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Back-door library closures slammed
November 8, 2011 12:00 AM
Plans agreed by Islington Labour councillors to reduce library opening hours and slash £650,000 from the libraries budget have been slammed by Liberal Democrats.
Measures agreed recently by the council's Labour Executive include:
- introducing self-service machines in libraries.
- twinning libraries so they will open on alternate days with reduced opening hours.
- increases in fines.
Central Library, inHolloway Road, and Finsbury Library, in Rosebery Avenues, will not have their opening hours altered. All other Islington libraries will see reduced hours and closures on some days of the week.
Islington Liberal Democrat leader, councillor Terry Stacy, said:
"This is blatant closure by the back door. On any given day, there will be fewer library services available in Islington.
"The Islington library service will be much more impersonal and soulless in future. Our libraries have always prided themselves on the personal touch and that's what residents like and expect.
"Labour councillors managed to spend £7million less last year than they budgeted. They have some serious explaining to do to residents as to why services like libraries are being cut like this."
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