UNISON LAUNCHES MAJOR RESCUE PLAN AS LIBRARIES HIT “CRISIS POINT”

LIBRARY service scrooges will be targeted in a UNISON campaign against cuts and closures.  Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, will join Dave Prentis, General Secretary of the UK’s largest public sector union, at the House of Commons to discuss how to tackle libraries lacking in festive spirit due to service cuts.

As the credit crunch continues into the Christmas season, more families than ever are feeling the pinch and need the free resources that libraries provide.  But a report commissioned by the union - Taking Stock: The Future of our Public Library Service - shows that, in recent years, there have been dramatic changes.

Libraries have suffered closures, cuts to funding, they are under threat of privatisation and the role of librarian has become progressively de-skilled.  During 2006/2007 there were 71 library closures in England.  14 libraries stand to be axed in Wirral alone next year and many more are expected to come under fire.

Protests have been staged outside a library in Birmingham and a petition gathered 2,000 signatures, after the library was shut for health and safety reasons, but has remained indefinitely closed.  5 libraries received drastic reductions to services in Wolverhampton and may now only be used as book drop-off points.  In Wales, budget cuts have forced the National Library to shut on Saturdays and Denbighshire Council has announced they may close a library to make “efficiency savings”, as part of a wide-ranging review of the county’s library services starting in 2010.

As part of the “Defend the Public Library Service Campaign”, UNISON is calling on the government and local authorities to adopt a 5-point plan.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, who is opened the event, will say:- “The library service is nearing a crisis point after suffering years of funding cuts, deskilling of the workforce and recent threats of outsourcing.  Although more people visited their local library last year than went to the cinema or a football match, the numbers are declining and so we also need to concentrate on attracting new readers.  UNISON’s five-point plan aims to put communities in the driving seat to shape their local library service.

If we can build a strong network of libraries, staff will be able to share what works well with other areas, which will draw more people in to their local library.  Buying books is expensive and a thriving local library can make sure all children get the chance to learn through reading.  We need a skilled workforce for the future and it would be a good investment for the Chancellor to spend some of his recession proofing pounds on libraries.”

Children’s author, Alan Gibbons, who is backing the plan, said:- “We stand to lose an institution.  As an author, libraries are the place you go to meet your readers, the centre of their community, and to lose this service would be catastrophic.  In a recession people tend to read more and book sales have only dropped slightly compared to motor sales, but buying needs to be balanced with borrowing.”

UNISON’s 5 point plan:-

► Adequate resources for staff, services and premises

► Encouraging staff and communities to shape the library service

► Libraries and councils sharing information and best practice

► Catering for library users from all backgrounds

► Better staff training and professional development.  

LIVERPOOL MAN HELPS PROTECT OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ

ROYAL Naval Reservist Robert Howe has already opened an extra special present for his Christmas this year in the shape of a campaign medal.

Leading Hand Robert, who now lives in Leicestershire but was born and bred in Liverpool, was part of a Joint Battery deployed in Iraq with16 Regiment Royal Artillery, and arrived back from Basra on Monday December 8, to a joyous reunion with family and friends.  But the joy turned to immense pride 3 days later when he marched on to the parade square at St George’s Barracks, North Luffenham to receive an Operation Telic campaign medal from Air Vice-Marshall Nigel Maddox CBE MBA RAF.

Robert, 49, is attached to the Royal Naval Reserve unit HMS Sherwood, based in Nottingham and after 20 years’ service decided to enlist for his first tour of duty earlier this year.  Now, having endured the searing heat of Iraq for the last 6 months, he is looking forward to the cool of an English winter… and an even colder beer!

His links with the services go beyond his Royal Naval Reserve duties as in his day job he works for Rolls Royce, helping supply turbine engineering that is used in Royal Navy ships, submarines and aircraft.  Married with 3 young children, Robert felt his experience in the southern Iraqi city had been life-changing.

He said:- “Life out there was hard but very enjoyable. At times it was a wall of heat, around 140 degrees fahrenheit! And the fact we had to wear our full body armour – which weighs 32 pounds – meant work could be exhausting at times. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world and would happily go on another tour.  I felt I learned a lot in terms of team-work and the morale out there is good. There’s no doubt that we saved lives.”

The Joint Battery, comprising 60 soldiers, 40 Royal Navy and seven RAF personnel, was responsible for the operation of the forces protection weapon systems at the Contingency Operating Base in Basra, a task that 16 Regiment has been engaged in since 2007.   The Joint nature of this commitment has cemented strong relationships between the personnel deployed that began 6 months before the tour started, with training both in the United States and Sweden, and will extend long after the tour is over in bonds of friendship that last a lifetime.

Major Kevin Radwell, Second in Command of 16 Regiment Royal Artillery said:- “The Joint Battery has been in Iraq for 6 months, getting on with their job of keeping fellow military personnel safe.   Like all the military personnel deployed on operations they have done an extremely rewarding great job in difficult conditions and now it’s time for them to enjoy Christmas with their families.”