YP Letters: Brought to book over city's library service

I TAKE issue with Coun Jack Scott’s letter regarding 
the library service in Sheffield.

The first main argument Labour in Sheffield use for being unable to fund library staff is that the funds are needed elsewhere for city centre development.

The wholesale demolition and avoidance of other options, for example reuse of buildings, have contributed to the demise of the city centre.

The second argument is that the council has absolutely no cash to commit to paying for library staff.

The council is currently recruiting on its website for two new assistant director posts costing a combined £130,000. This is enough to staff a third of the community libraries currently volunteers are having to run.

A freeze on recruiting senior management, and on the wholesale demolition which is wrecking our city centre, to fund librarians and other front line staff should be the council’s highest priority.

From: Ann Peacock, Guiseley.

WHY can’t local libraries, like mine, open coffee shop concessions to help raise revenue? They need to be far more business-minded if they’re to get people through the doors.