Haringey to Cut Library opening hours by more than a third

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by PeterPiper on December 11, 2016 at 23:38

For pity's sake. We all know that times are hard and austerity is the mantra but how can saving £150k by cutting the opening hours of our branch libraries by a third, (Stroud Green & Harringay included) be justified. One can't get a CEO to head up the council for such a paltry sum.

My feelings from observations made in our branch library is that it is a hugely popular resource for all, from tiny tots through to pensioners. It is never without customers and has been renovated in just the last few years and is a welcoming space of calm for thought, self-education and contemplation.

Perhaps it's just me, but I do not think this is an enlightened cut. I wonder if our councillors feel similarly and will question the proposal at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday? I guess the minutes might tell us when they are eventually released.

My sympathies extend to the unlucky 6 members of staff who will be made redundant because of this cut.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Liz on December 12, 2016 at 10:30

The Friends of Libraries groups are very concerned at this continued hollowing out of the library service in Haringey.

Following on from a re-structure that saw qualified librarians downgraded to customer assistants and a number of redundancies, this next step will see footfall in our branches fall and give the council the excuse they need to close them (it surely hasn't escaped their notice that some of these branches are in very nice buildings in expensive parts of the borough). 

I totally agree with the points that Peter Piper has made and further observe that increased opening hours in the large branches is how the councillors will salve their consciences in this matter. However, for many young people, the non-housebound elderly and mothers with young children who use these branches not just for dropping off a book but to use computers, join in activities or get help and information from librarians the extra effort of getting on a bus or walking further (or in the case of some teenagers even fear of travelling outside their postcode) will mean that they will no longer be able to access what has up to now one of the best library services in London. I hope that our local councillors will argue vigorously against this retrograde step.  

• ▶ Reply