Vee, that is terrible!
Our libraries are run by the local councils. The city of Adelaide (population about 1.2 million) has about 10 councils which run libraries funded by our council rates. So far I haven't heard any whisper of cuts.

Vee, that's awful! We've had cuts in hours at our two branch libraries (they don't open until 1:00 p.m. some days and are closed completely on Fridays), but the main library has remained open full-time (population here is roughly 58,000).

Our libraries are funded through the town budget, but we also have a very active FoL group that raises funds via donated book sales and the like. We are facing a horrendous budget crunch next year as our town will lose a huge amount of state money (the state of CT is in lousy financial shape), so I'm sure the libraries will be looked at again and hours cut. However, I'm far more concerned about what is going to be cut from the school budget -- but that's another story entirely.

If your bookmobile is cut, will you have any access to a library?

sheriz - my son's library in CT is already hardly functioning. Their hours do not meet the needs of working people at all.

In Westchester, NY, most are curtailing morning hours, and closed completely on one day more a week. Ours is now closed on Sundays (helps kids with research not at all!) and the neighboring city is closed on Fridays.

How terrible to cut funding for libraries when they are most needed. Where I used to live in Massachusetts, U.S.A., the library has become a center for job-seekers who use the computers and other resources to find job openings, write CV's and even take classes. Also, having a congenial place to spend time reading newspapers or even chatting with other people (in certain areas) is a valuable asset for someone who is out of work or under-employed. (I met a gentleman with a Ph.D in chemistry who had taken a temporary job cutting deli meats until he found something more in his line - he was grateful for the opportunity to keep up with his field. And I haven't even touched on the role libraries play in providing a good place for latchkey kids to go after school to do their homework, socialize, expand their interests. One librarian had started a wildly successful after-school program for high schoolers - they would choose different topics, research them, watch films, give presentations. Last I knew they were doing the American Civil War and were going to carpool to Pennsylvania to visit battlefields. Anyway, this library has actually expanded their hours and services with the help of some extra hard-earned tax dollars. The town mayor said of all the programs he oversees, the library is the only organization that doesn't waste money, so he was glad to allocate to them.

Well, I know I am preaching to the choir here. I don't think there are many people here at RP who don't think libraries are valuable. What a shame that the powers-that-be don't think so as well.

Our state funding has been cut by a third (meaning over $100,000), and now the biggest municipality has notified the library board that it is halving its contribution from $10,000 to $5,000-and since the state funding is partially decided by a formula based on on how much the municipalities pitch in.....our state funding may be further cut. I am very proud of my little town, that kicks in $5 per capita annually-which is still half of what is recommended, but a lot more than any other town in the county.
The library has become so much busier, with the internet access and the job center being used non-stop as people try to find work. We now close an hour earlier in the evening and on Saturday, and next up is opening later in the morning. Never have been open Sunday, oddly enough.

Our city library service was open on Sunday for several years but began closing on Sundays last year. So far, no further cuts have been made.

We have had an excellent mayor (affectionately called "Mayor for Life") who cannot run again, having served his term limits as both mayor of the city and then again mayor after a city-county merger. He tried very hard a few years ago to get a tax increase to expand the library system, but it failed. He has, however, built one new branch and is expanding another one in a poorer part of the city. The new mayor takes office on January 1; we will see what happens next. I feel very fortunate to have a good system, but so much money needs to be spent on technology that sometimes we don't get enough copies of popular books much less the more esoteric ones.

Sorry to hear about the loss of the mobile library services. Can anything be done to prevent this? An appeal to someone with clout? How about Ian Sansom, author of mysteries about a mobile library? A letter to the Guardian? I'm a bit out of touch but you know the kind of person who might be able to start the ball rolling!
These kinds of community schemes are so important. I am sorry that we lost a monthly bus service run by the local mall. Shoppers were picked up from their retirement village homes and later dropped back again. This made it possible to purchase bulk items that were too heavy for normal shopping. The obliging driver even took them into the house!

Vee -

Sorry to hear the awful cuts in your service!
Yes, it's been touch-and-go here (New York City), too. And to think of the people here who receive billion-$ bonus checks at Xmas time -- and the government doesn't want to raise their taxes! I don't get it!

Over the past 5 years I'm asked to sign letters to the State government asking them to NOT cut library finances. It seems every other year the library has to ask people walking in to sign yet another plea to the government. And to think -- this library is located in Lincoln Center, home of the arts -- The Metropolitan Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall (home of the great NY Philharmonic), New York State Theater (home of George Balanchine's great ballet company), Juilliard School of the Arts, and more. There's all this money floating around -- why is it such a struggle to fund a library?? Although I *do* occasionally take out a book and discover -- on the blank page before the title page -- the book plate saying: "This book donated through the generosity of the Stavros Niarchos Founation." At least one wealthy chap is paying attention ... and he's dead, and as far as I know, wasn't even American (he was a Greek shipping tycoon).

