UK’s public libraries record another year of cuts, with yet more on the way

Falls in funding were matched by drops in borrowing, with budgets for next year set to fall by an average of 14%

The struggles of the UK’s public library service continue apace, with total funding for libraries in Britain down by nearly £20m in the year to March, immediately before the lockdown that saw libraries handling a rapid increase in demand for their services, which were eventually deemed essential by the government.

Annual figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) show that the number of books borrowed from libraries in the year to March 2020 – before the pandemic closed branches – fell by almost 9m year on year, to 166m. Public funding also fell by almost £20m, to £725m. In 2010, it had topped £1bn.

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