On Wednesday, I led a debate on the future of our public libraries. I asked the government to invest in national data on the contributions of public libraries and to establish a National Library Strategy, in line with the Sanderson Review. This was published under the last government but never implemented.
The debate took place in the Westminster Hall, the secondary chamber of the House of Commons.
I was pleased to see so many MPs attending, from across the political spectrum. They spoke about the amazing impacts their public libraries have made, as well as the challenges they are facing across the country. Many supported my calls to establish a long-term strategy to keep these important services open for generations to come.
Our public libraries have frequently been targeted for cost-saving measures since 2010, facing 49% real-term cuts. Tragically, 276 static libraries have been closed down entirely. That represents a loss of 40 every year. These losses disproportionately impact communities who already face a lack of opportunity and means that we lose good jobs for the trained professionals who worked there.
That’s why I believe it is so important to defend, build and improve these crucial services with a strong evidence base.
Without reliable data, we do not have a full picture of the value libraries are already delivering. A data hub would help government, local authorities and services to understand how libraries contribute to their work on digital inclusion, adult education, tackling isolation, and so much more.
There were many thoughtful contributions from MPs of all parties, and I want to thank all those who came to speak and to support my calls for a national strategy. This included my neighbour, John Whitby, MP for Derbyshire Dales, who made an excellent point about the importance of local library services in providing connection, particularly in rural communities.
Finally, I am grateful to Chris Bryant, the responding Minister, for listening to our concerns and proposals and agreeing to a continuing dialogue on these matters. I am pleased to have put this onto the government’s radar, and look forward to working with him and Baroness Twycross to keep speaking for these changes.