children reading in library

Libraries are not a luxury and the council should reconsider approach say Friends

Thanks to Evelyn for this latest update from Friends of Ventnor Library. Ed


Friends of Ventnor Library met on 19th August to discuss the fragile situation of our library and several others on the Island.

The threat by the Isle of Wight Council to diminish the quality and provision of the service of libraries has been hanging over us for some time now. Their approach is that we can ‘make do’ with fewer opening hours, one qualified member of staff and volunteers.

Thankfully, we have outstanding support from Ventnor Town Council, ready to help, but they do not have the final say.

Scotland leading the way
By comparison, in the news on Tuesday (25th August), Scotland declares there will be library cards given to children either at birth or at age three or four. Pilot projects are being developed in every council area to enrol children.

What could be more encouraging and what could be a better way of promoting literacy.

To quote Scotland’s First Minister,

“Our libraries are often the hub of the local community – providing vital access to information and resources that people would otherwise not have.”

Libraries are not a luxury
Ventnor has areas of deprivation and child poverty that have been exposed by the recent report published in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

That alone should trigger the Isle of Wight Council to reconsider its approach to the need for well run, fully staffed and adequately funded libraries.

Libraries are not a luxury they are an essential part of a child’s development.

Image: lac-bac under CC BY 2.0

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Rick
26, August 2015 7:05 am

Ventnor should do the same as Shanklin Library.Can’t these Friends of Ventnor Library volunteer.Ventnor Town Council are also employing staff in various posts.Other Town and Parish Councils could object when the decision has to be made by the Isle of Wight Council.

Rhos yr Alarch
26, August 2015 8:50 am

How sensible of Scotland, along with their approach to finance for ferries! What could be added to the article is that many people only have access to the Internet via libraries, and often those in most deprived circumstances. Given the local authority’s keen-ness that people do as much business as possible “on-line” (try ringing their number and listen to the recorded message!) the policy on libraries can… Read more »

Colin
Reply to  Rhos yr Alarch
27, August 2015 10:18 am

Unfortunately Scotland’s first minister is full of hot air, and councils across Scotland are having to make savings the same as those south of the border.

The Highland Council has been shrinking and relocating libraries into service points for years and now those service points are under threat.

Does that remind you of anything here?

Darcy
26, August 2015 10:39 am

If times are tight, the objective of employing a professional librarian supported by trained volunteers should be sufficient to maintain a quality service. This was the original aim of those who campaigned to keep Bembridge Library open. Four years on the library survives pretty successfully with the help and support of some fantastic volunteers who not only run the library but raise thousands of pounds to keep… Read more »

dave
26, August 2015 10:57 am

Sorry – but whatever the legal aspect of providing a free library service – if you want to use it you should pay a premium. You cannot borrow discs for free so why books. It is not an essential part of a child’s development as most children have extremely advanced computer skills. Libraries seem to be used mainly for older people and many of those have their… Read more »

Rowan
Reply to  dave
26, August 2015 11:24 am

Dave – How can you possibly believe that reading is ‘not an essential part of a child’s development’? Or believe that people who are housebound should not be able to read books? Do you really believe that everybody has so much money that they can afford to buy every book they might ever want to read, and that all housebound people are so rich that they could… Read more »

Rowan
26, August 2015 11:13 am

Well said Evelyn! Yes, Rick, we could ‘volunteer’, and if we have to we will. But first we’d rather resist the proposal to put a good librarian out of a job, and to make the life of the remaining librarian very much harder, and to cut the services available to everybody in Ventnor. If we just roll over and give in then I don’t think we’d be… Read more »

Rick
Reply to  Rowan
26, August 2015 11:41 am

Rowan,Ventnor Town Council are employing staff in various roles (posts).Shanklin had to do it with their Library so Ventnor should do it with their Library.

Colin
27, August 2015 10:22 am

The council piously voted to pay the living wage earlier in the year.

How does this sit with expecting volunteers to run it’s services?

At least it’s not a zero hours contract. It’s a no-hours non-contract.

tess
29, August 2015 9:47 am

Four years ago, as a result of public pressure and innovative thinking by the Library service, we were able to preserve six of our council funded libraries. Now we are being asked to accept further cuts. The reduction in opening hours, book fund and more importantly staff, is a real blow to what we thought we had achieved here in Ventnor. Book funds can be reinstated, even… Read more »

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