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Libraries at Risk

superdad3

superdad3

master brummie
I know Birmingham [BCC] is in financial meltdown but have just read the proposals for community libraries.

The council plans to turn 11 of the existing 36 venues [ie community libraries] into joint 'library and neighbourhood advice service hubs' - putting the other 25 under threat. That leaves libraries in 25 neighbourhoods at risk, according to the document. The proposals have just been unveiled to staff. Just one council-run combined library and neighbourhood advice service is likely to operate in each of the city's ten parliamentary constituencies, along with the flagship Library of Birmingham. They will be rebranded as 'Community Living Rooms'.It is likely that those libraries will only be retained if local groups and volunteers step in and the service can be moved into other neighbourhood venues. A sale of some buildings is expected to follow. The proposals are subject to public consultation and further discussions will take place with staff and residents before decisions are made about which libraries will be retained by the council and which will go, [Thanks to BHam Live for info]

This has all the making of a disaster. I don't trust any so called consultation by BCC - all too often ignored.
 
Thanks to superdad3 for posting this dire news story by Jane Haynes.
I see 'Some 47 jobs out of the existing 221 among librarians and support staff are set to go.'

With the best will in the world a volunteer cannot run a library effectively. And people who volunteer are working for free and displacing paid librarians and assistants.

We need to keep an eye on this story as it develops. £189 m was spent just over 10 years ago on the then New Library for Birmingham, as the architect said 'We don't know what the future of the library will be.' But we know now that it looks decidedly fragile. Libraries are not just buildings, but people and knowledge.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/aug/29/birmingham-new-library-architecture
 
They tried this for a time at Erdington Library, sweeping away the lovely old entrance desk, bringing in the neighbourhood office and then deciding that it wasn't a success and reverting back to library only.

Sutton Library is falling apart and access to records is minimal. The staff are as helpful as they can be but not trained for historical record retrieval. The loo has been out of action since before Christmas and I'm sure this library isn't the only one being neglected. I feel that some libraries are being allowed to deteriorate until they are beyond saving. I do hope not.
 
i think for some years now some of us have been concernced for our libraries its nothing new really and a lot us expected this sad outcome...i must try and get into spring hill library to take some photos...thats if it still open...

lyn
 
Library Cuts:

Latest proposals can be read at https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/anger-over-birmingham-libraries-cuts-29791979

Did the public consultation have any effect? Of course not - only carried out because BCC were required to do so. Could waste a lot of time ranting about the library cuts but little point. Just a few personal observations:

1. The ten sites [one in each constituency] to remain reflect a political decision. Nice and neat. Library locations were based historically on communities and geography generally and not on political boundaries which have changed much over the years. For example Druids Heath library to be a full time library but not Weoley Castle or Hall Green. A nonsence in library provision terms. I'm not knocking Druids Heath Liby. - but it is quite small and use can't compare eg with Hall Green Liby. - but thats politics for you.

2. Harborne Library to close completely! This is a busy library in a busy shopping centre and well used. I am concerned about what will happen to the outstanding Local Heritage Collection including hundreds of photographs.

3. Northfield Library to remain open full time rather than Weoley Castle Library. Why? Northefield Library is well out of the main shopping centre etc, up a side road with double yellow lines outside making visits difficult for many people and in an old inadequate Edwardian building. Compare this with Weoley Castle Liby - the only major post war branch library to be built. Good access, spacious layout, lift to all floors and in the main shopping centre with good parking close by.

Oh well, rant over. Yes, BCC has to make serious cuts, but I for one am not convinced that the disproportionate cuts to libraries and how they are being carried out are well advised.
 
Couldn't agree more Superdad3. Hall Green gets a lot of student use from the college - whenever I go in the computers are all being used and the tables are occupied as well as people browsing the shelves and taking out or returning books.
I can't comment on other libraries except Yardley Wood - which I used when my in-laws lived almost opposite.
 
In general i would agree, though not sure I would agree that Weoley Castle is a major shopping centre. It is not , of course, cynical to note that Harborne library is in a prime position in a very affluent area, and the site would therefore fetch a large sum
 
spring hill library is still temp closed...cant see it opening again given that the library of birmingham is only 15 mins walk away

lyn
 
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