Campaigners broke into a defiant rap during a people power protest to save West Heath Library.
The ghetto verse, penned by former Birmingham poet laureate Giovanni “Spoz” Esposito, demanded answers over the 40-year-old building’s future.
The 50-strong, placard waving crowd gathered outside the library, closed in January because of a leaking roof, before marching through West Heath.
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Pressure groups Friends of West Heath Library and Communities Against Cuts, which is fighting in the forthcoming elections, say they have been given mixed messages.
They claim to have received verbal assurances that a new library will be built on the Fordborough site of the existing building. Yet the city council’s own magazine and website earmarks it for closure.
Andrew Nickson, who will stand as a Communities Against The Cuts candidate for Bournville, said: “West Heath Library is in a dreadful state. It would not be out of place in Albania, but it is an important community hub.
“This has galvanised the community. The main campaigners are feisty, elderly women who put out leaflets and erected placards in their gardens.”
The 66-year-old university lecturer added: “It was closed in January 17 without consultation and people were still trying to take books back as late as February. We put in a Freedom of Information request to discover it was closed on health and safety grounds.”
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The then Conservative-controlled council set aside close to £500,000 for a new library over three years ago, but that cashpot was later frozen as the local authority battled to balance books. The day was attended by local councillor Brett O’Reilly and poet Spoz also gave a speech before leading protestors in a rendition of his Save Our Library rap.
Frances Downey, one of the campaign organisers, said: “It will leave a big hole in the community if the library does not open.”
The 67-year-old added: “Forty years ago it was built as a temporary measure, supposed to last for 15 years. It stayed there and is well used.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “West Heath Library is currently closed due to health and safety concerns, and a final decision on its future is still to be made. Once a decision has been reached, an announcement will follow.”