Gloucestershire County Council cuts - 11 libraries may close unless you take them over
ELEVEN libraries in the county are facing the chop if community groups don’t take them over.
And, although the county council could not say how many were under threat, 200 library staff are in the firing line as the council attempts to balance its books.
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Facing the axe: Libraries
Shire Hall leader Mark Hawthorne said yesterday £2.5m of savings were planned over the next four years, and one of the biggest changes would be the council’s attempt to transfer 11 libraries to community groups, such as parish councils, charities or residents’ groups.
However, if nobody steps forward to take them on, they will be closed.
This puts Matson, Hester’s Way and Cinderford libraries at risk. if the communities do not step up to the plate.
Mr Hawthorne said: “This is something that’s already happening in other parts of the country.
“They end up being a lot better than when the county council was running them.
“I think people are excited about the idea of running their own libraries the way they want to run them.”
The communities taking over these libraries would be able to rent them out at a peppercorn rate, or, if they wanted to transport them into their own buildings, could bid for a percentage share of the sale of the old library building to put towards improvements for their building.
Other areas who don’t have a library but want to start one will be able to buy a Library in a Box package containing all they need to start it up.
Other libraries, called Link Libraries, such as the ones in Prestbury, Churchdown, and Nailsworth, will move into community buildings, belonging to either police or NHS.
He compared the county’s main library offerings to the model adopted by supermarket chain Tesco – with nine full-time big library outlets supported by 11 smaller offerings open three-and-a-half days a week.
He also said the larger libraries, which are the county’s most popular, would not just offer books, DVDs and music, but be a “one-stop shop” where people could buy bus passes, and get CRB-checked, among other services.
An online service for libraries will also be offered, similar to the one where people can reserve books already. People will be able to order books from across the county to be delivered to their local library, or, for a small fee, to their house.
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by Tracy Librarian, Cheltenham
Monday, November 15 2010, 7:52PM
“Many people do not realize that most Librarians need masters degrees and have a great deal of expertise in many areas. We write strategic plans, balance budgets, work on initiatives for specialist groups such as Looked-after-Children, people with dyslexia, older assisted readers, new parents with literacy problems... We run events and deal with ignorant customers like Tony from Churchdown every day. Believe me, not just anyone can do it, and do it well. I do not believe there ARE any examples of community groups running them better than those in local authority. Libraries can also only afford to buy books as part of consortiums where they are discounted and shelf-ready. There are so many issues at stake here. Handing them over is virtually criminal as the community pays it's taxes for this service.”
by John R, Cheltenham
Monday, November 15 2010, 4:22PM
“Wow, ¿Library in a Box¿, what a great business opportunity. I see that I can buy one of these systems off the internet for just $595. It includes 100 ¿seed¿ books and some classy-looking large, blue plastic boxes. I will soon be out and about serving the reading needs of Gloucestershire villages off the back of my bike.
(In fact, I might chuck in a few deliveries for Tesco as well.)”
by Joe K, Barton & Tredworth
Friday, November 12 2010, 6:12PM
“One other thing - as well as the council requiring volunteers for youth clubs, libraries are also frequented by children. So, who's going to pay for all the CRB checks that will be required? I suspect a (further) fudging of the regulations is looming.”
by Tony, Churchdown
Friday, November 12 2010, 3:18PM
“If I was retired, I would very happily volunteer a stint in my local library. Of course, I'm 36, so it'll be another 40 years before I retire the way things are going.
Seriously, though, why is the running of libraries by volunteers such a silly idea? There doesn't even need to be a huge familarity with finance. Yet there are many village shops up and down the country that have been taken on by villagers and who run them by volunteer committees and rota volunteer staff.
By the way, the county got rid of a lot of professionally qualified librarians YEARS ago to be replaced by cheaper 'normal' working people.”
by Not a Tesco employee, Brockworth
Friday, November 12 2010, 1:15PM
“I wish Tesco would take over the libraries, in fact they would do a better job if they took over the whole council.
Then we would have VALUE.....
....Tesco Value!”
by Big Ron, Abbeymead but thankfully not near Clock Tower
Friday, November 12 2010, 1:12PM
“I know this will be contraversial but why not have ONE 'super' big library in the middle of the two main towns, like off the Golden Valley/A40. With the mobile library vans delivering the books people want when they live in the rural communities that are already without a library building. This way there will be no whinges of "I can't get to the super library as I live in Dursley etc" and better book availability as all the existing books could be housed there. Make it easy for people to volunteer to work there by offering free transport & there won't need to be too many permanent staff needed in the big library as there could be on-line ordering & fulfillment.
No doubt people will find fault in this but I couldn't think of another way of saving the local libraries unless they were housed in existing local public buildings such as GP surgeries, community centres, pubs (if still there) post offices (if not closed down by now) or parish council offices.”
by Madge, Chalford Hill, Stroud
Friday, November 12 2010, 1:01PM
“So they are expecting people to volunteer their services during their free time say in a youth club in an evening or in a library during the day but NOW with cuts in the un-named "unprofitable" routes in public transport.
So if like me you are without a car (not everyone has one you know!) but would be prepared to volunteer - how can I possibly get there from a rural area (likely to be the 1st to be cut as these areas are 'soft' targets) if they cut the buses?
Pay to ride in a taxi to get there to work for free - NO CHANCE!
It just hasn't been thought through!!”
by Jay, Gloucester
Friday, November 12 2010, 12:56PM
“Being able to go to a local library and get books for free, free internet use, kids clubs, etc is a sign of a fair, decent society. Each generation should leave the next better off. Library closures and clearly a step backwards.”
by Quedgeley Guy, Quedgeley
Friday, November 12 2010, 12:23PM
“It's the old Tory ethic:
Know the price of everything and know the value of nothing! :(”
by Claire, Cheltenham
Friday, November 12 2010, 12:15PM
“I love my local library at Hesters Way. I like to take my 3 year old son on the days I dont work and we sit and read books and they have activities. It gets us out of the house and meet people and encourages his interest in books and reading. I think it would be devestating if we were to lose this library!”