Public Libraries
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in maintaining access to community library services.
Answered by Ian Murray
Local authorities are responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources, including how community libraries may form a part of that.
Where a community library is part of the Local Authority service statutory network it can benefit from wider government initiatives such as the improved Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26, and could also benefit from library specific funding such as the Libraries Improvement Fund.
In January 2026 the Secretary of State announced funding for Arts Everywhere which included a commitment of £27.5 million between 2025-2030 for the Libraries Improvement Fund which supports public libraries to upgrade their buildings and technology to meet changing needs to better serve their communities.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →