Hey folks, I came across this article today from the Guardian website (via CILIP Daily news) which discusses the problem of increasing library closures across the United Kingdom. It is fairly critical of the response of culture minister, David Lammy, a self-confessed ‘lover of reading’ and proponent of the recent ‘Love Libraries‘ campaign, which they feel has turned from being highly concerned about the closures, to a more ‘laissez-faire’ position, epitomised by his statement that “communities come and go”.

Many of the points made by this article are all too familiar to many communities, particularly the comment about providing a poor stock of books etc. so that hardly any one uses the library, and then being able to make the case for closure. It seems that all too often, libraries are seen as an easy place from which to save money - however, the amount of the council’s budget spent on libraries is probably tiny in comparison to many other things. I personally, would be very upset if my small local library were to close, as it is in its proximity to the community that much of its strength derives, and its relevance increases. However, being one of the smallest libraries within the area, it would perhaps be the first to go, if the decision to make such cuts was made.

The article also contains one of the most scathing criticisms of the public library service that I think that I have ever heard in my whole life! Supposedly, in the Eighties the Adam Smith Institute denounced the system as one ‘which largely supplies free pulp fiction to those who could well afford to buy it’. Ouch!

It is such a shame that the public library service is seen to be something which is largely disposable, and a place from which the first cuts are to be made. Libraries, IMHO, provide something which is precious to communities, and of relevance to all age groups. It is truly sad when this is overlooked, or worse still, not even recognised in the first place.

p.s. there is a link within the article to a comments feature, which is also very entertaining and well worth a nosy… here is the link if you want to jump straight to it…

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