Big Society Background Data

Background information

This page contains usage and property background information for all libraries in Oxfordshire.

In the table below there are links to information on the 43 libraries currently run by Oxfordshire County Council. This may be useful for communities developing a community proposal particularly in thinking about the shape, size and scope of your proposal.
You can find out more about current library use, and information about the library property including site plans. Click the links in the table to view the documents:

• View key to profile data (.pdf, 10Kb)

Library	Usage	Property
Abingdon	Library profile data	Library property data
Adderbury	Library profile data	Library property data
Bampton	Library profile data	Library property data
Banbury	Library profile data	Library property data
Benson	Library profile data	Library property data
Berinsfield	Library profile data	Library property data
Bicester	Library profile data	Library property data
Blackbird Leys	Library profile data	Library property data
Botley	Library profile data	Library property data
Burford	Library profile data	Library property data
Carterton	Library profile data	Library property data
Central Library, Westgate	Library profile data	Library property data
Charlbury	Library profile data	Library property data
Chinnor	Library profile data	Library property data
Chipping Norton	Library profile data	Library property data
Cowley	Library profile data	Library property data
Deddington	Library profile data	Library property data
Didcot	Library profile data	Library property data
Eynsham	Library profile data	Library property data
Faringdon	Library profile data	Library property data
Goring	Library profile data	Library property data
Grove	Library profile data	Library property data
Headington	Library profile data	Library property data
Henley	Library profile data	Library property data
Hook Norton	Library profile data	Library property data
Kennington	Library profile data	Library property data
Kidlington	Library profile data	Library property data
Littlemore Oxford Academy	Library profile data	Library property data
Neithrop	Library profile data	Library property data
North Leigh	Library profile data	Library property data
Old Marston	Library profile data	Library property data
Sonning Common	Library profile data	Library property data
Stonesfield	Library profile data	Library property data
Summertown	Library profile data	Library property data
Thame	Library profile data	Library property data
Wallingford	Library profile data	Library property data
Wantage	Library profile data	Library property data
Watlington	Library profile data	Library property data
Wheatley	Library profile data	Library property data
Witney	Library profile data	Library property data
Woodcote	Library profile data	Library property data
Woodstock	Library profile data	Library property data
Wychwood	Library profile data	Library property data

If you would like further information on these services please contact the bigsocietyfund@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

 

The art of Librarianship

I suggest you read this insightful feature into the art of librarianship. http://scrawler.co.uk/sm1/?p=505&cpage=1#comment-587

 Perhaps pro library campaigners need to take a leaf out of the pages of UK UNCUT? http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/

Future campaigning opportunities

Future campaigning opportunities - I see there are several literary festivals being planned in the area over the next few months.

We should approach the organisers of such events to see how we can participate and generate new news stories and media attention.

·         The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival  http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/The-Sunday-Times-Oxford-Literary-Festival.html

·         The Independent Woodstock Literary Festival http://www.woodstockliteraryfestival.com/

·         Henley Literary Festival http://www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/

·         Thame Arts and Literature Festival http://www.literaryfestivals.co.uk/thame.html

·         King's Sutton (near Banbury) Literary Festival http://kslitfest.co.uk/

·         Kennington Free Literary Festival http://sylviavetta.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/booklet.pdf

·         No doubt there are many more……

Make the first Saturday each February National Library Day

 Dear all,

Many of you have welcomed the call to make the first Saturday in February National Library Day. Encouraged by the response I want to put this on a formal footing.

I want the largest possible support for this initiative from individual library users and members of the public, authors, teachers, librarians and their professional bodies, councilors, MPs, publishers, trade unions, reading agencies and local campaign groups.

Why do we need this day? 522 libraries (462 buildings and 60 mobiles) are currently under threat of losing funding out of 4517 in the UK. School libraries and School Library Services face similar pressures. Libraries provide books and ICT access free of charge. They promote social cohesion. They raise literacy levels. They help children become successful adults. They help vulnerable people into work and education. They provide a meeting place and a community hub. Some elected representatives are unaware of the importance of the public library service and School Library Services. Some governing bodies underestimate the value of school libraries. This case needs to be made. A specific celebration of British libraries will raise their profile and help ensure their survival in very difficult times.

Some FAQs.

*can’t we just combine it with World Book Day or International Library Day? Our libraries are facing pressing challenges. We need a specific day to celebrate them. Of course we will be involved in these other events. Most of us already are!

