Much is being demanded of the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. We’re not expecting the planned national strategy for libraries to come top of his list all that soon.
But he does have one claim to library glory. As we all know, the 1964 Public Libraries & Museums Act gives the Secretary of State quite draconian powers to intervene if libraries are in danger.
Andy is the only SoS ever to exercise these powers, in 52 years! He held that post in 2009, when the Wirral was planning mass closures. There was a full, days-long public inquiry with QCs and a host of witnesses.
Inquiry chair Sue Charteris was thought to do an excellent job. Her report was similarly acclaimed. The Wirral cuts would indeed breach the law, she said. But she said much more about how to develop a proper library strategy, or make changes. It’s actually enshrined as advice on the DCMS website.
Unfortunately the libraries minister (one Margaret Hodge) missed the chance to formalise this massive piece of work to update the 1964 Act for the 21st century. The Wirral caved in, and the minister didn’t think to take things further.