Hey, I have an idea, Vee: Are there any famous or wealthy people who grew up in your area? Maybe someone -- the mayor or MP for your area -- can appeal to those bigwigs to donate money and/or books.

Sorry not to get back sooner on this one . . . and thanks for all the comments and suggestions.
The Mobile Library has just made its January 15 minute stop and the 'girl behind the desk' was able to tell me that the matter is going to be discussed at a County Council meeting on Wednesday. No more is she allowed to say as library staff are not permitted to discuss the problem with customers or express an opinion, nor are petitions available to sign. Apparently a questionnaire could be filled in within the library and the results have been sent to Shire Hall.
Though we couldn't discuss Gloucestershire libraries, there was nothing to stop us talking about similar issues in the neighbouring county of Somerset where even more library services are due to be axed.
I don't think how ever many famous names lived locally they would be able to sway these financial decisions. The only literary names I can think of in Glos are the 'popular writers' (who never carry much weight) Jilly Cooper, Joanna Trollope and Susan Hill. Of course J K Rowling used to live about 6 miles down the road, but didn't have happy memories about growing up here and now lives in Scotland . . . but she could certainly afford to keep the whole library service running for years. ;-)
Lauramarie, our system is quite different from the US. Up until now the idea of members of a community helping to run a 'public' service would not be considered, possibly because the union to which the workers belonged would disapprove. Now that funds are so tight the public are being asked to take on the whole job. Not easy for the few folk who support the system in some of our more remote and backward areas . . . of which we have more than our fair share.

Vee, I hope for a good report after the meeting. Would it help if you lay in the corridor and had a screaming temper tantrum? If so, invite us to watch, please.

Isn't that typical of bureaucratic thinking! "A questionnaire to be put into the library about the mobile library!" Were copies put into the mobile library van as well because people who could not get into the main library would not be able to fill one in? This did not appear to have been the case from your posting. If so, a letter to the local Member or Shire Councillor, perhaps? I do realise that protests are probably useless but at least go down fighting, Vee!

Vee, I'm very sorry to hear this. Our local libraries have faced budget difficulties, but have not had to cut hours much. All the branches remain open, and only a few hours have been shaved here and there. I don't know about the library van, since I never use it myself. This area (Silicon Valley) is intensely pro-library, unlike any place I've ever lived before. We regularly vote special funding for the libraries through the Proposition system.

That is not true all over California. In poor, rural areas in particular, libraries have been closed or had services reduced. I do realize some communities are facing tough choices, and can understand that if they are reducing police and fire service, they might find it necessary to reduce library hours as well. Closing the library altogether would lead me to put my house on the market and move away. I'm serious about this -- the first thing I look at when researching a community is the presence of a decent library. If there's no library, I simply won't live there.

Rosefolly

Paula/rosefolly, I can't see us doing anything quite as drastic as moving to a town with a better library service and, knowing my luck, if I did the libraries would probably close the next year. In the UK there are not the opportunities to vote for things like libraries, schools, hospitals etc. We do elect County Council/Town Council representatives, but these are unpaid positions (they claim expenses), the real work is done by salaried officials. These people, as full-time employees are 'non-political'. The same is true in our system of Govt. Political parties may come and go but the Civil Servants remain the same.
Carolyn & Ann the idea of throwing a tantrum and chewing the carpet (a la Hitler) during the library meeting would earn me 35 seconds of fame on local TV "Aged woman goes berserk outside Council Chamber. She has been taken into custody by local police who say, as yet no-one has come forward to pay her bail set at one pound. Sightings of possible family members have been reported driving from the scene calling "She's not with us"

Found this article - one way to bring attention to the issue!

Here is a link that might be useful: Library closing nr Milton Keynes

lemonhead, that's wonderful!

Interesting plea for the UK libraries by author Philip Pullman... very articulate, I thought.

And my brother sent me an email saying that this Sat in the UK is "Save your Library" day.... So go forth and borrow thou a book... :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Pullman plea for libraries

Our mobile library service has been given a slight reprieve and will visit us once a month until June. The librarians have no idea why this has happened nor what will take place after June . . . nor are they allowed to discuss the matter with us, the borrowers.
As we are no longer able to oder a book while in the library or by phone without paying a pound (!) I have ordered Stone Angel as recommended by lemonhead/liz, 'on line' for free.
While 'there' I noticed this little youtube film and thought it might amuse you all.

