This document outlines how a news site called Public Libraries News was created in the 2010s to be a one stop shop for information on UK public libraries. It discusses lessons learned such as reporting both sides of news issues, fact checking figures, and moving to a more neutral reporting stance over time. It also describes the site's use of various platforms like WordPress, social media like Twitter, and strategies for professional design and search engine optimization that helped it become a key resource for libraries, media, and political parties. Testimonials provided praise it as a hugely valuable and essential resource for following public library issues and debates.

1. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
How to create a news site in the 2010s: lessons learnt
and changes made

2. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
● Updates five times per week.
● Lists and links to all public library news
stories from the UK and key international
public library news
● Total number of libraries under threat: quoted
in national media and a major traffic source
● Changes listed by authority since 2011
● Information on all library forms of governance
and any other item of interest
One Stop Shop for public library
information
880 Subscribers
+ 500 to 1000
views per
weekday

3. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
● Report both sides of the news
● Always link to supporting information: this
was key in gaining an Independent front page
● OK to put own viewpoint in but make sure it
is clear you are doing so: this is what the
“Editorial” is for.
● Full Fact checked figures after both Labour
and Conservatives used them
● Moved from campaigning to more neutral
reporting
Trust is key
880 Subscribers
+ 500 to 1000
views per
weekday

4. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
● Moved from Blogger (easy but limited to only
ten pages) to Wordpress (harder to maintain
but unlimited)
● Free subscription with advertising.
● Subscribers are largely library managerial
and suppliers: with some “campaigners”.
● Professionally designed and maintained
● “Look” deliberately taken from news sites e.g.
Telegraph
● Used by all main political parties, national
media (newspaper, BBC, radio)
● First on Google (worth half of all views)
Strategy
880 Subscribers
+ 500 to 1000
views per
weekday

5. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
● Brief summary of news or thoughts plus
(almost always) a link
● Allows for very quick response to news
● Large amount of interaction with followers
● Great for crowd-sourcing information and
assistance
● International: large following from English
speaking countries and spattering of
others
● Also used for news gathering (hence
those 150)
Constant updates on key news
1500 followers
150 followed

6. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
● Used to be just a plain link to the PLN
post of the day. Poor take-up, low added
value.
● Now moved to just one key story per day,
always with a picture.
● Mixture of fun and serious
● Far more likes and shares: gets the name
across
One key item per day
427 likes

7. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
● “Pin” pictures on particular themes e.g.
new libraries, protests, Maker Spaces
● Allows for a whole pile of pictures on one
page for good impact
● Very much a low work sideline at the
moment
Pictures with links
103 followers

8. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
What people say
“Keep up the good work, your blog is hugely valuable. I think libraries, like
playing fields, long suffered from always being a local fight, without
anyone talking about the national picture.” Jane Mackenzie, Reporter,
Private Eye (October 2013).
“a really essential resource for anyone interested in the future of public
libraries.” Boyd Tonkin of the Independent (September 2011)
“Public Libraries News continues to be a fantastically useful resource for
keeping up to date with debate and news” Carnegie UK Trust (February
2014)
Very happy to talk to anyone. Contact me via ianlibrarian@live.co.uk

9. ianlibrarian@live.co.uk @publiclibnews www.publiclibrariesnews.com
What people say
“Keep up the good work, your blog is hugely valuable. I think libraries, like
playing fields, long suffered from always being a local fight, without
anyone talking about the national picture.” Jane Mackenzie, Reporter,
Private Eye (October 2013).
“a really essential resource for anyone interested in the future of public
libraries.” Boyd Tonkin of the Independent (September 2011)
“Public Libraries News continues to be a fantastically useful resource for
keeping up to date with debate and news” Carnegie UK Trust (February
2014)
Very happy to talk to anyone. Contact me via ianlibrarian@live.co.uk