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Should a library in every school be a legal requirement?

Children and a teacher sit around a table and on soft cushions reading books in a library.Getty Images

Should a library in every school be a legal requirement?

According to one group of MPs - the Education Committee - the answer is yes.

They published a report last week, giving recommendations to the government on how to increase reading for pleasure for young people, which hit a 20-year low last year.

According to the National Literacy Trust, one in seven primary schools in the UK do not have a library.

What do you think? Should all schools have libraries? Let us know in the comments below.

A boy in a white shirt and black, yellow and red school tie leans against a book shelf reading a book. He looks focused and has strawberry blonde hair.Getty Images

These recommendations come at the same time as the National Year of Reading, which is where the government is trying to tackle the decline in children's enjoyment of reading.

One of their suggestions is extending a promise they made last year - to make sure there is a library in every primary school - to include a library in every secondary school too.

And to make sure both are legal requirements.

They have also suggested that funding needs to be given to public libraries, and to introduce a scheme where every child is given a library card when they are born.

However, currently these are only suggestions and so the government can choose not to put them into law.

Old fashioned library with a pair of wooden steps.Getty Images

A Department for Education spokesperson said they welcomed the report and would reply to its recommendations.

The Reading Agency - a reading charity - was pleased with the report's suggestions, stating it was "delighted to see the role of school and public libraries celebrated by the review".

They added: "We also share the Committee's concern that access to reading opportunities is not yet equal for all children."

Daniel Kebede - who's in charge of the National Education Union - was pleased that the report "highlights the crucial work teachers and schools do to develop a love of reading".

However, he believes that until there is "urgent action" on things like school funding, pay and teacher workload, "we will miss a golden opportunity to support a generation to develop a life-long love of reading".

What do you think they should do? Let us know in the comments below.