More than 160 writers, illustrators and publishing professionals have signed an open letter criticising cuts to Lambeth’s library service.
It was compiled by award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola (Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, Illustrator of the Year, British Book Awards 2022), who has also designed a poster for campaigners. He grew up in Brixton, Lambeth.
Signatories range from well-known local figures to national names such as Adam Mars-Jones, Stella Duffy and Francesca Simon.
Lambeth council’s annual libraries budget was suddenly cut in February by £1m out of a total £4.5m. The budget had remained the same in cash terms since 1984 – its purchasing power declining by two-thirds over this period because of inflation.
There is no allocation at all for new books in the 2025-26 budget. As the book fund was frozen last November, this means there has been no book fund for nine months.
The letter says that cuts made in 2015 were “disastrous, and the service has been “firefighting” ever since with staff under heavy pressure.
“Many, if not all, of us have taken part in the library service’s festivals and regular events,” says the letter. “We love that the events are free for all to attend and organised by trained librarians who care about reader development, literacy and getting books into the hands of the public.
“We get to chat to our readers in the environments where they may have first read our work – and certainly where we first found the inspiration that led to our careers.”
The authors say Lambeth librarians have always been excellent at choosing books and having the newest titles for a diverse readership.
“This year has been a disaster, with a hugely reduced stock budget – authors have turned up to events (we give up our time for free) to be incredibly disappointed that the library has not stocked our book because it has no money … We need to invest in readers’ futures.”
The letter has been delivered by Dapo and library staff to council leader Claire Holland at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton.
“The UK is currently experiencing record levels of illiteracy amongst its children,” said Dapo. “Now is not the time to be cutting funding from libraries.
“Reading levels are at an all-time low, with children from disadvantaged homes being affected the most.
“The implication for the social and cognitive development of future generations is a massive cause for concern. Poor literacy has long-term economic consequences, including reduced lifetimes and increased spending on social and welfare services.
“‘The UK is in the midst of a literacy crisis. Now is not the time to be cutting funding from libraries.”
See the full text of the letter and signatory list at
dub.sh/LBL-libraries-0825
