‘Use your library or lose it’, warns MLA

Speaking out this week on the issue, the Assemblyman said he had received personal assurances from the Culture Minister that Libraries NI are not making any changes to the library membership or registration process.

He added: “However, if local people still want a library in their village, and I am referring specifically to the villages of Kells and Connor and Broughshane, then they must use them.

“The review that is under way is to update a members’ record in advance of the introduction of a new computer system. If membership details are not captured prior to the transfer of data to the new system personal information will be validated on the member’s next visit to the library.

“But I would warn, that the review of Local Libraries NI is still on going, and the sustainability and survival of each individual library will be based on the statistical information, which relates to active members, issues and visits,” said Mr Swann.

He went on to stress: “Libraries NI consider an active member as a member who has used the library in the past 12 months, so if you haven’t used the library in the last year your membership may be deleted from their system, due to data protection.

“So my message is simple - Use It or Lose it,” said Assemblyman Swann.