Chancellor must provide relief to libraries 'disproportionately affected by austerity'
In his Autumn Statement tomorrow the Chancellor should provide emergency funding for libraries and depart from “toxic” austerity, argues the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
As the UK faces the most significant post-war skills and literacy crisis CILIP, the library and information association, is calling on Philip Hammond to provide emergency relief funding for public libraries in England. Our call for relief funding has been backed by a cross-party group of Peers led by Big Issue founder Lord Bird.
The Chancellor has an opportunity to distance this Government from toxic austerity policies. Frontline services continue to be cut with little evidence that they are viewed as an investment in our communities and economy. Not only does austerity threaten community cohesion, it makes little fiscal sense as cuts to library budgets cost the public purse more elsewhere, across employment, educational attainment and healthcare.
Public libraries are a good investment and a cost effective way to improve opportunities for all. Local economies receive an ROI of £5 for £1 invested in library services. Libraries are uniquely placed in their local communities to provide opportunities for all. This is reflected in the diversity of people that set up a new business through the Business & IP Centre Network of Libraries – 47% were women and 26% black, Asian and minority ethnic.
Delivering economic growth during Brexit means the Chancellor must avoid the trap of investing in big infrastructure while failing to develop the skilled workforce we need. Improving life chances for everyone needs investment in life-changing library services, which are the building blocks for strong communities and successful local economies.
In order to compete in the global economy the UK’s success hinges on a workforce with advanced skills. Yet the country is failing to develop basic literacy skills amongst young people. Over a third of UK firms report concerns with school leavers’ literacy or use of English. The country ranks at the bottom of teenage literacy league-tables amongst twenty-three developed nations. However the UK’s senior citizens have some of the highest literacy levels in the developed world.
Public libraries have been disproportionately affected by austerity policies. Since 2010 over 340 libraries have closed and the number of qualified librarians has reduced by a quarter. Expenditure on public libraries in England fell by £69.1m in three years.
Which is why we and leading Peers are calling on the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement to make emergency relief funding available to Local Authorities on a needs-assessed basis, enabling Councils to maintain library services over the lifetime of this Parliament and providing sufficient time for a managed transition to alternative governance models more attuned to local communities’ needs.
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