{ "latest_post": { "id": "pln-post-20275", "source_id": 20275, "url": "https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/2026/11/measuring-the-stench-of-death.html", "slug": "measuring-the-stench-of-death", "title": "Measuring the stench of death", "date_published": "2026-11-01T10:37:47", "date_modified": "2026-11-01T10:37:51", "author": "Ian Anstice / The Library Campaign", "editorial": { "text": "A library visitor once complimented me by saying that my library did not have the “stench of death”. He meant that the library’s appearance showed that the place was still valued. There was no damage outside or graffiti and interior was warm and welcoming with up to date displays and very little fossilised blue-tack on the walls. The thing is, though, I know libraries with that smell. I have been to libraries where the council, not mine thank goodness, clearly does not care and, sadly, the library teams have been unable to keep up their morale. This lethal infection starts from the head: if the council does not invest in its libraries then sooner or later – and it can take decades – the local library starts looking awful. And people don’t come in, and the vicious circle of decline in investment and in usage becomes evident. But this does not need to be the case. A well-maintained and attractive building, with money enough to change with the times, will lead to a thriving library. But where does the money come from? Well, ultimately, from central government, either through direct grant or through sufficiently funding councils. And this has not happened sufficiently in decades, Since the start of this website in 2010, we have had a decade of austerity – where the already-insufficient funding in infrastructure has been cut – followed by years where funding has been stable but has not taken into account inflation or the demands of social welfare. Many of us were excited when a new party came to power, but it quickly became apparent under Starmer that nothing would change. And now there is renewed hope for the new prime minister, but the budget this week showed a slight change in the mood music at least. A good a time in a decade or two to ask for money then. But in order to do this, we need to know how much we want, so the new Arup and Designing Libraries Collaboration is to be welcomed. This will “establish the first comprehensive assessment of library capital investment requirements in almost two decades.” It’s been done before – the 2006 report identified £760 million was needed – but then in 2010 it all became moot when the Government made clear none of it was going to happen. But that was 20 years ago. A recent similar project Evaluating Capital Investment Needs for Arts Centres in the UK was quoted in this year’s Hodge Review and may have influenced Lisa Nandy. So how will it work? Inevitably, it’s all voluntary. Individual councils will be asked for what is needed and it is to be hoped that they will answer honestly and that they will see it’s in their best interest to do so. And if some councils don’t get involved because the figure is too embarrassing for them … well, at least we will know where the smell is coming from. Please email me at ianlibrarian@live.co.uk with any news and views or if you wish to advertise. Subscription is free by using the box on the right-hand side.", "html": "

A library visitor once complimented me by saying that my library did not have the “stench of death”. He meant that the library’s appearance showed that the place was still valued. There was no damage outside or graffiti and interior was warm and welcoming with up to date displays and very little fossilised blue-tack on the walls. The thing is, though, I know libraries with that smell. I have been to libraries where the council, not mine thank goodness, clearly does not care and, sadly, the library teams have been unable to keep up their morale. This lethal infection starts from the head: if the council does not invest in its libraries then sooner or later – and it can take decades – the local library starts looking awful. And people don’t come in, and the vicious circle of decline in investment and in usage becomes evident. But this does not need to be the case. A well-maintained and attractive building, with money enough to change with the times, will lead to a thriving library.

But where does the money come from? Well, ultimately, from central government, either through direct grant or through sufficiently funding councils. And this has not happened sufficiently in decades, Since the start of this website in 2010, we have had a decade of austerity – where the already-insufficient funding in infrastructure has been cut – followed by years where funding has been stable but has not taken into account inflation or the demands of social welfare. Many of us were excited when a new party came to power, but it quickly became apparent under Starmer that nothing would change. And now there is renewed hope for the new prime minister, but the budget this week showed a slight change in the mood music at least.

A good a time in a decade or two to ask for money then. But in order to do this, we need to know how much we want, so the new Arup and Designing Libraries Collaboration is to be welcomed. This will “establish the first comprehensive assessment of library capital investment requirements in almost two decades.” It’s been done before – the 2006 report identified £760 million was needed – but then in 2010 it all became moot when the Government made clear none of it was going to happen. But that was 20 years ago. A recent similar project Evaluating Capital Investment Needs for Arts Centres in the UK was quoted in this year’s Hodge Review and may have influenced Lisa Nandy. So how will it work? Inevitably, it’s all voluntary. Individual councils will be asked for what is needed and it is to be hoped that they will answer honestly and that they will see it’s in their best interest to do so. And if some councils don’t get involved because the figure is too embarrassing for them … well, at least we will know where the smell is coming from.

Please email me at ianlibrarian@live.co.uk with any news and views or if you wish to advertise. Subscription is free by using the box on the right-hand side.

