The bill is running out of time – but all parties are supportive of the bill and therefore there appears to be a quite high level of support for something to go through.

Even public libraries or university campuses would have to adhere to the Bill, causing problems for anyone attempting to access free WiFi for study purposes. According to Lord Young, a minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) exempting libraries “would send entirely the wrong signal and could lead to ‘fake’ organisations being set up, claiming an exemption and become a hub for copyright infringement.”

For more information on the Bill please email SCL Advocacy Manager Elizabeth.Elford@bl.uk

In Kent, Cath is leading libraries and archives through a transformational change programme that has won the council wide positive recognition and some awards. Cath holds a post graduate diploma in Librarianship, a Diploma in Management and a Masters in Public Service Management. She has been a member of SCL since 2002, and is Programme Director for the annual SCL National Seminar. Cath regularly speaks about library development at national and international conferences.

One of these customers was Miss T, who borrowed a free
Smart Meter from Poppleton Library. She had a fridge
running in an outbuilding which she kept as a spare, and
was interested to know how much this was costing her.
She tested the item using the Smart Meter and found that
this appliance was using around £70 of electricity each
year through being constantly switched on but rarely used.

Miss T has decided to unplug the appliance and only use
the fridge on rare occasions when it is really necessary.
Hundreds of customers have now borrowed the Smart
Meters, and if Miss T’s experience is anything to go by,
this means hundreds of pounds saved, and a reduction to
York’s carbon footprint!

More information about York Libraries can be found here: www.york.gov.uk/libraries

Fiona began her career in libraries in Poole Central Library, where she was responsible for the children’s library. Following that role she was lending librarian, and then operations manager for Poole unitary, managing nine branches. She later became Head of Poole library service. In 2004 she moved to York and to her current role.

Fiona has been a chartered librarian since 1989, and holds a degree in History from the University of Canterbury in Kent, a postgraduate diploma in Librarianship and Information Studies and a diploma in Management. Fiona is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

All libraries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland provide computer access and the opportunity to learn in a multi-media format through books, audio and online.

More about the Northeast Festival of Learning

BBC News article on the Festival

Peterlee Mail article on the Festival

Or here:

Edge 2010 is the premier event for showing how libraries and information services are key to local authorities, e-government, learning, regeneration of cities and digital inclusion.

Edge 2010 will showcase the latest thinking, tools and technologies available to the public sector.

Learn about innovative practices, hear the latest ideas, share success stories and meet colleagues from around the globe in a once in a lifetime venue.

Edge 2010 is for elected members, Chief Executives, Directors, Heads of Service, trustees, E-government and community professionals, library vendors, and others with an interest in libraries and information.

25 – 26 February 2010 at Edinburgh Castle.

Libraries across the UK have been organising health fairs and fitness days. In Barnsley, the queues stretched around the library on a recent Fit for Life day.

In Kirklees Libraries, more people were able to access professional health advice thanks to a partnership between Kirklees Libraries and local health providers. These stories are very inspiring!

For the four days on which the road shows were held, both a Mobile Library and the Young People’s Service event vehicle were used. Overall 560 visitors attended, over 500 of which had free health checks.

The project, funded by The Valleys Area Committee, involved a wide range of partners including libraries, community support, benefits advice, pensions advice, carer’s gateway, revenues and benefits offering council tax advice, Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, Women’s Institute, Friend-to-Friend, PALS (Practice Activity and Leisure Scheme), NHS Kirklees, NHS Health Trainers, West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service.

More information about Kirklees Libraries

The Society of Chief Librarians has signed an MOU with the NHS on health information in libraries.

Lesley Stables, Barnsley Senior Information Librarian, said: “The head, hand and neck massages were so popular that people were still having them at 4.30, one and a half hours after the event had officially ended.”

Lloyds Chemist offered the free diabetes and blood pressure checks and had queues all day and struggled to get a half hour lunch break. The Barnsley Chronicle took photos and covered the event. Free fruit was handed out from the Five-a-Day team and one local radio station covered the day on their station as well as having a presence in the library.

“Organizing the day was a daunting task but from the feedback we received it was greatly appreciated,” said Lesley Staples.

More information about Barnsley Libraries

The Society of Chief Librarians has signed an MOU with the NHS on health information in libraries.