Today literacy champion and Big Issue Changemaker Bobby Seagull marched a petition demanding secure investment in public libraries straight to the door of No.10 Downing Street.
The 7,113-signature-strong document called on the government to commit to ending library austerity in the upcoming Budget.
It was backed by The Big Issue and library association CILIP after the joint report Public Libraries: The Case for Support showed that library funding had suffered a £234m real-terms cut in the past decade.
Seagull said: “Libraries are such a vital part of local communities, I’m shocked by the funding cuts they’ve seen in the last 10 years. It really is a testament to the amazing work of professional librarians that they have continued to be the lynchpin of our local communities in such trying circumstances. It’s time for the government to step-up and guarantee them secure funding, so they can continue their amazing work.”
We are outside @10DowningStreet about to hand in our joint @CILIPinfo & @BigIssue libraries petition with CILIP CEO @NickPoole1 and Lord Graham Tope. Thank you all for your support so far �O
We'd always welcome more e-signatures for the petition �ɏ#LoveLibraries#FundMyLibraryhttps://t.co/irdgpCj4ygpic.twitter.com/2tdCmsXGle— Bobby Seagull (@Bobby_Seagull) February 27, 2020
Libraries are hugely important community spaces with the power to change lives by providing unparalleled access to literacy and skills, especially for homeless and underprivileged people.
