Council reveal plans to shelve librarians in Borders

Ally McGilvray • Published 16 Aug 2011 09:30 1 Comment

FEARS have been voiced that Selkirk could lose its library service.

It follows the revelation that cash-strapped chiefs at Scottish Borders Council are planning to merge the service with its contact centres in a bid to save money.

However, it is understood that the libraries in Galashiels and Hawick will not be affected by the proposed move.

Gordon Edgar, chairman of The Royal Burgh of Selkirk and District Community Council, said: "I understand that librarians are being made redundant to accommodate this and the library will be run by trained contact centre staff."

But he added: "If they are going to do it in one town they need to do it in every town otherwise we want a reduction in our community tax."

Councillor Vicky Davidson, a member of the local authority's ruling administration, pointed out the council needed to save money. She insisted a library service would be maintained in every town in the Borders - but she confirmed "there may not be as many librarians".

Mr Edgar warned: "I fear that the library service is going to be depleted to such an extent that it won't be retained in smaller towns like Selkirk."

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 16 Aug 11

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• 

  LevenBrown
  9 posts
  Aug 23, 14:43
  Report comment

  You know what would be handy to have from the council is a simple and easy to read list of budgets, job titles, salaries and grades that they have cut or propose to cut.
  
  I would love to make sure they have exhausted all other possibilities and cut the bureaucratic jobs and central office back before they are touching frontline services.
  
  I would like the council to be much more transparent as to what they are cutting and why? As people we need to be sure they are not simply cutting frontline services as the easy option. The people who are making cuts must have the public interest at heart rather than their own and to me that means total transparency.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 0

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