Councillors back Libraries Manifesto and call for Tories at County Hall to withdraw threat to local libraries

COUNCILLORS are backing a national campaign calling on those in authority to give libraries a long-term future and are calling on Leicestershire County Council to withdraw the threatened closure of several libraries in Hinckley and Bosworth.

Councillor Michael Mullaney, the Lib Dems Parliamentary Candidate for Bosworth, and Councillor Mathew Hulbert (Lib Dem, Barwell), the Borough's Children and Young People's Champion, are supporting the Speak Up For Libraries Manifesto.

It's asking for a number of things from the Government, including:
- Enforce the law that says local authorities must provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' library service.
- Acknowledge that libraries are important to people-especially during difficult times economically.
- And, ensure Council's have enough money to provide quality services that are well-planned and sufficiently staffed.

Speak Up For Libraries is a coalition of national organisations and library campaigners working to protect library services and staff, now and in the future.

Councillor Mullaney says, "We back the aims of this campaign fully. Locally, here in Hinckley and Bosworth, we've been campaigning for a long time now calling on the Tory-run County Council to withdraw their threatened changes which could see libraries in our area forced to close if sufficient numbers of volunteers aren't found to run them."

"Libraries play a vital role in the local community, not only as book lenders but also as community hubs and with the myriad of other services that they provide."

Councillor Hulbert says, "Barwell's well-used and much-loved Library is one of those faced with potential closure and I've been calling on Conservative-run County Hall to give its staff and patrons certainty by withdrawing the threatened changes and, instead, ensure it continues to be manned by its well-regarded members of staff and funded by the County Council.

"Our libraries are loved by all age groups and, as Children and Young People's Champion, I know especially how they are valued by many young people and families as places of education, entertainment and social interaction.
It would be a travesty if more of them were closed."