Book spending cut by third to reduce costs

11:28am Tuesday 18th July 2006

SPENDING on new library books is being slashed by almost a third this year as Dorset County Council faces up to its cash crisis.

News that £330,000 less is being ploughed into the book fund has prompted one threatened library to consider accepting donations of books from the public to keep the shelves stocked.

The news follows a decision not to press ahead with the threatened closure of 13 rural libraries until a year's time.

Paul Leivers, head of cultural services at Dorset County Council, said the decision to reduce the book fund had not been taken lightly.

He added: "The library service has to save £850,000 over three years.

"To balance the financial books this year, because we're not proceeding with the efficiency review as planned, a further chunk of money was needed from the book fund.

"I don't think cabinet took that decision with any great joy."

Earlier this year councillors approved the reduction of the book fund by £200,000.

They have now voted in favour of slashing a further £133,000 from the budget bringing the total book fund reduction to 30 per cent this year.

Derek Henderson, chairman of the Friends of Colehill Library, said: "I'm not happy that they're robbing the book fund. Book issues are directly related to book stock.

"Someone asked me in Colehill yesterday When are we going to get some new books?' "It will undoubtedly deter people from coming if there aren't enough new books.

"Dorset had 110,000 active readers. If everyone gave one book that would be more than the county council book fund would have provided.

"Ferndown Library has 150 books donated a month I see no reason why we shouldn't do the same.

"One would expect such books to be in a very good condition and published in the last five years."

Mr Leivers welcomed the proposal but feared the administration costs of processing the donated books could still be high.

He added: "We need to have regard to ensuring we have the budget and the staff to get them on the shelves."

The proposal to accept donated books will be discussed at a public meeting in Colehill Library on September 25.

Cabinet members also voted in favour of a recommendation to suspend a decision over the proposed closure of 13 rural libraries for 12 months to allow further consultation to take place.

The libraries under threat of closure include Colehill, Corfe Mullen, Corfe Castle, Stalbridge, Wool and Lytchett Matravers.