TD claims Gort library has been downgraded after staff cut

Gort Library has effectively been downgraded with the loss of a staff member, a Galway TD has claimed.

Galway County Council has moved to quash fears that the town’s library service is being diluted, but Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte says not replacing staff constitutes a downgrade.

And the Fianna Fáil Dáil Deputy fears the South Galway library may be in line for further cuts, despite the Council’s pledge of an “ongoing commitment” to the service.

She urged the people of Gort and surrounding areas to use the library services to demonstrate their continuing support for it. “They have to use it or lose it,” she said.

“Gort has lost a staff member, and there is no replacement, which is a downgrade in my book. It is a very popular library, and the people of Gort need to support it, because if they don’t, the Council will downgrade it even further. The big fear is a staffless library. That is coming down the tracks. We need to push for full library services, not closures and downgrades.” Deputy Rabbitte added what Gort needs is more staff, not less, and this was an example of the further erosion of services provided by the Council.

Director of Services, Michael Owens confirmed, “a series of staff changes in the Library Services are currently under consideration.”

However, the transfer of staff from Gort to Galway was not a downgrade, he said.

“The intention in relation to recent staff changes was not to dilute the service offer in Gort library, however, current staffing capacity does not permit the continuance of a full-time staff member in addition to the branch librarian,” Mr Owens said.

He pointed out that Gort Library has an extensive outreach programme and regularly facilitates cultural events.

“I am in a position to confirm that the library will continue to participate in all central event programming including Children’s Book Month, Summer Stars, Seachtain na Gaeilge, Healthy Ireland, Galway Great Read etcetera,” he said.

Mr Owens added: “Gort library is a socially inclusive, family friendly space with over 10,000 books available for borrowing.  Gort library benefits from the support of Creative Ireland funding and other national library initiatives which have enhanced the service offer – including the national delivery service, free membership and the access to a wide range of e-resources.

“As referenced in your communications, significant funds have been invested in Gort library in 2017 allowing the service infrastructure to be enhanced, the library will now be accessible to all in the community and the excellent work developed can be maintained. Recognition is due to the staff who work in Gort in delivering on a valued service and it is appreciated the extent to which the local literary and artistic community value the space and identify its potential for continued development. I trust the above clarifies our ongoing commitment to the library in Gort and the community it serves.”