In more depressing public sector cuts related news, Kirklees council announced last month that they have plans for Slaithwaite library to be run by volunteers rather than paid librarians.
There are also plans to hand over six other Kirklees libaries to unpaid volunteers, including Golcar.
The Kirklees cabinet member responsible for resources, Clr Shabir Pandor, was quoted in The Examiner saying:
There have been some rumours that libraries will close. Thats not the case no libraries are going to close.
We’ve got massive cuts but were going to be involving the community to help us deliver the service.
We want people to shape their services for their local community because the needs of somewhere like Batley will be different to somewhere like Denby Dale.
It all smells a little wiffy to me, and you’ll have a hard time convincing me that it’s going to be a positive move. But a volunteer run library is better than no library – especially for those without cars to get to the libraries at Marsden, Meltham,or Huddersfield.
According to the Yorkshire Post Kirklees has said that there will be consultations and community engagement events regarding the proposed changes. I’ve not been able to find any details of these, but I’ll post them here as soon as I do.
Have you any opinions on the proposed changes to the library?
Photo by Library_mistress. Used under Creative Commons License.
Sad news. I’ve really come to appreciate my local libraries since joining the ranks of the unemployed. Still, a volunteer run library IS better than no library at all.
Let’s wait and see what the consultation exercise sets out. Clearly the loss of a skilled professional librarian service would be a blow, but there may be alternative ways of funding that resource other than from Kirklees Council. And I’m certain there must be significant scope to re-imagine our local library as a focal point for a much wider range of useful services.
I agree that there is definitely scope for the library to become a focal point for the community, providing that there are the skilled volunteers out there to do so.
On a side note I’ve always thought the real downfall of Slaithwaite Library is it’s relatively erratic opening hours – especially around lunch times. I know that I’ve often chosen to go to Holmfirth library (which is always open) rather than wait an hour or two until Slaithwaite opens. A luxury of course not available to people without a car. Hopefully a voluntary service may address that – but again this depends on how many able volunteers step forward.
i have read the comments and find them valid but minor as a pensioner i use the library every day and can see first hand the impact that that full time librarians have they provide a service way behond just books they are an advice cenre a listening station and a warm welcoming oasis to many a lost soul who is in need of an hello advice or directiion the majority of this advice is to pensioners and young families who are arguably the largest users and the hardest hit and the least vocal. use volunteers but dont cast out the wealth of experience keep them on and use them to fill vacancies after natural wastage . and seek the publics opinion
thank you for letting me express my thoughts
Anyone heard any news about the purported consultation on this issue? It all seems to have gone quiet.
Here in Denby Dale we have begun to challenge the decision of Kirklees Council to hand over to being ‘community run’ the 7 libraries. The ‘decsion’ is, unconstituional and undemocratic under the terms of the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act which says LAs have to provide a comprehensive and effective service with any changes subject to a needs assessment. Blanket decsions like this are not acceptable. YThe consultation process we have seen is about HOW communities will run their libraries, NOT about what services we actually need. We are faced with having a book exchange, no development, no staff, no money for buildings, maintenance etc. Get in touch with me via a response to this post if you are thinking that this is something all our 7 communities should join forces on
Hi – I work for kirklees and just came across your blog post about the community libraries – the consultation on Slaithwaite has just begun, more details on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/liveinkirklees
A shame that this website seems to have gone quiet after a promising start. It could have been a useful information sharing platform to support the campaign to save and develop a real library service in Slaithwaite.
For the record I think this so-called consultation is nothing of the sort. To me it looks like the Council has decided what is going to happen and is now recruiting volunteers, calling that recruitment exercise a consultation. I find it quite insulting.
I agree, it is a shame. In retrospect I shouldn’t have started it really (and the main reason I didn’t go overboard with publicity was the fact I had it in the back of my mind that it may have been a bigger task than i can handle).
We’ve had a baby and i just don’t have the time for it to be honest.I need to get my arse in grear and start looking for people to take it over I guess.
Graham, I’ve offered post up here any articles that people want to send me. Any article posted will have to contain full details of the event/issue/happening and a contact name. Ideally, the submitter will also include a photo to go with the article. Of course, articles must be about the local area. I’ll do my best to keep abrest of it, but if anyone wants to help, that would be most appreciated. Cheers Fiona
As Philip Pullman, children’s author says in a brilliant speech somewhere! ITS NOT OUR JOB TO CUT LIBRARIES, ITS OUR JOB TO PROTECT THEM!
You can find the whole speech on the Save Slaithwaite Library fb page.
Help us with petitioning MON APRIL 30 OUTSIDE SLAWIT LIBRARY 10.30
The local libraries are now part of a joint campaign and we will be lobbying the Council meeting on May 23 2012