Student occupation of Birmingham library


James Brackley

Students have twice occupied the Library of Birmingham to protest shortening opening hours and library closures across the city. Two well-attended, peaceful sits-ins refused to leave after the new closing time of 5pm, despite a strong presence of police and security.

These protests are being led by young people and library users themselves. Over 50 occupied the library on 20 April, and around 30 on 24 April.

In March, Birmingham City Council voted through over £100 million of further spending cuts as part of Labour’s plans to slash overall spending by more than £800 million. This is a huge reduction – over 60% of the council’s managed expenditure in real terms. It includes £3.1m ‘savings’ from library services.

No cuts

The Socialist Party links the fight against this cut to the need for a strategy to fight all cuts. Birmingham also plans to slash the ‘Protecting People’s Fund’ – a cut of £3.7 million.

This fund was designed to keep vulnerable people independent in their own homes. The council’s website lists frail elderly people, the mentally ill, people with physical and sensory disabilities, teenage mothers, women escaping domestic abuse, people with HIV/AIDs and others as beneficiaries. 1,600 people will now go without this support.

The fight for library services and protection of the most vulnerable must be part of a fight against the structures of inequality in our society.

The only way to guarantee we can maintain and improve all these services is to take control of the huge resources locked away by big business and the rich.