Galway libraries may face future without staff

The Galway County Librarian has assured the public that the move to open up two of the county’s libraries out of hours without staff will not lead to any cuts in regular library staffing levels.

A public meeting has been called for Monday in response to the move to roll out an unstaffed pilot project taking place in three libraries in Offaly and Sligo to Ballinasloe and Oranmore libraries.

The ‘open library’ scheme involves opening libraries in the early morning, late at night and on Sundays but without staff. After vetting, members aged over 18 can let themselves in using an identification number. They can browse, borrow, return, use the wifi and photocopier. Unmanned cameras can monitor those inside and radio frequency Identification tags will ensure that books and other material have to be scanned prior to removal.

Galway county librarian Peter Rabbitt – who oversees 30 libraries across the city, county and islands with 40,000 members – believes the scheme is no cause for alarm for the future of our libraries.

Oranmore has been approved for funding of €62,000 to introduce the technology while Ballinasloe, the county’s newest facility, will get over €18,000 to convert.

“There’s a bit of a misconception about this with people thinking it will lead to unstaffed libraries. It’s to add extra hours. It doesn’t mean we’re going to reduce staff,” he told the Connacht Tribune.

“We do need extra staff and the priority should be staff in our libraries, especially during the day hours when children use it. We want as many staff as we can to interact with the public. The Government is adamant the scheme won’t affect staff and it isn’t affecting staff but when the library closes at 5pm this means it will be open to members on a trust basis up to 10pm.”

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh is organising a public meeting in Galway to discuss the pros and cons of the new policy.

“I am asking members of the public and particularly library users who are interested in this issue to join us to inform themselves as to what is being proposed and to make their views known to the relevant people,” he stated.

“The one thing we all agree on is that the library services we do have play a really important role in our communities and that anything that can be done to enhance and develop them in a positive way would be welcome.”

Local poet Rita Ann Higgins has voiced her unreserved antipathy towards the concept.

“How much is this hare-brained scheme saving the Government? Did anyone do research into how it is impacting on people working in libraries? A visit to the library and an interaction with a member of staff can be life-saving for a person who lives on their own,” she fumes.

“The spin is that this hare-brained scheme does not affect staffing levels. Balderdash. Surely the whole psychology behind it is to cut costs by getting rid of library staff.

“Staffless libraries could prove to be a dangerous place for vulnerable members of society. There will be no toilet access during staffless library hours as this is an area that cannot be monitored by CCTV. Oh, but don’t worry, you can dial an emergency number if someone sticks a knife in your ear, but not if you live in Offaly, there you ring a security firm.”

A petition by the Staff Our Libraries Community Group – so far signed by 1,500 people, has calling for the idea to be shelved until a full independent analysis of the pilot scheme has been conducted.

They argue it discriminates against people with physical or mental disabilities, young adults and children who require assistance and that it undermines the work of paid library staff.

Advocates point to trials in Denmark and Finland where it has not resulted in any reduction in staffed hours. Instead, it has led to huge increases in use of libraries — up 23% and 59%. A third of new users in Denmark are under 35.

The city plans to open a new €20m city library on a permanent site in time for the 2020 European Capital of Culture.

The public meeting takes place in the Westwood Hotel tomorrow (Monday) at 8pm.