‘UNVIABLE’ SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICE TO BE SCRAPPED

Reduction in books ‘may impact on learning and reading for pleasure’

PUPILS could lose access to hundreds of books each year as Staffordshire’s dedicated library service for schools is being scrapped.

Staffordshire County Council has confirmed the service will be ‘decommissioned’ from December 31 – as it is no longer financially viable.

Last academic year, just 67 schools (15 per cent of all schools within the county) subscribed to its package of resources. This term, that has dropped to 23 schools (less than eight per cent).

Now, the plan is to replace it with a ‘teacher’s ticket’ which will enable teachers to borrow up to 15 children’s books for 12 weeks, from a public library.

One member of staff at the schools’ library service is to be made redundant, while the two others affected have secured posts within the main libraries and arts service.

In a report, libraries and arts manager Catherine Mann said: “There are no statutory requirements for schools to have access to this service.

“The schools’ library service is a business and receives no Government or local authority funding. Monies received are from school subscriptions.”

Previously, a portion of primary school budgets was ring-fenced for library services in Staffordshire. But in 2013, this ring-fence was removed and it saw a ‘steady decline’ in income.

A counter proposal was floated for a ‘reading group service subscription model’, retaining the stock in one place, with schools requesting to borrow items. But this was rejected as ‘unaffordable’.

Any school currently subscribing to the service will be able to keep their borrowed books on a permanent basis.

The report added: “The new integrated offer for schools will be resource-based, with books available from local libraries for teachers to borrow at no cost.”

But it also revealed that four of the schools signed up to the service this term are not near a library – or an area served by a mobile library.

In a list of risks, the report says the reduction in children’s books in schools ‘may impact on learning and reading for pleasure’.

The decision was signed off by councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member for communities and culture.