Department for Culture Media and Sport
The Public Libraries & Museums Act 1964 (the 1964 Act) sets out the statutory duty for all local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service, set in the context of local need: that is, specifically of those who live, work and study in the local area.
The 1964 Act imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to oversee and promote the public library service and to secure discharge of the statutory duties of local authorities as well as providing certain powers to take action where a local authority is in breach of its own duty.
The closure of one or even a small number of library branches is not necessarily a breach of the 1964 Act. Sometimes a local authority will close a library to ensure a better, more efficient service across its whole area. We judge such cases on the basis of the authority’s overall provision.
We would be concerned if libraries were closed, or their services disproportionately reduced, just to save money.