Small libraries could close across Hampshire
Smaller libraries across Hampshire could be under threat of closure as part of cost-cutting measures by Hampshire County Council.
Councillor Margaret Snaith-Tempia, who is responsible for libraries at Hampshire County Council, told The News that although she and her colleagues would do everything in their power to protect branches, it is impossible to rule out closures.
She said: 'I am proud of Hampshire's libraries, and rightly so. They are the centres of our communities and provide excellent services. Everyone involved with them should be proud of the job they do.
'But we can't continue as we are. We have been spending more money than we have, and of course that can't continue.
'We are undertaking measures to reduce that spending. I want to protect our libraries, but work must be done. Two years ago, I would have said we will never close a library, but as things are now, we can't rule out the closure of some of our smaller ones.'
Hampshire County Council owns and runs 54 libraries, with a budget of 18m.
But this year, the library service is predicted to overspend by 1.3m. The council is already in consultation over potentially axing 65 of its 453 library jobs, and Cllr Snaith-Tempia believes job losses are unavoidable.
She said: 'We're talking about people's jobs and their lives and it's really not a conversation I ever wanted to be involved in.
'But there's no choice. We have had overspending in the last few years, the national financial situation means there's less money than ever before and as much as I'd love to stop this happening, the cash just isn't there.
'The government hasn't increased the amount it gives us for the last few years. I can't see it doing so now.'
Cllr Snaith-Tempia said it was too early to say for certain where the axe would fall on the county's libraries.
She said: 'The employment issue is the first phase of a long process, and looking at library closures would be a long way further on.
'So we're not considering particular libraries yet. I hope it doesn't come to it. We will work hard to make sure it doesn't.
'But even if we can avoid it, it's hard to see things remaining as they are. We'd be looking at moving libraries from the buildings they're in now, to other premises.'
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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