The Tory leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Keith Mitchell, is trying to encourage community groups to take over the running of their local libraries when the county council stops funding 20 of them next year.
This may seem like a good idea to some people (though not to the excellent librarians who are soon to be made redundant). But what the Tories are reluctant to reveal is that anyone who takes over a council building will have to pay a market price or rent and pay for all the maintenance.
They will also have to pay for any stock or other equipment, such as computers, and for any professional support.
On top of this, the running costs of a typical small library (without staffing) are at least £10,000 a year. To try to cover these overheads, any users would have to pay hefty charges. Is this what we want to see happening to our wonderful public library service? Is this what readers voted for?
I asked the Cabinet member if the county council would at least subsidise people on low incomes, so that they could continue to use their local library free of charge. The answer was “no”.
Susanna Pressel City and county councillor, Rawlinson Road, Oxford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here