Wirral MP’s grandpa ‘stole library books’

Dec 8 2010 by Liam Murphy, Bromborough and Bebington News

WIRRAL South MP Alison McGovern has launched a backbench bill to broaden the role of libraries.

She wants to introduce a duty on them to provide extra facilities, such as music rooms and acting workshops.

She said: “In Merseyside, we all know the value of culture to our lives and our economy.

“But that is not true everywhere and in some places councils are trying to ditch culture as times get hard.”

She pointed out that at present councils have a general duty to provide a library service, but have no responsibility for wider cultural services.

“As local authorities face tough times with spending cuts there is an increased likelihood of a wholesale withdrawal from culture,” she added.

Her bill has no chance of becoming law unless ministers agree to incorporate it in future legislation, but Ms McGovern said she wanted to start a wider debate on the issue.

During a Commons debate, Ms McGovern said the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, which meant councils had a “general duty” to provide libraries, should be amended to include museums, galleries and theatres.

Under the law, a local authority which closes libraries can be forced to reopen them by the Culture Secretary.

The MP, who is supported in her 10 Minute Rule motion by former foreign secretary David Miliband, said she did not want to dictate to councils what they should support or how they should provide funds – but they should be prevented from withdrawing support for such services completely.

Ms McGovern, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Gordon Brown, said: “There is a very real fear out there that we could see not just cuts in the arts sector, everybody appreciates there will be cuts and the cultural sector will need to take their share of efficiency savings, but the total withdrawal by some local authorities to providing cultural services. There are lots of people in local authorities up and down the country who are very fearful about what is to come. My question is this: what kind of country do we want to be?

“Do we want to be the kind of country where culture is by and large for those who already access it or do we want to be the kind of country where culture is for everybody and local authorities take their responsibility in involving people?”

She added: “The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 has given a very important backstop to library services at times when they feel they are under constant threat of being de-prioritised, being driven down, being questioned.”

She said although she has “every sympathy” with local councils she added: “I think the 1964 Act is an important check on what might happen to make sure we do not face the situation my own grandfather faced when he was growing up in the inter-war years, when he used to go in to Liverpool Central Library and, I confess, he used to steal books because you couldn’t borrow library books for free at that time.

‘He used to go in with an overcoat over his arms and walk out with them. He really wanted to read things.”