Across the country users of public libraries are mobilising to save their local services from closure. On Saturday, February 5th a day of action took place, organised by library lovers to raise awareness, and to show how much they value their libraries. Readers were encouraged to visit their libraries to borrow as many books as they could, attend ‘read-ins’, join a ‘shush-in’ and add their voices to those of famous authors such as Mark Haddon who are standing up for their libraries and the work that public librarians carry out in all communities, rich and poor. As with many of the coalition cuts, there is deep concern that the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society will be disproportionally affected by actions such as the closure of branch libraries.
Some groups are also planning legal action against the culture minister Jeremy Hunt, as they claim that by closing public libraries he is flouting his duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1967 which obliges him to "superintend and promote the improvement of, the public library service provided by local authorities".
Voices for the library has a list of libraries who threatened with closure, and CILIP has a sliding scale of spare time actions that could help save your local library.
Public libraries
“Freedom, prosperity and the development of society and individuals are fundamental human values. They will only be attained through the ability of well-informed citizens to exercise their democratic rights and to play an active role in society.
Constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on satisfactory education as well as on free and unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information.
The public library, the local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural development of the individual and social groups.”
UNESCO Public Library Manifesto.
Many people have raised their voices against the closure of their local libraries including the author Philip Pullman who wrote in the Guardian on 28.1.11 about the plans in Oxfordshire to close 20 out of 43 public libraries and whose council leader has suggested that volunteers staff the threatened libraries.
Legal action to save libraries
Richard Stein and Rosa Curling, solicitors in the human rights department at Leigh Day & Co, have acted for many campaigning groups in bringing judicial reviews against government ministers, local councils, and other public bodies who threaten to close or withdraw essential public services.
She has written a guide, Stand up for your Public Services, which you might find useful if you are planning to campaign to keep your local library open. Rosa is also happy to speak to groups about possible legal action and the ways in which these can be funded. Please contact her on 020 7650 1200 if you would like a free consultation.
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