Library organisations call on government for long-term funding to protect services

Libraries Connected and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) have called on the government for fair long-term funding for local government to protect libraries, in response to the Chancellor’s Budget Statement today (6th March). 

Both organisations have recently expressed their concern over the lack of financial support to local authorities, with CILIP warning the recently announced Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) package could prompt a “fire sale” of vital assets, including public libraries, in the 19 councils concerned. 

While both organisations welcomed the government’s announcement of new real-terms investment in cultural programmes, including £10m for the British Library North project in Leeds, they stressed the need for long-term sustainable support for libraries.  

CILIP said: “Sadly, today’s budget statement runs counter to the government’s stated ambition by failing to address the severe pressures faced by local councils in providing statutory services – which includes libraries. Instead, the Public Sector Productivity Plan announced today creates new pressure on councils to find further financial savings, which can only be achieved through further reductions in statutory services. 

“By cutting taxes and arguing that councils stand to make further ‘productivity and efficiency’ savings, the Chancellor’s speech risks creating a ‘fiscal trap’ which now constitutes a material threat to the nation’s life-changing libraries.” 

CILIP called for a fair funding settlement to local government, “allowing for real reinvestment into local services, including libraries”. It said: “We urge the Chancellor to abandon the policy of short-termism and to invest in real opportunity and growth by recognising the power of properly staffed and adequately funded libraries to drive inclusive local economic productivity as well as place-making, health and care, lifelong learning, literacy and cultural enrichment for all.” 

Isobel Hunter, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said: "We are disappointed that Jeremy Hunt did not take this opportunity to provide the urgent funding that local authorities – which are responsible for public libraries – so desperately need. While elements of the budget, such as the £100m of Levelling Up funding for cultural projects, may be good news for some library services, what is really needed is fair long-term funding for local government. With so many councils now facing financial crisis, libraries are acutely vulnerable to cuts and closures – despite being a statutory service. The future of our public library network is increasingly uncertain, and this budget has done nothing to address that."   

The recent Sanderson Review of Public Libraries, which was commissioned by Lord Parkinson, called for the recognition of libraries and support across government.