Libraries Hacked
@librarieshacked.bsky.social
Libraries Hacked is a project to promote open data, to help libraries publish their data, and to showcase projects using library data. And dogs in libraries.
Tweets by Dave.
Tweets by Dave.
Probably this has already been mentioned but also you take back books to get more books. Taking part in that repeat process is the incentive.
Anyone can just keep some books, fines or no fines, the fines simply ensures they stay away and those books are lost.
Anyone can just keep some books, fines or no fines, the fines simply ensures they stay away and those books are lost.
January 13, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Probably this has already been mentioned but also you take back books to get more books. Taking part in that repeat process is the incentive.
Anyone can just keep some books, fines or no fines, the fines simply ensures they stay away and those books are lost.
Anyone can just keep some books, fines or no fines, the fines simply ensures they stay away and those books are lost.
Reposted by Libraries Hacked
Getting rid of late fees helped increase circulation stats and people getting library cards www.70and73.com/evesham_marl...
Without the penalty of overdue fines, Burlington County libraries see a sharp increase in usage, cards issued.
Many adults still get tickles in their tummies when they recall a childhood of feasting on library books but making sure each was returned on time to avoid an overdue
www.70and73.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Getting rid of late fees helped increase circulation stats and people getting library cards www.70and73.com/evesham_marl...
Reposted by Libraries Hacked
goodnight, and remember: library late fees suck. they simply discourage library use. you should be glad if your library abolished them, and if it hasn’t, you should tell them it should. 📚
January 3, 2026 at 3:57 AM
goodnight, and remember: library late fees suck. they simply discourage library use. you should be glad if your library abolished them, and if it hasn’t, you should tell them it should. 📚
Happy new year! I hope you all had a good time.
People across the world keep asking "what is Libraries Hacked going to do in 2026 and why?"
So that's answered here on the library data blog.
blog.librarydata.uk/plans-for-20...
People across the world keep asking "what is Libraries Hacked going to do in 2026 and why?"
So that's answered here on the library data blog.
blog.librarydata.uk/plans-for-20...
Plans for 2026
What is the point of all this anyway? Considering open data and digital prototypes
blog.librarydata.uk
January 9, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Happy new year! I hope you all had a good time.
People across the world keep asking "what is Libraries Hacked going to do in 2026 and why?"
So that's answered here on the library data blog.
blog.librarydata.uk/plans-for-20...
People across the world keep asking "what is Libraries Hacked going to do in 2026 and why?"
So that's answered here on the library data blog.
blog.librarydata.uk/plans-for-20...
Reposted by Libraries Hacked
Received my UK public lending right statement (writers receive a payment every time their books are borrowed from the library).
Thanks so much to UK library users for your support for my writing 🙏
Libraries are so important to the fabric of our reading culture – let's keep supporting them.
Thanks so much to UK library users for your support for my writing 🙏
Libraries are so important to the fabric of our reading culture – let's keep supporting them.
November 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Received my UK public lending right statement (writers receive a payment every time their books are borrowed from the library).
Thanks so much to UK library users for your support for my writing 🙏
Libraries are so important to the fabric of our reading culture – let's keep supporting them.
Thanks so much to UK library users for your support for my writing 🙏
Libraries are so important to the fabric of our reading culture – let's keep supporting them.
Everyone benefits better public services, but most of all higher earners.
But regardless, the basic rate should be affordable for those on the lower limits and it currently isn't, let alone raising it. It's not either left wing or right wing to raise the basic rate, it depends on living conditions.
But regardless, the basic rate should be affordable for those on the lower limits and it currently isn't, let alone raising it. It's not either left wing or right wing to raise the basic rate, it depends on living conditions.
October 29, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Everyone benefits better public services, but most of all higher earners.
But regardless, the basic rate should be affordable for those on the lower limits and it currently isn't, let alone raising it. It's not either left wing or right wing to raise the basic rate, it depends on living conditions.
But regardless, the basic rate should be affordable for those on the lower limits and it currently isn't, let alone raising it. It's not either left wing or right wing to raise the basic rate, it depends on living conditions.
It mainly just looks like a funny screenshot?
October 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
It mainly just looks like a funny screenshot?
Absolutely weird that it's repeatedly called a sweet cider. The Guinness is more annoying these days - copying the kids.
October 3, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Absolutely weird that it's repeatedly called a sweet cider. The Guinness is more annoying these days - copying the kids.
Date of birth is an ethnicity. This is why, for example, the American Census asks for date of birth.
October 1, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Date of birth is an ethnicity. This is why, for example, the American Census asks for date of birth.
Library activity dashboard
Browse public library activity data for England
activity.librarydata.uk
October 1, 2025 at 8:03 AM
The library activity dashboard is a new project visualising library activity data, as reported by library services across England. It includes Loans, Users, Visits, Events, Computer usage, and WiFi sessions.
Currently in development so feedback particularly welcome!
Currently in development so feedback particularly welcome!
October 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The library activity dashboard is a new project visualising library activity data, as reported by library services across England. It includes Loans, Users, Visits, Events, Computer usage, and WiFi sessions.
Currently in development so feedback particularly welcome!
Currently in development so feedback particularly welcome!
Have had some amazing ones recently. Including at internal review.
This one was just to library visit counts which they absolutely held, but refused to send over until they'd put some high level summaries in their annual report.
This one was just to library visit counts which they absolutely held, but refused to send over until they'd put some high level summaries in their annual report.
September 30, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Have had some amazing ones recently. Including at internal review.
This one was just to library visit counts which they absolutely held, but refused to send over until they'd put some high level summaries in their annual report.
This one was just to library visit counts which they absolutely held, but refused to send over until they'd put some high level summaries in their annual report.
Never quite seen such an article full of straw men. The one on the 'two camps' is possibly the most ludicrous. Why bother writing such a thing?
Grown ups, eat your greens, big choices. Is it a speech or a deep dive blog?
Grown ups, eat your greens, big choices. Is it a speech or a deep dive blog?
September 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Never quite seen such an article full of straw men. The one on the 'two camps' is possibly the most ludicrous. Why bother writing such a thing?
Grown ups, eat your greens, big choices. Is it a speech or a deep dive blog?
Grown ups, eat your greens, big choices. Is it a speech or a deep dive blog?
It seems to be fine. It's understandably very small impact to look at individual digital usage, but that's like the argument against household recycling. The benefits are eclipsed by bigger problems, but personal awareness is not a bad thing.
August 17, 2025 at 9:57 AM
It seems to be fine. It's understandably very small impact to look at individual digital usage, but that's like the argument against household recycling. The benefits are eclipsed by bigger problems, but personal awareness is not a bad thing.
Did people know this? Is this the next round of cuts? From losing libraries we slowly lose functions. Renewals, PCs? Removing reservations isolates each individual library.
Worth knowing @librariesconnected.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social
Worth knowing @librariesconnected.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social
August 13, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Did people know this? Is this the next round of cuts? From losing libraries we slowly lose functions. Renewals, PCs? Removing reservations isolates each individual library.
Worth knowing @librariesconnected.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social
Worth knowing @librariesconnected.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social
Collect a set of core data. Loans, reservations, members, visits. Everyone will be able to send their data in, and it's a reasonable proof of concept in getting it all together.
Wigan libraries:
Wigan libraries:
August 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Collect a set of core data. Loans, reservations, members, visits. Everyone will be able to send their data in, and it's a reasonable proof of concept in getting it all together.
Wigan libraries:
Wigan libraries:
Thanks! And yep, doing so. Fingers crossed they don't double down as far as it needing to go to the ICO.
August 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Thanks! And yep, doing so. Fingers crossed they don't double down as far as it needing to go to the ICO.
Guidance already being used by authorities to just convert any data to PDF
"Please note that further to the [1]Information Commissioner's guidance regarding spreadsheets, Northumberland County Council has taken the decision not to share spreadsheets as part of FOI or EIR responses going forward."
"Please note that further to the [1]Information Commissioner's guidance regarding spreadsheets, Northumberland County Council has taken the decision not to share spreadsheets as part of FOI or EIR responses going forward."
New guidance on disclosing documents to the public ico.org.uk/about-the-ic... from the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Includes lots of advice to help you avoid a big embarrassing data breach with your Excel workbooks.
#FOI #opendata #subjectaccess #dataprotection
Includes lots of advice to help you avoid a big embarrassing data breach with your Excel workbooks.
#FOI #opendata #subjectaccess #dataprotection
August 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Guidance already being used by authorities to just convert any data to PDF
"Please note that further to the [1]Information Commissioner's guidance regarding spreadsheets, Northumberland County Council has taken the decision not to share spreadsheets as part of FOI or EIR responses going forward."
"Please note that further to the [1]Information Commissioner's guidance regarding spreadsheets, Northumberland County Council has taken the decision not to share spreadsheets as part of FOI or EIR responses going forward."
Reposted by Libraries Hacked
UK readers, if you can't afford to buy any of these books, order them from your local library. The authors will see your support through loan figures and PLR. You don't even have to finish reading them if you don't want!
