Libraries stay open thanks to army of volunteers

In Gloucestershire there are 32 council-run libraries and eight others run by local communities

A children's author has said his county is lucky to have a dedicated team of volunteers keeping their libraries open whilst many face closures nationwide.

It comes after data gathered by the BBC showed councils across the UK have stopped running more than 180 libraries over the past seven years.

Gloucestershire has 32 council-run libraries and eight others run by local communities.

Stroud children's writer John Doherty said it is important people continue to support them.

'Improved my confidence'

"We've been very lucky in Gloucestershire in terms of the quality of our volunteer teams," Mr Doherty told the BBC.

"Some of those libraries [across the country] that have closed down over the recent years, they've first been handed over to the voluntary sector and for one reason or another it hasn't worked."

According to data gathered by the BBC, deprived communities were four times more likely to have lost a publicly-funded library in that time, while 2,000 jobs have also been lost.

Billie, 18, who is a volunteer at Bream Community Library in the Forest of Dean, said it has improved her life skills.

"I was always quite shy when I was little," she said.

"Being at the front desk and taking phone calls has really improved my confidence with that."

Children's author Michael Rosen has called the loss of libraries in some communities 'cruel'

Former children’s Laureate Michael Rosen and author of more than 200 books including We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, said there is more to libraries than just books.

"I just feel so sad, a mixture of sad and angry, I'm angry," he said. "It is horrifying.

"This seems to me to be like a decimation of our cultural entitlement."

A government spokesperson has previously said it would bring stability back to local government by allowing councils to budget over multiple years.

The spokesperson added: “Public libraries play an important role in communities by providing spaces for people from all walks of life to access books, work and learn.

“We recognise the pressures they face, and are committed to giving stability back to local councils so services such as these can best meet the needs of their communities.”