*aren’t some libraries a bit tired and backward-looking? Of course some libraries are more successful than others. Some have better buildings and more books. Some have integrated ICT better. But we can’t develop the libraries of the future out of the libraries of today if they are already closed. We can’t bring the poorest up to the level of the best if they have become an empty building.

*why hold it in February when it is cold and icy? The call for National Library Day emerged from the Save Our Libraries Day on February 5^th when 110 Read Ins generated huge media interest. The day will celebrate libraries at a time when local authorities are considering their budgetary decisions.

*isn’t it just another protest? Save Our Libraries Day was a postitive and peaceful celebration of libraries. National Libraries Day will have the same character.

I appeal for the widest possible support for this initiative. If you agree email me. If your organisation needs to put it to its decision-making body, give me an idea of the time-scale.

Yours faithfully,

Alan Gibbons

Organiser,

The Campaign for the Book

aagibbons@blueyonder.co.uk

mygibbo@gmail.com

Media coverage of the call in The Bookseller:

Gibbons proposes National Libraries Day

24.02.11 | Benedicte Page

Author and library campaigner Alan Gibbons is proposing that the first day in February be made National Libraries Day every year, following Save Our Libraries day, the co-ordinated protest against library closures which saw 100 events taking place on 5th February.

Gibbons said he had received many emails in the weeks since the mass protest suggesting that there be “a chance to celebrate our libraries” each February.

The children’s writer, who runs Campaign for the Book, and has been a leading voice in the protest movement against widespread library closures, added he intended to win the backing of others including professional bodies, trades unions, authors, celebrities, reading organisations, literary societies, readers and campaign groups.

Gibbons asked those keen to support the idea of a National Library Day to contact him via email at mygibbo@gmail.com .

Oxford book news

£1 Book author Michael Lawrence at the Bookfeast Oxford Literary Festival On 15 March 2011 to 15 March 2011

Description Michael Lawrence, author of one of the £1 World Book Day 2011 titles, will be a key component of the Bookfeast Oxford Literary Festival Schools Programme.

Region Oxford

Venue Museum in central Oxford - TBC

For further details see http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/Oxford-Interviews.html
http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/The-Sunday-Times-Oxford-Literary-Festival.html

Gloucestershire and Somerset are to be taken to judicial review

BBC News - Library cuts in Somerset and Gloucestershire ...

The application for judicial review is expected to be launched within a few weeks ... of proposals by Somerset and Gloucestershire county councils to cut ...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12546601 - 62k - Cached

High Court challenge launched over library cuts in ...

Book Publishing Industry News. Regular news updates from The Bookseller's news desk. The latest press reports about the publishing sector and updates from the City

thebookseller.com/news/high-court-challenge-launched-over...

http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/Headington-Library.html

Government offers County More Money for Libraries

The government has offered the County Council some extra money which they can use to save some of the twenty threatened libraries, according to today's Oxford Mail.
There is, now, some hope in this campaign.
Some people have criticized David Cameron for "nimbyism" attributing his concern for Oxfordshire's libraries to the fact that he lives in Witney. But why be ungracious if there is a ray of hope for saving this essential public service?

What is Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust?

What is Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust?Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust (WLCT) was formed in 2003. The organisation is a charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and support Leisure and Cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over 300,000 residents across the Wigan Borough.
WLCT is sustained by a combination of external funding and income generation, including an annual grant from Wigan Council. The Trust is a registered charity and a social enterprise, which means that any surplus income generated must be invested in improving facilities and services for the people of the Borough. http://www.wlct.org/index.htm

Maybe we could turn Oxfordshire Library Service into a trust?
What do others think?

From an idea suggested by Philip Hunt

News Roundup 20 February 2011

·         David Cameron's 'big society' may seem a big joke – but don't be fooled | Ally Fogg

guardian.co.uk, 20 Feb 2011

·         Books

Library cuts will deny our children the glorious addiction of reading

The Observer, 20 Feb 2011

Chris Boffey

Seven out of 10 library authors are children's writers

February 18 2011 | Harry Wallop | Culture Telegraph

Business Club - British Library - Business and IP Centre ...

Finance

Business Club - British Library - Business and IP Centre. Turn your business idea into a success story. The British Library Business and IP Centre at St Pancras, London can help you start, run and grow your business. Telegraph

British Library and CMI

Major competition launched to find UK’s best management writers

A nationwide search began today to find the UK’s best management books with the launch of the inaugural Management Book of the Year competition. Telegraph

Campaign for the book

Press Release from Campaign for the book:

Oxfordshire grants libraries a reprieve:
What about all other similar councils?