14 of 24 authors have now withdrawn.
First Book:
Curtis Garner, Jason Okundaye, Sacha Coward, Sanah Ahsan, Amy Twigg, Mae Diansangu, Eleanor Medhurst, Ciara Maguire, June Thomas
Main:
Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, Andrew McMillan, Rhian Elizabeth, Jane Traies
Judges:
Nicola Dinan, Bob Hughes
First Book:
Curtis Garner, Jason Okundaye, Sacha Coward, Sanah Ahsan, Amy Twigg, Mae Diansangu, Eleanor Medhurst, Ciara Maguire, June Thomas
Main:
Olumide Popoola, Robert Hamberger, Andrew McMillan, Rhian Elizabeth, Jane Traies
Judges:
Nicola Dinan, Bob Hughes
August 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM
UK readers, if you can't afford to buy any of these books, order them from your local library. The authors will see your support through loan figures and PLR. You don't even have to finish reading them if you don't want!
The tale of 2 giraffes is very familiar. Currently requesting basic data from library services. One replied quickly, said it cost them £14 (presumably an hour).
Another refused saying cos I asked for it in a data format they'd need to retype it all into Excel and it'd take more than the 18 hours.
Another refused saying cos I asked for it in a data format they'd need to retype it all into Excel and it'd take more than the 18 hours.
August 11, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The tale of 2 giraffes is very familiar. Currently requesting basic data from library services. One replied quickly, said it cost them £14 (presumably an hour).
Another refused saying cos I asked for it in a data format they'd need to retype it all into Excel and it'd take more than the 18 hours.
Another refused saying cos I asked for it in a data format they'd need to retype it all into Excel and it'd take more than the 18 hours.
A new library data post! Get it while it's hot because they're rare these days.
blog.librarydata.uk/requesting-d...
A small bit on FOI requests to get hold of public library data. Not ideal but it can benefit libraries, especially if followed up with open data publishing.
#OpenData #LibraryData
blog.librarydata.uk/requesting-d...
A small bit on FOI requests to get hold of public library data. Not ideal but it can benefit libraries, especially if followed up with open data publishing.
#OpenData #LibraryData
Requesting library data via Freedom of Information
Using Freedom of Information to get bulk datasets of library data
blog.librarydata.uk
August 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM
A new library data post! Get it while it's hot because they're rare these days.
blog.librarydata.uk/requesting-d...
A small bit on FOI requests to get hold of public library data. Not ideal but it can benefit libraries, especially if followed up with open data publishing.
#OpenData #LibraryData
blog.librarydata.uk/requesting-d...
A small bit on FOI requests to get hold of public library data. Not ideal but it can benefit libraries, especially if followed up with open data publishing.
#OpenData #LibraryData
Reposted by Libraries Hacked
Interesting new paper on the challenge increasing numbers of SUVs pose to climate efforts.
“The current trend runs the risk of undoing climate achievements and solidifying unsustainable mobility habits unless there is a structural change in both urban design and consumer norms.”
“The current trend runs the risk of undoing climate achievements and solidifying unsustainable mobility habits unless there is a structural change in both urban design and consumer norms.”
Climate Change Efforts vs. the Growing Popularity of Larger Private Vehicles: A Contradiction in Motion
The sharp increase in the global popularity of large private automobiles, especially sport utility vehicles (SUVs), is a significant and frequently di…
www.sciencedirect.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Interesting new paper on the challenge increasing numbers of SUVs pose to climate efforts.
“The current trend runs the risk of undoing climate achievements and solidifying unsustainable mobility habits unless there is a structural change in both urban design and consumer norms.”
“The current trend runs the risk of undoing climate achievements and solidifying unsustainable mobility habits unless there is a structural change in both urban design and consumer norms.”
You know that tool you're using to protect your privacy? Well everyone should have to go through a verification process before using one of those.
For individual users, a VPN is the most straightforward method to overcome censorship effects of the Online Safety Act. But there's no guarantee the UK Government won't legislate further.
Respondents to Ofcom consultations had plenty of ideas about dealing with VPNs www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Respondents to Ofcom consultations had plenty of ideas about dealing with VPNs www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
July 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
You know that tool you're using to protect your privacy? Well everyone should have to go through a verification process before using one of those.
Reposted by Libraries Hacked
Sad, moving piece on the death of a sibling out of the blue by @hannahsbee.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/comment/pers...
My brother was taken from us. I don’t know what to do
Life will never be the same again.
www.newstatesman.com
July 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Sad, moving piece on the death of a sibling out of the blue by @hannahsbee.bsky.social www.newstatesman.com/comment/pers...