School libraries 'under threat' due to funding cuts It comes amid fears that many pupils are already failing to read enough because of the growing influence of games consoles, television and the internet. Research published earlier this year found just three-in-10 school age children read every day in their own time compared with four-in-10 seven years ago. Barbara Band, the organisation's president, said: "The threat to so many schools library services is a serious concern. Across the country they contribute to children's attainment and education by promoting reading, teaching essential research skills, improving literacy, lending books and resources, supporting teachers, arranging events and author visits. Researchers surveyed 92 local authorities in England and Wales. Of those, 62 per cent said their council provided a school library service. It was revealed that library support was being reviewed in half of councils with a responsibility for providing services. A quarter said that "closure was a possibility" as part of the review. The study said: "If these results were replicated across England and Wales, 22 schools library services (one-in-five) could be facing the possibility of closure." The study also revealed that four-in-10 councils were cutting funding for libraries this year compared with a year earlier. A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We would like every school to have a well-stocked library and all secondary schools to employ a librarian. Funding reductions by local authorities make it more difficult for schools to run good libraries. We have major concerns over the methodology of this survey, including the small number of respondents. In fact, of the 45 local authorities who responded to the question about funding for their library service in 2012-13, the majority said it would be the same or higher than this year's budget.