Are Local Library Closures a Threat to Local Identity and Community?

Budget cuts have impacted on many areas of life, and the closure of local libraries in many areas of the UK are among the latest issues to cause outrage and disapproval among communities. These government-funded institutions offer a wealth of services to people in their local area, which often go far beyond the free rental of books.



The threat of closure for libraries is very real, with some authorities such as North Yorkshire County Council potentially closing more than half of the region's 42 libraries due to heavy cuts from the government. This has understandably attracted the attention of campaigners, who are keen to urge councils to look for alternative options when making cutbacks in 2011.



While libraries can be valued institutions wherever they're located - from city centres to universities - those in rural areas often have greater obligations as community hubs, offering services such as internet access and advice that may not be attainable elsewhere in the region. This has caused a surge in library registrations in recent years, with some rural areas bucking the national trend as ever more citizens sign up to use library services. As community buildings, libraries are also often centres for debates and other important talks that affect local life, and their closure could mean campaigners and speakers find it more difficult to locate a platform.

Of course, it's the easy and free access to books on all subjects - from fiction to history books and other academic resources - that libraries are best known for, and there are concerns that young people may be affected most severely by their closure. With fears that today's internet-savvy youth may be less literate than previous generations, libraries offer an ideal way for children and older readers to find books covering all manner of subjects that may be of interest them - and campaigners warn that closing these libraries could have a negative impact on education.



The proposal to close libraries in more remote areas and keep more centrally located institutions open may be far from a solution, as people living in these isolated areas may not find it cost-effective to take buses and other transport into town and city centres to rent books and access council services. However, with government cuts affecting so many areas of modern life, it seems unlikely that libraries will be the ubiquitous centres of free information access they once were.