National Library Week

EDM number 2564 in 1992-93, proposed by Mark Fisher on 02/11/1993.

That this House welcomes National Library Week from 1st to 7th November; deplores the fact that, between 1989 and 1992, a net 62 public libraries were closed, that the number of professionally trained staff fell by nine per cent. between 1982 and 1992 and that only 18 public libraries in England, Scotland and Wales are open for more than 60 hours a week compared to 229 in 1975; and calls on the Government to reaffirm its commitment to a public library service without loan charges for books, by relaxing its restraints on local government finance which are forcing three out of four local library authorities to plan reductions in library expenditure in 1994-95.

This motion has been signed by a total of 62 MPs.