Spending squeeze fear for region's libraries

Leading library professionals have told the Yorkshire Post they fear "widespread announcements" of closures over the next two to three years as councils prepare to slash their budgets by up to a third in the on-going spending squeeze.

New figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal there is already a worrying downward trend in the number of public libraries across the region, with cost-cutting local authorities having closed down 19 in Yorkshire since 2001. Some councils have also cut library staff by more than a third over the past decade.

And experts fear this will prove just the tip of the iceberg, as council chiefs search for big savings ahead of the Government's spending review this autumn which is expected to include some of the toughest cut-backs since the war.

Guy Daines, director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, said: "I think the next two or three years are going to be extremely tough, and that there will be widespread announcements concerning the closure of a number of libraries.

"It's a very, very worrying picture that's coming about. Yorkshire certainly will not be immune from it, and I'm sure it will have a number of very high-profile proposals for cutting back on library services.

"I think people are right to be worried. There will be cut-backs in all parts of the service, and library closures will be part of that. Frankly we're talking about knocking off one-third of the service."

The role of libraries has changed significantly over recent years, with many now offering a far wider range of information services beyond loaning out books. Most notably, free internet access is usually available to residents who cannot afford a home connection.

But the fear is that libraries are a soft target for council bosses desperate to protect front-line services in other crucial areas.

Research undertaken by the Yorkshire Post shows there has already been a significant reduction in the number of libraries across Yorkshire over the past 10 years.

There are now 19 fewer libraries than there were in 2001/02 – a reduction of more than five per cent. Many councils have also slashed the numbers of librarians and other professionals working for them. In Barnsley, the number has been reduced from 80 to 51 full-time equivalents, and in Bradford from 184 to 132 – both reductions of around 30 per cent.

The largest number of closures was in Calderdale, where five were shut following a major service review in 2006.

Gary Borrows, Calderdale's head of cultural services, said: "The decision to close five libraries across the Calderdale area came from a review of 10 libraries in 2006. We consulted with the local community and due to a number of factors including lack of use, poor condition and location it was decided that we would close the libraries and mobile library routes were extended.

"Since then, through an extensive renewal programme, the council has replaced two libraries with new buildings, wholly refurbished three and improved eight."

In Barnsley, the council said its two closures were down to "a need to reduce budgets and poor usage of those libraries at the time".

The coalition Government has already announced cut-backs in library spending in its emergency budget last month. The 2m-a-year public library modernisation programme, which would have ensured free internet access in every library, has been dropped.