Government is urged to sort out library staffing
THE Government will be urged to assist in the recruitment of more staff at Sligo’s libraries as the County Librarian says he is operating the service with “core” numbers.
Cllr Thomas Healy said it was awful to think that if one member of staff phoned in sick it could have such an impact it could lead to a branch closure. Clr Rosaleen O’Grady said said it was time the Council walked away and said it could do nothing more.
“Ye have done ye’re utmost. Ye have been stretched for the last couple of years,” she told County Librarian Donal Tinney who had made a presentation to the meeting about the many and varied programmes taking place through the county’s libraries.
Clr Sinead Maguire said staffing resources was a central gov- ernment issue and something would have to be done about it.
“It’s so unfair at this stage. We have to call for the embargo on staff recruitment to be lifted,” she said. Tubbercurry library has been closed for three weeks but Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes says a staff recruitment embargo is still in place for Sligo County Council due to its financial state.
Clr Declan Bree said he was delighted to hear Mr Tinney say it was his intention to keep the central library in Sligo open this summer though he could not give any guarantee on this.
“Mr Tinney and his staff have worked above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the library doors remained open but their appeals for adequate resources appear to have been ignored,” he said.
Praise for the work ethic and passion of Mr Tinney was made by Clr Tom MacSharry who said it was incumbant on everyone to bring up the issue of staffing with the Oireachtas members.
“I know that I will be doing it,” he said. Clr Gino O’Boyle said the service was doing well on a shoestring budget.