Hello, Hello, Hello, What’s All This Then?

A growing development in the often crazy world of collocation is that some authorities are closing police stations and are proposing to base officers in libraries. Warwickshire have been doing it for some time I believe, see;
http://www.warwickshire.police.uk/policingwarwickshire/policestations/alcester_warwickshiredirect

Can you imagine the conflicts that might arise? Someone noisily resisting arrest at the same time as a Baby Bounce session!

I mean where would you put them anyway, with 'True Crime' in the 364's?

But seriously, we already have a myriad of cuts affected services being shoehorned together with libraries, some possibly beneficial but many not, but in my opinion this is a step too far. As a colleague pointed out to me recently the notion that public libraries are neutral spaces is a false one, but there's certainly no hope of it now.

'Public will have to report crime at supermarkets and libraries'

The public face having to go to supermarkets and libraries to report crimes to the police as more stations are shut down to save money, MPs have heard. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9406755/Public-will-have-to-report-crime-at-supermarkets-and-libraries.html

'Leeds cops move out of police stations ... and into libraries'
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/leeds-cops-move-out-of-police-stations-and-into-libraries-1-6547417

Library workers on #J10Strike

It really heartened me to see that so many of my fellow library workers came out on strike yesterday, times are very tough and colleagues are under a lot of pressure but libraries where closed and picketed.
Here are some of the news stories i spotted from around the country;

http://www.brixtonblog.com/brixton-and-lambeth-workers-join-national-day-of-strike-action/23458
"All libraries and 60 schools are closed or partially closed today during a national strike over pay"
"A spokesman confirmed that all libraries are expected to stay closed today"
I've also been told that staff picketing outside Streatham Library erected a 'tunnel' for scabs to crawl through!

http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Somerset-County-Council-strike-update-seven-cent/story-21447177-detail/story.html
"Bridgwater, Wiveliscombe, Taunton and Priorswood Libraries were closed for the day with Glastonbury Library closed from midday."

http://www.barnet-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=23302&headline=Views%20from%20the%20picket%20line
"Around half of council-run libraries, as well as the mobile library services, have been unable to open their doors."

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/library-workers-join-strike-action.html
"Libraries around the country will be closed today (10th July) as thousands of public sector workers go on strike in protest over pay, pensions and cuts."
"Library manager Ian Anstice, who runs Public Library News, is one of the librarians striking."
"Rosie Bartam, a library service advisor in Nottinghamshire will also be striking."

http://m.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/11333520.Librarians_join_strike_in_series_of_disputes_with_government_over_pay__pensions_and_cuts/
"LIBRARY workers in Lansdown, Stroud are taking a stand against low pay.
Five women including Stroud libraries manager, three library team leaders and a library assistant have joined the strike in a series of disputes with the government over pay, pensions and cuts."

http://m.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/11331631.Day_of_action__Libraries_closed_in_Devizes__Chippenham_and_Corsham/
"Day of action: Libraries closed in Devizes, Chippenham and Corsham"

http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/news/haringey_on_strike_unions_action_closes_37_schools_libraries_and_customer_service_centre_1_3679424
"All libraries except for Wood Green Central Library were closed by the industrial action"

So well done and solidarity to all those library workers who took action.

LSSI secure contract, a Punk archive and 'The State of Reference Collections' report.

Library related stories that have recently caught my attention;


LSSI wins contract in Upland, California.

Library Services and Systems Inc. (LSSI) the US based library operator has just won a 5 yr contract to run Upland Library in California.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/government-and-politics/20140625/upland-council-approves-outsourcing-of-library
Although claims are being made that this will lead to an increase in opening hours and stock budgets not everyone is happy with the decision;

"Becky Coyne, an Upland resident for 35 years, says she has been has been a library patron all those years and has been a volunteer the last four.
“The idea of LSSI taking over the library is just appalling to me,” Coyne said.
Coyne said library staff continued to give 200 percent despite numerous budget cuts, and shutting the doors on Fridays and Saturdays. It also means she will not volunteer for a privately run library.
“Public library — just take away the public. I just cannot believe you are doing this,” she said. “If I can’t trust you to run my library how can I trust you to run my city?”

I suspect the staff will also be apprehensive about the whole thing considering that they will be laid off and then will have to re-apply for their positions as LSSI employees which could mean that some will lose their jobs. LSSI tried to secure this contract 2 years ago but it was dropped due to opposition;

"LSSI is the same company the city attempted to work out a contract with two years ago but those plans were put on hold after several library supporters voiced opposition."


Punk Archive



The District of Columbia Library has decided to document the area's punk scene in a new archive;

"As part of the public library's Special Collections/Washingtoniana unit, the DC Punk Archive is going to feature "multiple formats including photographs, published materials (books, zines, articles), recordings (vinyl records, tapes, CDs, videos, live recordings, oral histories, film footage), and ephemera (fliers, posters, set lists)."
http://boundbooksandlibraryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/dc-public-library-establishing-punk.html

What an excellent, inclusive and creative idea.


The State of Reference Collections

Being a Reference Librarian myself I was interested to see that Sage, the academic and reference publishers, have just published a new report entitled 'State of Reference Collections'. The report concludes;
"The future of reference is far from grim, despite competition from Google, Wikipedia, and other resources and despite budgetary constraints. Librarians are still interested in resources that make research easier for their patrons and will buy those resources when there is a clear use case for them. This includes integrating into reference the notion that the types of resources that now define reference include article, statistical, and video databases."
It's a positive one considering the cuts to library services and the loss of specialist staff but then again they are trying to sell their products.