I recently attended The People's Inquiry into the Public Library Service at The British Library, an event organised by UNISON to collect feedback and comments from library users and staff from all over the country to feed into a comprehensive report on the future of libraries which is being submitted to The Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

               Libraries Minister Margaret Hodge  says of the Government consultation paper  ' ...The public library service in England needs radical transformation and modernisation if it is to remain as relevant and popular in the 21^st century as it was in the 19^th and 20^th.....'  She was a speaker at the inquiry where she was questioned about the statutory obligations of library provision and whether these would be amended or changed, but she could not guarantee that the statute would remain in its current form. 

                 It was very interesting to hear from other libraries and user groups around the country, their problems and issues, successes and good ideas - many of which could benefit others when shared. The sometimes bleak future of automation and ebooks and volunteer workers is not what customers or library staff want - good quality books, pleasant surroundings and well-informed friendly faces are  the reasons that keep customers coming to libraries.   

             UNISON  has received messages of support from celebrated authors  including Jacqueline Wilson and Roger McGough, and  is continuing the 'LOVE YOUR LIBRARIES' campaign to encourage everyone to use their local libraries and lobby councillors and MPs about their importance to the community, and for MPs to endorse the early day motion 848. 

http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/pages_view_lib.asp?did=10794

                 During the recession libraries will be crucial for maintaining quality of life and learning opportunities for families who can't afford books or a home computer. They also help people access the information and resources they need to find work.

             There is already evidence that people are looking to libraries even more during hard times. In the London borough of Westminster visits went up 10%, while in Cumbria new membership applications were up 38% on the year before.

             We must protect our libraries for future generations!

Sue Dick

UNISON steward