Latest news with #librarians
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
North Somerset librarians told not to express views on cuts
Librarians have been asked not to express their views on cuts to the service while at work or within a libraries run by North Somerset Council are under threat of reduced hours and three have been earmarked for closure. The move comes after the council announced it was axing its annual spending on libraries by £ asked why librarians were being told not to talk to journalists about the cuts, North Somerset Council said librarians were just following the standard practice. The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Library staff are also free to express their own personal views on the library consultation, but we have politely requested this does not take place within a library building or within working hours so 'business as usual' is not disrupted."If they wish to comment, they should respond as a member of the public rather than as a staff member as any 'council' interviews should come from the library service's cabinet member."Worle Library, Pill Library and Winscombe Library are all under threat of closure under the plans, although one library in either Pill or Winscombe could be kept voted in February to cut £433k from the libraries budget as the council tries to make £44m of savings across the next three years to balance its budget. They will vote in February 2026 on the specific actions to achieve that cut, which could be implemented between summer 2026 and September 2028.A consultation on how to make the cuts is open until October 24.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
N.B. government reviewing labour board's order to rescind school layoff notices
Many New Brunswick librarians are uncertain if they will have jobs in September. Laid off library workers and school support staff in New Brunswick are still unclear about their future, a week after an order was issued for their pink slips to be rescinded. The New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board found the provincial government didn't bargain in good faith with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) earlier this year when it 'failed in its duty to disclose government decisions that would and did have a significant impact on the negotiations process.' The board ordered the province rescind layoff notices, as well as rescind the decision to reduce working hours for school administrative assistants, until the ratification of a tentative agreement. A total of 69 workers in Anglophone School District West were issued layoff notices in April, including: 32 library workers 19 education assistants 10 administrative assistants seven district administrative support staff members one student attendant Layoff notices were also sent to 13 full-time and five part-time library workers in Anglophone School District South, with District scolaire francophone Sud also confirming lay off notices. Theresa McAllister, president of CUPE Local 2745 Educational Support Staff, said the union hasn't heard anything directly from the provincial government since the board's order was issued. 'I know I have some feelers out there trying to find out some information as to how and when we start to move forward,' says McAllister. Education Minister Claire Johnson responded to the board's order on Friday, telling reporters she had no new information to share with affected workers. A written statement from the department on Monday said it would 'be taking time to review' the board's decision without offering a timeline on when that might be completed. When layoff notices were first issued this past spring, Johnson said every school district was being directed to prioritize money for literacy and numeracy skills while finding $43 million in savings. In June, the province budgeted an additional $14.6 million for school districts but didn't tie the money to hiring back laid off workers. Interim Progressive Conservative Leader Glen Savoie says the labour and employment board's decision is clear, questioning what exactly that government has to review. '(The provincial government) has been found guilty in a sense,' says Savoie. 'So here we are, now having to wait, while the government decides whether or not it wants to take responsibility.' Green Party Leader David Coon says the provincial government is trying to delay the inevitable. 'I don't understand why they're treating it as complicated, it's very straightforward,' says Coon. 'I don't see what choice they really have here.' School library Students sit in a school library. (CTV News) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
BBC News
01-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Summer Reading Challenge 2025: Are you taking part?
Do you enjoy reading for fun? Like a challenge? Well, charity The Reading Agency has launched its big Summer Reading year the charity launches a big summer challenge, where children set a goal to read as many books as they'd like over the holidays, to encourage children to feel more confident, and discover a love for by the charity has shown that in the UK, one in four children cannot read well by the age of part of the challenge last year, more than 13 million books were read and issued through libraries, and 70% of children who took part said they now feel more confident reading. How can people get involved? The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children aged four to 11-years-old, and kids can take part online, or by visiting a local the library, children can sign-up for free, set a reading goal for how many books they'd like to read, choose some books, and earn rewards like stickers or a medal for completing a reading libraries are also hosting special events as part of the Summer Reading you can't get to your local library, kids can join in online, by signing-up on the official website, setting a goal and get tips for accessing books for free at home. As you read you'll unlock digital rewards, including a printable certificate for completing your goals. Kids can also leave book reviews for other children to help them find a book they might you taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge?What books do you love to read? Let us know in the comments below!
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Librarian cuts 'deeply damaging' to Glasgow schools
Proposals to remove librarians from every Glasgow secondary school would be "deeply damaging" to the sector, a body for the profession has warned. The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) has written to Glasgow City Council expressing "significant concerns" over the local authority's Life, which manages the service on behalf of Glasgow City Council, would place an assistant in each of the city's high schools instead, in a move to save CILIPS say this step would "de-professionalise a vital service" and affect the quality of the service. In a letter to Glasgow Life from Sean McNamara, CILIPS's director, the body say the library cuts would "further create a growing divide in social class and opportunity." A council-approved review of library services in February 2024 targeted savings of £100,000, a move which CILIPS claimed has put Glasgow libraries into an impossible position. Glasgow Life has argued the plan will increase access to school libraries citywide by 27%, by raising the number of hours when facilities have some form of staffing, even though it would remove 16 roles in total from the school McNamara said: These proposals would be deeply damaging to the education of young people and would de-professionalise a vital service. "School librarians support curriculum delivery, help raise attainment and literacy level and must be protected nationally and locally. "This £100k pre-agreed cut leaves the service with little option but to find damaging cuts, and we believe the only way to avoid diminishing the service significantly would be to reverse this financial decision urgently." 'No compulsory redundancies' In the letter to the Glasgow Life board, Mr McNamara wrote: "Librarians are specialists in matters of media and information literacy, ethics, and censorship, and with a recent rise of book banning requests it is vital that school librarians are in place in schools to provide their expertise."He added that Glasgow Life should reconsider whether the £100,000 saving was librarian body should be treated as singular nA Glasgow Life spokesperson previously said: "Glasgow Life is bound by Glasgow City Council's commitment to no compulsory redundancies."Should the proposal be approved, affected staff will have the opportunity to apply for promoted positions or be redeployed into available vacant roles commensurate with their existing pay and grade."The spokesperson added that funding available to provide school library books and other resources would remain above the Scottish with trade unions on the proposals are already under way.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Librarians set to be removed from every Glasgow secondary school
Librarians will be removed from all of Glasgow's 30 secondary schools next year if council budget cuts are plans would see the school service headed up by a principal librarian along with three area-based assistant would then be placed in each of the city's high Life, which manages the service on behalf of Glasgow City Council, says it would take 16 librarians out of the school system. In February 2024, the council approved a review of the school library service, with a target saving of £100, Life and the council's education department concluded the greatest savings could be made through changes to staffing they insist their plans would increase access to school libraries citywide by 27% by raising the number of hours when facilities have some form of staffing.A Glasgow Life spokesperson said: "Additionally, the funding available to provide school library books and other resources going forward will remain above the Scottish average."The plans have now been communicated to staff and trade unions, with consultations expected to spokesperson added: "Glasgow Life is bound by Glasgow City Council's commitment to no compulsory redundancies."Should the proposal be approved, affected staff will have the opportunity to apply for promoted positions or be redeployed into available vacant roles commensurate with their existing pay and grade."
