The cost of running libraries remains a “significant challenge” despite income from the service rising by almost a fifth over the past financial year, CIPFA has said.
Libraries in Britain have become more reliant on volunteers as staff numbers have crashed following funding being slashed by nearly a third over the last decade, CIPFA has revealed.
The ruling over Northamptonshire’s library closure plans is a reminder that libraries are a statutory service – so more should be made of them, says Cilip’s Mark Taylor.
Council spending on library services across England, Scotland and Wales was cut by £50m in 2014/15, leading to closure of more than 100 libraries, figures from CIPFA have revealed.
