Campaigners urge pause in library closure plans

The council is looking at closing some of its 35 library buildings

Campaigners have asked for a pause in council proposals to cut library services.

Birmingham City Council is considering closing a number of buildings as part of efforts to drastically reduce its budget.

But Birmingham Loves Libraries has published an open letter, which said: “Our libraries are lifelines and we cannot afford to lose them.”

It has asked for public interest and value-for-money assessments to be carried out.

The authority has been seeking to make cuts to a wide range of services since declaring effective bankruptcy last year amid a financial black hole linked to equal pay liabilities and other pressures.

Public consultation is under way on the future of libraries which includes proposals to reduce the number of community venues from its current level of 35.

Instead, "25 building-based library services” are floated, which could include "community library hubs", as well as community groups running services.

Failing to do this could result in staff cuts, the council has warned.

But campaigners have asked for the process to be slowed and said: “Devastating measures are being imposed over a short timescale.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “The review of our library services aims to achieve greater efficiency and value for money, and the continuing provision of a library service.”

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.