Alan Gibbons’ Blog

The Right Hon. A. Burnham MP

Secretary of State for Culture

Department of Culture, Media and Sports

2-4 Cockspur Street

London SW1 5DH

25  January 2009

Dear Secretary of State

As a former resident of Irby, Wirral, I am very concerned by Wirral Council’s decision to close at least 11 libraries across the borough. I must ask you to investigate whether these closures constitute a failure on the part of the Council to provide ‘a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof,’ as required under the Public Libraries and Museums Act of 1964.

Irby Library was largely responsible for my early love of reading, and I am saddened by the thought that new generations of young people will be denied the pleasure, education and inspiration that books provide.

You are no doubt aware by now of the huge strength of feeling surrounding the Wirral library closures, not only within Wirral itself but also from campaigners in other areas, who realise that their own local services could be next.

Frank Field M.P has responded to these protests by implying that people are simply resistant to all change. By stating “I often feel that if we were promoted from inferno to paradise us English would still gather round to talk about the good old days,” he is alienating and patronising those he claims to represent.

As the mother of a toddler, what immediately comes to my mind is the prospect of wrestling a pushchair onto a bus in order to make a costly journey to a central library. This falls rather short of my idea of paradise. Others face mobility issues relating to age, disability or poverty. They are not opposing change for the sake of it but because they are entitled to good quality, accessible local services.

Wirral Libraries are also home to the pioneering Get Into Reading scheme, which provides book groups for the most vulnerable members of society. This valuable project reaches out to isolated young parents and elderly people, the homeless and those with mental health or substance abuse issues, enabling them to discover a love of reading in an unthreatening environment.  It is vital for the success of the scheme that venues are available in the heart of disadvantaged communities, not miles away.

Those who are most in need of the libraries are those least likely to have their voices heard. I would urge you to listen to the Wirral residents and their supporters throughout the country and launch an investigation into the responsibilities of the library authority.

Yours sincerely

Caroline Rance

Editor’s note: Caroline’s first book is out in a couple of months. Go to: www.carolinerance.co.uk

This entry was posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.