Here is a link that might be useful: It's a Book

I love It's a Book! And I'm glad you have a reprieve. Maybe someone is listening and will make it permanent.

Carolyn, I went to our Mobile Library Van today with a heavy heart accompanied by husband who was to take photos of its last breath, only to be told that an injunction has been taken out against the County Council by the 'Friends of the Library' and the case will be heard next week in the High Court.
Their argument is that the 'powers that be' did not take note of the public consultation, nor have they taken into account the Libraries Act passed in the nineteenth century making it a legal requirement to provide free libraries for the use of the population.
So . . . we have a reprieve until at least September.

Here is a link that might be useful: Library Closures

Good luck to the FoLs! Nothing like using old Acts and the 'law's long delay' to put things off!

BTW...I used all kinds of stratagems to keep a couple of illegal cats in a flat until I was able to move, by writing a series of letters to the board of management which had to be discussed and answered at their next monthly meeting. (This was suggested by the Law lecturer at the Uni. where I worked!)

Hooray! Long may you read library books.

Good sense has prevailed! The High Court has ruled that the closure of county libraries in Glos and neighbouring county of Somerset is illegal.
This is not on the grounds of inadequate 'consultation' or in contravention of the Libraries Act but by reason of inequality of provision, whereby the elderly, disabled, socially disadvantaged will not have access to library services.
The County Councils have been ordered to pay costs (OK they will be using our money raised by rates/taxes etc) and hopefully they will not try and go through the whole process again next year.
Apparently less than two percent of council revenue goes towards library services, but, of course, they are seen as a 'soft touch' as no-one expects bookish types to get stroppy and make a stand against the Faceless Ones.
More Power to the Reader say I ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Victory for Library Services

This is very good news! I find this uplifting and cheering.

If anyone wants to use my hard-earned tax dollars for library services, I hope they will do that instead of wasting it on padding overtime salaries and unnecessary consultant projects.

Hooray, Veer. And it took them *this* long to realize that???....

Still, glad to hear it's good news...

Long live the Mobile Library!

The end has come after an almost thirty year relationship.
It was a slow and painful death with few mourners to witness the final moments and I shed a silent tear. Only yesterday the drivers were told that the Mobile Library service would finally be ending, although I had heard about it on the grape-vine.
I staggered to the van with all my books and noticed everyone else had done the same; there were more volumes than I had ever seen before.
We still have a branch library in our nearest town, but as I have no car I have to rely on the good-will of the DH to give me a lift and since our local Council have recently introduced 'parking charges' and he refuses to go into a Council-run car park on principle, I cannot see me using the facilities very often!
Also the mobile library never charged any fines and were very reasonable about the number of weeks/months you might 'borrow' a book.
I'll have to make a start on my TBR pile.

I'm very sorry for the loss of your library. But now we have another great excuse for growing our TBR piles!

I'm so sorry, Vee. I don't know what on earth I would do without the public library. Do you have a bus available--and a great big book bag? Could you bribe your husband with a special dish he loves? How are your pouting skills?

Vee, I am so sorry. I expect you will have thought about getting DH to drop you off and go elsewhere for a short time while you choose your books? My husband was furious to have to pay a parking fee when I went to the local Council Offices in the UK once. He came storming in and the receptionist hastily refunded the money from a dish on her desk. Some sort of ratepayer appeasement fund!
I am almost embarrased to tell you, in response to your original post asking how other RP'ers fared, that we have a local library van which drops off books to the door of housebound readers.
I do quite well by visiting several libraries operated by local Councils and buying the occasional book from Book Depository or Abe when none of the libraries have the one I want.

Vee, I am so sorry to hear your news. Our libraries are so important to us all. I hope something can be worked out.

Vee, I'm so sorry to hear this. Perhaps you and the other local mobile library users could organize a monthly (or whatever frequency might work) carpool trip to the nearest library?

We are lucky to have three libraries in our town of about 60,000 residents. The one closest to me has just reopened after almost a year of renovations (boiler, windows, roof -- badly needed basics that took years to fund) and I'm delighted to have it back. Our main library is in the thick of the shopping district, and we have to pay for parking there -- if any can be found at all -- as well. Parking at my local one is free.

With the help of a businessman, we set up a Community Library in a small fishing town some years ago. The local people donated books. One airline steward brought paperbacks that passengers left on the planes when they finished them! The businessman gave us an empty shop and the local Council gave us a grant for shelving. Other furniture such as a magazine rack and a set of childrens chairs and a table were donated. Volunteers with library experience manned the desk. After a successful year, the local Council took it over.