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The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals has been told by culture secretary Andy Burnham that he "is not minded at this stage to investigate further or intervene" in the library closures in Wirral.
CILIP said it had received this response after formally asking Burnham to review Wirral council's plans to close almost half its public libraries.
CILIP has reacted with anger. Chief executive Bob McKee said: "As the recession bites and people need their local libraries more than ever, this government has effectively given local authorities complete freedom to close their libraries."
He added: "Exactly when local authorities are looking to make reductions to meet budget targets for the new financial year, Andy Burnham has made local libraries an even softer target for cuts."
Leader of CILIP council Caroline Moss-Gibbons said the Department of Culture, Media and Sport "should be embarrassed that while 2008 was the government-backed National Year of Reading, 2009 looks like the year they do nothing while increasing numbers of libraries close."