Former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen has strongly condemned the closure of libraries across the UK, describing it as a "decimation." Rosen, who grew up in Harrow,

northwest London, credits his access to libraries as a significant influence on his writing career.

"Every time I hear of a library being closed, I find it absolutely horrifying," Rosen said.

An investigation by the BBC's Shared Data Unit revealed that since 2016, 99 council-run libraries in London have reduced their opening hours, and more than 400 library staff positions have been cut. Across the UK, hundreds of libraries have either been closed or handed over to volunteers, with a further 900 reducing their hours in the past seven years.

The investigation also highlighted a concerning trend: the poorest areas of the country are about four times more likely to lose a local library compared to the wealthiest regions. In London, the number of council-run libraries decreased slightly from 325 in 2016 to 322 in 2023.

One library that has directly felt the impact of council funding cuts is North Harrow Community Library. Until 2015, it was part of the Harrow Library Services, managed by Harrow Council. However, budget cuts led to the closure of four libraries in the borough.

When the closure of North Harrow Library seemed imminent, local community volunteers stepped in to transform the unused space into the community library it is today. The library is now operated entirely by 85 volunteers, a testament to the community's commitment to preserving this vital resource despite the financial challenges. Photo by Edwardx, Wikimedia commons.