Glos appears to ignore the legal injunction … but can Number Ten ignore the WI?
Gloucestershire council appear to be ignoring a legal injunction against them. The second of the five points therein is that they must suspend “transferring or agreeing to transfer any library building or lease or responsibility for running any existing library”. However, no less than nine such transfers have been recommended for a council decision next week. The Council seems confident it will win the legal hearing on the 7th July. One wonders what advice they have been getting, and from whom.
The Government may soon be getting advice from the WI, although it is unlikely to want it. The Financial Times notes their new pro-library campaign is likely to alarm Number Ten. The bastion of Middle England will be on the same side as Unison in opposing library closures.
395 libraries (319 buildings and 76 mobiles) currently under threat or closed/left council control since 1/4/11 out of c.4612 in the UK (for the complete list by area see the page “Tally by local authority”). Librarian professional body CILIP forecasts 600 libraries under threat (inc. 20% of English libraries). The Public Libraries News figure is obtained from counting up all reports about public libraries in the media each day.
News
Are school librarians expendable? – New York Times. “My concern, as someone who works with people who lack technological access and education, is that removing school librarians and media specialists from the educational environment will have the largest effect on those whose information access is already hampered by the same pressures that are affecting our schools. Public education in this country is a right, and libraries and librarians are an indivisible part of public education.”
Communities Secretary Eric Pickle says “I was right” over local government spendin cuts – Liverpool Daily Post. “The Communities Secretary insisted it was now clear that councils had been able to make the necessary spending reductions without “everything coming to an end” – just as he had predicted….However, Mr Pickles did not refer directly to the impact on council services, amid threats to libraries, leisure centres and – it was reported this week – deep spending cuts for old-age care.”
“And so this is for the people for whom libraries saved their lives
Shouting “throw the book at those who look to cut us with their knives”
And so this is for the people who know lives are saved by culture
But have seen the arts all torn apart by Philisitines and vultures”
Part of “For the People” Poem by Tony Walsh, commissioned by Unison for Glastonbury Festival.
“… Lechlade has consistently argued against the closure of our library by the County. Two public meetings and an 800 signature petition have endorsed the Town Council’s requests that the County continue their provision, but they have refused to do so. In order to secure a library service for our residents we have reluctantly submitted a bid to take over the library, but hope that this will not be necessary and that the County will be forced, either by the courts, or by the Secretary of State who is currently reviewing the County’s proposals, to maintain the existing service.” Gloucestershire
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