Councils who are on top of their building energy usage may decide that the library building isn’t the most efficient building to heat as a warm bank. In that case, rather than open the libraries, why not divert funds to heating buildings or rooms that are more efficient?

If I were a council energy manager and I was asked whether more money could be dedicated to a service primarily for the purpose of keeping people warm, and it was an inefficient building, I’d immediately look for alternatives.

Of course libraries should be kept open, and kept warm. And welcoming to all as they always have been. With the reason being that they are libraries. Asking for funding on the basis of them being turned into warm banks is potentially very dangerous.

Library organisations will spot the chance for a pot of money and jump at that opportunity because they are desperate. But these aren’t reliable funding streams, and using them to fund the core service will backfire. They’re not even funding sources for things libraries do well, or are qualified to deliver.