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Urgent appeal: Libraries in MV on the brink of extinction – save the cultural institutions!
The chairman of the MV library association, Silvio Witt, warns against library closures and emphasizes their importance for rural communities.
Urgent appeal: Libraries in MV on the brink of extinction – save the cultural institutions!
There is worrying news from the world of libraries in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. At the recent annual meeting of the library association, Silvio Witt confirmed his re-election as chairman. Witt, who has been advocating for the region's libraries for nine years, expressed serious concerns about the threat of library closures, particularly in smaller communities. “Libraries are often the last bastions of cultural identity in rural areas,” says Witt. He emphasizes the indispensability of these institutions for a vibrant society as places of education, culture and encounters, as stern.de reports.
The annual meeting, which was attended by representatives from over 100 libraries, also focused on the topics of securing skilled workers and professional qualifications. These aspects are crucial to keeping the pearls among libraries alive and addressing concerns about site closures. “We are vehemently committed to preserving all library locations,” explained Witt emphatically.
Threat of austerity measures
However, the challenges are great. Public libraries are part of the voluntary functions of municipalities, and the current financial situation in many cities means that 29 percent of public libraries are affected by austerity measures. Over 17 percent of libraries are under budget freezes or similar restrictions, so budget cuts are also concerning, with an increase of 10 percent in 18 percent of cases. This was recently highlighted in a report on biblioarchive.blog.
In such an environment, the role of libraries becomes increasingly important, as they often act as the last cultural institutions in rural communities. Awareness of how valuable these places are must be further strengthened in society.
The way forward
Witt and the library association are doing everything they can to put the country's libraries more in the spotlight. “We want people to understand how important libraries are for education and cultural participation,” he emphasizes. It is now up to politicians to support these valuable institutions accordingly and to provide the necessary financial resources.
Witt's re-election and the key issues decided upon represent a positive step towards a stronger future for libraries in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. However, it remains to be seen whether the urgent warnings will be heard and how the cities can respond to the financial challenges.