26th May 2011

WEYMOUTH: Residents urged to attend library meetings

By Harry Walton

READERS battling to save their local libraries are being urged to attend a vital series of public meetings.

Twenty community libraries are threatened with closure as county council budget cuts threaten dramatic changes to Dorset’s library service by looking to make £800,000 in savings.

People have already been asked to fill in a questionnaire on two proposals for the future of a sustainable affordable library service – one would withdraw funding for 20 local libraries but keep 14 of the biggest and busiest libraries going and the other would retain all 34 libraries but with reduced hours and fewer books.

Now library users are being urged to visit a series of drop-in sessions over coming weeks at the 20 threatened libraries to further share their ideas and provide feedback on these proposals, make suggestions and help to shape the future of their local library.

Portland town councillor Sandy West said libraries at both Underhill and Tophill were under threat and she urged islanders and any other area with an “at risk” library to attend a drop-in meeting and register their views for retaining their library.

She added: “Small libraries such as Tophill are actually doing better than big libraries such as Weymouth.

“People need their small local libraries because they are the heart of those communities.

“Underhill is the fourth most deprived area in Dorset. Not everyone has a computer but people can use a computer at Underhill library and at many other small libraries which provide a similar service.

“It is not all about books, but my concern is that if libraries have to close at Underhill and Tophill then it is a 15 mile round trip to Weymouth which, for a family, is an expensive journey.

“The obvious solution is to keep the little local libraries open but all this seems to be beyond the county council’s ability to comprehend.

“People must go to these drop-in meetings if they want to have any chance of saving their library. It will then be up to the county council to listen to them not turn a deaf ear.”

A county council spokesman said: “The sessions aim to gather views of Dorset residents on the ways in which the required savings of £800,000 can be met. The consultation period runs until 13th June 2011 and gives local people the opportunity to be involved in shaping their Library Service. The results of the consultation will be considered thoroughly and help county councillors decide on the best way forward in July 2011.”

The following are among informal drop-in meetings:

Burton Bradstock, Tuesday June 7th, 10.30am-noon; Charmouth, Wednesday June 8th, 3pm-4.30pm; Chickerell, Friday June 10th, 2.30pm-4pm; Crossways, Thursday June 2nd, 10.15am-11.45am; Littlemoor, Thursday June 9th, 2.30pm-4pm; Lyme Regis, Monday June 6th, 10.30am-noon; Portland Tophill, Monday June 13th, 10am-11.30am; Portland Underhill, Thursday June 9th, 4pm-5.30pm; Puddletown, Monday June 13th, 4pm-5.30pm; Wyke Regis, Wednesday June 1st, 10.30am-noon.

To find more detailed information about the current Library Service Consultation proposals visit www.dorsetforyou.com/libraryconsultation2011

WEYMOUTH: Residents urged to attend library meetings

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