LABOUR PARTY president Michael D Higgins has called on Minister for the Environment John Gormley to “ring-fence” funding for public libraries which have been severely affected by budget cuts.
“The cuts represent more than philistinism. They are anti-social actions and must be brought to a halt,” Mr Higgins said.
Libraries have lost up to 80 per cent in budgetary allocations for new books, and staffing is also affected by the public service staffing embargo. Galway’s Westside library has been forced to close during scheduled opening times due to its dependence on temporary staff.
Mr Higgins, who is a TD for Galway West, has described the cuts as “outrageous” at a time of rapidly rising unemployment.
“The importance of our library system at a time of economic depression cannot be overstated,” Mr Higgins said.
“The libraries are a refuge, a resource, a source of hope for people of all ages anxious not to be overwhelmed by the experience of unemployment,” he said.
Galway city centre’s library has notices this week stating that requests for new book titles may not be able to be accepted, due to economic constraints. The budget in Galway city and county’s 30 libraries has been cut from €550,000 to €100,000, and daily newspaper provision curtailed.
The Department of the Environment said that operational costs for libraries are a matter for local authorities and elected local representatives.
The Library Council said earlier this month that libraries had also lost book funding in a grant from the Department of Education for primary school books.
Meanwhile, a local authority in Cork has hit back at claims that its new €20 million library facility will not lend books to the public.
Cork County Council defended the use of the new structure, located next to County Hall, as a library headquarters for Cork county region, catering to 23 branches and five mobile branches in locations around the county. Newspaper reports had suggested that the library could not be utilised by thousands of residents in Co Cork because of bureaucratic restrictions as it is located within the city council boundary.
Sharon Corcoran, director of services at Cork County Council, said it was never intended that the library would lend books in the same manner as a branch library, as it was designed as a library headquarters for the county region.