Compared to some of the visitors to Shoreditch Library, Brian Debus would not consider himself an “avid” reader. “We have some members who come in and take as many as 10 books a week. I’m not quite in that category,” he says. “That’s the beauty of libraries –  because they are free to borrow from, people have no hesitation if given the opportunity to take out large numbers of books.”

The 75-year-old librarian has a few books on the go at the moment, including The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Having worked as a library assistant at Shoreditch Library for over 20 years, Debus says constantly being able to discover new books is one of the perks of his job. 

“One of the things I enjoy is when you are doing shelving or book searches and spot a book or an author that you might be interested in reading,” he says. “You come across a range of authors you’ve never heard of just by scanning the shelves.” 

However, sadly for Debus, he may not be shelving the books of Shoreditch Library for much longer. Hackney’s library restructure includes the slashing of 19 job roles, one of which is Debus’, as part of its effort to save £250,000. Staff members who wished to continue working at Hackney’s libraries had to re-interview for their role, many of whom had not interviewed for decades. Speaking less than 24 hours after receiving his formal letter of redundancy, Debus says: “It wasn’t the best day in the world when they said I didn’t succeed.” But he is not defeated: “I am going to challenge it.” 

The restructure comes into effect this month and Debus is most worried about how the trimmed down staffing levels will impact the service hours of Hackney’s libraries, as well as their current level of stability being “completely destroyed”.

Libraries, he explains, are pillars of communities and along with providing free access to books and the internet, they are often people’s “first port of call” for advice. “In some ways, libraries are like a mini, early version of Citizens Advice,” says Debus. During his time at Shoreditch Library he has been most surprised by the sheer diversity of questions that have been thrown his way, so when it comes to the decrease in staff he knows the impact it will have on the service they provide. “It is not just a loss of bodies – it a loss of knowledge,” he says. 

Growing up in Birmingham in a family that was “not very well off”, whenever Debus wanted to read a book he had to go down to his local library, so he knows just how vital they are. Hackney’s libraries offer a space for those “who have the least in society,” he says. Under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, local councils in England have a statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service for all people in the area.

Unfortunately, the slashing of staffing numbers, and in some cases the closure of libraries, is becoming increasingly common because of the redirection of funding by councils in a bid to cut spending. Twelve years ago, artist Ruth Beale and designer Simon Elvins decided to start compiling a list of London’s libraries, documenting which ones had closed. “When libraries close people don’t usually announce ‘we’re closing’,” says Beale. “It just goes. That’s it, it’s gone.” 

Since its conception in 2011, All the Libraries has recorded the closure of 120 libraries in London, seven of which were in Tower Hamlets. Before All The Libraries, there was no comprehensive list of London’s libraries and which ones had closed. “Most people are surprised there isn’t just a list,” says Elvins. However, their list is not definite and the founders highlight that they are constantly updating it as some libraries become absorbed by another or reopen.

“Public libraries are some of the last free, indoor public spaces,” says Beale. Debus agrees with how important they are. Library members who come in inevitably build friendly relationships with the staff, he says. Debus is recognised on the street from both Shoreditch Library and his work as a trade union activist for over 30 years. “I’ve built relationships all over the place,” says Debus. “I have one customer who knows I come from Birmingham but that I support Aston Villa. Whenever he sees me he always asks ‘How’s Birmingham getting on?’, referring to Birmingham City FC,” he laughs, “he only does it to wind me up.” Debus worries these sorts of relationships will cease to exist when reduced staffing numbers means library staff will be stretched to an unsustainable level and they will not have the time to engage with as many customers. Also, in terms of logistics, staff will be moving between the borough’s libraries instead of working at one site, creating less of an opportunity to build strong connections with customers. 

Most visitors at Shoreditch Library are older, and for some their daily visit might be their sole social interaction of the day. The library also receives some more surprising visitors. Every year, a sheepish member comes in with a vastly overdue book that is often several years, if not a couple of decades, overdue. Debus says the usual culprit is someone in their twenties or thirties who has had a clear out of their house or is in the process of moving and comes across some books from their childhood they had forgotten to return. Luckily for them, Hackney’s overcharge fee of £0.20 per day is capped at £8. 

Residents of the borough have seen Hackney Town Hall’s steps taken over by protestors against the borough’s library restructure since it was announced in 2022, including a demonstration last month, and Debus says to expect more. Although there are no concrete plans yet, there is potential for some sort of action on the horizon, whether it be protest or striking, he says. 

Follow our series, Reading Between the Lines, this week to read more about literature across our boroughs