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News: Protest to save local library

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Mike Shimwell

New member
Been a bit wrapped up with a few things the last few days, but have just posted on my blog about on a small local protest on Saturday. Our local council is proposing to close a number of local libraries across North Yorkshire and provide services through the larger central libraries and 1 or 2 super mobile libraries.

This will cause a real loss to many families outside of the larger town centres and will reduce the number of books many children are able to acccess as they grow up. Our own children have used the local library regularly from about the age of 2.

Local feeling is very concerned about the proposals and a small protest was organised on Saturday at Bilton library. I took the girls over and grabbed a few pictures whilst we were there. I was pleased that the local paper had also sent a photographer so that the event will receive coverage in the print media.

A couple of pictures below and more on the blog if you are interested.

cheers

Mike


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M

Mike Shimwell

New member
Yes, sorry, the blog post explains that it is due to the financial cuts we are (all) facing in the aftermath of the credit crisis. The Council is required to reduce costs by, broadly, 28% and so consolidating library services is part of the proposals. The real issue, of course, is that local libraries serve local communities and that many of their customers will either not be able or not be willing to use the much bigger central facility as it is both more expensive and harder to get to.

I think the council hopes that local groups will step in to run the facilities, but without moving out of the existing building I suspect that costs will remain higher than are really affordable. The consultation asks for ideas on alternative ways to save the money, but in many respects that is a bit disingenious because without a good working knowledge of council expenditure and efficiency its almost impossible offer intelligent suggestions.

Mike
 
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