ were to test the IT system (Daily Mail)
Cumbria: Details of £1M refurb of Barrow Library revealed will include improvements to fix leaks, make it more accessible and improve fire safety.
Cumbria: Barrow Library hosting a teen Christmas market that’s selling a variety of gifts all part of ‘Celebrating Teens Month’. The library has planned a variety of different things to support teens in the area this month, with a push to promote young adult authors. They also hosted London based songwriter/rapper Girli in association with ‘loud-in-libraries’ where musicians play libraries both to promote themselves and libraries to young people.
Essex: Essex libraries: These are all the libraries that are earmarked to close down The council released a report on the ‘Essex Future Library Services Strategy.’ Within this, it lists and categorises every library in the county. A public consultation will begin on the plans at the end of November.
- ALSO: Essex library closures: 25 out of 74 set to go (BBC)
- ALSO: Third of Essex libraries could close under council plans (Gdn)
- ALSO: A third of the county’s libraries could shut, saving £2million
- ALSO: The future of every library in Essex is revealed [more like: a range of possible futures…. As this marks the start of a consultation process]
- ALSO: Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Debden and North Weald libraries are likely to close
- ALSO: Still hope for threatened libraries as local Labour launches campaign
- ALSO: 25 Essex libraries earmarked for closure (Bookseller)
- ALSO: Anger over council’s plans to close a third of libraries (ITV)
- ALSO: Petition launched to keep Colchester Prettygate library open
- ALSO: The fight back against planned library closure has begun
- ALSO: Harwich and Manningtree libraries under threat
- ALSO: Kelvedon and Silver End councillors hit out at library plans
Essex: Libraries fit for the future and a fit with people’s lives The council strategy
Gloucestershire: Would you buy Stroud Library? The county council-owned library on Lansdown has been listed as an asset of community value , meaning any attempt to sell the building would be paused for six months to give Stroud residents enough time to get organised and make a bid.
Kensington & Chelsea: Made ‘Magic’ in Chelsea blog post form Anna-Christina, who gave Half Term Holiday Story Times in North Kensington, Chelsea, and Brompton libraries
Kent: Library opening hours could be reduced under shake-up large reductions in many areas, although some of the smaller libraries may see hours extended.
Lambeth: West Norwood Library & Picturehouse are go
Lancashire: 1000 Places perform at Longridge and Clayon Green libraries An evening of songs and stories exploring and celebrating the history and heritage of the UK
Lancashire: Burnley’s Pike Hill library to reopen Closed in 2016, due to be taken over by the Veterans Association UK (VAUK) which planned to use the building as its headquarters and run a library service three days a week. Council now to reopen the library
Lancashire: Blackpool MP welcomes reopening of Cleveleys Library
Lancashire: Fylde and Wyre libraries looking after health and wellbeing activities during Self-Care Week, which runs from November 12 to November 18
Lancashire: Harris Museum and Art Gallery to undergo £10.7m transformation The Grade I listed Harris Museum in Preston, UK is to merge its museum, art gallery and library …The move will mean that the library, which is currently run by the wider Lancashire County Council, will be run by the more centralised Preston City Council
Manchester: Manchester Libraries Volunteer joins the staff team (library blog) Kingsley Bray volunteered at New Moston Community Library for over eighteen months and now has part-time paid employment at Manchester central library
Nottingham: See these lovely old photos of Nottingham which feature on city library’s new website Nottingham Local Studies Library has a significant photograph and image collection which began in 1918 when an appeal was sent out by the library to the Nottingham public for photographs of the local area – the collection which now contains tens of thousands of images of local people, places and events. The library is looking for volunteers with local knowledge to help index thousands more donated images.
Nottinghamshire: National Lottery grant awarded for exciting heritage project set to cook up a treat Inspire has received £10k for Home Cooked Heritage, a project focused on “uncovering and sharing the food heritage of Nottinghamshire; family recipes, food producers, social history and what food means to us all now.”
Redbridge: Plans unveiled to ‘save libraries’: Bulldozers will not be coming to Gants Hill library to demolish it says Redbridge Council Follow up to earlier article. Plans are still being discussed – proposals are to turn libraries into hubs
Sheffield: Multilingual children’s section opens in Sheffield Central Library
Somerset: Library faces closure with no-one willing to run it “People living in Highbridge could lose their community’s library as early as next month. Burnham and Highbridge Town Council members voted against submitting an expression of interest to keep the facility open … after it was revealed no volunteers, schools or neighbouring villages would be willing to help run the service.”
Suffolk: Libraries promote benefit of reading in tackling loneliness
Suffolk: Special screenings, wildlife roadshow and fundraiser organised by town library Actitivies organised by the Friends of Southwold library
Warrington: Lymm crime writer wins award for supporting Warrington’s libraries Martin Edward won the Dagger in the Library award, from the Crime Writers’ Association [The ‘Dagger’ is awarded each year to a crime writer for a body of work particularly admired by library users, and for their support of libraries.]
Warrington: Get involved in the “Great North West Read”
Worcestershire: Upton Library should not bear the brunt of county council cuts “…the recommendation is to gut its opening hours, as well as taking steps to make it s fully community-run library, staffed by volunteers.” The Upton Villages Together trust in June 2016, signed a lease taking over the upkeep of the library in a bid to reduce council spending …. Said “Our library is booming. Take-up of group events for the times the library is open to the public is good. Our trust makes the building available outside of the 25 hours of its library open house.”
York: Reading makes us better people – which is why our libraries matter

Month: December 2018

Seasons Greetings and More!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Practical session on Bid Writing for community managed libraries will now run as a WEBINAR on 30 January 2019

Media roundup – November 2018