Labour MPs attended a UNISON event at parliament last week to hear stark new evidence about the decline of England’s public library service and the widening funding crisis facing local councils.
UNISON staff and members shared new research detailing how sustained cuts since 2010 have led to a widespread reduction in library services. Speakers made clear that libraries are not optional extras – they are community assets that support education, digital inclusion, safeguarding and social cohesion.
The timing is critical with the government’s national year of reading initiative aiming to boost literacy while library budgets, the very infrastructure that underpins reading access, continue to shrink.
MPs heard that ambitions to raise attainment and narrow inequalities are at high risk if the spaces that enable learning are allowed to disappear.
Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East, who hosted the event on behalf of UNISON said: “Our libraries are the NHS for the soul – free at the point of use, there when we need them most.
“Growing up in poverty while caring for disabled parents, I relied on my local library. It was on my doorstep: a quiet place to do homework, read books, and imagine a different future. That building, and the librarians inside it, changed my life.
“Since 2010, over 800 libraries have closed their doors, and 9,000 librarian jobs have been lost. That’s a direct result of austerity.
“It was an honour to work alongside UNISON to host this important event in Parliament as we work towards opening more of our libraries for longer, and supporting our librarians.”
The event, held just days after the government agreed to provide 35 English councils with £1.5bn in exceptional financial support, underlined the scale of the financial emergency engulfing local government.
While the emergency funding offers short-term relief, UNISON warned it does not address the structural underfunding that has hollowed out local services for over a decade.
In an environment where youth centres are already closing or scaling back, library closures risk compounding the damage. Libraries often function as informal youth hubs – safe, supervised spaces where young people can study, access the internet, attend reading groups, and find positive activities after school. Remove that safety net, and the ripple effects are felt in classrooms, communities and courtrooms.
A lifeline for vulnerable residents
MPs also heard directly from two library workers who described how cuts have hurt both staff and users. For many vulnerable residents, libraries are far more than book-lending services:
- Young people rely on them for quiet study space, homework support and digital access.
- Low-income families depend on free internet and printing for job applications and benefit claims.
- Older residents turn to library staff for help navigating online services, from GP appointments to government forms.
- Isolated individuals find in libraries a safe, warm and welcoming environment in an era of rising living costs.
As more services move online, digital exclusion becomes a sharper divide. Closing libraries removes one of the last universally accessible public spaces where trained staff can provide trusted guidance.
UNISON stressed that local councils are pivotal to delivering the government’s manifesto. From early years support to adult social care, from youth services to public libraries, councils provide the infrastructure through which national ambitions are realised locally.
Ahead of this week’s sprint statement, the union warned that without sustainable funding, councils cannot be expected to deliver transformative change. Emergency financial packages may stave off bankruptcy, but they do not rebuild lost services.
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