On a dark, rainy and cold January day, Puddletown library stands like a proud beacon of light on a hilltop. Inside, there’s a hive of activity and a warm glow of community spirit.
Puddletown library is the most recent community library to be launched in Dorset. Retired teachers, Lesley and Martin Usherwood both volunteer their time to help run the library, which was on the ‘hit list’ for closure back in 2010. It is now opened by volunteers for 2 hours a day, 4 days a week.
“We feel that as teachers this library would be a great loss to the local community. Young families and older people can’t always get to the big towns, so for them, the community library is an important resource,” said Lesley.
“It’s a nice building – right next to the village hall, so it seemed a shame to lose it as a place for people to share their love of reading and feel a part of the community. For some, it is a life line.” She added.
I also spoke to Mary Matthews, 70, who uses Puddletown library twice a week:
“I enjoy seeing familiar faces and I am pleased the community group have kept the library open for us. If the Council won’t keep it open, then there was no choice. We couldn’t lose it.”
Sarah Hill is 28, and brings in her 4 year old son, Max, once a week for his bedtime books.
“I have lived in Puddletown for years now, and getting into Dorchester with a young child can be a nightmare, so it’s nice to be able to pop up the road. I would miss it if it closed,” she said.
The subject of libraries is a controversial and emotional one – everyone seems to have an opinion about saving these national treasures.
The most recent threats to Dorset libraries came in 2010 when the central government’s austerity programme forced Dorset County Council to cut 15% of the library service budget in order to make savings of over £800,000. Since then, compromises have been made and sacrifices were inevitable to ensure financial targets were met.
These savings needed to be made fast, so long term solutions such as merging with other Council’s were not an option, and in December 2010 proposals to close 20 libraries in Dorset were announced.
The outcry from the local communities was not unexpected, but the sheer number of supporters for the survival of the libraries soon became clear. Tracy Long, Library Services Manager for Dorset County Council said:
“There was outcry from people who don’t use libraries which ironically, is quite a positive thing as it shows how much libraries are valued by the local community”
“An important strand of our work is consultation, and we had some strong feedback from the library users in the communities that the closure of the libraries wasn’t fair, and that we shouldn’t do it. But we also had feedback from people offering to pay for different services, and there was a willingness to take on extra within the community,” she added.
The closure of the libraries was a part of a larger package of money saving tactics, which included staff being offered voluntary redundancy or re-assignment to different council jobs and a 50% reduction of spending on books and materials.
“It wasn’t just about saving the money through the perceptions that we were closing the libraries. It was a number of other things which has an impact on all of our libraries,” said Tracy.
As soon as the announcement was made,support groups started to spring up all over the county, and as a result, the Association of the Friends of Dorset Libraries (ADLIB) was formed. Their first task was to start a petition, which needed 1,000 signatures to serve notice for a full council meeting to discuss alternative options to the closures. In just one week, 14,000 people signed it.
In an overview committee meeting in July 2011, the Council reduced the number of libraries to close from 20 libraries to nine. This was still not the outcome local communities wanted.
Chairman of ADLIB, Graham Lee said: “We made it clear to the county council that we thought very highly of the library service, but when we were talking to some of the Councillors, it was like talking to a brick wall.”
“The decision to close nine libraries was agreed by only one vote, which was very disappointing.” He added.
After meetings with ADLIB and further public consultation, the Council decided to offer the nine libraries to the local community friends groups, with a £2,000 start up fund, a £5,000 annual grant, new books, and support from their IT services and librarians. The community friends groups would run the libraries as a business, paying the rent, maintenance of the building costs and utility bills.
Whilst times have been hard for threatened libraries, Graham believes this was the only way forward:
“I think if there’s the determination there then they will succeed. ADLIB will support them as much as we can. A lot of heart searching has gone into the problem – no one wants the libraries to close.”
During these uncertain times, it seems the differences between the communities and the Council have been put to one side to try and focus on what really matters.
ADLIB and the Council have developed a close relationship over the last year, to make it possible for the community groups to achieve their goal – keeping Dorset libraries open.
A study by The Arts Council and the Local Government Association has shown that 178 of 3,300 public libraries in the UK are community managed, with that figure set to rise to 425, resulting in 13% of all UK libraries having community involvement.
Four libraries in Dorset are now run by friends groups and community volunteers, including Burton Bradstock in Bridport, Puddletown in Dorchester, Colehill in Wimborne and Wool in Wareham. If the model proves to be a success, who knows how many more will follow.
But the story doesn’t end there. Whilst research has proven print books are still heavily in demand, the internet, e-books and virtual libraries are becoming ever more popular, and the Council is now catering for the needs of the electronic savvy readers. Similarly to the Council and community groups, print books and e-books stand side by side in Dorset libraries, complimenting and supporting one another to attract new users and meet the needs of traditional users.
Books are just the first page – a front cover for a complex social and educational institution. This was clear from the atmosphere at Puddletown library which is a platform for learning, finding information, and for some users, providing essential social contact and personal development which can be put back into the community.
The community groups and Council have to continue delivering services in tight financial times, but they have a shape and structure to move forward with. For now, it looks like Dorset libraries won’t be left on the shelf.
Sally Welbourn
