WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT VOLUNTEER-RUN LIBRARIES?
NOBODY KNOWS….
A few years ago, public libraries run by volunteers were almost unheard of.
But more and more local authorities are turning to the idea.
And more and more local people are taking them on as the only way to ‘save’ them.
They are the single biggest change in decades to this much-valued public resource.
Yet almost nothing is known about them.
How many are there?
A possible estimate is 300* - but there are no official figures.
Many more are in the pipeline, with more transfer plans expected.
What kind of library service do they provide?
Do they work at all?
There has been almost no credible research on the subject.
SPEAK UP FOR LIBRARIES SAYS THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
With hundreds of libraries becoming ‘community-managed’ - with central government encouragement - it is high time to find out the truth, good or bad.
SUFL wants to hear from anyone with a view about these volunteer-led libraries in the UK, whether they are a volunteer, a library worker or a library user.
- What works well and what doesn’t?
- What are the challenges and considerations?
- What is the impact on the library service and what do you see as the future?
The information will be used to inform SUFL’s advocacy. A summary of the evidence will be published. All information received will be anonymised unless specific permission has been given to identify the contributor and the names of library or library service.
Please email queries, comments and information to SpeakUp4Libraries@gmail.com
