CREDITON and District Labour Party has written to the Devon County Councillor for Crediton, Cllr Jim Cairney, concerning proposed cuts to Devon’s library services.

The group wrote: “We are deeply concerned about the cuts Devon County Council is proposing to make to its library services, including in Crediton. Our understanding is that the council intends to cut opening hours, including more day closures, install library hubs and reduce professional staffing by involving more volunteers.

We understand that the consultation has received over 20,000 responses. Surely this is an indication of the importance of library services in people’s lives.

The way in which the consultation was designed implied that making cuts was a forgone conclusion and was about how to make cuts rather than about whether cuts should be made.

Furthermore, it seems as though the council will be making budgetary decisions before having time to analyse and consider the results of the consultation on provision of library services.

Following a meeting of Crediton & District Labour, we urge the following:

1. That the council delay budgetary decisions until a proper analysis of the data has taken place.

2. That the council reflects seriously on the benefits its library services provide, including:

• Access to reading for people of all ages. For children, the National Literacy Trust research shows that reading for pleasure is a key factor in educational success and wellbeing. With over 50% of children saying they don’t enjoy reading (National Literacy Trust), libraries play a vital role in encouraging children to enjoy books. So if we reduce access to our libraries to times when children are less likely to visit we adversely affect the success and wellbeing of future generations. Adult wellbeing also improves with access to reading.

• Access to the Internet and Wi-Fi. People need library space in order to access the Internet in order to make a job applications, seek work, seek services etc. Providing access for people who can afford it privately is vital for equality.

• Provision of a warm, safe space for people of all ages and social class

• Provides community food hubs and spaces for communities to meet

• Professional librarians help people with research and advice and information as well as with informed advice about books. Replacing them with volunteers is undervaluing a crucial profession.

• Shared activities such as story and play sessions for children and book clubs and events for adults.

The Council must consider whether the small amount of money it will save initially outweighs the negative impacts on the longer term.

The Council currently spends a very small percentage of its overall budget on libraries so the small amount of saving it will gain by making the cuts will have little effect financially.

Furthermore, Government funding to the county council has eased the debt burden due to SEND, a financial boost announced after these cuts were first proposed. The financial landscape therefore has changed rendering these cuts now unnecessary.

The council should be proud of the library services it currently provides on a small budget. It is ironic that in the National Year of Reading, Exeter is making a bid to become a City of Culture at the same time the County Council proposes to reduce access to libraries.

We believe the long term social, educational and health effects of the cuts will be huge and we urge the council to stop referring to cuts to library services as a positive transformation and to rethink these damaging proposals.”

Crediton & District Labour Party