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The campaign to reopen Breck Road Library continued on Saturday 22 January, as former library staff, community workers, councillors, and local residents gathered outside Liverpool Central Library to protest the ongoing closure.

The demonstration was led by former employees of Breck Road Library, alongside Alt Valley Community Trust workers and representatives from Your Party, highlighting growing frustration over the loss of library services in the Anfield and Everton areas of the city.

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Abrupt Closure Leaves Community Without Local Library

Breck Road Library was abruptly closed last year, with locks reportedly changed overnight, leaving residents without warning or consultation. Since the closure, there has been no replacement library provision for local communities, forcing residents to travel to Kensington or Norris Green libraries to access basic services.

Campaigners say the closure has disproportionately affected young people, older residents, and those without easy transport into the city centre.

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Young People Speak Out

Emelia Brown, a Year 11 pupil at Notre Dame Catholic Academy, spoke about how the closure has impacted her education. Living locally on Breck Road, she explained that she has been unable to use the library since it closed and now has to travel into the city centre instead.

She told attendees that she was only able to attend Central Library because it was a Saturday, adding that her mother does not allow her to travel into town after dark—highlighting the real-world consequences of losing a local, accessible library.

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Funding Dispute at the Heart of the Closure

The closure stems from an ongoing dispute between Alt Valley Community Trust and Liverpool City Council, with both organisations claiming financial losses and responsibility for funding shortfalls. Campaigners argue that residents have been caught in the middle of this disagreement, paying the price through reduced access to public services.

There is growing hope that an agreement between the two organisations could be reached, potentially paving the way for the reopening of Breck Road Library or the restoration of local library services.

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Motion to Be Put Forward at Liverpool City Council

Alan Gibbons, councillor for Your Party, is expected to lead a motion calling for action on Breck Road Library at a Liverpool City Council meeting on Wednesday 28 January 2028. Campaigners are urging councillors to support the motion and prioritise library access for the community.

“Libraries Matter”

Protesters were united in their message that libraries are not optional extras but essential community spaces, providing access to education, technology, and safe environments for learning.

As the campaign continues, local residents say they will not stop fighting until Breck Road Library—or an equivalent local service—is reopened and the community once again has access to the resources it needs.

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