NEWS
Self-deleting messages
THE DEPARTMENT for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has said: “Instant messaging (through Google Workspace) may be used in preference to email for rou- tine communications where there is no need to retain a record of the communication.” DCMS was responding to a freedom of infor-
mation request by the Citizens, a non-profit organisation, the Guardian reports. The Citizens targeted DCMS because of its responsibilities for the national archives and public records and its executive direc- tor, Clara Maguire, said: “If urgent steps are not taken to ensure that ministers and officials don’t erase the record, critical files – on Covid policy and other key areas of British history – risk being lost forever.”
Council u-turn on library closures?
THE new leader of Essex County Council, Kevin Bentley, has said no libraries will close, appearing to reverse longstanding controversial proposals to close 25 with 19 more at risk.
However, campaigners are wary of the move saying it does not rule out turning libraries into community hubs manned by volunteers.
NHS data delay over trust
THE Government has delayed the creation of a central NHS digital database from GP records in England due to growing concern that patients didn’t know or understand the details
The NHS, The British Medical Associa- tion and the Royal College of GPs had also expressed concern, the latter demanding NHS Digital to “take immediate action to run a public information campaign”. Health Minister Jo Churchill said the delay had been agreed because the Govern- ment was “absolutely determined to take people with us on this journey”. Alex Norris, shadow health minister said the “current plans to take data from GPs, assemble it in one place and sell it to un- known commercial interests for purposes unknown has no legitimacy.”
8 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Library refurbishment will support local community
WORTHING Library in West Sussex has been given a £2.8 million make- over, which will see it delivering more services to the local community. The library was originally opened in 1975, next door to the original Carnegie building which it had outgrown. Since that time it has continued to grow and add services, and the latest redesign will see more space made available for community services from partner organ- isations, including those for children and young people.
The refurbishment of the building sees library spaces redesigned across two floors, allowing the library to develop and continue to support the local community. Duncan Crow, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, welcomed the re-open- ing, saying: “The pandemic illustrated how important support networks can be for local communities and we hope that the new and improved Worthing Library, together with the other services, will be a central beacon of support for residents in and around the area for years to come.”
The official re-opening of Worthing
Library was due to take place on 22 June, and Library Manager Justin Burns says staff have been looking forward to wel- coming users back to through the doors. He said: “Following a long wait with unavoidable Covid delays, everyone is excited that the refurbished Worthing Library will be reopening on 22 June. “Library Staff have been working really hard to prepare the building – moving books and helping to set up the spaces ready to welcome the part- ners who will be moving into the new hub including Registrars, Early Help, Find It Out, Youth Emotional Support, health visitors and midwives. “Staff are looking forward to welcom- ing back existing library customers and are excited about showing all visitors to the building the range of services avail- able in one place.
“Having several partners under one roof will enable us all to promote and signpost to each other’s services quickly and easily for the benefit of everyone.”
ALA scoops Barack Obama
THE American Library Association has announced that former President of the United States Barack Obama will close its annual conference. Obama, who was elected the 44th Pres-
ident of the United States on November 4 2008 started his political work after leav- ing college with a group of churches to help rebuild communities devastated by the closure of local steel plants. In law school, he became the first African American pres- ident of the Harvard Law Review. He then returned to Illinois to teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago and begin a career in public service, winning seats in the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate.
His appearance at the virtual event will be in conversation with Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian and first African American appointed to the role. As secretary of the Smithso-
nian, Bunch oversees 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centres, and several educa- tion units and centers. Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Ameri- can History and Culture. He is the first historian appointed to the role. They will be introduced by Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., president of the Amer- ican Library Association. He will be discussing A Promised Land, the first volume of his presidential memoirs released in November 2020 by Crown, an imprint of the Random House Pub- lishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House. The ALA’s access to senior political
figures was highlighted earlier this year when US First Lady Jill Biden delivered the closing session of the ALA’s Midwin- ter Meeting.
June 2021
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