Manchester’s Central Library is now closed for major refurbishment, with a temporary library due to open in Deansgate at the end of June. Very enterprisingly, as part of their plans to keep everyone aware of and involved in the changes, Manchester is creating a series of online stories around the progress of the library renovation. The first of these, how Harrow Green, the specialist library relocation services provider, is planning one of the biggest library moves since St Pancras, is now up on the website.

The Libraries Agency has launched a new workshop programme, Libraries Matter: Communicating the Value of Library Services. It’s a flexible, custom-built programme designed to be delivered in-house. There’s never been a more critical time for libraries to focus on the value they deliver through their core services, the value of library spaces to the community, the value of the partnerships that libraries have built. The workshops will help library practitioners to build a coherent story, and create a communications plan to reach key audiences. Read more...

But some recent comment in the press throws perhaps a little too much light on the potential for sleep deprivation if you take to reading on one under the covers before you (try to) nod off. Don’t throw the paperback away just yet.

Currently on exhibition at Denmark’s University of Roskilde’s main library is this circular bookshelf that, hamster-like, you propel yourself. Archive I, II, III are innovative art installation concepts that include a self-censoring book stand where the book closes when anyone approaches it. Ah, Danish furniture...