Libraries, have they been forgotten?

[Bookridden]

Anyone heard anything about when libraries might open again?

I thought they'd said today?

But really, are many people going to be comfortable using them?

In Scotland it's likely to be July or august. No idea about anywhere else.

The problem with libraries is that in many areas they are predominantly staffed by volunteers who are largely over 70 and therefore particularly vulnerable. As this is a result of (what I would consider necessary and sensible considering the falls in demand) funding for them under the conservatives they are not going to allow them to open until the point it is safe for such volunteers to return so the labour party cannot use them for political point scoring.

I'm so hopeful that they open July

In my area that's July. I can't wait to volunteer again. Am 39 fwiw.

The problem with libraries is that in many areas they are predominantly staffed by volunteers who are largely over 70 and therefore particularly vulnerable.

Are they? Is this in England?

I'm in Scotland and our libraries are run by the local council with fully employed staff!!

Libraries are in the government guidance for the next phase, so 4th July I think. Same as hairdressers etc

Our local library is run by volunteers, many of whom are over 70. The organising group say it cannot re open until the over 70 group are safe to work, they will not open staffed by the younger volunteers as it will upset the older ones. It is quite frustrating as we have had quite a few younger people coming forward to volunteer for training, but they are being told that we have enough volunteers atm. Bloody annoying as a lot of our borrowers are over 65 or young families. The older volunteers are basically keeping the library closed until they want to come back.

The problem with libraries is that in many areas they are predominantly staffed by volunteers who are largely over 70 and therefore particularly vulnerable.

Yeah, I don't this happens in any libraries in Scotland.

@allmycats

Are you in England?

4 July I saw them specifically mentioned in something. As well as food it's my only other extra expense, buying books, I'm really missing the library. And swimming!

Yes, in England.

@allmycats I don't understand this. Are the older volunteers worried about losing their positions? Who is in charge? Surely someone should just tell them that the libraries are opening when they're allowed and that's the end of it.

Thanks - I didn't realise libraries were run differently!

I mean, we have some volunteers in them for extra services offered but they are run by staff.

Can’t wait for the library to reopen, missing my supply of free books! I’ve not heard anything official yet but I think it might be a while yet.

I'm in England, and our local libraries are staffed by paid staff!

My local library is run by staff and although it's been closed to the public, the staff are still running the home library service.

They should reopen to public in July.

Yes would be great if they can open soon even if it's a queue up, pick up books and no sitting around system for a while.
That would be better than nothing

The government had closed most of them down anyway in the name of austerity.

In our county the libraries in the larger towns are run by staff, possibly supplemented by volunteers, but volunteers were given the option to keep the village ones open.

Most of the organising group are over 70 and very precious about their positions. They are so silly and have their own little cliques, about who they will work with etc. A younger volunteer, in his early sixties was asked to deliver some items to a street that was , a council house street, shock horror, he refused and stated which streets he was willing to volunteer on, during vivid.
Unfortunately a large number of the now non working volunteers worked IN MANAGEMENT, and are great at delegating but crap at doing.

I suspect that they'll reopen as 'click and collect' in the first instance.

The Welsh Government advised that libraries could re-open from early May (same time as tips and garden centres) but so far all of the libraries in our county appear to remain closed.

curtainsforme In theory, libraries in England aren't run differently. But as a result of the cuts to the government grant to local authorities, in many areas cuts to services have included the closing of many of the branch libraries, and the only way to keep some of them open is by using volunteers.