NO TO VOLUNTEER AND UNSTAFFED LIBRARIES IN BARNET

Despite the overwhelming support to maintain an effective Library Service across the whole of Barnet in the previous consultation, Barnet Council is continuing with its plans to limit the universal access to libraries for all people at all times.

Our concerns include but are not limited to:

• The 70% reduction in professionally staffed opening hours, which risks the safety of users and restricts the access of people under 16.

• The reliance of volunteers, who might not be available in sufficient numbers to keep libraries open and whose of lack of expertise will rule out the provision of many services.

• The massive reduction in space (more than 50% on average), which will reduce the resources and services the libraries can offer.

• The rapidly increasing cost of killing off the library service, which far outstrips the proposed savings. Spending over £6m to save £2.2 million is a waste of taxpayer’s money.

We call upon Conservative-run Barnet Council to halt these proposals and to work with residents and concerned organizations to develop a really viable and acceptable plan for the library service. These proposals are not only detrimental to the communities across Barnet but they are financially unsound with the cost of implementation far exceeding the proposed savings; we encourage the Council to see sense and scrap these proposals.