Library staff told to tone down support for events

Library staff have been told by Essex County Council to scale back their support for events held at their sites, including Pride.

In a verbal briefing, workers were instructed not to promote any events at the county's 74 libraries that were not related to their day-to-day activities.

The Reform UK-led council said it wanted to avoid highlighting "any particular groups or themes" across Essex on social media.

However, drag artist Shar Cooterie, from Colchester, branded the move a "politically motivated" attack launched during Pride month.

"I would suggest there is maybe a confusion in priority, if we're talking about getting back to ensuring libraries are doing their best work," she said.

"There is a suggestion that the existence of an LGBTQ+ person is in some way political, which I don't think it should be."

Staff were verbally briefed on the change of policy and were told written guidance would be sent out.

They have not been stopped from displaying themed collections.

A spokesman for Save Our Libraries Essex said: "What possible reason is there not to display pride promotional material – it's not as if it's costing the library service anything – other than pure prejudice?

"It's not just bigotry, it's anti-business. Pride gets people out and spending money in our towns and cities. Where will this end up?"

Leigh Murphy, the organiser of Harlow Pride, urged the council to engage with affected groups.

"We've learnt from history that when one group's... access to information is challenged, then other community groups will soon face that similar challenge," she said, speaking to BBC Essex presenter Emma Bullimore.

The council insisted its decision was not just about Pride, but that the timing coinciding with Pride month meant those communications were among the first to be paused.

Other groups that meet across Essex's libraries include those for widows, dementia support, toddler story time and help with IT.

Reform councillor Chris Hossack, cabinet member for residents and community services, said libraries remained "spaces for everybody".

"Their shelves recognise authors and books and resources spanning a huge range of subjects, which we will endeavour to maintain," he said.

"With this in mind, we need to be careful not to highlight any particular groups or themes, so, mindful of this, and unless the activity is specific to libraries, we have taken a decision to pause promotion of such events at libraries via the council's public-facing communication channels, including social media."

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