Rupa Huq says cash strapped councils are bearing brunt of national policies

Cuts to library services have been highlighted by the Ealing Central and Acton MP on World Book Day.

World Book Day is an occasion to celebrate reading and is marked by over 100 different countries celebrating authors, illustrators, and books.

However, research, commissioned from the House of Commons Library by the Shadow Culture Team reveals that the number of books issued from public libraries in Greater London have sadly plummeted by 13,169,787 since 2011, with a 30% decrease over the last 8 years.

521 libraries have closed across England since 2010 and the number is continuing to rise. Proposals in Ealing currently under consultation could see 7 local libraries closing unless community volunteers take over the management, local objevctions have already been raised and a petition set up.

Rupa Huq MP, who gave a talk on International Women’s Day Talk at West Ealing Library said:

“World Book Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading. Books open up whole new worlds for children and adults alike. It is great to see so many schools in our borough encouraging children to dress up as their favourite book characters.

''Libraries have always been at the heart of a communal love of books. That’s why it is such a scandal that millions fewer books are being issued from our public libraries.

'' I do hope the Government rethinks Council budgets – funds have been cut to the bone and our library services are paying the price''

An open consultation event is being held Tuesday (March 12) at Kingsdown Methodist Church from 5-7pm. Details on the full library consultation can be found here

12 March 2019