9/7/2015

The mystery of the disappearing libraries!

Lovers of 'crime' novels were faced with a new mystery today at Sefton Park library - completely empty shelves in the 'Crime Section'. The crime section was deliberately targeted by a mass borrowing from members of the Save Liverpool Libraries campaign.

Spokesperson Sue Ferguson said: Last November when Mayor Anderson promised that no library would close, we were delighted, but he also promised that in the near future he would bring detailed proposals to Cabinet for approval. Those detailed proposals have yet to materialize.

Seven months later, July 2015, no details as yet, and unsurprisingly, rumours abound. This is no way to treat library staff Mayor Anderson. We hear of libraries being handed over to commercial organisations with a section of the building to open one day a week to 'offer' a volunteer-run library service.

A volunteer-run library is a zombie library, it is dead already but you just don't know when it's going to drop. They have been tried in other parts of the country and have failed.

Such a service:

• Would not be part of the city-wide borrowing service
• Would have very limited opening hours
• Would rely on fund-raising to provide new stock
• Most crucially would have no access to trained staff
• Would have to close completely if volunteers were not available.

It could not be considered a library in any meaningful sense, more of a book swop shop. To run down and ultimately close such a crucial service would be the real crime!

Of course these rumours may not be true. However, until Mayor Anderson publishes the detailed proposals then Liverpool people, library staff and library users, are left in limbo.

Tony Benn once said 'Liverpool was the most political city in the UK. Its people campaign strongly when they feel an injustice has been done.' Save Liverpool Libraries are still campaigning for a Publicly Run Library Service with properly Trained Library Staff.

Post-script - all the books have now been safely returned to the library service.

Contact details:
Sue Ferguson 0151 427 3071
Ruth Knox 07932 554952
Ritchie Hunter 07929 141945

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