Library Reducing Opening Hours

[PurpleGentian]

Due to council funding cuts, my local library is getting it's opening hours cut. I've known this will be happening for a while - the council had a consultation about closing some libraries vs keeping libraries open on reduced hours, and then another consultation on what opening hours people preferred, both of which I took part in.

Now the results have been published.

I work part time, and my local library will now be closed whenever I'm off work

If I want to use it, I'll have to book a holiday from work

Going off to sulk now before trying to locate the other libraries in the county on a map. Bloody budget cuts.

councils have to make savage cuts,to protect statutory obligations
in what way do you use library?study?quiet reading?browse?
its hard but this is the impact of govt cuts

but in fairness,there has been a consultation and you dont like result?
so they consulted and went with majority view expressed

I'm well aware of the rationale behind it.

Also aware that I'm not being very reasonable, of course they've got to go with the majority view, but just needing to vent a little.

Purple - That is bloody unlucky, and it is not a good time to be a fan of libraries. I think you could make your displeasure widely known: you could write to your MP or local councillor for starters. And of course, use your vote. I think that libraries are essential to a civilised and happy society. Hopefully you will be able to find another library nearby to cater to your needs; some of us have serious book habits to fund!

Sorry to hear this.

Just wondered where you are, roughly? I'm a huge fan of libraries and feel fortunate that there's plenty here for my usage but aware that other areas have been very hard ht. I think I read at the weekend that libraries in Newcastle have been closed completely.

I'm in the North-East - not in Newcastle though. Newcastle City Coucil are closing 10 of the 18 city libraries. The libraries in my county are all staying open, but are all getting their opening hours cut, so we're generally better off than library users in Newcastle.

But on the bright side, I've found another library not too far away that opens when I'm off work.

Our local library had something similar happen but, given that the other option was for it to shut completely, I'm happy.

Sorry to hear that - my local libraries were apparently shut completely for a period in the 80s when the council was rate capped. When I moved here they had very little new stock and they all had issues with opening hours - even the central library was closed completely every Friday and most of the smaller branches including the local one were only open 2.5/3 days a week and only Saturday mornings not afternoons. I used libraries near work with better opening hours and stock for a while (I'm in London so there are lots of different councils running services).

That changed a few years ago and they seem to have protected opening hours for now although there is definitely and visibly less money for new stock and reduced staffing levels.

Next year, or the one after that, though, I guess the cutters will be coming back for more cuts each year.

I'm glad you've found an alternative branch you can get to more easily when you're off.

I work at weekends for one local authority in a library and I'm registered as a casual library assistant for another local authority.

Unfortunately the library I work in on Saturdays has its hours reduced and I am getting very little work as a casual, it is not a good time.

Anyway - the two authorities I work for provide an online service: renewing books, making reservations and downloading e-books are options. I quite often browse at home and reserve books to collect from my work place.