Lobby for libraries over literacy timebomb
UNISON, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), Voices for the
Library, The Library Campaign, Campaign for the Book and the Chartered
Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) have today
announced they will hold a joint lobby of Parliament calling on politicians to
protect vital library services.
During the lobby, on 13 March, the campaigning group will highlight the
importance of libraries in providing access to learning and as a vital lifeline
for many communities.
The lobby will take place at midday, on 13 March, at central Hall, Westminster.
Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said:
“Cutting libraries is not an easy solution for councils to save cash - it is a
literacy time bomb for deprived communities.
“Community groups are being held to ransom by Government plans to force
them to take over the running of services, or lose them. These groups don’t
have the time, skills and resources to take over the jobs of experienced
library staff.
“A shocking 30,000 children are leaving primary school with a reading age of
seven or below and libraries are a vital lifeline for community groups. We
need a national vision of a modern library service, as an investment in the
future generation.”
Ruth Bond, Chair of the national Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI),
said:
"The NFWI is delighted to support the lobby of parliament. A threat to local
library services is a threat to a community’s education and, as champions of
libraries for the past 96 years, WI members are gravely concerned that so
many local authorities are riding roughshod over educational resources while
the Government watches in silence. It is simply not good enough to assume
that volunteers will step in to continue providing services previously supplied
by professionals; the Government cannot rely on community-minded
individuals to step into the breach to bridge the gaps, and the loss of
professional expertise is irreplaceable.
"Local libraries are a fundamental information and education resource. Whilst
in their essence, libraries facilitate access to books and resources, they play a
much wider role in promoting shared knowledge and equality of opportunity,
facilitating community cohesion, and enabling life-long learning and literacy
from cradle to grave."
Abby Barker, from Voices for the Library, said:
“Voices for the Library are urging anyone concerned for the future of the
library service in the UK to get involved on March 13th. This is your chance to
tell your MP how vital your local library service is, and to ask them to call the
Secretary of State to task over his noticeable lack of involvement. The 1964
Museums and Public Libraries Act very clearly puts public libraries under the
superintendence of the Secretary of State, however, Jeremy Hunt has yet to
intervene on any level, even in the most extreme cases."
Andrew Coburn, Secretary of The Library Campaign, said:
“Public libraries still have a wide-ranging role in encouraging literacy and
education as well as providing literature for leisure and information. MPs need
to know what a real 21st century library service can provide – so that they can
join the thousands who are trying to prevent their branches being closed and
services mutilated.”
Alan Gibbons, Author and Organiser of Campaign for the Book said:
“A reading child is a successful child. The National Literary Trust has found
that a child who goes to a library is twice as likely to read well as one who
doesn’t. The UK currently stands at 25th in the PISA International Reading
ranking. Libraries are vital to improving this position. We have to fight for
the defence and extension of public library services.”
Annie Mauger, Chief Executive of CILIP, said:
"The professional skills and expertise of library staff are core to providing the
public with a quality library service. Volunteers should supplement and enrich
a professionally led service, not replace the knowledge and skills of staff. We
are concerned that public library services in England are being damaged; the
impact will be felt now and in the long term. We urge the Secretary of State to
use his powers of intervention where there is clear evidence that the Public
Libraries & Museums Act (1964) has been potentially breached. It is wrong to
view public libraries solely as a cost; by providing opportunities for learning
and literacy development libraries are an investment in communities, families
and individuals.”
ENDS
For more information please contact the UNISON Press Office
Notes to Editors:
- You can follow the lobby on twitter #librarieslobby
