Public libraries in 'crisis' as councils cut services - BBC News

More deprived communities were four times more likely to have lost a publicly-funded library in that time, while 2,000 jobs have also been lost.

The figures "laid bare the scale of the crisis facing public libraries", a body that supports the insitutions across the UK said.

A government spokesperson said it recognised "pressures" on library services and it was "committed to giving stability back to local councils".

Freedom of Information requests sent to every library authority in the UK and Arts Council England data show the country has lost one in 20 libraries since 2016, either by closing them completely or moving them over to volunteer-run groups.