Writers create protest magazine over library cuts

Novelist Catherine O'Flynn and poet Liz Berry brought 35 writers together to create the fanzine

A group of writers are launching a protest magazine to take a stand against a council’s proposed cuts to libraries.

The Brum Library Zine, which launches on Saturday, paired 35 writers with libraries across Birmingham and asked them to write a piece inspired by that library.

“We'd really love to rally people to act, to save their libraries,” said poet Liz Berry, one of the writers behind the one-off publication.

Birmingham City Council said it encouraged all library users to take part in the public consultation on its plans, which runs until 27 September.

The council, which effectively declared itself bankrupt last September, has put forward two proposals for libraries that both involve reducing the number of council-run services.

The proposed cuts concern its 35 community libraries, which are neighbourhood facilities, and does not include the city centre's landmark multi-storey library.

The free fanzine will be available in all of Birmingham's community libraries

The free fanzine contains pieces by 35 writers who are from or live in Birmingham, from established novelists such as Jonathan Coe and Mike Gayle, to the city’s young poet laureate Iona Mandal.

There will be a launch event at Stirchley Library on Saturday and copies will be available at all of the city's community libraries.

“There's poems, essays [that are] more polemic pieces, stories, even a little play - it really reflects the diversity of the literary scene in Birmingham,” said novelist Catherine O’Flynn, who has co-led the project with Ms Berry.

Birmingham City Council has set a target to cut £1m from its libraries budget in 2024-25, rising to £2.3m the following year, as it tries to find £300m in savings over two years.

The authority's two proposed options would reduce the number of council-funded community library buildings to either 17 or 27, with nine open full-time and offering wider services such as benefits advice. The city-centre library would be a tenth full-time hub.

Both options would cut all council funding for seven libraries - those in Bartley Green, Bloomsbury, Boldmere, Frankley, Glebe Farm, Sutton Coldfield and Walmley.

Mike Gayle, who was paired with Quinton Library for the fanzine, said he saw people who relied on the support it provided

Mr Gayle, who was paired with Quinton Library for the fanzine, said that during his visits he saw “people who, without libraries, would have no other support".

Mr Gayle said he saw librarians helping refugees to fill out forms, and children studying who did not have computers or quiet spaces at home. Library staff told him about socially isolated people who came in for regular chats.

“If you think it's just [about] books, it's so much more than that,” he said.

“The idea that Birmingham City Council doesn't value these spaces, I find outrageous.”

More than 180 council-run libraries have either closed or been handed over to volunteer groups in the UK since 2016, with deprived communities more likely to be affected, a BBC analysis earlier this month found.

'Think about what's at stake'

Birmingham City Council said it encouraged all library-users to share their views by taking part in the public consultation online or in person. It has also previously said that its proposed 10 full-time “community library hubs” would "prevent people from falling into crisis" by offering wider services.

The council did not respond to a request to disclose its total libraries budget.

Ms Berry and Ms O’Flynn hope the fanzine will spur people to stand against the proposed cuts.

“Once a library stops being a library, it's kind of gone forever. I just want people to pause and think about what's at stake - and do whatever they can to save them,” Ms O’Flynn said.