On National Libraries
Day, 7/2/15, I spoke, on behalf of Voices for the Library, at a rally organised by the Friends of the Library of Birmingham (FOLB). The rally was
held outside the LOB and although it didn't attract the numbers expected or
hoped for it was a very well organised event with some great speakers and
performers including poet laureates, trade unionists, authors,
users/activists/campaigners and academics. All in all a very inspirational
afternoon.
Here's the text of my speech;
First of all i'd like to thank FOLB and the other organisers for inviting
me to speak today.
My name is Alan
Wylie, i'm a public library worker, library campaigner
and Unison member. I'm here today representing Voices for the Library, a
national organisation advocating for public libraries and library
staff.
Recently i wrote an article for the Guardian in which I outlined the
crucial role that libraries play in promoting literacy and the enjoyment of
reading and the hugely beneficial effect all this and more has on the wellbeing
of local communities and society as a whole.
"A person with poor
literacy is more likely to live in a non-working household, live in overcrowded
housing and is less likely to vote. Literacy skills and a love of reading can
break this vicious cycle of deprivation and disadvantage."
We
also know that libraries play an important part in helping to;
bridge the digital divide,
Promote democratic involvement
& social equity
And
foster community empowerment & resilience
In 2013-2014 there were
230 million visits to libraries,
95 million visits to library websites,
34 million enquiries
and 200 million books and other items borrowed from libraries in
England.
Surely
this is proof that properly resourced libraries and trained library staff are
needed now more than ever.
But and it’s a big
but all this great work is taking place in a time of savage cuts, nationally
since 2007/8;
· 6000 library staff
culled
· Several hundred
libraries closed or taken out of public control
·
12% of all public
libraries now volunteer-led, 5% of these cast
adrift
· Library opening hrs and budgets slashed
Politicians and councillors need
to start seeing cuts to libraries as a false economy: the cuts are easy to make
but the long-term consequences could be disastrous.
Politicians and councillors need
to develop and promote the key educational and information role libraries have,
More joined-up thinking is needed in local authorities and central government
departments; for example when drawing up a poverty reduction or education
strategy, why not involve the library service? Stronger links should also be
made with local schools and further & higher education establishments.
Councils and policymakers need to
conduct more research and evaluation into the social impact of libraries, as
opposed to just relying on footfall, issue and economic data which is seen by
many to be a poor indication of their true value.
It's
claimed that many local councillors, and maybe MP’s, don't own a library card,
or if they do they haven't used it in years. If this is the case, then today is
a great day to start.
This
might even, hopefully, influence them when making the next cut or writing the
next strategy document.
Naomi
Klein, the American writer and activist, in a speech she gave to the American
Library Association in 2003 said that libraries and library staff are, or should
be, at the forefront of protecting and promoting certain crucial values, and
these are;
- Knowledge (as opposed
to mere information gathering)
- Public Space (as
opposed to commercial or private space)
- and Sharing (as
opposed to buying and selling).
She
also said;
The best way to stay
public is for library staff to be public - truly, defiantly, radically
public.
It's our suit of
armour and
we should wear it with pride.
Unfortunately those responsible
for the LOB seem to have forgotten about these key principles.
They
also seem to have forgotten about local communities in Birmingham who rely
heavily on the branch libraries that act as a lifeline to the poorest and most
isolated of our fellow citizens.
It’s a
an absolute disgrace that Birmingham City Council are proposing to cut the LOB
budget by £3.3m over the next 2 years,
· slashing the opening
hrs by 40%,
· cutting 100 staff,
· drastically reducing
outreach, housebound and the branch network
· restricting access to
the archives and special collections
Birmingham has invested £188
million in this library & but it’s costing £22m per year to run, £12m of
that just in debt charges.
There
has been talk of a mock mutual and of the BL stepping in but who knows what the
future might bring? I've also read recently that the Institute of Directors have
moved in, what can i say?
The
whole thing is a bloody mess and I commend the FOLB and other campaigners for
highlighting these concerns and demanding transparency and accountability from
those responsible.
So
what can we do individually and collectively to make our voices heard?
we can and we must back the
campaign being led by the FOLB and other anti-cuts groups in
Birmingham.
We can use our libraries more and support the
staff.
We can lobby our councillors and mp’s
We can write to the local and national
newspapers
We can start up friends and campaign groups and link them
locally with trade unions and other community activists and nationally with
organisations such as the Library Campaign, Voices for the Library and Speak up
for Libraries.
We can ask our councillors and
MP’s to sign up to the Speak up for Libraries Manifesto.
But most of all
we need to oppose every library cut and campaign, march and protest together, a
united front.
Thanks for listening and keep up
the fight.
