Protest to save Derry's central library this Saturday

Derry Central Library is one of 14 libraries across Northern Ireland threatened with a reduction in opening hours of five hours per week.

A spokesperson for the group leading the protest said: “Our libraries are being subjected to death by a thousand cuts.

“If we don’t resist this reduction to opening hours, more attacks will come down the line. These vital community services are being systematicaly run down.

“Libraries NI are running a so-called consultation on the cuts until 17th July, asking how we want them to be implemented. We encourage everyone to respond by clearly stating that we are opposed to any cuts whatsoever.

“This attack is a direct result of Stormont budget cuts. They tell us there is no money to fund our libraries, yet the Assembly Executive plans to give big business a huge tax cut at a costs of hundreds of millions per year from public services.”

On Saturday at 2pm activists, trade unionists and local campaigners will be gathering outside the Derry Central Library to protest against these cuts and demand that Libraries NI, Minister Paul Givan and the Assembly Executive make the necessary funds available to maintain our library services.