Libraries looked atin searchfor cuts

LIBRARY services are coming under the scrutiny of council officers who are faced with making 25 per cent cuts across the board under directions from the coalition Government.

Doncaster Council said it wanted to ask residents for their views on the authority’s current library service and appealed for views from people who use libraries regularly and those who never visit.

A spokesman said: “We want people to answer four questions: What do you think of your local library at the moment? What services do you want from your local library? How do you think we can improve what we offer in the future? How do you think we can reduce the costs?”

“Like all councils across the country Doncaster Council has to make big savings over the next few years. The council has to reduce its spending by a quarter across the organisation and we need to make sure that all services are delivered in the most efficient and effective way possible.

“The results of this consultation concerning Doncaster's Libraries service will help the council make decisions about the future of library services.”

Doncaster has 26 community libraries as well as library services within Doncaster Royal Infirmary, libraries in Moorlands and Lindholme prisons, two mobile libraries, a home library service and a story bus for children.

The consultation will run until next Friday. The results will be available at www.doncaster. gov.uk and will be on display in libraries and receptions.

Doncaster Council is looking to make savings of around 80m and chief executive Rob Vincent, who was brought in by the Government to turn around the troubled authority ran a series of workshops earlier this month to set out the impact of this.

Director of neighbourhoods and communities Jane Miller said: “We need to make sure that we have an efficient and modern library service that fits around people’s lives and to achieve this we need to get residents’ help to get any changes to services right.”