Public services are in a sorry state, and the new government has other priorities, like devolution and backing wars. Our focus must be on what change is needed in our public services – and how we can make it come about…
As with so much in public services, the parliamentary act was the culmination of local struggles, and efforts by members of the library profession.
4 August 2022
A controversial series of children’s story readings are only part of the underlying tale of the decline of children’s library services in Britain.
3 November 2021
A report from the National Literacy Trust reveals that one in eight primary schools in England do not have a library – despite the proven link between school library provision and literacy levels.
On Saturday 5 June trade unions and local communities came together in a rally in George Square in central Glasgowin a united display of anger at Glasgow City Council – and its “arms-length” cultural body Glasgow Life.
5 May 2021
Library users in Glasgow have reacted to closure proposals from the SNP-run council with weekends of read-ins and demonstrations at the threatened sites.
Hardly any libraries in the whole of Britain’s higher education system maintained their usual services through the fraught 2020 autumn term.
23 October 2019
Our libraries and librarians could contribute considerably to building an independent Britain. Are they up to the task?
Essex County Council is facing fierce protests against cuts to its library service.
27 May 2019
Essex County Council is facing fierce protests against cuts to its library service. A demonstration in Chelmsford on 8 June is the latest action to keep the pressure on the council.
Public finance body Cipfa has reported that funding for Britain’s libraries fell by £30 million in 2017/18, with a loss of 712 full-time staff.
22 November 2018
The government may have announced the end of “austerity” – but Birmingham City Council must find £86 million in savings in the next four years.
Despite the decision in June 2016 to leave the European Union, the European Commission is continuing to try and widen its network of propaganda outlets in Britain.
Some 3,000 public library workers, users and authors marched on 5 November from the British Library, London, to Trafalgar Square.
Tuesday 9 February: Speak Up For Libraries held a rally at Central Hall Westminster, followed by a lobby of MPs.
5 February 2016
Campaigners and library workers are taking action to support Britain’s public library service. On Tuesday 9 February, Speak Up For Libraries will hold a rally in Westminster, followed by a lobby of MPs.
14 November 2014
A north London council is looking to turn 9 of its 15 libraries into unstaffed reading rooms, slashing floor space and handing over to volunteer groups. Local residents are fighting back.
10 November 2014
The Imperial War Museum is threatening to close the library at its main London site and cut its educational programmes at its sites at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire as well as HMS Belfast and the Churchill War Rooms in London.
