Volunteer libraries are only a stay of execution

The following letter was published in the Kentish Gazette on 10th November 2011:

I was interested to hear that KCC are considering forcing local communities to run libraries themselves to ensure they remain open. This is a worrying development.

This policy does not present a sustainable solution and creates a two-tier system whereby those with access to a so-called ‘community’ library have access to a second class service when compared with those privileged to live near a fully funded public library.

The people of Kent do not pay their taxes to receive second-class public services.

Where they have been tried, community libraries have already run into trouble.

In Wiltshire, one library has had to reduce opening hours due to a lack of volunteers willing and able to run the service.

The difficulties faced by the library have pushed it close to closure.

And therein lies the problem. Whilst it may sound like the library has been saved from closure, forcing local people to run it is merely a stay of execution.

Of course, all of our public libraries could not only be saved but receive much needed investment in staff and resources. KCC has £5 million in ‘Big Society’ money put to one side. Why not use that money to invest in our public services, including libraries, rather than engage in unsustainable experiments?

Ian Clark
Co-founder of Voices for the Library

Library campaigner

Ian is so right – and some councils such as ours in Dorset are deliberately building in a ‘failure-factor’.

Community libraries are not to be statutory (i.e. we can close you when we like), have only three years’ guaranteed support package so the essential LMS, book refresh, three hours’ a week professional help could disappear quite soon and are not to be included in any modernisation of library services programme.

This in a county which can spend millions on building a publicly unpopular new library and offices in Dorchester.

Heaven help us when these unenlightened, largely ill-educated twits have even greater responsibilities under the localism legislation.