18 December, 2014
The UK government’s Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Communities and Local Government, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government today released a new policy paper entitled “Independent Library Report for England“.
The Independent reported yesterday on the release, accusing the UK government of trying to down-play the report’s findings by releasing the report just prior to the December holiday break.
Library services are on the brink of disaster and can only be saved if they become more like coffee shops with wi-fi, sofas and hot drinks, a report will recommend on Thursday.
A combination of funding cuts and declining attendance threatens the viability of the library network unless urgent action is taken, according to the Independent Library Report for England, which was commissioned by the Government.
“We’re at a critical moment for the libraries and if we’re not careful we could lose so many,” William Sieghart, who wrote the report, told The Independent. “I and a lot of people think it would be an absolute disaster.”
