Library closures

WHY did Newport City Council close Maindee and Carnegie libraries last year the same year that saw the opening of a £90 million shopping centre? The Transformation project report that led to this devastating decision stated clearly that it would do nothing to improve literacy, social mobility and inequality in an already deprived area. Now with two libraries gone from Newport East, it seems that the much reduced and dilapidated Central library is expected to serve this community instead. The council borrowed £90 million to build the new Friars Walk shopping centre and yet they will only save £1/4 million on the closures of these libraries. Not everyone can afford to shop, not everyone wants to shop. But most people will need libraries at some point in their lives. Councillor Mark Whitcutt, who is also Newport City Council’s cabinet member for Leisure and Sport (including libraries) described them as extremely important. But his words ring hollow when the decision was made to cut two valuable and popular libraries. That the local community succeeded in finding 50 volunteers to run it, shows how valued Maindee Library is. But it is by no means saved: the library service it now provides is basic with reduced hours and no apparent support from the council. Its far from ideal and the council should never have closed it. A 2014 annual assessment report for Welsh Library Standards revealed that Newport spending on libraries is low compared with other Welsh authorities. Millions visit libraries every year and in my experience, thriving cities have thriving modern 21st century libraries. And this is why Newport needs to start investing in them much more.