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", "links": [ { "url": "https://n-somerset.gov.uk/news/winscombe-sandford-parish-council-take-management-winscombe-library-april-2027", "text": "Winscombe and Sandford Parish Council take over Winscombe Library.", "domain": "n-somerset.gov.uk" } ], "resolution": { "entity_type": "local_authority", "country": "England", "country_code": "GB", "library_service": { "name": "North Somerset", "gss_code": "E06000024", "confidence": "exact" }, "libraries_mentioned": [ { "id": "lib_14055ec1-fd58-4e54-8e63-3275f3a70a53", "name": "Winscombe Library", "postcode": "BS25 1AB", "lat": 51.31428481744411, "lng": -2.832796126693118, "status": "Open", "slug": "winscombe-library" } ], "coordinates": { "latitude": 51.346, "longitude": -2.977 } }, "classification": { "categories": [], "primary_category": null, "change_type": "other", "sector_bodies_mentioned": [], "financial_mentions": [] }, "tags": [] }, { "id": "pln-story-20275-local-001", "post_id": "pln-post-20275", "post_date": "2026-11-01", "section": "local_news", "entity_raw": "Bolton", "text": "Bolton opens first Live Well centre – Bolton Council. “The new centre opened at Breightmet library this week and builds on services the library already offers to add support with mental health, physical wellbeing and help for families and young people.”", "text_html": "
  • Bolton – Bolton opens first Live Well centre – Bolton Council. “The new centre opened at Breightmet library this week and builds on services the library already offers to add support with mental health, physical wellbeing and help for families and young people.”
    • ", "links": [ { "url": "https://www.bolton.gov.uk/news/article/2143/bolton-opens-first-live-well-centre", "text": "Bolton – Bolton opens first Live Well centre", "domain": "bolton.gov.uk" } ], "resolution": { "entity_type": "local_authority", "country": "England", "country_code": "GB", "library_service": { "name": "Bolton", "gss_code": "E08000001", "confidence": "exact" }, "libraries_mentioned": [ { "id": "lib_ea3132c0-e74f-47e1-b8b3-5f6419b1a31e", "name": "Breightmet Library", "postcode": "BL2 6NT", "lat": 53.58235061870064, "lng": -2.3842776319010577, "status": "Open", "slug": "breightmet-library" } ], "coordinates": { "latitude": 53.5769, "longitude": -2.4282 } }, "classification": { "categories": [ "warm_spaces_and_wellbeing" ], "primary_category": "warm_spaces_and_wellbeing", "change_type": null, "sector_bodies_mentioned": [], "financial_mentions": [] }, "tags": [ "warm_spaces_and_wellbeing" ] }, { "id": "pln-story-20275-local-002", "post_id": "pln-post-20275", "post_date": "2026-11-01", "section": "local_news", "entity_raw": "Bridgend", "text": "Help make Christmas special for local children by supporting the Santa Appeal – Bridgend Council. “Anyone wishing to donate a gift can drop off a new, unwrapped present in a giftbag at one of the following locations …” of which, five are libraries.", "text_html": "
  • Bridgend – Help make Christmas special for local children by supporting the Santa Appeal – Bridgend Council. “Anyone wishing to donate a gift can drop off a new, unwrapped present in a giftbag at one of the following locations …” of which, five are libraries.
    • ", "links": [ { "url": "https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/news/help-make-christmas-special-for-local-children-by-supporting-the-santa-appeal/", "text": "Bridgend – Help make Christmas special for local children by supporting the Santa Appeal", "domain": "bridgend.gov.uk" } ], "resolution": { "entity_type": "local_authority", "country": "Wales", "country_code": "GB", "library_service": { "name": "Bridgend", "gss_code": "W06000013", "confidence": "exact" }, "libraries_mentioned": [ { "id": "lib_cea5f397-c988-4a60-8533-ea9b881806a4", "name": "Bridgend Library", "postcode": "CF31 4AH", "lat": 51.503208, "lng": -3.582336, "status": "Open", "slug": "bridgend-library" } ], "coordinates": { "latitude": 51.5072, "longitude": -3.5784 } }, "classification": { "categories": [], "primary_category": null, "change_type": null, "sector_bodies_mentioned": [], "financial_mentions": [] }, "tags": [] }, { "id": "pln-story-20275-local-003", "post_id": "pln-post-20275", "post_date": "2026-11-01", "section": "local_news", "entity_raw": "Camden", "text": "Camden Libraries Strategy 2026-31: Libraries Do! Explore Read Learn Connect – Camden Council. “Camden Libraries will continue to evolve as a connected, responsive and forward-looking service and support the communities it serves.” Nearly 5,000 books borrowed by children over the summer holidays – Camden Council. “New figures released during Green Libraries Week show that a total of 4,964 books were borrowed from Camden Libraries over the summer by children, including 3,781 physical loans and 1,113 digital loans. This comes following the Summer Reading Challenge and the enrolment of pupils to libraries at the end of last term. The figures reveal an immediate impact, with children actively using their library memberships to explore books throughout the summer holiday, a time when access to reading opportunities can be especially important.”", "text_html": "
  • Camden – Camden Libraries Strategy 2026-31: Libraries Do! Explore Read Learn Connect – Camden Council. “Camden Libraries will continue to evolve as a connected, responsive and forward-looking service and support the communities it serves.”