Almost half of library staff axed during austerity- a new report from UNISON finds.

New UNISON research – based on Freedom of Information requests sent to all 152 councils responsible for libraries in England – reveals the scale of decline since the imposition of local government austerity in 2010. The findings expose a sustained erosion of opening hours, staffing levels and safe access to libraries, even in areas where buildings have remained open.

The report also reveals that library staff across England have been cut by almost half since 2010, leaving services stretched and communities without vital support after years of austerity, says UNISON today (Friday). Analysis based on data provided by England’s councils, shows staffing levels fell by 47% between 2010 and 2025.

Libraries directly employed 17,902 staff in 2010/11. That figure fell to 9,497 by 2024/25, amounting to a loss of 8,406 full-time roles. The councils with the highest proportion of staff cuts over the period include Sunderland (89%), Walsall (83%) and Sutton (79%). All three councils experienced deep real-terms funding cuts after 2010.

Public access to libraries also declined sharply. Opening hours fell from more than 3.5m in 2010/11 to just under 2.8m in 2024/25, a drop of 22%. This was despite councils dramatically expanding the use of unstaffed opening hours, which increased from 13,029 to 212,792.

The findings are published in UNISON’s Closing Chapters report and come as 2026 marks the UK’s Year of Reading, intended to encourage more people to discover the benefits of books and literacy. In England alone, the Arts Council estimates 276 libraries were shut and not replaced between 2010 and 2024.

But library cuts extend well beyond building closures. Many councils now operate services with minimal staff and professional support, restricting the help available to residents, UNISON says.

Unstaffed hours allow residents to borrow books using self-service technology. But they create barriers for children, older people and vulnerable residents. They also increase safety risks for the public, the union says.

Almost every council has reduced its library workforce, while cuts have increased workloads, stress and reports of anti-social behaviour directed at staff. For many library employees, pay has also fallen in real terms since 2010/11.

The union is calling on the Westminster government to provide sustained investment in councils so local leaders can rebuild services, restore staffing levels and reduce reliance on unstaffed sites.

UNISON head of local government Mike Short said:

It’s disappointing to see library staff are stretched to breaking point during the UK’s National Year of Reading.

Jobs have been slashed and vital services lost due to more than a decade of local government austerity.

Communities are missing out on the vital support libraries provide, while staff manage rising demand with fewer resources.

The biggest impact has fallen on vulnerable residents, including children from low-income families who rely on libraries as safe places to learn and study.

Libraries remain one of the few free public services open to everyone. With proper investment they can thrive again as community hubs supporting reading, learning and wellbeing.

Central government must provide councils with the funding required to make that happen.