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News & Press: Campaigns & Advocacy

Protect funding for public libraries at risk

21 February 2024  
Protect funding for public libraries at risk

In this election year it is more important than ever to bring libraries into the public and political spotlight as central government cuts council budgets across the country.

CILIP will write to every local authority where budget-reductions threaten their public libraries with closure or a reduction in service provision, to ensure that due process is followed with every decision, and councillors understand the vital importance of libraries in their communities.

We have created the Libraries at Risk Monitor to keep track of the campaign, but also to raise awareness of the scale of the budget cuts.

We need your help to keep the monitor up to date.

If your local authority has proposed cuts to its public libraries, is discussing cuts or has already initiated cuts, please visit the Libraries Risk at Monitor page and add this information to the interactive map.


Libraries at Risk Monitor

Add your local library to the Libraries at Risk Monitor, and check to see if your library is already on the map, and if CILIP has contacted them already.


CILIP has always had a responsibility under its Royal Charter to "promote and encourage the maintenance of adequate and appropriate provision of library and information services throughout the UK.

The Libraries at Risk Monitor builds on the Know your Rights campaign, which has been running since 2023.

Know Your Rights aims to make it as simple as possible for public librarians (and the wider sector / general public) to engage with their local authority, and hold them to account around financially motivated cuts and closures.

Know your rights provides step by step guidance on how to oppose service reductions and includes example letters to act as templates to write to your local councilmembers.


Know your rights

Get the guidance and the sample letters to write to your council today.


CILIP launched the Libraries at Risk campaign last week, and we have already written to five councils about threatened closures and cuts in England, and CILIP Scotland have been in touch with five councils in Scotland.

Additionally, we have sent out a statement raising the alarm over public library closures to sector leaders, press, and MPs in our network, that showcases the massive contributions libraries and librarians make to their local areas.


Statement to CILIP network and press

Read the full statement calling on our sector, the press, and beyond to recognise the value of public libraries, and raise awareness of the risk they are facing.


Published: February 2024


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