Benedicte Page of The Guardian has just published news that will cause great concern for anyone campaigning to save libraries facing the axe.
In the report, it states that the Government are undergoing a review of local authority statutory duties, one of which is to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service.
Ripple of horror
The article begins “A ripple of horror has spread through library campaigners at the news that the only legal protection enjoyed by the public library service has been put up for review as part of a government initiative to scrap “burdensome” duties on local authorities.
“The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has launched a wholesale review of the 1,294 statutory obligations with which local authorities are required to comply. These include one considered the foundation stone of the public library service, the duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act.”
Bad news for legal challengers
This could be extremely bad news for the various campaigners who plan to legally challenge their local council’s decisions to close 525 of the 4,500 libraries nationwide.
This, of course, includes the challenge being made on behalf of Island residents as VB reported earlier in the week.
Take part in the survey
Brian Hall, president of librarian body The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), told the Guardian, it would be “incredibly difficult to hold local authorities to account” without the statutory protection.
He went on to urge everyone to take part in the online review of statutory duties. You have until 25th April to complete the survey.
The list of obligations under review is massive and given that they could be axed is of great concern. Details of the 1,294 statutory obligations can be found on the communities.gov.uk Website.
Complete the online survey (Reference number for the relevant library statute is DCMS_027)
Read the Guardian article in full.
Many thanks to Shirley B for alerting us to this story
