Talks underway
over future of libraries
DISCUSSIONS are underway
with a number of interested parties about taking over the running of
some of the 11 Liverpool libraries which are under review. A 4
week consultation is getting underway as the service seeks to save
£2.5 million due to a 58% Central Government funding cut.
Under the proposals, 95% of people will still live within 2 miles of
a library and the Home Library Service and the RNIB Talking Book
Service will not be affected.
The City Council would continue to run Central Library - which is
used by 45% of service users - and 7 community libraries:- Croxteth,
Norris Green, Toxteth, Childwall, Allerton, Garston and Parklands.
Discussions are underway over the future of:- Breck Road, Dovecot,
Fazakerley, Kensington, Lee Valley, Old Swan, Sefton Park, Spellow,
Walton, Wavertree and West Derby libraries.
The libraries which are at risk are those which generally have below
average use, high running costs or are in close proximity to another
library.
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Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for libraries, Councillor Wendy
Simon, said:- "We fully appreciate and understand that people
will want to see as many libraries protected as possible, and we are
doing everything we possibly can to come up with innovative ways to
keep some of them open. The sad fact is that Liverpool City Council
used to receive £514 million in funding from Central Government, but
by 2017 we will have only £264 million. This means making extremely
difficult decisions, and we are trying to make sure we protect
services for the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and children
in care. We are in discussions with a number of different
organisations, and I am hopeful that we will be able to hand some of
the buildings over with some form of retained library service.
It is also an opportunity to take a fresh look at our libraries
service, because we have to accept that the way in which people
access libraries has changed over the years due to shifts in the
City's population. There have also been great advances in technology
which is why we are expanding our increasingly popular Read
Liverpool e-library service."
A series of further consultation meetings will take place over the
next few weeks before a further report is drawn up with a final set
of proposals to be considered by the Cabinet later on 2014. An initial consultation held earlier this year found that:-
► 45% of customers use Central Library, and 40% of those consulted
said they would use this library if their local library closed.
► The most used libraries are Central Library, Allerton, Childwall,
Garston and Norris Green. Together these libraries account for 57%
of the total library use across the City
► 59% of respondents said they would be willing to visit another
library if their local one was to close. We hope you liked the photos,
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Southport's
Royal Visit
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HER Royal Highness,
Princess Alexandra KG GCVO has been on Merseyside this week,
visiting Southport's Kings Gardens and BEN's Alexandra House Care
Centre, on 11 September 2014. First the Royal tour stopped at the
newly restored Kings Gardens, taking in the views of the Marine
Lake, that will be hosting the 24 Hour Yacht
Race, over the 13
September and 14 September 2014. She was then taken to see the
automotive industry charity's Care Center, as Princess Alexandra is
a patron of BEN and it is the Center's 30 Anniversary. Full
photograpic coverage and video highlights in the next issue.
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Did you know Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra
KG GCVO opened the Alexandra House Care Centre in 1983? |