BROADSTONE LIBRARY SERVICES TO BE CUT

5.13.00pm GMT Wed 20th Feb 2008

Broadstone Library Services to be cut

Library services across the Borough are facing significant cuts: a 6% reduction in the book purchasing budget and opening hours reduced by 29 hours. Broadstone library will bear the brunt of the cuts with 7 hours removed. It is now planned to open at 10.00am rather than 9.00am each day. It is also likely a current staff vacancy will go unfilled, and of course there will be fewer new books available. All this is taking place against a background of 4.9% council tax increase, massive rises in stealth taxes and reserves swelling to £18 million.

Cllr Graham Mason, Cllr Dan Martin and Cllr Mike Brooke are opposed to these cuts in valuable services which have been approved by the Conservative cabinet without any discussion or consultation. Library staff were told on the day of the decision. "It is outrageous" said Cllr Mason, "that the staff were not involved in any discussions prior to the decision, and the proposed new opening times will affect a large number of residents especially young mothers who visit the library on their way back from dropping off the children at school. Broadstone library is the second busiest in Poole."