DfC must address under resourcing of libraries, says Mulholland, in recognition of Book Week 2024.

Marking the start of Book Week (21-27 October) Alliance Communities spokesperson Sian Mulholland has said libraries are vital community hubs, and expressed concern that they did not significantly feature in the Department for Communities’ Business Plan and Key Deliverables for 2024/25.

Communities Sian Mulholland Book Week

Jointly hosted by Libraries NI and BBC Northern Ireland, Book Week sets out to brings together communities, schools, and media to celebrate the importance of reading, for both young people and adults.

 

The North Antrim MLA has said: “Book Week is a chance for us to celebrate not just the benefits, but also the joys, of reading at all ages and stages of life. There can be no Book Week, however, without libraries.

 

“When the Department for Communities outlined its key objectives for delivery for the 2024/25 period, there appeared to be little to no specific mention of libraries in its plans, and this is incredibly concerning.

 

“Libraries are vital hubs in our local communities and, beyond just book borrowing, provide a wide range of services and events that are invaluable to so many people.

 

“They serve as spaces to tackle loneliness, particularly in rural and aging populations, offering a safe, warm place for social connection, especially in the context of rising living costs. They also provide crucial digital services to those who wouldn’t otherwise have access, and offer educational and recreational activities for children, giving essential support to families, especially in underserved communities.

 

“The Communities Minister has said he is committed to supporting our creative industries and arts sector, promoting language and cultural heritage, and fostering the growth of knowledge in our society. Libraries are a key part of achieving these aims, and actions speak louder than words.

 

“The minister has a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient public library service, and this Book Week, we’re calling for more effective funding, focus, and targeted action on seeing that done.”