THE UNCERTAIN future of Catshill Library will be examined in the New Year after county council chiefs approved a three-month review of library provision in the village.
Members of Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet agreed yesterday (Thursday) to consult residents and library users from January on a proposed revamp of the library service.
Following the meeting, the authority hopes residents will support proposals for a new community book collection service.
Council chiefs will now begin discussions with the parish council and Catshill Middle School on a proposal that could see a refurbished library and services collection relocated to the middle school.
If approved during the consultation and by the cabinet, the new service will be managed by Bromsgrove Library as part of the county council’s Libraries and Learning Service.
A final decision on the future make-up of the village’s library will be taken after the conclusion of the consultation in March.
The news brings to an end months of uncertainty which began in May when the county council graded all its libraries as part of a wide range of cost-cutting by the authority.
Each library was graded from one to four, with one meaning the existing library would be a catalyst and gateway to other public agencies and voluntary services, to four - that the library service be replaced with ‘greater technology’, such as mobile library services and ‘community library collection points’.
None of Bromsgrove’s libraries achieved a straight grade one and Catshill Library was immediately put at risk when it was graded 3/4 and labelled ‘small and unsustainable’ by council bosses.
The usage figures put together by the authority also made grim reading as Catshill was bottom of a table of 21 libraries across the county for both 2009 and 2010.
The cabinet member responsible for the county’s libraries, Coun John Campion, said: “Libraries play a important role in our local communities which is why, despite having to make significant savings, we remain fully committed to providing local people with access to a comprehensive library service in their local area.
“However, given the scale of the savings required, changes are needed in how libraries look and are run.
“Catshill Library is significantly under-used when compared to others and is located relatively close to five other libraries, including Bromsgrove Library in the town centre.
“What we are proposing is a new community collection service run in Catshill supported by professional staff from Bromsgrove Library.
“We will now begin talks with the local parish council, the library’s users and others before making a final decision,” he added.
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