Save Somerset Libraries

26/02/2019

Deliberations continue in Wiveliscombe as the Town Council struggles to make a decision on whether to keep their library. Doh!

04/12/2018

Thirteen out of fifteen libraries scheduled for closure have submitted expressions of interest to form community library partnerships. Most will be run by SCC staff with volunteers, two will be staff led and three will be volunteer led.

Community partners leading 13 potential Community Library Partnerships were announced today (3 December). On 5 November, Somerset County Council revealed it would retain 19 of its existing librarie…

13/11/2018

What does this say about democracy? Local council: Local, accessible, do what the people want. Meanwhile; County Council: Remote, inaccessible, ignore what the people want. Well done Wiveliscombe.

Yesterday evening (12 Nov 2018) Wiveliscombe Town Council voted unanimously to submit an expression of interest to the County Council to form a community library partnership and thereby save our li…

12/11/2018

You can find the petition at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/228742

Supporters including JK Rowling and Neil Gaiman add their names to a campaign calling for library funding to be ringfenced

15/10/2018

Timetable for Somerst County Council decisions on our libraries:

16 October - The recommendations on the library service re-design will be published with the Scrutiny Policy and Place Meeting agenda http://democracy.somerset.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=184&MId=651&Ver=4

16 October - Details of the recommendation for each library will be sent to communities along with, where relevant, an invitiation to submit an Expression of Interest to run a Community Library Partnership.

5 November - SCC Cabinet takes a final decision on the recommendations about the library network and the future funding allocated to each library http://democracy.somerset.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=761&Ver=4

15 November - closing date for Expressions of Interest

Nov 2018- Jan 2019 - Community Library Partnerships proposals to be developed

Jan - April 2019 - Implementation of the Library Redesign Programme decisions.

Contact: Lindsey Tawse on 01823 355059, Email: [email protected]  Jamie Jackson on 01823 359040, Email: [email protected]

04/10/2018

Libraries aren't just about books. They're about finding information, finding real facts, and supporting democracy. Closing libraries plays into the hands of those who promote false truths and govern in the absence of dissent.

Libraries are under seige. We must protect them.

27/09/2018

Key dates for Somerset's decisions:

16 October - The consultation results and the recommendations on the library service re-design will be published with the Scrutiny Policy and Place Meeting agenda

16 October - Details of the recommendation for each library will be sent to communities along with, where relevant, a Community Library Partnership Expression of Interest invitation.

24 October - The County Council's Scrutiny Committee for Policy and Place will meet to consider and debate the recommendations

5 November - Following the Scrutiny Committee meeting, the Cabinet will meet to take a final decision on the recommendations about the library network and the future funding allocated to each library by Somerset County Council

15 November - Expression of Interest in a Community Library Partnership closing date

Nov 2018- Jan 2019 - Community Library Partnerships proposals to be developed following expressions of Interest being received from individual communities

Jan - April 2019 - Implementation of the Library Redesign Programme decisions.

20/08/2018

News from over the pond. They directly link investment in libraries to local economic development. Tragic they don't have such progressive policies here.

Local residents overwhelmingly approved a referendum to build five new libraries and renovate 13 others in November 2014.

14/08/2018

Something for Somerset to consider: "the council’s decision-making process had been unlawful, and that it had not properly considered whether it would be operating a comprehensive and efficient library service – as required by law – once the much-criticised closures had gone ahead."

Proposed measures by struggling local authority had not considered statutory duties closely enough, judge rules

29/06/2018

Good article about volunteer run libraries...

Over the last decade, around 500 UK libraries have been handed over to ordinary people to run for free. This option is seen as a good alternative to closures – but how do the volunteers feel?

29/06/2018

From the artlcle: "500 of the UK’s 3,800 libraries are operated (by volunteers). The rise of volunteer libraries goes hand in hand with closures: in 2017 alone, 105 public libraries around the country closed, ....bringing the total number of closures since they began counting in 2010 to almost 600".

And a comment left: "I work in a library and library staff sometimes have to cope with difficult situations such as people with mental health or addiction issues and disruptive children. I don't think it's acceptable to expect volunteers to deal with such issues. It's not just about issuing the latest Danielle Steel or M C Beaton. People also use the library to access the internet, especially when they need to fill in complex forms or print these forms out. As staff we are able to build up relationships with customers as we are likely to be there whenever they come in."

Over the last decade, around 500 UK libraries have been handed over to ordinary people to run for free. This option is seen as a good alternative to closures – but how do the volunteers feel?