Residents voice concerns over Harrow Council plans to cut library staff (From Harrow Times)

Residents voice concerns over Harrow Council plans to cut library staff

11:20am Tuesday 10th August 2010 in

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DISGRUNTLED library users have hit out at plans to cut staff by a third and replace them with automated book checkouts.

Harrow Council last week unveiled its latest cost-cutting idea – installing 22 supermarket-like checkouts across the borough's nine library.

This would pave the way for up to 42 staff being axed from library services, saving more than £1m a year in salaries.

But Thelma Matthews is one library user who is opposed to the plans and has called on residents to fight against any redundancies.

She said: “The library staff are wonderful people – absolutely fabulous. You run libraries for people and you need people there to run them.

“I am happy to do anything to stop this because it is not what people want. I have spoke to a lot of people and they feel the same.

“Quite honestly, hands off our libraries.”

The Canons Drive resident fears automated machines will mean books are not available, they will get damaged, and the service to residents will suffer as a consequence.

She added she has spoken to staff at Stanmore Library and says they are “very concerned” at the plans which have been unveiled.

The council argues the machines, which are in use at other libraries across the country, will actually improve the service available.

Cllr Rekha Shah, who is overseeing the proposed plans, said: “The machines will provide customers with a faster service but unfortunately, it means we need to retain fewer library staff.”

Commenters on the Harrow Times website also questioned the idea, with one, Jackdaw, saying: “ Harrow's library staff are informed and helpful.

“Replacing staff with an automaton is not a wise decision. Machines break down and fail to work unlike Harrow's library staff.”

Richard at Harrow adds: “I want more info from the council like how many managers are employed and at what cost. I bet I could protect the front line while cutting back on under-employed managers.”

His concerns echo those raised by union Unison last week, who accused the council of “destroying” frontline services while protecting high paid managers within the authority.

But the council hit back, arguing it is streamlining management levels so that there is a maximum of five levels between senior officials and low paid workers.

It added that the review of services – part of a £50m cost cutting programme over the next three years – is aimed at providing value for money.

The consultation into the library service cuts has been launched, and a final decision whether to pursue the programme is expected to be made in October.