Great libraries strengthen people’s sense of pride in the place where they live, act as ‘anchor institutions’ on the High Street and promote inclusive economic growth as well as a demonstrable social ROI.

According to the joint CILIP/Big Issue report Public Libraries: The Case for Support, revenue funding for libraries has been cut by £243m per year in real terms since 2010. While many Councils have worked hard to protect library budgets, if libraries are going to transform towns and communities across the whole of the UK, we need to see revenue funding through Local Authorities restored to its pre-2010 level at or near £1bn per annum.

On the 27th February, CILIP and Library Champion Bobby Seagull will be taking our petition to End Library Austerity to No 10 Downing Street. Please sign our petition TODAY to send a message to Government that it is time to end library austerity!

Update: Petition now closed. You can check out our story on the delivery of the petition to 10 Downing Street.