Key Points
- Library workers’ determined resistance has pushed back the Hackney Labour council’s proposed cuts to library services, marking another victory for the local community and workforce.
- The latest round of proposed attacks was announced in Autumn 2025, with Hackney council launching a public consultation to reduce opening hours in six libraries (though council documents reference all eight libraries) as part of severe budget cuts aimed at saving over £773,000.
- Proposals also included cuts to the workforce, security guards, and the book stock budget.
- Since 2016, more than 180 council-run libraries nationwide have either closed or been handed to volunteer groups, with remaining libraries having reduced hours.
- Libraries are vital services for residents, the most vulnerable, and students, serving as the lifeblood of communities that need defending.
- The U-turn results from backlash by the local community, staff, and trade unions, enabled by a ‘higher-than-expected funding allocation for the borough’ via the government’s Fair Funding Review, providing a 25 per cent increase in core funding over three years.
- Local government elections are less than three months away, heightening council concerns.
- Labour Mayor Caroline Woodley stated: “We are proud to have kept all of Hackney’s libraries open during years of austerity, and we are committed to keeping them at the heart of our communities. This settlement allows us to do just that for the years ahead.”
- Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture, has made statements emphasising community listening.
- As reported by Hackney Socialist Party members, Brian Debus, recently retired library worker and long-standing Unison activist, said: “Three months ago Cllr Kennedy was only too happy to post a video, shot in Hackney libraries, promoting reducing the opening hours. This was nothing but blatant propaganda. Why did he not shoot a video challenging the government to provide more funding to maintain and develop the service? His recent statement is somewhat hypocritical in the circumstances!”
- Hackney Unison welcomes the announcement but stresses the council should commit to keeping the service open, staffed, and safe across the borough.
- Socialist Party members in Hackney will continue supporting Hackney Unison and library workers, preparing to stand in upcoming local elections in Hackney Central and Hoxton East & Shoreditch wards.
- In October 2025, the council proposed reviewing hours at all eight libraries to avoid closures amid budget pressures.
- On 6 February 2026, Mayor Caroline Woodley announced she would ask the Cabinet to scrap the proposals due to improved finances.
- Mayor Woodley stated: “I have always said that if our financial situation changed, I would act. Thanks to a fairer funding agreement from central government we now have the breathing space to reconsider. That is why I am asking the Cabinet to halt the review into reducing library hours.”
- She added: “I know how much our libraries mean to our residents. They are safe havens, study spaces for young people, and vital hubs for digital access and community support.”
- Hackney Unison’s libraries lead Michael Burns, speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) as reported by Amy Foad of Hackney Citizen, welcomed the decision: “We had not been made aware that the pending outcome of a Fair Funding Review was a potential mitigation against the cuts […] which would have wielded yet more devastation on the fabric of our communities. Our hope now is that Hackney Council commits to keeping our lifeline service open, staffed and safe across the borough.”
- In February 2025, the council decided to cut the library operational budget by 15 per cent (£750,000 annually) from 2026.
- Cllr Chris Kennedy said: “In a small borough, we are proud to still have eight council-managed libraries and a mobile community library service, giving every Hackney resident an excellent library close to where they live at a time when services like these have been cut up and down the country. But with the council being forced to find large savings year-on-year and every service we offer under financial pressure, we are honest about the steps we need to take to keep these eight libraries operating.”
- Brian Debus of Hackney Unison previously called for the council to demand more central government funding to avoid “continual salami slicing of services,” stating: “We believe Hackney Libraries provide a vital front-line service in our communities that should be cherished and protected, not consistently chipped away at.”
- Historical context includes 2023 strikes by Unison and Unite library workers against job cuts and reorganisation, with 19 jobs lost despite resistance.
- Hackney Central Library reopened after refurbishment on 2 February 2026; Stoke Newington Library refurbishment (£4.4 million) ongoing, closed since March 2024.
- Council rejected alternatives like self-service, volunteer-led libraries, or closures due to safety and service concerns.
Hackney (East London Times) February 19, 2026 – Library workers in Hackney have secured a significant victory against proposed cuts to library services, as the Labour-led council reverses plans to slash opening hours following intense community and union opposition bolstered by improved government funding.
