Libraries seen as easy touch when it comes to balancing the books; Guardian, 1/7/11

Alexandra Topping and Benedicte Page, Guardian; Libraries seen as easy touch when it comes to balancing the books:

"Libraries were already under siege before the recession struck. Although the number has stayed largely stable over the past decade at the 4,500 mark, there has been a relentless decline in library use. Some argue fewer people visit libraries because the core service – book lending – has been badly run.

Many campaigners warn that councils are choosing to keep larger urban libraries but scrap local branches relied on by those unable to travel easily – the elderly, the poor, parents with young children. More than 300m book loans were made from public libraries last year, according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, yet there are libraries under threat in every part of the country."