Brought to book over libraries outburst

Matthew Kennedy criticises the way library services are deteriorating.

A BRAVE library stalwart has put his job on the line after criticising bosses for not listening to front-line staff.

Crompton Library assistant Matthew Kennedy (37) spoke out because he says the service is being decimated by managers who won’t take advice.

And because there are no identification checks on joining the library, he claims the service is open to abuse and theft.

Mr Kennedy, of Derker, said: “You can now take out 12 books, some quite valuable, three DVDs and two CDs — all for walking into a library with no identification.”

He has now launched an on-line petition urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown to protect Oldham’s libraries.

Within hours of going public, Mr Kennedy, who has been with the service for 10 years, was called to a disciplinary hearing by Oldham Council for bringing the authority into disrepute. That takes place tomorrow.

He said: “I have seen Alt and Sholver libraries close and Delph run by volunteers. Now, Stoneleigh and the mobile library are closing — and Broadway is under threat.

Backbone

“Why have none of the St James’s ward councillors spoken out against the closure of Stoneleigh?

“Why is the closure of the mobile library, which many elderly people rely on, being treated so lightly?

“Why does Oldham Libraries see it as acceptable to appoint more managers and yet close libraries and freeze 17 permanent library assistant posts? Library assistants are the absolute backbone of the service.”

Inflated branch statistics were also generated by a senior library assistant who issued additional library tickets, which is against service policy, he claims.

Mr Kennedy added: “I probably won’t have a job at the end of this but I want to start enjoying life again.

“I used to absolutely love my job, now library assistants feel like no-one is listening or talking to them.”

Oldham Council’s Cabinet member for community services and housing, Councillor John McCann, said: “Our priority as a council is to encourage as many people as possible to use local library services and the changes to the library membership scheme are designed to reflect this.

“The potential closure of the mobile library is only a proposal predominantly for budgetary reasons as currently 50 per cent of mobile library users also access other libraries and it is a very expensive service to maintain. In addition, our current contract for the mobile library only runs until October. However, the council is already looking at other options should a decision be taken to end this service.”

The online petition is at www.petitions.number10.gov.uk/oldhamlibraries