The local library felt like a pillar of my childhood. It was a place where I spent hours looking through the shelves, completing their summer reading challenges and sitting through storytimes. For me, the library contributed to the current love that I have for reading. But now I can’t remember the last time I visited a library for a reason other than academic work and, as a broke student, I need it now more than ever.
Local libraries aren’t just places to read, they are community hubs providing key services, information and support. Whether this is financial management advice, educational activities for toddlers or social spaces for the elderly facing loneliness, the need for the library hasn’t dissipated.
Since the government began to slash local governmental funding during the austerity period in the 2010s, the numbers of libraries in the UK has fallen at a rapid rate. BBC analysis identified how this was four times more likely in lower-income areas, where these community services are crucial to the wellbeing of the town. Books are expensive, and libraries play a crucial role in ensuring all income groups can access literature. Removing this access can be considered a removal of culture, therefore perpetuating class inequality and increasing exclusivity within the arts.
In the wake of the 2024 general election, the organisation Libraries Connected urged the government to prioritise council funding and community services provision. They highlighted the importance of libraries in aiding the children literacy crisis and tackling loneliness, emphasising the role these services have to play in reducing inequalities and improving mental health for entire communities.
The closures have also had consequential effects on those working within the literary industry. The Public Lending Right enables writers to earn up to £6,600 a year from library loans, and this annual loss of income could be hugely significant for smaller authors. Furthermore, librarians are trained professionals, with many roles requiring an accredited degree. Nationwide redundancies can lead to the loss of over 35,000 jobs, but mass unemployment in this sector is largely ignored during closure decisions.
However, the picture isn’t entirely negative. Technology has allowed for greater access to services, with library cards allowing individuals to digitally access books and audiobooks through apps such as Libby and BorrowBox. These apps connect to your local library, allowing you to take out e-books the same way you would in person. This is a great option for students or working professionals, who may not have the time to travel back and forth to the on-site library.
But, this still isn’t enough. Transferring services online still doesn’t tackle the issue of accessibility for the people who utilise the technology support that in-person libraries provide, therefore cutting off these groups even more. The facilities libraries provide to communities, separate from those of book loaning, must be appreciated for any real change to be done. The government must see the benefits these centers provide so cuts can be reduced and, wherever possible, prevented.