Please bear in mind when reading insider perspectives that they are opinions expressed by people involved in the sector concerned. I will always take time to try and provide references to support information provided but the views themselves are opinions. Many Thanks!
I have received the following insider perspective from Ian Anstice who runs a blog in defence of Britain's libraries. Ian works in libraries in the North West and produces the blog in his free time, he doesn't claim to represent his local authority through the views he expresses there. His blog provides information about library closures and funding as well as information about protests and actions against cuts and a map of library closures – publiclibrariesnews.blogspot.com.
Ian says:
"The outlook for public libraries in the UK over the next year or two is the worst it ever has been since their creation in 1850. After about half of library authorities have announced their plans, around 370 libraries are currently under threat of closure in the UK. These are often the small community libraries that local people rely on such as that in the deprived Blackbird Leys area of Oxfordshire or in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. They can also be quite large libraries that just happen to be relatively close to another library (close, that is, if you have a car) such as Glastonbury in Somerset.
Councils are facing great cuts in funding at the moment and many are deciding to close libraries... but libraries don't cost a lot of money (0.08% of GDP) and have a disproportionately high impact on their communities. Libraries promote literacy, freedom of information and knowledge, social interaction and, often, free online access which can be most useful when looking for work. It is up to communities to make this known to councillors if a local library is closing down. It will be in your hands to save."
Churchtown, Ainsdale and Birkdale libraries are threatened with closure (as reported by the Formby Times 10th November 2010 formby times) and Southport Town Centre library is currently without a permanent home. If Birkdale, Ainsdale and Churchtown libraries go, not only will we lose the books, but in Churchtown's case the beautiful building, and also all of the valuable and local community services the libraries provide.
You can find a list of closures and other cuts at Ian's blog. You can also find reasons to defend libraries here - www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress/
Ian also sent the following quote:
“Today’s economic challenge means people need library services more than ever, to help them back to work, to access learning and as a central plank of community cohesion” Mr Vaizey, Culture Minster (July 2010)
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