Coventry Council is proposing to cut all library staff in its libraries, and instead hoping to attract community groups to operate them, as volunteers. Once again, here’s another example of local councils having to reduce valued services, because of severe government funding cuts. The very idea that libraries can “run themselves” without any qualified staff is outrageous; its destroying the professional foundations of librarianship, and suggests that librarians aren’t needed at all, that somehow libraries aren’t of enough merit or worth to warrant providing a professional service to the public, to local communities. This story is being repeated all over the country. I am beyond angry with the government. Libraries connect communities.

Full story from the Coventry Telegraph here.