Parliament is not yet sitting (at time of writing), but we already know that 2024 promises to be a year of change as the country moves into a General Election footing.

While the prime minister mulls over when this will take place, the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, started the year launching ‘Project Hope’ the party’s election bid that lays out Labour’s plans for a decade of national renewal with an emphasis on the power of community and unity.

We welcome Keir Starmer’s recognition at the beginning of his speech of those who have campaigned against library closures:

“If you’ve spent the last 14 years volunteering to keep your park clean, your library open, for children to have opportunities. If you’ve been breaking your back to keep trading, steering your business through the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the challenge of Brexit and the chaos of Westminster. If you’ve been serving our country, whether in scrubs or the uniform of your regiment, and what you want now is a politics that serves you – then make no mistake, this is your year.”

As in previous election years, when the General Election is announced we will be calling on all parties to pledge their support for stronger public libraries and recognise that libraries have a significant positive impact on local communities, society and the economy.

We will work with CILIP members, to reach out to your local candidates and encourage them to ‘Vote Libraries’ in recognition of the significant social and economic impact that strong local library services provide to a community.

We know that public libraries:

• Improve people’s life chances
• Support formal, informal and lifelong learning
• Improve local health and social care provision
• Help build strong, more cohesive communities
• Give people access to life skills, including digital skills and literacy

Under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act, every community has a statutory right to a quality local library service. Properly staffed, stocked and funded libraries can have a transformative effect on the lives of the people they serve, helping to build literacy and skills, improving health and wellbeing, providing digital access and supporting local business and enterprise.

Unfortunately, faced with severe financial constraints, a number of councils are finding themselves forced to consider reductions to public library services. We strongly urge any council in this position to liaise first with the Libraries Team at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), who will be able to advise on possible alternatives to closures.

Some councils have opted to replace professional library staff with volunteer or community-run services. We are clear that while volunteers can enhance a professionally run service, they cannot deliver an adequate service without professional support. We urge local residents to stand up for their right to a quality library service, and to express their concerns about proposed reductions to their Local Authorities.

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