Will Libraries Soon Be A Thing Of The Past?

More libraries are facing closure because of Tory spending cuts.

16:58 11 January 2016

More than 100 libraries were permanently closed last year, as council spending on library services was cut by £50million. Now, more libraries will be affected after Chancellor George Osborne announced another £4billion spending cuts.

 

Seven libraries are scheduled to be closed in Walsall, West Mids while Lancashire plans to cut its network from 75 to 34. Meanwhile, 34 libraries in Somerset are being moved or merged while 47 libraries in Norfolk face an uncertain future.

 

Nick Poole of the Institute of Library and Information Professionals said: “It’s hard to understand the impact of these cuts when you’re well-off, have easy access to the internet and can buy the books you want.

 

"But for millions of poor families, jobseekers and people with disabilities a library is a lifeline.”

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Meanwhile, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis whose union represents millions of public-sector staff, said: “Spending cuts mean many communities now face the terrible choice of libraries shutting or them being run by volunteers.”