Image of 100 parliament square where DCMS is located, via wikimedia commons

In response to the Chancellor’s Budget Statement today, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals has called on Lord Parkinson, the Minister whose brief includes libraries at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to exercise his powers to protect local library services.

CILIP has previously signalled deep concern over the lack of financial support to Local Authorities and the fact that the recently announced ‘Exceptional Financial Support’ (EFS) package will prompt a ‘fire sale’ of vital assets, including public libraries, in the 19 Councils concerned.

We note the Government’s ambition to make “long-term decisions for a brighter future” and the Chancellor’s stated commitment to deliver a “budget for long-term growth”. We welcome the announcement of new real-terms investment in cultural programmes, including for the British Library North project. We know from our work across the UK that Local Government also urgently needs long-term sustainable financial support so that libraries can help everyone to enjoy a brighter future.

Sadly, today’s budget statement runs counter to the Government’s stated ambition by failing to address the severe pressures faced by local Councils in providing statutory services - which includes libraries. Instead, the Public Sector Productivity Plan announced today creates new pressure on Councils to find further financial savings, which can only be achieved through further reductions in statutory services.

By cutting taxes and arguing that Councils stand to make further ‘productivity and efficiency’ savings, the Chancellor’s speech risks creating a ‘fiscal trap’ which now constitutes a material threat to the nation’s life-changing libraries.

CILIP is calling for a fair funding settlement to Local Government, allowing for real reinvestment into local services, including libraries. We urge the Chancellor to abandon the policy of short-termism and to invest in real opportunity and growth by recognising the power of properly-staffed and adequately-funded libraries to drive inclusive local economic productivity as well as place-making, health and care, lifelong learning, literacy and cultural enrichment for all.

Our ultimate hope is that Lord Parkinson as the Minister whose portfolio includes libraries at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will exercise his powers of superintendence as a matter of urgency to prevent a catastrophic loss of services across the nation.

The recent Sanderson Review of Public Libraries, which was commissioned by Lord Parkinson, recognised the transformative power of public libraries and called for their recognition and support across Government. We stand ready to work with the Minister to protect and build on the UK’s world-class library network, but we can only do so if those libraries still exist.

We hope that Government will take this final opportunity to avert further loss and hollowing-out of library services and to invest in the literacy, wellbeing and opportunity of future generations before it is too late.

Resources and Campaigns

Know your rights - how to contact your council about cuts to services

Urgent appeal: protect funding for public libraries at risk

Libraries at Risk Monitor - let us know if your library is at risk

Libraries in 19 councils at risk of fire sale - CILIP is sounding the alarm over a potential 'fire sale' of library buildings following the Government announcement of 'exceptional financial support' to 19 Councils.