A hidden twist in the plot

Having discovered the hidden intent behind a recent consultation on libraries, Ruth Patrick explains why the threat to them is needling her

I’m a terrible knitter but one of my long list of new year’s resolutions was to get knitting, and somehow learn to knit one, purl one by the end of 2011!

In pursuit of this deceptively ambitious goal, I popped into my local library recently to borrow a few books to help me in my endeavour.

Checking out my loans, I noticed some shiny consultation leaflets asking for views on “A New Chapter” for Leeds library services. The leaflet seemed to be asking for feedback on the proposed extended opening hours of several libraries, as well as improvements to the
network of mobile libraries. Sounds great, I naively thought. Silly me!

A little digging revealed a rather different picture. Some 20 libraries (out of a total of 53) have been earmarked for closure in Leeds which would see many smaller communities and suburbs lose their local library. Sadly, this picture is replicated across the country, with 400 libraries already threatened with closure in England and Wales, amid fears that as many as 800 libraries will eventually go.

In a climate of swingeing cuts, perhaps libraries seem an easy target: they have never had an exactly sexy image after all. Furthermore, if we are picking our battles over which cuts and benefit slashes to challenge, might not the headline disability benefit reforms rightly command more of our protesting and placard-holding energies. While these big issues do need to be questioned, and fast, I’d make a plea for the campaigners among us to save a little bit of time and chanting for library cuts.

Libraries have long provided an invaluable service for young and old readers alike: free books which offer escapism, knowledge, history, help to develop new hobbies or educate oneself. Free-to-borrow books allow us all to be readers, and are a service of great benefit to those who cannot afford to go out shopping for their reading matter!

What is more, the free internet access offered in libraries is particularly important for those digitally excluded people (disproportionately benefit claimants and disabled people) who cannot afford home internet provision.

The provision of accessible, modern libraries should symbolise the type of country we want to live in, and this is why the planned closure of so many should concern us all. Those most likely to disappear from our landscape are the local branches in smaller communities, with particularly negative consequences for those with limited mobility such as the elderly and many disabled people.

Fortunately, many library users are protesting against these cuts, with read-ins at local libraries a quiet but firm challenge to local authorities’ proposals. Hopefully, these acts of rebellion and protest will gain momentum as I for one have no desire to live in a country that doesn’t value and promote one of the greatest pleasures of life – reading.

• For more information about campaigns, and for maps of proposed closures see: voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress