This week we’re posting a round-up of some of the latest news from the library sector, plus details of upcoming workshops and training opportunities.
News
Latest on library consultations in three areas
Three councils are currently going through major consultations regarding the future of their libraries. Unsurprisingly, this has created significant public and media interest with local residents fearing for the future of their library services. Here are some of the latest news pieces we found on the Bristol, East Sussex and Northamptonshire library service consultations:
Bristol Post reports on the Bristol Council consultation
Eastbourne Herald reporting on East Sussex County Council consultation
And the Northamptonshire Council plans have received wide coverage locally and nationally, including from the BBC, The Bookseller and The Telegraph
Flying start to campaign to re-open a Lancashire library
12 months after the closure of Lytham Library in Lancashire, The friends of Lytham Library and Institute have already gained over 600 signatures on a petition in a great start to their campaign to re-open the library. You can read more in the Blackpool Gazette.
Community Managed Library receives royal honour
Chalfont St Giles Community Library received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony on 23rd October. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups in the UK and it is recognition for the hard work of the library’s many committed volunteers. Congratulations to Chalfont St Giles library on this prestigious award.
Group’s bid to take over running of library in Bury
Friends of Dumers Lane Community Centre are bidding to take over the running of their local community centre and library and are inviting residents to share their ideas for the building’s future. They have submitted an expression of interest to Bury Council to run the library, and want to bring residents and community groups together to hear how they would like to see it used.
Last month, the council said that they were inviting applications from local groups wishing to take over the running of six sites. You can read more here.
Webinars, workshops and briefings
If you read our newsletter then some of these opportunities may already be familiar to you, however we don’t want anyone to miss out on these free workshop opportunities and so here they are again, plus one new briefing we’ve just found out about:
Community Asset Transfer Webinar
The first network webinar was held last week. The subject was Community Asset Transfer and the session explored topics such as what is happening nationally, understanding the basics, your community and the process of asset transfer and the business plan. The session was hosted by Stephen Rolph, Head of Community Enterprise and Assets at Locality. Dont, worry if you missed the webinar, you can watch it here.
Libraries Taskforce Masterclasses
The Libraries Taskforce have designed two toolkits, an evidence-based strategic planning toolkit and a Benchmarking Framework which libraries can choose to use for self-assessment. These toolkits are designed to help libraries assess the services they currently provide, and then think long-term as they plan and develop their library service, in consultation with their communities.
The Libraries taskforce are running two FREE masterclasses in London and in Leeds whereby you can find out more about the toolkits and learn from the experiences of those already using them. You can find out more about the masterclasses, who they are suitable for, and sign up for them by visiting the Libraries Taskforce blog.
Legal, Governance & Trustee Workshop (FREE)
10th November 2017
10.30am – 1.30pm
Venue: 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2ES
For more information and to book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/legal-governance-and-trustee-workshop-free-tickets-33357242410?ref=estw
Income Generation & Fundraising Workshop (FREE)
7th December 2017
10.30am – 4pm
Venue: Upper Norwood Library Hub, 39-41 Westow Hill, London, SE19 1TJ
For more information and to book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/income-generation-and-fundraising-free-tickets-38494495071?ref=estw
General Data Protection Regulation briefing
New data protection rules come in to place in April 2018. If you’re unsure how these new rules will affect you then this briefing aimed at leaders in the public sector may be for you: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gdpr-briefing-for-the-public-sector-tickets-38805185354
If you have any further news or training and development opportunities relevant to the community managed libraries sector then please share them with us via our contact us page so that we can share them with the network.