Community may be asked to volunteer or donate cash to help Northampton’s libraries survive
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BOOK lovers across Northamptonshire have been warned the county’s libraries will have to change over the coming years if they are to survive.
Earlier this year, a number of libraries faced closure because of multi-million-pound savings needed to be made by Northamptonshire County council.
They were saved in a last minute reprieve, but during a meeting with library users at the weekend, Councillor Heather Smith (Con, Prebendal), the council’s cabinet member for customer services, said a new approach would have to be taken to keep them open, such as using volunteers to man libraries or asking users for donations.
She said: “The financial challenges we’re currently tackling are well known and it comes as no surprise that we simply cannot afford to continue to completely fund the library service ourselves.
“The thousands of responses we received during our library closure proposals earlier this year showed us how much libraries are valued and we want to harness this enthusiasm and support. In fact, many people have said that they would be prepared to pay something towards keeping their service.”
She added: “We are facing a future where contributions from residents and local organisations, whether in time, in money or in kind, are asked for, recognised and appreciated.”
The councillor said such moves were being explored instead of closures and added that the council was “committed to the county’s 36 libraries”.
But she added libraries would have to become more self-supporting over the next four years, as the council looks to half the cost of the service.
Tim Armit from the Friends of St James Library agreed plans to use libraries as bases for job clubs and business advice centres were sensible, but said he feared more cuts would be demanded in the future by the council.
He said: “There’s a feeling that this is a ‘big ask’ from the council and I’m personally concerned that if we deliver the savings they’ve asked for, what more will they want in 2015?
“We need things laying out a lot more clearly.”
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
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lady muck
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 11:29 AMPostiesupporter...actually you can get coffee in the Central Library. It's £1 per cup. As for waking up to smell it....you try waking up the dossers who sleep there...it's a miracle they can sleep, what with the mobile phones going off and people shouting into them. I've also noted a few of the staff talking to themselves...what's going on ?
SteveWonder
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 07:14 AMDonations???????... I thought that was paid via taxes......... in a civilised society it is anyway
Postie Supporter
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 12:41 AMWhen oh when are the totality incompetent, out of touch, bigoted, Tory Councillors and their lap dog Liberal Democrat's going to wake up and smell the coffee. Tax payers pay for vital public services not cuts in vital public services. These totally incompetent, bigoted councillors must stop claiming their expenses immediately and start providing the vital public services that we the taxpayer pay for and they were elected to provide.
lady muck
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11:12 PMTeddy...one thing I learnt in the colonies...never take ice in the G & T. Never under-estimate the power of the rich, nor the compliance of the poor.
TeddyMcnabb
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 08:04 PMpoppiesforever, you made me smile in your description of "thicky dicky"!, lady muck its time for your g&t, ice and a slice, lots of ice to cool you down! lol you and thicky dicky should save your angst for those screwing us big time!,
town&out
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 07:43 PMYup - libraries must stay, especially those in town centre or key places like weston favell centre. I can see how small libraries in villages will struggle without help from the community, though. But in key places where the library is large enough with plenty of population passing by, AND with the extra facilities providing information, general interest & study, they should always be there. We are paying taxes for public services. Make efficiency cuts yes, for the benifit of public service. DO NOT cut public services that people are paying taxes for. It's not for politicians expenses.
lady muck
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 07:41 PMpoppiesforever...I have no knowledge of Mr Cleverdick, nor am I opposed to the unemployed etc. I have no griope against the unemployed who are disabled or attempting to find work, but I have no time for the scroungers, dole-seekers and job-dodgers. I don't think I am alone in these opinions.As you say, libraries are essential, especially for children. As far as adults are concerned, I see no reason why there should not be a charge imposed for borrowing books as I can see no distinction between borrowing books and CD's (for which there IS a charge). Does anyone remember the private lending libraries such as Boots or Harrods ?
poppiesforever
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 03:30 PMDick by name Dick by nature? libraries offer many facilities,not just books.Children who do not have internet access at home use them for homework,which schools are now setting that MUST be done via the net,most have parent and child clubs,photocopying and fax facilities,its a shame you felt the need to make purile comments about unemployed people,many of whom are not in that place by choice,are you Mr.Ladymuck by any chance?,what about the elderly who use them to get books they wouldnt otherwise afford to keep buying?
Clever Dick
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 02:27 PMWhat they actually should do is close the blasted things and save us ALL of the cost. In these days of Internet, Kindle and everything else Libraries are only necessary to keep the unemployed warm.
TeddyMcnabb
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 02:14 PMI can see the headlines in the chron tomorrow, tories inundate libraries wiith money, manpower,gifts,etc etc all in the name of the "big society", what ever will they do with the surplus?lol.... be interesting to see what truly is the end game!
Common sense
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 02:02 PMMaybe Councillors all over the County including parish, District,Borough and County could reduce their Fees and expenses to pay for Libraries--it would only be a matter of a each as there are hundreds of them in Northamptonshire.. Each Councillor has a fund of £10,000 for his personal use (favours for votes) and if this was scrapped it too could be used for the Libraries
HrolfK
Monday, June 13, 2011 at 12:48 PMFor the information of councillors. In law, volunteers must be reimbursed for all their expenses during their time working with you. This includes travel to and from the location plus food and drink. They must also be properly trained, checked and supervised. They are NOT a source of cheap labour any more than councillors are.
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