The Birmingham City Council library consultation is open

One of the most talked about cuts of the budget passed by Birmingham Labour in March this year is the £2.5M saving to local libraries.

The original plan, as reported by the BBC in the link below, was to retain the City Centre library and close all but 10 of the 35 local libraries in the city. 

Bid to protect funding to 25 under threat libraries in Birmingham - BBC News

Liberal Democrat councillors were swift to respond to this, beginning or joining local campaign activity to save libraries. Events quickly took place, such as walking demonstrations and read-ins. The "read-in" at Acocks Green library included well over 200 people.

Since then, plans have been redrafted, and now a reduction of 11 to 25 libraries is being proposed, albeit that this will require external involvement to be plausible. 

All Liberal Democrat councillors are involved in local campaigns to save the library and would welcome hearing from residents who want to campaign to save these important local buildings. 

Your councillors also encourage a visit to a local consultation event before completing the online form.

Campaign group Birmingham Loves Libraries have produced a guide to help people complete the consultation:

Consultation Guide_Final.docx (birminghamloveslibraries.org)

The consultation document can be found here:

Libraries Consultation 2024 - Birmingham City Council - Citizen Space (birminghambeheard.org.uk)