Berneray residents call to save the service as budget cuts loom
In its March ‘Budget Strategy and Update’, the Comhairle set out around £1.7m worth of savings that could be returned from service changes and budget cuts. Included in the proposals was the following statement:
“Review of the need for Library Vans, review of the service provision with a focus on digitalisation of services and the provision of corporate service points in all libraries. Savings £100k.”
This statement, sitting aside the newly vacant Uist post of mobile librarian, led residents in Berneray to fear the worst.
In May, a letter was sent to the Comhairle’s Education, Sport & Children’s Services Committee, setting out the importance of the mobile library service and pleading for its continuation.
Signed by 35 community members, the letter has launched a local drive to save the mobile library.
Berneray resident Kirsty O’Conner spearheaded the campaign:
“We so value the mobile library here that we felt we must try and do something to save it. It has been a life line for many of us. If you don’t have a car or are housebound it brings a world of books to your door.
“It’s not just the books, social isolation, a problem exacerbated by Covid, meant Donald Ewen was sometimes the only person some people would see.
“We understand the difficult decisions the Councillors face. Budget cuts are not easy to manage but this service really must be seen as essential.
“We have had a positive response from some members of the Committee, and from our North Uist Councillor, Mustapha Hocine.”
The future if the service is now dependent on the findings of a Member Officer Working Group (MOWG) review, which is chaired by Cllr Hocine and will report its conclusions to the Committee when it meets later this month.
The mobile library narrowly escaped being scrapped in December 2018, when officers proposed cutting the service but were rebuffed by elected members, who voted 16-12 in favour of retaining it. The Council’s decision prompted investment in two new vans, one of which was allocated to us here in Uist.
Fifteen months later, Covid all but shut down island life and the value of Uist’s mobile library service became even more apparent.
A spokesperson for CNES said:
“A Member Officer Working Group has been established to review library and information services. A report will go to committee in June and once the MOWG has decided on the future direction of libraries a full report will come to council.
“The Chief Librarian post and mobile services delivery are part of that review.
“The library van post has been advertised for 18.5 hours at the moment but will be reviewed as part of the deliberations of the MOWG. The review is important to inform the future direction of the service.
“The appointment of a new Chief Education and Children’s Services Officer provides an opportunity to review the service. A decision will be made by the MOWG and the appropriate committee before any changes are made.”
The new Chief Officer for Education and Children’s Services is Donald Macleod from Lewis, who will replace Uist based Uilleam Macdonald following his retirement as Director of Education, Skills & Children’s Services.
