CILIP is delighted to announce the expert members of the recently established Independent Review of Public Library Financing Panel. The purpose of this review is to identify the opportunities and risks inherent in the current model for the resourcing and funding of public libraries, to identify under-exploited opportunities to secure a more diverse and sustainable funding base for the future and to set out a roadmap or recommendations for how this might be achieved.

All eight members of this panel have extensive experience in public and academic libraries, local government, lifelong learning and the cultural sector.

Sue Williamson, Arts Council England
Professor Stephen Broomhead, Warrington Borough Council
Maggie Rae, Public Health England
Sarah Davidson, Carnegie UK Trust
Sue Ball, Staffordshire Libraries
Fran Sanderson, NESTA
Richard Leeming, Independent
Dr Florian Gebreiter, Birmingham University

Public libraries are a vital part of the fabric of daily life for millions of people across the UK every day. Used across all demographic and socio-economic groups, they represent an extremely important aspect of creating strong localities, strong communities and strong local economies.

In recent years, libraries have found their creative identity – harnessing events, activities, digital platforms and channels to strengthen relationships with existing user groups and reach out to new communities. During COVID-19, libraries have once again demonstrated their value as essential services – helping to keep people entertained, safe, connected and informed during the pandemic.

Through the work of organisations such as CILIP, Arts Council England, Libraries Connected, Carnegie UK Trust and the Local Government Association, libraries have moved up the political agenda in local and central Government.

Despite this tremendous momentum and energy, libraries continue to face a complex challenge which in many cases has either put services at risk or has resulted in their partial or complete closure. An estimated 10% of library branches have closed since 2010, with at least 500 more being transferred from statutory Council provision to informal ‘community management’.

The components of this challenge include:

• A perception that digital technologies have eroded or replaced the core function of the library
• Changing patterns of consumer behaviour placing different demands on physical space
• A failure on the part of the library sector to secure buy-in to its new role in a connected society
• The structural funding model for local library services, which depend entirely on Council budgets that have been reduced by up to 50% since 2008, despite facing increased pressure on adult social care and child protection.

Work is underway to target the first three of these challenges which centre on advocating for libraries with a refreshed and compelling vision of their place at the heart of people’s physical, digital and intellectual lives.

The purpose of this Independent Review is to address the fourth – to identify the opportunities and risks inherent in our current model for the resourcing and funding of public libraries; to identify under-exploited opportunities to secure a more diverse and sustainable funding base for the future and to set out a roadmap of recommendations for how this might be achieved.

Banner image: Peckham Library photographed by quisnovus, (CC BY-NC 2.0)