Youth Forum vows to fight cuts library hours

A LOCAL community group has vowed to fight any move by Libraries NI to cut opening hours at local libraries.

Enagh Youth Forum says the proposed reductions will see Strathfoyle Library’s opening hours slashed from 26.25 hours per week to just 18 hours and Waterside Library’s hours cut from 56.5 hours to 40 hours.

A spokesperson for the forum said the proposed cuts will affect almost every community across Northern Ireland but it is the poorest people and families who will lose out most when libraries are shut.

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“In many working class communities right across this city libraries are used for learning, Internet and computer access or just for reading, many families depend on their local library,” a spokesperson said.

“We at EYF ask - What are these proposed cuts based on? - it is simply wrong for them to be based on books issued figures alone as many rural community based libraries such as that of Strathfoyle offer much much more including information and advice, JobSearch, Story Time for playgroups and nursery schools, support for local youth and community groups.

“We at EYF would encourage everyone to come out and support Strathfoyle Library and oppose these cuts as they will only seek to destroy communities. “We need our local library and we depend on it for so much locally as it is a neutral friendly environment for all,” the spokesperson added.

Libraries NI has announced the review as a result of the savings requirements in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

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The Review of Opening Hours proposes that all public libraries across Northern Ireland are categorised into one of four bands based on level of use. This means that libraries in Band 1 would open for 57 hours per week; those in Band 2 would open for 40 hours per week; those in Band 3 would open for 30 hours per week; and libraries in Band 4 would open for 18 hours per week.

Irene Knox, Chief Executive of Libraries NI, said: “Over the next four years, Libraries NI has to make cumulative savings of approximately £10.3 million. In our first two years of operation we have already made efficiency savings of £2.7 million and there is therefore little scope to make additional savings without impacting the provision of frontline services.

“Reduced opening hours will be very difficult for both our customers and our staff and the Board of Libraries NI deeply regrets having to take this course of action. We will consult openly with people during this process and we are inviting people to engage with us regarding the proposals.

“In all of our actions we want to be fair to customers, to libraries and to our staff.”

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Public consultation on the proposal commenced on September 12 and survey questionnaires will be made available until November 14 in libraries or can be accessed through the Libraries NI website – www.librariesni.org.uk.

A draft equality impact assessment and draft rural impact assessment will be available on the website for comment, along with the proposal document. Once the Board has taken its decision on the way forward, there will be a further period of local engagement with customers in every library regarding the actual pattern of opening hours.

Back in July the Sentinel reported how Londonderry book-lovers last year made up the second largest membership of any library in Northern Ireland with 10,589 active members at the city’s central library in Foyle Street.

Only Dungannon library had a higher membership in 2010/11 with 11,824 members. According to figures released by Culture Minister Carol Ní Chuilín the Central Library here attracted 354,224 visits over last year and had a total staff rota of 535.50 hours per week.

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Enagh Youth Forum has vowed to fight any move to slash hours across the city.

“In short our library is the hub of our community and we will campaign, lobby our elected reps and indeed protest should any of these proposed cuts to this important community resource come into effect,” a spokesperson said.

“We would also encourage all local residents and young people to continue to support their local library and ask them to stand with us as we seek to protect these much needed services for our local rural community which is already rurally isolated and socially excluded,” the spokesperson added.