RSS Parrot

Overdue, presumed lost, despite reminders

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/09/overdue-presumed-lost-despite-reminders.html

Published: September 1, 2024 11:27

Editorial There are clearer and clearer signs that the new Labour government is not going to provide extra funding to, well, pretty much anyone. This is includes local government and, apparently, public libraries too. The new minister – I couldn’t remember…

Public libraries in the public eye

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/08/public-libraries-in-the-public-eye.html

Published: August 25, 2024 12:36

There were two big national news stories concerning libraries this week. The one is the number of requests to school libraries to withdraw books, with many ending up being removed. This is strongly reminiscent of what is happening in US public libraries,…

Labour shortage: will austerity continue?

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/08/labour-shortage-will-austerity-continue.html

Published: August 18, 2024 08:27

Editorial It was great to see the public response to the idiotic attack on Spellow Lane Library last well but, as Frank Cottrell-Boyce points out, another kind of vandalism has occurred in British libraries on a far larger scale. Due to the general…

239,000 reasons to hope

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/08/239000-reasons-to-hope.html

Published: August 10, 2024 15:39

Editorial The library week was dominated by first the horror at the setting ablaze of Spellow Lane Library during the far-right/racist/opportunist riots and then by the hope caused by a huge local, national and international response to a fundraiser for…

Rioters set fire to Spellow Lane Library

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/08/rioters-set-fire-to-spellow-lane-library.html

Published: August 4, 2024 20:11

Editorial Right-wing thugs decided to set fire to Spellow Lane Library in Liverpool last night. Unlike Greggs, which was looted, it appears that no books were stolen in the attack. Not even Mein Kampf, presumably because it had too many words. In the…

Petitions, computer problems and Carnegies

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/07/petitions-computer-problems-and-carnegies.html

Published: July 28, 2024 08:54

Editorial The power of local public protest to cuts in public libraries never ceases to amaze me. A campaign to save libraries in Lanarkshire managed to get 8,500 signatures, which is quite amazing by the way, resulted in Cambuslang staying open and…

Hello Ann Cleeves, a favour please

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/07/hello-ann-cleeves-a-favour-please.html

Published: July 21, 2024 13:46

Editorial One of the joys of working in public libraries these days is the sheer variety of the job. One can be ordering books, delivering training, planning events, organising stock rotations, partnering with different organisations and be in a murder…

Two annual events in danger of losing their shine

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/07/two-annual-events-in-danger-of-losing-their-shine.html

Published: July 14, 2024 09:17

Editorial Two annual library events have got me thinking this week. The first is the Summer Reading Challenge. By far the most popular promotion that any public library normally puts on, the Challenge is aimed at those in primary school, created by the…

Labour in Libraries

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/07/labour-in-libraries.html

Published: July 7, 2024 14:13

Editorial Wow, so that was a quite a victory for Labour. With such a majority, they have five years now to do what they can before the next election and, given the volatility of the electorate, the possibility of another change in government. There are…

Vote for Libraries

https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2024/06/vote-for-libraries.html

Published: June 30, 2024 14:51

Editorial By the look of the opinion polls, Public Libraries News will be reporting, for the first time it its 14 year history, soon on what impact a government without any Conservatives in it is having on public libraries. You already know the impact that…