What Triggered the Proposed Library Cuts?
The proposals emerged in Autumn 2025 amid severe budget pressures, with Hackney Council launching a public consultation on reducing opening hours across its eight libraries to save over £773,000 and avert closures. As detailed in the council’s consultation document, the review targeted operating costs while committing to keep all libraries open under council management, rejecting options like full closures or volunteer-led models due to safety risks and loss of professional support. In February 2025, the Cabinet approved a 15 per cent operational budget cut (£750,000 yearly from 2026), including reduced hours, stock, security, and community services, prompting Unison accusations of “salami-slicing.”
Cllr Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture, explained the necessity:
“But with the council being forced to find large savings year-on-year and every service we offer under financial pressure, we are honest about the steps we need to take to keep these eight libraries operating.”
The consultation invited feedback from residents, students, workers, and organisations via questionnaires and drop-ins, with a final decision initially slated for June 2026.
How Did Workers and Community Respond?
Library workers, backed by Hackney Unison, mounted fierce resistance, urging rejection of all options and demanding the council lobby central government for more funds. As reported by Hackney Socialist Party members, workers have fought multiple battles against prior cut rounds, highlighting libraries’ role for vulnerable residents and students. Brian Debus, recently retired library worker and long-standing Unison activist, criticised earlier promotions of cuts, calling Cllr Kennedy’s video “blatant propaganda” and his recent statements “hypocritical.”
This echoes 2023 strikes by Unison and Unite members against a reorganisation slashing 19 frontline jobs, Sunday working, and breaks, with pickets closing libraries despite managers’ efforts. Hackney Unison branch chair Brian Debus then pointed to high managerial salaries while pleading poverty. Nationwide, over 180 libraries have closed or volunteered since 2016, fuelling local fears.
Why Did the Council Perform a U-Turn?
On 6 February 2026, days after consultation closed, Mayor Caroline Woodley announced the reversal, citing the Fair Funding Review’s 25 per cent core funding boost over three years. She stated:
“I have always said that if our financial situation changed, I would act. Thanks to a fairer funding agreement from central government we now have the breathing space to reconsider.”
The proposal goes to Cabinet next, expected to maintain all hours.
Mayor Woodley affirmed:
“We are proud to have kept all of Hackney’s libraries open during years of austerity, and we are committed to keeping them at the heart of our communities.”
She added:
“I know how much our libraries mean to our residents. They are safe havens, study spaces for young people, and vital hubs for digital access and community support.”
The timing, with elections looming, underscores political pressures amid backlash.
What Are Union and Activist Reactions?
Hackney Unison welcomed the move but demands commitment to staffed, safe services. Michael Burns, Unison libraries lead, told Amy Foad of the Hackney Citizen:
“We had not been made aware that the pending outcome of a Fair Funding Review was a potential mitigation against the cuts […] which would have wielded yet more devastation on the fabric of our communities. Our hope now is that Hackney Council commits to keeping our lifeline service open, staffed and safe across the borough.”
Hackney Socialist Party members vow continued support for Unison and workers, planning election candidacies in Hackney Central and Hoxton East & Shoreditch wards. Brian Debus had earlier decried “continual salami slicing,” insisting libraries be “cherished and protected.”
What Is the Current Status of Hackney Libraries?
All eight council-run libraries plus a mobile service remain open, with hours preserved pending Cabinet approval. Hackney Central Library reopened post-refurbishment on 2 February 2026; £4.4 million Stoke Newington revamp, closed March 2024, continues beyond Spring 2026. In 2024, libraries saw 750,000 visitors, vital for digital access and study.
The council upholds its 1964 Libraries Act duty for comprehensive service. Post-2023 redundancies, some rehired casually, drawing Unison ire. Libraries Strategy 2022-2026 emphasises resident feedback from 8,500 consultations for improved access.
What Lies Ahead for Library Services?
The Cabinet will decide soon, with funding earmarked for libraries alongside parks and youth clubs. Unions push permanence against future austerity. With elections nearing, scrutiny intensifies on protecting these community lifelines. Ongoing refurbishments signal investment, but activists like Socialist Party members remain vigilant.
