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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think its shit that local library is only open 3.5 "days" a week

93 replies

livingintheNL · 27/01/2016 16:52

Closed on Wednesdays (grrr) and closes at 2PM on Friday.

Even the days its open (mon, tue, thur), these are 10-12 and 2-6pm. Its all just a bit useless imo.

OP posts:
ShesGotLionsInHerHeart · 27/01/2016 16:55

Snap! Now that DD is at school it's practically impossible to get there regularly, and I miss it. I loved taking the kids there.

AlmaMartyr · 27/01/2016 16:58

A lot of libraries around here have these kinds of opening hours because it was that or close completely Sad

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 27/01/2016 17:48

Local authorities are cutting back and library services is one of he cuts to be made. I volunteer at a local one and I think the only reason it remains open is hat it serves a catchment area of older people, who have to rely on public transport to get anywhere and this one is walking distance in the village.

The people who use it seem to prefer a proper book rather than an e reader and aren't too fussed about using technology.

Sighing · 27/01/2016 17:52

Our local one was reduced to 3 days a week. Local volunteers were needed to keep it open that often. Then the volunteers struggled and it was reduced to a mobile library service. My suggestion get people using the facility (toddler groups, book clubs) to raise awareness, volunteers and need.

MumOnTheRunCatchingUp · 27/01/2016 17:52

We can't afford libraries anymore, not with all the cuts to services. I'd rather have a fully functional police force, or disabled people needs met, than a library

catsonlaps · 27/01/2016 17:53

Same, Mum

goodnightdarthvader1 · 27/01/2016 17:56

As pp said, it's the cuts. It's not the library's fault. Write to your local MP.

AlpacaPicnic · 27/01/2016 17:57

IT is rubbish. But please complain to the local councillors or council department about it, or else they will never know how you feel. Maybe get some other parents together and have a coordinated 'plan of attack' as it were, everyone write and complain in the same month.

Also see if the library has a website, where you can make your views known... Libraries in my town give customer surveys twice a year where people can comment on things like opening hours etc...

catsonlaps · 27/01/2016 17:57

I doubt they'll be interested!

CrohnicallyAspie · 27/01/2016 18:03

I understand that there has to be cuts. But I do think libraries should make an attempt to provide opening hours that a range of people are likely to be able to make. For example, my local library opens 5 days a week (including on Saturday) at 9am. But for 3 of those days it closes at 1pm and is only open on two afternoons, until 5 ish.

I think I'd rather see it open for 3 weekdays instead of 4, but with an earlier morning and late evening thrown in.

Iggi999 · 27/01/2016 18:05

If we read more books we'd need fewer police mumsontherun.
Only partially joking there too.

catsonlaps · 27/01/2016 18:06

How many people use libraries for books, though? Again, only partially joking!

pointythings · 27/01/2016 18:39

Lots of people voted for this, in 2010 and again last year. Simple as that.

Not me, though.

ghostyslovesheep · 27/01/2016 18:43

exactly what Pointy said - it's what people voted for - sadly

mayaknew · 27/01/2016 18:47

Ours are the same. Completely useless to school age children.

I loved going to the library after school and getting a new sweet valley high or babysitters club GrinGrin

CremeEggThief · 27/01/2016 18:49

Most of the libraries in County Durham have a 2 day a week plus Saturday morning service, since the cuts. It's not good, but to be honest, I'm still grateful we have them at all.Sad

AuntieStella · 27/01/2016 18:56

"Lots of people voted for this, in 2010 and again last year. Simple as that."

Not quite.

How local council books are balanced, or not, and policy towards libraries, is all down to the councillors. And some councils/boroughs seem to do much better that others.

hefzi · 27/01/2016 18:57

Our library opens in after school hours now (reduced to save money) but there's barely any books and a huge bank of computers - usually fully occupied with school children (very disadvantaged neighbourhood) doing their homework.

ArriettyMatilda · 27/01/2016 18:57

My local library is open 9am to 6pm everyday except Saturday it's only open until 5pm. We aren't even in a city it's a small town. It is a bit rubbish for yours to only be open 3.5 days but better than being shut all together.

YouMakeMyDreams · 27/01/2016 19:00

Ours is in a large village in the Highlands and it always had hours like that. Now the council service point is in the library it is open every day and one or two evenings. If the council hadn't decided to put their office in there I think it would have just got worse. So many people don't even use the libraries it's such a shame.

pointythings · 27/01/2016 19:03

AuntieStella Council grants have been slashed. More cuts are to come. The tactic is to slash council budgets and then when councils cut services, to point out 'but they have local control over their budgets'.

Yes, some councils have managed to protect library services - ours has. But our library is now run largely run by unpaid volunteers, the trained professionals have had their hours cut to the bone and have all taken on second jobs alongside, and the service is poorer for all it's still open.

And meanwhile the government just says 'not me guv, it was the council wot done it'. Yeah, sure...

SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad · 27/01/2016 19:03

Gosh I'm glad that I've retired - I loved being a Librarian, and really enjoyed my job for 32 years... I wouldn't get the chance now Sad

I do understand the choice of care services over libraries - but my goodness, it's depressing Sad Sad

ThePrinceofParties · 27/01/2016 19:06

we are very lucky
our library, which is not the borough's biggest/main library, is open 7 days a week, including 2 nights to 7.30.

on the flip side, since the cuts our bins are only collected every 3 weeks, which pisses people off no end.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 27/01/2016 19:07

It's so sad. Keeps the plebs in their place though (sarcasm). A bright kid from a poor family will struggle to better themselves if they can't go to the library in their free time and read or borrow books and expand their world. Schools are also facing massive cuts and cutting things like library staff (if they now have a library at all) and teaching assistants and careers advice. They are places of learning, for god's sake.

You're lost nowadays if you are a young person from a poor family. Especially if you don't have a good mentor in your parents. And God help if you have any extra needs. mental health care being cut too.

This government will be responsible for a whole generation of lost kids who won't reach their potential.

Having said that, if there is a genuine need for such big cuts (which I doubt) then I would prioritise things like the fire service over libraries. Unfortunately.

Oh, and anyone reading this thinking of career changinf to librarianship. Don't do it. Librarians are dying out. People in charge of public funds don't recognise the benefits of libraries (of all kinds). They are a dying breed (of which I am one. Looking to career change after 20 years.)

CurlyhairedAssassin · 27/01/2016 19:12

"How local council books are balanced, or not, and policy towards libraries, is all down to the councillors. And some councils/boroughs seem to do much better that others."

Damn right. You need someone to champion the cause. Secondary Schools local to us who have the best libraries have someone with a hefty input into how the money is spent who really recognise the need for them and eho commit to improving them. All it takes is one or two people at the top who don't see the point of them, and you're buggered.

Can you tell I'm bitter?