News

Essex libraries: hours cut but no closures

01.02.11 | Benedicte Page

Essex county council has vowed not to close any of its libraries, or to cut back its mobile library destinations. But consultation is to begin next month on proposals to reduce opening hours to 54 of its 73 libraries.

Jeremy Lucas, cabinet member for heritage, culture and the arts, said because of budget pressures the council had already taken steps to reduce the net cost of the service, including taking on delivery of Slough borough council's library service from the start of the year.

He said: "These measures are not sufficient in themselves to make all the required savings but the approach we have adopted is flexible enough to offer the opportunity of extending opening hours again wherever we can introduce further revenue-producing arrangements with other organisations," he said.

The opening hours consultation will run for six weeks from Monday 14th February, via forms available in local libraries or online at www.essex.gov.uk/libraries.

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By Anonymous

Essex are to be commended for much of their service. But reducing hours will reduce usage and weaken the service long term as people turn up and are put off by locked doors.

We will have to wait and see what the proposed hours look like.

If you take Debden the hours are already pretty poor

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9.00 - 4.00
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9.00 - 7.00
Friday: 9.00 - 1.00
Saturday: 9.00 - 4.00
Sunday: Closed

or Buckhurst Hill

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9.00 - 7.00
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9.00 - 5.00
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10.00 - 5.00
Sunday: Closed

Things may look a bit thin if you cut these further... Particularly odd at Debden given that they moved the library into Epping Forest College - surely this should mean it is open throughout the college day at least?

Tue, 01/02/2011 - 18:23
By Ian Anstice

"Book Lack in Ongar" was a (pretty good) jokey comment I saw yesterday about possible Essex cuts... and then this happens. Oh dear.

Wed, 02/02/2011 - 08:35
By Anonymous

While I concede Essex are doing well in comparison to elsewhere, they also propose to cut 21 jobs and reduce the "materials" fund by £250,000

Wed, 02/02/2011 - 17:24
By Anonymous

The link on the Essex CC site says nothing about cuts to staffing and stock budgets.

I guess the staffing cuts follow from reducing hours?

Would the book budget be cut further if hours are saved?

Context would be helpful - what percentage of the Essex book budget is £250K?

Thu, 03/02/2011 - 09:53
By Anonymous

Reporting is starting to spread on this story with indications of what the plans are for each library - eg BBC Essex story that lists some libraries unaffected and that reducations will be from 1 to 20 hours per week.

But no actual release of this information by the Council. So we can continue to listen to the drip drip drip rather than just being presented with the plans...

Mon, 07/02/2011 - 16:43
By Anonymous

Essex are to be commended for much of their service. But reducing hours will reduce usage and weaken the service long term as people turn up and are put off by locked doors.

We will have to wait and see what the proposed hours look like.

If you take Debden the hours are already pretty poor

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9.00 - 4.00
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9.00 - 7.00
Friday: 9.00 - 1.00
Saturday: 9.00 - 4.00
Sunday: Closed

or Buckhurst Hill

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9.00 - 7.00
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9.00 - 5.00
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10.00 - 5.00
Sunday: Closed

Things may look a bit thin if you cut these further... Particularly odd at Debden given that they moved the library into Epping Forest College - surely this should mean it is open throughout the college day at least?

Tue, 01/02/2011 - 18:23
By Ian Anstice

"Book Lack in Ongar" was a (pretty good) jokey comment I saw yesterday about possible Essex cuts... and then this happens. Oh dear.

Wed, 02/02/2011 - 08:35
By Anonymous

While I concede Essex are doing well in comparison to elsewhere, they also propose to cut 21 jobs and reduce the "materials" fund by £250,000

Wed, 02/02/2011 - 17:24
By Anonymous

The link on the Essex CC site says nothing about cuts to staffing and stock budgets.

I guess the staffing cuts follow from reducing hours?

Would the book budget be cut further if hours are saved?

Context would be helpful - what percentage of the Essex book budget is £250K?

Thu, 03/02/2011 - 09:53
By Anonymous

Reporting is starting to spread on this story with indications of what the plans are for each library - eg BBC Essex story that lists some libraries unaffected and that reducations will be from 1 to 20 hours per week.

But no actual release of this information by the Council. So we can continue to listen to the drip drip drip rather than just being presented with the plans...

Mon, 07/02/2011 - 16:43

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