Library lesson

APART from being cherished community facilities, libraries share another important characteristic with local post offices – they only come to be valued when it is almost too late to stop branch closures because of under-use and spending cuts.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Mar 2012, 06:00 BST

Having had the foresight to put in place a belated £1.34bn plan to revitalise the Post Office by enabling branches to remain open because Ministers recognise the service’s “social value”, they now need to be equally far-reaching with libraries.

They’re not just about books which are vitally important to those, like senior citizens, who cannot afford to buy reading material to pass the time of day. They also provide an invaluable information resource. And most are willing to adapt, whether it be changing their opening hours or the type of books that are on offer.

The challenge is persuading local residents to use their library – while convincing local and national politicians that a new and potentially uplifting chapter in the history of the library service can be written if the service is given sufficient impetus.

Post Office