I'm alarmed to see that the new libraries minister, Barbara Follet, and those at DCMS who write her answers to questions, don't know how many new public libraries were opened in the past ten years. The answer she gave, comparing how many libraries were open over ten hours a week, is the answer to a completely different question. It's surprising too because buildings like Brighton's Jubilee library have been made so much of. Surely they could have counted up the press releases?
Once upon a time surveys such as K C Harrison's Public Library Buildings would have answered the question. I once had the honour to work at a library, Grahame Park in the London Boroguh of Barnet, when we were visited by the great man, checking us for an entry.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries have opened in the last 10 years. [233946]
Barbara Follett: Information on the number of public library openings is not held centrally. But the data on the number of libraries open more than 10 hours is collected as part of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), Public Library Statistics. Therefore, the only way to obtain an accurate figure for the balance between library openings and closures is to consider the CIPFA statistics over this period, copies of which are available in the House Library.
In 1996-97, 3,572 libraries were open more than 10 hours. In 2006-07, 3,494 libraries were open more than 10 hours, a net difference of 78.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081118/text/81118w0002.htm
