Increase funding for libraries UK is the campaign promise of Prime Minister Boris Johnson when questioned about the reduction of libraries by almost 800 in the last 10 years. But here’s the catch, the promise will materialize after the Brexit.
Paid librarians have also reduced from 24,000 in 2010 to around 15,000 this year. This reduction has resulted in a decline in the number of visits in the library from 315 million visits in 2010 to 226 million visits last year.
Austerity measures that were implemented by the conservative government in 2010 have led to the closing down of almost 800 libraries. There has also been a sharp decline in the number of staff working in libraries since 2010.
Figures released by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (Cipfa) annual survey of the UK libraries showed that, excluding Nothern Ireland, there were 3,583 library branches in the UK. This was 35 fewer libraries than recorded last year and 773 fewer libraries than recorded in 2010.
Effects of defunding libraries
Comparing funding figures this year with those recorded in 2010, the report showed that there was a 29.6 percent decline in spending for the libraries. In 2010, over $1.31 billion(£1bn) as compared to this year’s funding of $980 million(£750 million).
The staff working in libraries also reduced from 24,000 paid librarians in 2010 to 15,300 paid librarians this year. This shortage of staff has led to a reduced number of library visits with last year’s figures showing that there were only 226 million visits across the country.
In 2010, this figure was 315 million visits, showing how much library service delivery has been affected by these policies.
Cipfa chief executive Rob Whiteman said that it has come to a point where a national conversational about libraries has to be held. He pointed out that during this electioneering period, politicians need to come with policies that will address the shortage of libraries in the countries. Whiteman argued that it was the responsibility of the government to increase funding for libraries for better access.
Increase funding for libraries UK after Brexit
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, during an interview with BBC’s Andrew Marr earlier this week, was asked about the closure of libraries and the possible increase funding for libraries UK, He responded by saying:
We want to be spending more. We want to be supporting local authorities. But some local authorities have been able to manage their finances to open libraries. I give you the example of my own borough of Hillingdon in west London, where they opened libraries … I want to invest in libraries.
He continued by reassuring everyone that his government will be able to address the current library problems. He said that they would increase the funding for libraries after they are done with the Brexit and the economy starts doing well.
Well, educators will always find a way and will not be limited to what their governments dish out. Here’s one example:
From the top down, Shadow Libraries explores the institutions that shape the provision of educational materials, from the formal sector of universities and publishers to the broadly informal ones organized by faculty, copy shops, student unions, and students themselves. It looks at the history of policy battles over access to education in the post–World War II era and at the narrower versions that have played out in relation to research and textbooks, from library policies to book subsidies to, more recently, the several “open” publication models that have emerged in the higher education sector.
The bottom line, if you want information, you can have it in many FREE ways. That’s human intelligence. No matter whether the funding for libraries UK prosper or not.
Featured image by Pixabay
