Petition to Stop Closure of Imperial War Museum Library

Prospect union has launched a petition in response to the proposed closure of England's Imperial War Museum library. The Museum and its library were founded in 1917 and, according to its website, have a mandate "to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and 'wartime experience'". According to a Prospect spokesperson:

Closing IWM's library is not a fitting way to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. IWM aspires to be a highly respected authority on its subject matter, but this will be impossible without a library.

Closure of the library would result in the loss of up to 80 jobs in addition to the loss of this collection. Sign the petition here. 

Walk-Out at National Library of Wales

Workers at the National Library of Wales have walked off the job for the third time in two months in response to an ongoing wage dispute. According to a union representative, employees at the lowest pay grades make less than living wage, and all employees have been without a wage increase since 2009. This week's protest involved a two and a half hour work stoppage midday as well as a rally.

Strike at National Library of Wales

On Wednesday, staff at the National Library of Wales went on strike over a wage dispute.

More library cuts in the UK

The trade union Prospect has denounced plans by the Department of Education and Children to cut library funding on the Isle of Man.  The union rightly points out that the cuts will greatly affect library workers and the under-served populations that use library services the most, such as the elderly, the unemployed, women, and children.