"STOP SACKING LIBRARIANS" SAY HAMPSHIRE LIB. DEMS.

1.00.29pm GMT Fri 23rd Mar 2007

Liberal Democrats are supporting Hampshire librarians in their campaign against the Conservative plan to cut the library service in Hampshire.

The librarians are on a two day strike in protest against plans to axe 27 of Hampshire's 60 professional librarian posts and force another 17 librarians to take a pay

cut.

The plans have been approved by the ruling Conservative Group on Hampshire County Council despite widespread opposition from libraries staff and library users.

Now Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for the job cuts to be frozen while a full review of the library service takes place.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Councillor Peter Chegwyn (Gosport Elson) said:

"Hampshire's entire library service is being put at risk by Conservative plans to sack staff and cut another £250,000 from the Library Books Fund.

"In total over £1 million a year is being cut from Hampshire's libraries budget and two-thirds of our professional librarians are facing a pay cut or the sack. These are men and women who have given many years of service to library users. Their experience and expertise cannot be replaced.

"When even librarians are striking against the Conservatives it shows what a mess Hampshire's library service is in. Liberal Democrats support the librarians in their campaign to save jobs and protect the library service against further cuts and job losses.

"As the County Council has already agreed to undertake a full review of Hampshire's failing library service, Liberal Democrats believe the cuts should be frozen until that review is completed later this year.

Councillor Peter Chegwyn campaigning against cuts in library services

"The Audit Commission has just downgraded its Assessment of Hampshire's Culture Service as the County Council has failed to meet the Audit Commission's indicator on book lending. With fewer books in our libraries and fewer staff to help the public it's small wonder our libraries are suffering.

"Instead of making a bad situation even worse, the County Council should face up to the fact that Hampshire's libraries are in crisis.

"Liberal Democrats urge library users to support the librarians in their efforts to save jobs and protect our libraries from further dumbing down caused by cuts in funding."