LIVERPOOL City Council’s cabinet today backed proposals that could pave the way for the closure of 11 of the city’s 18 libraries – though the final chapter has yet to be written.
Mayor Joe Anderson expressed concern over proposals that would see every library in North Liverpool axed.
Liverpool Confidential was the first to point out large areas of Kirkdale and Everton – included in the UK’s most socially deprived areas – would become a literary desert if the proposals went ahead.
The Mayor seems to have agreed with our grim-up-north message, and wants officials to look again at library provision in that part of the city. He said the proposals, as currently presented, could adversely affect north Liverpool.
A small group of protestors gathered outside the Town Hall calling for the libraries to be spared, joined by campaigners wanting the city to challenge the Government’s spending cuts.
Today’s cabinet decision does not mean the immediate closure of any library. Instead the proposals will be discussed at a special select committee on September 4, and this will be followed by a four week consultation period.
A number of organisations – ranging from community groups, housing associations to health organisations – have already indicated they want to take over library buildings, in many cases retaining a community-led library service.
Those initial expressions of interest will be followed by more intensive negotiations as part of the consultation exercise.
It seems the current list of closures could change over the coming weeks, though with more government spending cuts heading Liverpool’s way, the libraries service has seen its budget slashed by several million pounds.
Protestors at today’s meeting described Mayor Anderson and his cabinet as "Philistines".
A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: “Today’s meeting was never intended to agree closures, but to pave the way for a full and thorough consultation exercise and that will now take place.”
