That this House notes that, notwithstanding the financial problems faced by the country, no libraries are being closed in Birmingham; further notes that the Yardley Constituency Committee of Birmingham City Council has committed local funds to ensure that the opening hours of local libraries are not reduced; further notes that the Labour councillors on that Committee last Thursday attempted to get the proposal of using local funds withdrawn so that the opening hours of the local libraries would be cut; further notes that when the attempt failed they accepted the use of local funds (Community Chest) to keep libraries open; further notes that Labour has acted to implement cuts whilst publicly opposing cuts; further notes that this weekend Labour councillor Stewart Stacey was delivering a leaflet complaining that opening hours for the libraries would be cut, when he was at the meeting that decided that they would not be cut; believes that the only logical explanation for this behaviour was that Labour councillors voted to increase the cuts to avoid having to pulp a leaflet they had already printed criticising the cuts; and further believes the Labour Party should withdraw this leaflet and state whether or not they support the library cuts proposed by Councillor Stewart Stacey at the Yardley Constituency Committee and for the national Labour leadership to disown this strategy of proposing cuts whilst campaigning against them.

That this House notes that, notwithstanding the financial problems faced by the country, no libraries are being closed in Birmingham; further notes that the Yardley Constituency Committee of Birmingham City Council has committed local funds to ensure that the opening hours of local libraries are not reduced; further notes that...

That this House recognises that public libraries are important community spaces and a vital public resource; acknowledges that many are under threat due to wide-scale budget cuts; is concerned about the impact of closures on social inclusion, social mobility and society more generally; welcomes the formation of Speak Up for Libraries, a coalition of national organisations and library campaigners that is leading a delegation of supporters from around the country to Parliament on 13 March 2012 in order to highlight the vital role that library services, run by professionally trained and qualified staff, play in the community and for individuals; and therefore calls on the Government to undertake a thorough assessment of the state of the public library service and develop a national vision for the service.

That this House recognises that public libraries are important community spaces and a vital public resource; acknowledges that many are under threat due to wide-scale budget cuts; is concerned about the impact of closures on social inclusion, social mobility and society more generally; welcomes the formation of Speak Up for...

That this House welcomes this year's National Libraries Day which will take place on 4 February 2012; notes that the day celebrates all types of libraries, library users, staff and supporters across the UK; recognises the positive impact that libraries have on communities throughout the UK through the provision of book groups and storytelling events; urges people to get involved in National Libraries Day by visiting their local library, organising an event or contributing to online forums by tweeting #NLD12hashtag; applauds the work of librarians and library staff in centres across the UK; and further welcomes new libraries such as Edinburgh's Drumbrae Library and Hub which has opened just in time for this year's celebration.

That this House welcomes this year's National Libraries Day which will take place on 4 February 2012; notes that the day celebrates all types of libraries, library users, staff and supporters across the UK; recognises the positive impact that libraries have on communities throughout the UK through the provision of...

That this House welcomes the construction of the Drum Brae Library and Community Hub which will open to the public at the end of January 2012; notes that the centre will include a day care centre for older people as well as adult learning facilities, community information, internet access points and health information; further notes that the project was completed on time and on budget by Edinburgh City Council; believes that the new Library and Community Hub will become a focal point for the local communities of Drum Brae, Clermiston, Clerwood, East Craigs and Parkgrove; supports the co-location of community services at the Hub with housing officers, police community safety teams and others from the West Neighbourhood Team on the site; and furtherbelieves that such co-location will give greater connection between residents and those services which are most important to them.

That this House welcomes the construction of the Drum Brae Library and Community Hub which will open to the public at the end of January 2012; notes that the centre will include a day care centre for older people as well as adult learning facilities, community information, internet access points...

That this House notes with concern the recent announcement of the intended closure of the Yorkshire Libraries and Information (YLI) Music and Drama Service currently operating from Wakefield Library's headquarters; believes that closure will mean dispersal and/or privatisation of a hugely rich and valuable resource housing over 500,000 musical items, in addition to information and drama scripts; further notes that the YLI Music and Drama Library is the only archive of its kind in the region and that its closure will have a serious effect on no fewerthan 80 amateur orchestras and drama groups throughout the Midlands and many more across the UKas a whole; and calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to take all necessary steps to ensurethe continuance of the YLI Music and Drama Service thus preserving the musical heritage of the UK.

That this House notes with concern the recent announcement of the intended closure of the Yorkshire Libraries and Information (YLI) Music and Drama Service currently operating from Wakefield Library's headquarters; believes that closure will mean dispersal and/or privatisation of a hugely rich and valuable resource housing over 500,000 musical items,...