Responding to Andy Burnham’s announcement today of a modernisation review of England’s public library service, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: “I welcome a review of how libraries can be improved but I’m concerned that this is just a thinly veiled attempt to make further cuts to our fast-disappearing library services.”

Don Foster went on to say:

“Under Labour we’ve seen the slow death of hundreds of libraries across the country. Rural areas are suffering the most and being cut out of the loop as resources are concentrated elsewhere.

“We should be looking to councils like Sutton who have shown just how great libraries can be when they shake off their dusty image and become lively centres of learning in the community.”

Liberal Democrat research on libraries shows:

· London loses a library every 10 weeks on average, while the North West loses one every three weeks
· A library in the capital is open for an average of 10 hours longer each week than a library outside the capital
· There are 10% fewer mobile libraries than there were in 2001
· Half of all library closures last year happened in the north
· London was the only area in the country not to see more libraries close than open last year
· In England, an average of more than one library per week closes
· The number of people borrowing one item per year or more from libraries has declined by a quarter since 2001