Thread by @unioneyes, In a new report on 'community' libraries, Tory MP Danny Kruger says: [...]

Steve Davies

unioneyes

In a new report on & #39;community& #39; libraries, Tory MP Danny Kruger says: “where local authorities struggle to maintain local libraries, communities are stepping up to take over and run them. 20% of libraries are now community-managed”. Not exactly the whole story though is it?

Good old Danny (political secretary to Boris Johnson) forgot to mention that the reason that & #39;local authorities struggle to maintain local libraries& #39; is because the Tories have relentlessly cut the funds available for local authorities to pay for them.

Maybe not a surprise as this & #39;old friend& #39; of Dominic Cummins is previously known for stating the Tories planned "to introduce a period of creative destruction in the public services"

Naturally, they then blame the local authorities. Also, although the provision of a public library service is a statutory duty of local authorities, the Tories interpret this very loosely so that ad hoc groups of well meaning retired volunteers are considered acceptable

In reality, qualified librarians & trained library assistants with adequate funding in a network of well equipped, spacious & comfortable buildings are the bare minimum. Today & #39;community& #39; libraries face crisis b/c of reliance on retired volunteers - highly vulnerable to COVID

& #39;Community& #39; libraries under the Tories - however well intentioned the volunteers - are used to run down public services, ease in private providers & move toward the end of a statutory service. There& #39;s something for an Opposition to get hold of

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