Static Library Options

Static Library options were discussed at the Partnership’s Portfolio Advisory Committee last week but disappointingly no real direction emerged.

I am not a member of this committee but did attend. The discussion took place, in confidential session (that is not open to the public), at the end of a lengthy meeting. Several voting members had already left. An excellent paper was put together by officers, stressing the value of the library service to health and wellbeing, community support and cohesion and digital inclusion. The paper also reviewed how other councils have changed their delivery of library services, in the face of reducing budgets and some possible ways to bring a little income in.

The flip side of no preferred direction being given is that nothing was ruled out so I suppose that leaves the way open for the local community of St Just, along with our neighbouring village residents, to continue to press for the involvement of volunteers to get the library doors back open for more hours. I am in correspondence with the Head of Service and portfolio holder to discover what opportunities there are for trialing some ideas locally, involving the ‘Friends of St Just library’ group.

Watch this space and if you are not already involved with the ‘Friends’ group then please do make contact with Sandy Angove at sandyangove@macace.net or Kate Beckly at kate.beckly@virgin.net .