Public meeting to stop cuts to Library of Birmingham as plans emerge of British Library bailout

Central
Library of Birmingham
West Midlands
birmingham
Wednesday 7 January 2015 at 8:44am

General view of the Library of Birmingham Credit: PA

A public meeting into the future of the £189 million Library of Birmingham is being held later, after the council announced plans to make half its staff redundant and reduce opening hours.

Councillors announced in December it needed to save £1.5 million from the library budget in 2015/16, and by 2018 it's predicted it will be cut by a total of £4million.

To make the savings the council is planning to sack 100 library staff and cut opening hours from 73 to 40 hours per week.

It's caused anger among staff and visitors who are holding the public meeting at 5:00pm this evening in the library's Studio Theatre. More than 2,000 people have also signed an online petition against the cuts.

Visitors at the Library of Birmingham children's department Credit: PA

The award winning building only opened 18 months ago, and took seven years to build. It was launched by young educational activist Malala Yousafzai on September 3, 2013, and attracted nearly 3 million visitors in its first year.

Despite this, the council said last month it was with 'a heavy heart' that the consultation on cuts to the library was necessary, as part of a wider package of savings totalling £73 million.

Malala Yousafzai opening the library of September 3rd 2013. Credit: PA

Birmingham City Council says it also faces a monthly debt charge of £1 million, or £12 million a year, as it pays for the cost of the building itself.

Campaigners fear that cutting back the library will affect young people in the city & their access to resources for study, have a negative impact on tourism, and also put the future of the city's archive in doubt.

The main book wall in the Library of Birmingham Credit: PA

Yesterday the council announced plans to start talks with the British Library about the Library of Birmingham becoming a regional centre, and thereby mitigate the severity of the council's cutbacks.

Councillors were told in a meeting yesterday the talks were at an early stage with several civic leaders, supporters of the Library and MPs.

Night view of the £189 million Library of Birmingham Credit: PA

Cllr Penny Holbrook, Cabinet Member for Skills Learning and Culture, said:

“When we announced the proposed cuts, I said we were doing this with a heavy heart, but as with any possible cut, we will leave no stone unturned to find alternative ways forward. We will do whatever it takes to save services if possible. “With that in mind, we now have an interesting idea which could ensure we continue to have a flagship library service the city can be proud of. “The Library of Birmingham already has a glowing reputation. Being linked to the British Library would add further weight to this on the international stage. “But we have to be clear that if this plan ultimately proves to be unworkable, we will have to continue with the proposed cuts to ensure our budget balances and that essential services such as children’s safeguarding are given the funding they need.”

Tonight's meeting against the cuts is taking place in the Studio Theatre at the Library of Birmingham from 5:00pm.

The online petition to ask the council to reverse its decision is here.

Campaigners are also encouraging people to contact the council by completing this online survey.