----Original Message-----
From: Chris Moore <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 11:36 AM
Subject: [earl-contacts] Chris Smith on Libraries this morning
>Hello all.
>
>From the BBC news page this morning
>
Smith warns: Don't close libraries
>
> Chris Smith: Taking "immediate steps" against library
>closures
>
> Culture Secretary Chris Smith has told English local
> authorities it would "simply not be acceptable" to close
> libraries to save money.
>
>
> He revealed he had already written to
> six authorities telling them planned
> cuts could not go ahead and asked
> 15 others to review their thoughts.
>
> In a letter to library authorities, he
> said providing library services, which
> are used regularly by about 10 million people in
>England,
> was one of the duties undertaken by local authorities.
>
> "I take this duty very seriously and shall examine in
> detail the rationale behind any proposed service
> reductions and other significant changes, such as
> service restructuring.
>
> "I am therefore taking immediate steps to investigate
>the
> situation in a number of authorities."
>
> Mr Smith described public libraries as "street-corner
> universities" and insisted they were not a luxury that
> could be dispensed with.
>
> Areas thought to be threatening library closures include
> Barnsley, Surrey and the London boroughs of Lambeth,
> Brent, Haringey, Bexley and Camden.
>
> But some other authorities are believed to be planning
>to
> scale-back their library services to save cash.
>
> The culture secretary has written to all 149 English
> public library authorities, saying: "Recent press
> speculation has suggested that many local authorities
> are proposing cuts in their public library services.
>
> "At a time when the government has provided the best
> local authority financial settlement for seven years,
> unjustified cuts to library services are simply not
> acceptable."
>
> Ross Shimmon, chief executive of the Library
> Association, said: "This is a refreshing commitment by
> government to developing a high-quality public library
> service fit for the 21st century.
>
> "We have urged successive ministers to support public
> libraries in the face of damaging cuts to services. Now,
> for the first time, Annual Library Plans give the
> Government the tool to jack libraries higher up the
> political agenda.
>
> "This would be exactly the wrong time to cut public
> library services. The secretary of state's clear and
>robust
> stand gives us great confidence for the future."
>--
Available at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_282000/282377.stm
>
>Chris Moore
>EARL Information Officer
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>Tel: (0171) 702 2020
>Fax: (0171) 702 2019
>http://www.earl.org.uk/
>
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