Guest Post: On the State of Community Libraries in the UK
Much has been made of the fact that if public libraries were proposed today, they’d be decried as communist and dismissed out of hand. I say this upfront to emphasize my gratitude that libraries exist at all; if we tried to invent them in 2022, who knows what would happen?
I also think it’s fascinating that libraries in the United States — a country notorious for its insufficient public services — are not only functional, but some of the most beautiful spaces one can find. Admittedly, I grew up spoiled for libraries in California, a state teeming with public funds; I spent most of my childhood in the Pleasanton Public Library, a massive building with vaulted ceilings, churchlike in appearance and reverential atmosphere alike.
The Pleasanton Public Library.
When my family relocated to Palo Alto, I gained access to the modern yet elegant Rinconada Library and the spacious, extensively remodeled Mitchell Park Library, both to become beloved SAT study spots. When occasionally I’d venture elsewhere, the Portola Valley Library — nestled in the hills just twenty minutes south — was a rare treat, warm wood and floor-to-ceiling windows creating a sun-drenched paradise in late spring and early summer.
The Rinconada Library in Palo Alto.
The Portola Valley Library.
All this rhapsodizing to say: I love and appreciate libraries, I’m so glad we have them, and I realize my library standards are higher than most due to my privileged circumstances. With these qualifiers in place, I can arrive at my main point, which is: having lived in the UK for the past three and a half years, I’ve been somewhat disappointed by the state of its libraries.
The public libraries I’ve visited in London and the surrounding areas have been almost uniformly small and cramped. Many are located inside community centers, which may be meant to improve access, but often has the effect of making them harder to find — even the most intrepid Google Maps user will struggle when the building entrance does not advertise the library within. Arriving at last, one typically finds the shelves understocked and resources minimal, with just one or two staff members (usually volunteers) and a paltry handful of other patrons.
These factors create a vicious cycle: when the library is tiny and virtually unfindable, fewer people visit. With hardly any visitors, it’s tough to justify spending more money on books, resources, and staff. Funding is cut further and these spaces become even less appealing to the general public. Not to mention that this cycle has arguably been exacerbated by the pandemic — with much less in-person traffic contributing to activities, atmosphere, and so on.
Things could be worse, of course. With the deluge of library funding cuts in the UK over the past few years, it’s a miracle libraries have survived at all! But having spent two decades of my life in America’s vast, gorgeous public libraries, I feel confident asserting that the UK can do better.
In terms of small, practical improvements, it would be amazing to see local communities stepping up. Volunteers and frequent library patrons are already doing their part. For the rest of us, simply paying a monthly visit to your local library could make a huge difference, as could occasionally donating books to libraries as well as Oxfam! (Both, incidentally, tend to sell these books — libraries in their used book sales, Oxfam to raise money for charity — but while Oxfam is already pretty high-profile in terms of book donations, the same can’t be said for UK libraries.)
The Oxfam Bookshop, London.
The Greenwich Centre Library, London.
I’d also love to see local political parties mounting campaigns to improve their community libraries: raising funds for renovations (particularly better lighting, flooring, and repairs for things like water damage), nicer furniture and equipment, and naturally, more books and other information resources. Those seeking council seats could get more votes by advocating for libraries — and once in office, a pro-library stance is a good bipartisan unifier.
It would be fantastic for libraries to become a much bigger talking point in local politics overall, and I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think they might. I know the Green Party, for example, speaks quite a bit in their debates and board meetings about improving community spaces and access. (Better libraries are a home run in this regard, serving as vibrant local hubs and even improving real estate value in some areas.) And increased political dialogue surrounding these issues could raise not only funding but visibility in general, which is exactly what’s needed.
Then, of course, there are the big-league measures: allocating more funds for libraries from the UK’s Revenue Support Grant, and guaranteeing a certain amount of money set aside for libraries each year. Alternatively, funding could be taken from other sources, though I’m sure this would require major policy changes. (For more on UK library usage and funding over the past 20 years, I’d heartily recommend this article.)
Indeed, daring to dream beyond the realm of local politics, what if the major governing bodies of the UK cared about libraries? The Labour Party has done some posturing to this effect before — and though there’s much I still don’t understand about English Parliament, it seems possible that Labour could hold the majority again in the next decade. What if they were to make good on their manifesto? Could they turn back the clock on public libraries (which had over £1b in funding in 2009)... or better yet, usher in a new, glorious Era of Libraries?
On a related note: I do like to think that my thesis here is not just an aesthetic objection, but an ideological one. Perhaps I could be accused of stereotypically American, “bigger is better” bravado — but the bottom line is that I have seen what can be done, even in a country so stingy with its public funding. I’ve also followed the travels of the Library Land Project, observing the fantastic steps that small, even rural libraries have taken to serve and support their communities.
Finally, I’ve seen one or two libraries in the UK that buoy me with hope. Peckham Library in South London, for example, is both impressively spacious and brilliantly designed (it even won the Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2000!). The lofted upper levels and color-tinted windows are especially innovative touches — and though I’ve only briefly perused this space, it was happily bustling and seemingly well-stocked, and I look forward to visiting again in 2022.
The beautiful Peckham Library, designed by William Alsop and Jan Störmer.
Another view of the Peckham Library.
Peckham Library aside — or more optimistically, as a blueprint — I know that more is possible in the UK. Is it not already the land of much-lauded public services, from the NHS to the National Rail? To make libraries (and indeed, all community spaces!) a similar priority would be a huge booster to national pride and morale. And while I know anyone of serious political influence is unlikely to read this post, it’s the least I can do to put it out there into the world — with the meaningful backing of the amazing effort that is the Library Land Project.
Savannah Cordova is a writer with Reedsy, a marketplace that connects authors and publishers with the world's best editors, designers, and marketers. In her spare time, Savannah enjoys reading contemporary fiction, listening to audiobooks, and writing short stories.