Closing libraries is short-sighted, volunteers say

The chair of a volunteer-run library has called the closure of council-run facilities "short-sighted".

BBC analysis has found more than 180 council-run libraries in the UK were closed or handed over to volunteers since 2016.

Julie Rubidge is chair of trustees at Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library, which was taken over by volunteers in 2018.

"I think councils are being short-sighted. I think we offer a huge amount to the community," she said. "If we closed our doors I don’t know what people would do."

Now a registered charity, 70 people give up their time to keep the site running, which has been reinvented into a community space and cultural hub.

"The community centres have gone, the places for youths have gone, there’s no drop-in place provided any more unless you go to a pub or a cafe," Mrs Rubidge said.

"Our older population are very grateful, particularly with the digital exclusion that they're suffering... they can come in and get help."

The Earlsdon site is a registered place of welcome and frequented by primary schools as well as hosting a memory cafe, wellness sessions and events.

"Particularly in the winter, we have quite a few homeless people who wander in and stay all day," Mrs Rubidge added.

"If you have no money you can come to our library every day in the summer holidays and there'll be something new to do at no extra cost."

The facility is currently waiting to hear if an application for a 10-year lease beyond March will be signed off by the council.

Coventry's library service operates core and partnership facilities from 14 locations across the city, with community-run sites also in Cheylesmore and Finham.

Library users in Tile Hill said drop-in knitting sessions provided relief from loneliness.

"A friend suggested it just to get me out of the house and socialise rather than being on my own all the time," said Carmel, who lost her husband in March. "It's made a difference to me."

A government spokesperson has previously said it would bring stability back to local government by allowing councils to budget over multiple years.

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: "The council is currently delivering a number of savings proposals for this year. None of those proposals include closing libraries."

Budget setting for next year would happen "in due course", the spokesperson added.

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