ILKLEY Library will be closed on Monday and Tuesday next week due to industrial action.

Union Unite, which represents about 50 library and museum staff in the Bradford district, announced the strike dates on October 1.

The strike action will take place over 14 days this autumn in the face of cuts to the district's 14 libraries and museums, which could see funding axed by 65 per cent.

The first two day strike will be followed by a three day strike on November 5, 6 and 7. This will be followed by a four day stoppage between November 18 and 21 inclusively and a five day strike on December 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. All the strikes will start at one minute past midnight.

This follows Unite members voting by 77 per cent for strike action and 94 per cent for industrial action short of a strike in defence of the library and museum service.

Announcing the strike action on October 1, Unite regional officer Mark Martin said: “It is a wake-up call for the council to come to the table for constructive negotiations – Unite’s door is open 24/7 for such talks.

“The number of strike days demonstrates how passionately our members feel about the swingeing cuts that the council is hell-bent on forcing through which could see funding for this service axed by 65 per cent.

“We have had great and heart-warming support from members of the Bradford public and the surrounding areas. We are confident that this support will continue during the forthcoming strikes.

“The council’s failure to engage with Unite is in sharp contrast to its aspiration to be UK City of Culture 2025.

“Libraries and museums remain an integral part of the city’s social, cultural and educational fabric – and we continue to believe that they are worth fighting for.”

Confirming the closures today a Bradford Council spokesperson said: "We remain committed to engaging with all stakeholders including residents, staff and unions on the future of our libraries service and will be in touch with further information about how you can take part in activities to help reshape Bradford district's libraries."

Other libraries which will be closed on October 21 and 22 are: Baildon; Bingley; Bradford Local Studies; City Library; Keighley and Wibsey.