Library services
Library services make an essential contribution to local communities and educational achievement. But the service has suffered years of funding cuts, and the threat of closures is growing. UNISON has launched a high profile campaign to defend, improve and safeguard the public library service.
Read more about the challenges facing library services and how you can add your voice to our campaign to save public libraries from here:
FactsheetUNISON Report: "Taking stock: the future of our public library service" (December 2008): http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/17301.pdf
Aso visit the Local Government Libraries webpages here:
LibraryLatest Library Campaign News
(8/10/09) Modernisation Review
Margaret Hodge has given a speech to the Public Libraries Association Conference in which she announced that the Library Service Modernisation Review is being slightly delayed to feed in her ideas as well as developments coming out of the All Party Report, the CILIP guidelines and the Wirral Inquiry process.
(5/10/09) Victory for Wirral Libraries
UNISON has welcomed the news that plans to close 11 libraries on the Wirral have been shelved.
The victory comes after months of campaigning by local residents, MPs and UNISON, and an investigation into the effects of the closures was launched by the then Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham.
The victory sends out an encouraging message to campaigners across the country who are fighting to save their local libraries from cuts, closures and re-organisation.
UNISON “Living Library”
UNISON has launched a series of innovative “living” library events designed to boost community cohesion and highlight the value of public libraries.
People can “borrow” a person, who has a unique story to tell, instead of a book. It is hoped that the initiative will attract more people to use their libraries, as well as encourage people from different backgrounds to talk to each other.
UNISON's first living library event took place last month at Swinton Library, Salford. Further events are planned for Oldham Library on 29 September and Blackburn Library on 7 October 2009. The events will primarily take place in libraries across the North West, but may be extended into workplaces.
More information about the initiative from here: www.unisonnw.org.uk/news/newsitem.asp?ID=91
Early Day Motion EDM 248
19 December 2008
For more information and to view the MPs that have signed the EDM:
UK Parliament website
