Get involved
Below are some of the ways you can contribute to the campaign and show your love for Birmingham's libraries.
Write to your councillors
Please write to your councillors, Council Leader John Cotton & Cabinet Member responsible for libraries Saima Suleman, and your MP to say that you oppose the cabinet decision to cut our library service budget by 40%. Please also write to them with any concerns about your local library.
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We have a letter template available here.
You can write to your councillors and MP using this handy website (opens in new window). Simply input your postcode and the site will walk you through the rest. Messages must be in your own words, but for inspiration, please see our blog or the briefs on our resources page about the council's plans to diminish and reduce our library service.
The Decision
The cabinet also decided to amalgamate the Community Libraries Service with the Neighbourhood Advice & Information Service to form a new service Connected Communities with a single budget and staffing structure. ​It remains unclear how and when this decision and amalgamation will be implemented. It also remains unclear which libraries will be open when.
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The relevant cabinet paper can be found here.
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You can find more info, briefings about the importance of our library service, and guides we produced for the council's consultation on our resources page.
Anti-cuts action!
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We stand in solidarity with all those affected by the cuts being carried out by Birmingham City Council following the Section 114 notice. We urge everyone to read the latest report by the Audit Reform Lab at the University of Sheffield that outlines why a new deal is needed for Birmingham.
The Petition
Every signature counts! During the consultation, over 9,000 people signed the online petition to save Birmingham's public libraries - click here to check it out (opens in new window). Numerous other petitions were organised for libraries across the city. Get in touch if you have or want to set up a new petition to champion and protect our libraries!
Join Us!
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Click here for a list of Birmingham library campaign groups. If there is not a campaign for your library and you'd like to start one, contact us here.
You can also join our mailing list using the box below.