That this House notes the contribution made by more than 20,000 UNISON members working in libraries and resource centres in schools, colleges, universities and local authority settings; acknowledges that libraries are at the heart of learning; welcomes the publication of UNISON's manifesto for education libraries designed to keep libraries at the heart of learning; supports its key objectives to promote and enhance the role of library staff in teaching and learning and to campaign for well resourced libraries with modern facilities; encourages the education sector to prioritise professionally-run libraries; and calls on the Government to acknowledge the value of school libraries by putting them on a statutory footing.

That this House notes the contribution made by more than 20,000 UNISON members working in libraries and resource centres in schools, colleges, universities and local authority settings; acknowledges that libraries are at the heart of learning; welcomes the publication of UNISON's manifesto for education libraries designed to keep libraries at...

That this House condemns the proposal put forward by the Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition on Wirral Borough Council to close 13 libraries across the borough, as well as the Wirral Transport Museum and the Pacific Road Arts Centre; notes that two of the libraries earmarked for closure serve two of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK; further notes that Birkenhead Central Library, a purpose-built library dating back to the Thirties was recently renovated at considerable cost and that 70 library posts are under threat; agrees with Alan Gibbons from the Campaign for the Book that this is cost-driven vandalism, with the leader of the Conservative Group on Wirral Borough Council, Jeff Green, that the proposals are disgraceful, and with the readers of Wirral News, 92 per cent. of whom have voted online to say that the Council's actions do not represent their views; and urges Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors to think again about their proposals.

That this House condemns the proposal put forward by the Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition on Wirral Borough Council to close 13 libraries across the borough, as well as the Wirral Transport Museum and the Pacific Road Arts Centre; notes that two of the libraries earmarked for closure serve two of the...

That this House notes that UK libraries have made an essential contribution to the social, cultural and economic well-being of communities for the past 150 years and that more people in the UK visit libraries than football matches or cinemas; acknowledges that despite increased investment in the library service over the past decade, more needs to be done to keep libraries strong and central to their communities; therefore welcomes the launch of UNISON's report Taking Stock: The Future of our UK Library Service; supports the report's five point plan for a revitalised public library service maintained and improved by adequate resourcing and public funding, including empowered staff-shaping services in partnership with their local community, partnership working between libraries and councils across the UK, responsiveness to library users from all backgrounds and the provision of staff training and professional development; is confident that this fresh thinking will ensure that the library service can build on its past successes; and calls upon the Government to incorporate this plan as part of its current review of the library service.

That this House notes that UK libraries have made an essential contribution to the social, cultural and economic well-being of communities for the past 150 years and that more people in the UK visit libraries than football matches or cinemas; acknowledges that despite increased investment in the library service over...