A while ago I mentioned that 16 libraries in Fife were under threat of closure and a campaign was being mounted to try to save them. I wrote to MSPs and councillors and went to meetings with managers who didn’t even have any knowledge of libraries, all to no avail. We got the bad news yesterday that THEY are going ahead with all of the closures, which will take place in April.
There was a ‘consultation period’ – which of course took place after the decision had been taken to close them. This happens all the time with local councils who all seem to have absolutely no idea what a consultation period should be.
I’m so mad and sad that so many children are going to miss out on visiting a library now because the nearest one will be too far away for their parents to take them to, especially if they have to use public transport. Teachers aren’t going to be able to take their classes for library visits now. How children are expected to have a love of books and education under these circumastances is beyond me. It’s all so short-sighted. Book borrowing doesn’t generate an income and money is everything nowadays.
All of the communities are going to be damaged by the closures. In an area like Fife, which is already disadvantaged with a high unemployment rate this is just another nail in the coffin. There are still plenty of people around who don’t have access to computers, how they are supposed to find work without that help – I just don’t know!
If you happen to live in the Kingdom of Fife then you might be interested to know which councillors voted for the library closures. They are: Councillors David Ross, Altany Craik, Kay Morrison, Pat Callaghan, Mark Hood, Neil Crooks, Lesley Laird, Judy Hamilton, Kinda Erskine, Bryan Poole and Andrew Rodger. Just in case you want to have strong words with them.
I always use my vote, even in local elections and I’m definitely going to make sure that I never vote for any of them. Remeber that hardly anybody does bother to vote in local elections and these people have all ‘got in’ with very few people actually voting for them. This is a time when your vote really will count for something.
It would be good if decent people could stand against them in the forthcoming elections and get them off the council which they definitely don’t deserve to be on.
I’m sorry to hear that these short-sighted, non-public-spirited closures are proceeding after all. Andrew Carnegie would be aghast, would he not? Good on you for doing what you can.
Valerie,
I agree, they have Andrew Carnegie’s parents’ cottage as a museum in Dunfermline, Fife. It’s a pity they can’t honour him by keeping libraries open.
This is such a shame and so shortsighted of the relevant authorities and the politicians! We’ve had several closures in my area too.
Karen White,
They seem to see libraries as indulgent frills, instead of the necessities of life that they are for a lot of people. They’re always the first to go when they need to save money, and they never open them up again when times get better.
How terrible! Closing libraries is the worst possible way to cut budgets. Dollars to libraries are one of the most cost effective ways to serve a community on a variety of levels. I hope the politicians are visited by the ghosts of Christmas and come to their senses! Shame on them!
Stefanie,
I’m absolutely sure that none of those local politicians are readers, otherwise they wouldn’t contemplate the closures. They really don’t seem to be interested in their communities at all. It looks like they’re only interested in picking up the money they get as councillors, and the power they have, so I really hope they get voted out!