Campaigners are calling on Birmingham City Council to show its commitment to community libraries throughout the city with investment in computers and IT equipment.
With the with state-of-the-art technology they fear that community library services could be left behind and ultimately cut.
Council reports have highlighted the fact that old PCs and lack of wi-fi access in a majority of libraries will limit their ability to connect with the new Library of Birmingham services.
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The Friends of Library of Birmingham campaign group fears that the digital divide, in which some communities are excluded from benefits of new technologies, will widen.
Campaign supporter, novelist Joel Lane, said: “As the austerity-driven closure and downsizing of our district branch libraries accelerates, depriving children and adults of free access to books, is being held up as proof of Birmingham City Council’s commitment to the city’s literary heritage and the principle of public access to literature, information and learning.”
Commenting on plans to outsource management of the new library, which have been temporarily shelved, Mr Lane added: “The prospect of the new Central Library being franchised out to a private company that will run it for profit, keeping the parts that generate most revenue and ditching the rest is sickening – and for this privatisation to come from a Labour council is beyond belief.”
The Friends of the Library of Birmingham group is to meet tonight (July 4, 7.30pm) at Birmingham Conservatoire to set up a campaign to oppose the privatisation of the running of the new library and for better access for library services at a time of increasing cuts.
A said: “As a result of the government’s austerity measures we need to make savings of around £615m by 2016/17 so it is not possible to immediately update computers or provide wi-fi in all of our community libraries.
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“However, we provide free internet access at all of our libraries and anyone can book this using their library card and pin providing they don’t have unpaid fines on loans.
“And far from increasing the digital divide, the investment in the new Library of Birmingham will provide better access to digital services through an improved web site benefitting all library users across the city and beyond.”
She confirmed that the contract tender for management of the new library had been suspended while the council focuses on getting the building open and fully functioning.
“We have commissioned a world class library and we will not be rushed in the process to ensure that it delivers an excellent service that is both value for money and sustainable,” she added.