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Oxfordshire County Council has announced scaled-back plans for its volunteer-run libraries, which will see all 43 staffed at least 50% by paid employees.
Under the new scheme, reported by the Oxford Mail, 22 core libraries will remain fully staffed by council employees, while a further 16 will be staffed by an equal mix of council staff and volunteers.
The remaining five libraries would have one third volunteers to two thirds council staff.
The scheme marks a concession from the council's earlier proposal, put out to consultation in May, which had proposed that 16 libraries be staffed by only one third council employees.
Local campaigner Neil Clark said he welcomed the change. “These are trained librarians. It’s not the sort of work that can easily be taken on by volunteers,” he commented. However fellow campaigner Julia Drown labelled the compromise as just "crumbs".
Oxfordshire councillors will still have to discuss where a further £714,000 of savings can be made in the library service.