COUNCIL PLANS MASSIVE LIBRARY SERVICE CUTS

• DOUBLING OF UNSTAFFED LIBRARY HOURS

• LIBRARY STAFF JOBS TO BE AXED

• BOOK FUND CUTS

In its latest round of austerity cuts to services, Stockport Council is threatening a £0.32 million slashing of the library service budget.

This is primarily to be done by doubling the number of hours for which branch libraries will have no staff presence whatsoever, thus allowing library staff job cuts to be implemented.

Already, in 12 of the libraries a very substantial proportion of the opening hours – including one full week day at each site – are unstaffed. This Council web page tabulates the staffed and unstaffed hours.

Under the new cuts plan 13 of the Borough’s branch libraries – (the only remaining exceptions being Offerton and Bridge Hall branches) – will have increased unstaffed hours.

Even the residual library service that will remain in our Grade 2 listed Central Library, after the greater part of the building is handed over to the Continuing Education service for its courses will be completely unstaffed for 35% of its opening hours, according to the report which went to the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 28^th September 2022 (see paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4 )

Council sources on the Open + system

This webpage gives some rudimentary details of the system for accessing libraries during unstaffed hours; the CCTV surveillance that operates in Open+ hours; the lighting and the emergency phone :

It informs us too that, “Face to face information, advice and guidance, and photocopying/printing services are available during our staffed hours”.

This is the agreement that persons granted Open + access have to sign up to :

Only here do we see it stated that toilets are not open during unstaffed hours. Ludicrously, that fact is not stated in the Council’s recently produced leaflet on identified ‘Warm Spaces’, which tells us, “All of our local libraries are Warm Spaces and can also help you access information, advice and support around cost of living, digital inclusion and wellbeing”. Wait a minute though, as the rudimentary details source that we refer to above makes clear, that level of service will only be available during staffed hours.

Shockingly, the agreement reveals that some disabled people will be excluded from using libraries during unstaffed hours : “Customers are responsible for making staff aware at registration of any pre-existing medical condition which may affect a decision to register the customer for Open+ Libraries use”.

That there are risks which, in normal circumstances would be managed by the trained and experienced staff, is revealed in a paragraph which gives Instructions on not letting other people ‘tailgate’ into the library; what to do in an emergency; what to do in the case of “violence or aggression from another customer”.

What do you think about the removal of staff from libraries for a substantial proportion of opening hours?

 Stockport United Against Austerity wants to know what you think about :-

1 a) the principle of libraries being open without staff and with consequently restricted services; and,

(b) the action of the Council in converting staffed hours to unstaffed hours for the reason of making budgetary cuts.

2 Are you put off using libraries when unstaffed and, if so, for what reasons?

• due to concerns about personal safety,
• due to concerns about what would happen if you become ill while in an unstaffed library,
• due to absence of staff to assist in dealing with enquiries and provision of information
• due to absence of staff to help with any access problems,
• due to any discrimination or equality of access issues
• due to facilities not being available during unstaffed hours
• Have you any other concerns about Open+ libraries, (e.g. have you become aware of any instances of anti-social behaviour during unstaffed library hours?)

How to let us know your views

Your responses may, of course, be submitted anonymously and SUAA will not reveal the identity of respondents to our survey when we pass on concerns to the Council.

Either : (1) respond in a comment on this blog article; or (2) email us at stockportunitedagainstausterity@outlook.com (you can do this via our Contact page); or (3) talk to us at any of our campaign stalls.