Earlier this week the BBC ran a series of stories on the state of the nation’s libraries. Based on a the results of a series of FOI requests, the BBC found that over 340 libraries have closed since 2010, resulting in almost 8,000 job losses.

My own local authority, Sefton, has closed half of its libraries over the same period. My nearest branch, a fine old Carnegie Library, closed its doors a couple of years ago, despite election promises by local Labour councillors to keep it open!

I can’t help but think that libraries are the victims of gesture politics. After all, library closures are big news. Too often local authorities, particularly Labour led Councils, seem to be closing libraries in order to draw attention to cuts in funding from Westminster.

Libraries are too important to be allowed to die. They play a hugely important role in the educational…