Consultation on library cuts
North Lanarkshire residents have been asked to offer their views on a series of proposed cutbacks to local library services.
Culture and Leisure NL, the trust which operates library services on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council, has launched a public consultation as it tries to address a £400,000 gap in its funding.
Proposals include closing Shotts and New Stevenston libraries on Saturdays, 2pm Friday closures at Newmains, New Stevenston, Shotts and Viewpark, and reducing late openings until 7pm at other centres around the region.
The trust has also proposed scrapping late openings at Cleland and Newarthill libraries.
In a statement issued alongside an online survey, the trust said: “As a result of cuts in local government funding, every local authority is having to make savings. Culturenl library service is required to find over £400,000 of savings.
“We’ve already made savings by making the library services more efficient and making better use of technology.
“We’re also providing a wider range of services in our buildings in partnership with other organisations such as Routes to Work and Macmillan.
“We’re also actively pursuing options to increase income via room lets, the library shop and our digital skills offer.
“Our focus has been on how we can maximise resources to best advantage for our communities, while delivering the required efficiencies.
“To this end we will not close any community libraries as part of this savings process but will instead look to reduce opening hours.”
The biggest libraries in North Lanarkshire, at Cumbernauld, Motherwell and Coatbridge, are not currently earmarked for service cuts.
A spokesman for Culture and Leisure NL said: “We remain committed to providing the best possible services to our customers with the resources we have available. That’s why we are asking people for their views, such as which evenings are the best to remain open.”
To participate in the survey, visit https:// www. surveymonkey. co. uk/ r/ libraryopeninghours.