Library Service Cuts

Cllr Poll decided on a 10% "saving", despite the fact that the County Council has just received the biggest govt grant ever (9.3% up on last year) and have already achieved efficiency savings above those required by the government. Cllr Poll has introduced a 26% cut in library hours in North Kesteven and an 11% increase in his own area, South Holland. We are told that people can drive themselves to a different library on those days in future, instead of using their local library.

The strategy was much distributed for consultation. Objectives given were making better use of premises, increasing the range of services and increasing the use of the libraries. However, at Branston, this has started wtih closing the doors two days a week. In Metheringham the doors are closed and a mobile library stands nearby. The further consultation "with the local community" was promised in the strategy, but has not happened and the decision was issued for changes 1 May 2008.

Since last October, I have worked hard to analyse the data and make perfectly clear that closing Branston during these hours in likely to result in up to 30% loss in business for the library, but so far, it has fallen on deaf ears. The public meeting in Branston called for a return of the hours if we found sustainable partners to enable single manning of the library. In Branston we have sustainable partners, Branston Community College and Learn Direct, and we are calling on Cllr Poll to back his side of the partnership, with single staffing of the library to keep it open to the public at the same time.

If you care about the library, please respond with a paragraph or sentence, to add support. Any ideas to increase use would also be most welcome.