On Tuesday the Minister responsible for overseeing public library provision, Rob Wilson MP, visited a doomed library in the Ribble Valley: Whalley Library is up for sale because no voluntary groups could be found to run it. Mr Wilson was called there through mechanism of an official complaint to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and his readiness to investigate has set a precedent for all local authorities seeking to cut their libraries.
Swindon library campaigners have also submitted official complaints to the DCMS and await a response. In spite of confusing reports in the media about trusts, and hopes for a one-off cash sum of £81k, the fact remains that the Borough Council’s Cabinet has decided to cease funding all but five of its libraries. A strong case has been made that this cut to public library provision- which does not include parish-funded libraries that will not be the responsibility of the Public Library Authority- is in serious breach of the legal duties of the Council under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.
Hopes are high that Mr Wilson will intervene in Swindon before it is too late.
With regard to the bid for £81k from the Libraries Innovation Fund for the Libraries Unbound concept, Save Swindon’s Libraries wishes the Council the best of luck securing the one-off cash sum and hopes it will be useful in addressing the serious gaps in provision to be left by the current Library Strategy.
