Fast 8’000 Stellen sind in den vergangenen sechs Jahren in Bibliotheken Gossbritanniens verschwunden. Das entspricht einem Viertel aller bibliothekarischen Angestellten (via theblogonthebookshelf.blogspot.ch bzw. BBC News):
«The BBC has compiled data from 207 authorities responsible for running libraries through the Freedom of Information Act. Our analysis shows:
- Some 343 libraries closed. Of those, 132 were mobile services, while 207 were based in buildings (and there were four others, such as home delivery services)
- The number of closures in England is higher than the government’s official estimate of 110 buildings shut
- A further 111 closures are planned this year
- The number of paid staff in libraries fell from 31,977 in 2010 to 24,044 now, a drop of 7,933 (25%) for the 182 library authorities that provided comparable data
- A further 174 libraries have been transferred to community groups, while 50 have been handed to external organisations to run. In some areas, such as Lincolnshire and Surrey, the move has led to legal challenges and protests from residents.»
Der Guardian schreibt zum selben Thema unter dem Titel «Libraries facing ‹greatest crisis› in their history«.
Update vom 31.3.2016: Grossbritannien: Lage der öffentlichen Bibliotheken auf bibliotheksportal.de