Oxfordshire has granted a temporary reprieve to its twenty libraries threatened with withdrawal of funds and possibly closure. Library users and campaigners across the country will now ask: why not us?

Campaign for the Book organizer Alan Gibbons said:
“Everybody will welcome Oxfordshire County Council’s recognition that its closure programme is incompatible with the requirement of the 1964 Libraries Act that it provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient service.’

“But what is the difference between Oxfordshire’s situation and that of areas such as Gloucestershire, North Yorkshire, Somerset, Lewisham and Suffolk? To show fairness, Culture Ministers Jeremy Hunt and Ed Vaizey must now intervene and call a moratorium on library closures. They could now face a series of legal challenges.”

Oxfordshire’s change of heart comes just two weeks after the enormously successful Save Our Libraries Day which saw 110 Read Ins across the country attended by up to 10,000 people.
Alan Gibbons said: “In Oxfordshire the public turned out in force, supported by authors such as Philip Pullman, Mark Haddon, Colin Dexter and Mary Hoffman. I call on library users and campaigners to redouble their efforts. Concerted action can force elected representatives to change their minds.”

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nimby-cameron-accused-after-his-council-halts-library-closures-2220128.html

 

 

The TUC have called a national demonstration on March 26th this will be an opportunity for all library campaigners around the country to  come together and voice their opposition to library cuts and closures.  So far there are 15 coaches going from Oxford and this is likely to grow.  To book your seat call 07890081211 or email me back. 

 

Best wishes
Julie

Where Has all the Money Gone?

The County Council must take the blame fairly and squarely for their failure to run the budget in such a way as to meet their legal obligation to provide a library service.
Their controversial introduction of the 20 mph speed limit throughout Oxford cost £300,000 to implement.
Now a report from the Oxford Institute of Advanced Motorists says that the result has been to reduce speeds by less than one mile per hour! (See Friday's Oxford Mail). The IAM also refutes the claim that the new speed limit has led to a reduction in accidents.

I am told that the Cogges Link Road scheme in Witney if postponed would yield enough money to fund all of our libraries and then some. The contracts handed out by the County Council are worth more than £3 million.

Of course there is another problem in that Oxford City is subject to the power of the County, despite great differences in voting patterns and population. If it is unsatisfactory for Oxford City to be governed from elsewhere, how much worse is it for the UK to be governed externally by the EU? It's the same problem on a bigger or smaller scale.

I think Oxford City should run its own local affairs, with an elected mayor, and some power should be delegated even further down to the grass roots, to civil parish councils. The latter could certainly run libraries funded by our ever-rising council tax.

Learn to Discover your family history on-line

READ AND WEEP!!!

The Fund to help local communities set up Big Society plans is launched today, 16
February.
Today Oxfordshire county council has officially launched its Big Society Fund,
which will allow local people to bid for start-up funding to help them take
responsibility for providing services in their community.

The council is keen to create an environment in which it is as easy as possible
for communities to do things for themselves, and the £600,000 Big Society Fund
is a part of this.

How can communities use the money?
Communities can make bids for start-up funding for service provision they may
wish to undertake in their local area. This could include taking on
responsibility for libraries and youth services, day opportunities for older
people or even community transport.

The council is keen to work with communities to embrace a new era and a new way
of working at a time when there is less money to spend across the public sector
throughout the UK. We will require a viable business case from communities, but
are determined to work closely with people to advise them on the process of
putting together such a document.

More information about the fund can be found at
http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/bigsocietyfund.
Queries can be directed to BigSocietyFund@...
We will continue to develop the site to provide more information about the
opportunities as more details are confirmed.

Feel free to cascade this information through your organisation. We'd be happy
to have further conversations about communities in your areas where proposals
are emerging and possible support to them.

Kind Regards,
Kind Regards,
Claire Phillips
Senior Performance and Review Officer
Chief Executive's Office
Oxfordshire County Council
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
OX1 1ND

Tel. 01865 323967

Black Day for Oxford's Libraries

It seems that not enough members of the County Council listened to our petitions as they have still voted for the disastrous proposal to close down twenty libraries.
If the views of thousands of people are not enough for them, then I think that taking legal action may well be the next step.
We pay our council tax, and then we are told that the money has all been squandered on such unnecessary things as outside consultants who charged the County £50,000 to set psychometric tests. That is just not good enough. The law says we are entitled to a library service and the County is not entitled to defy laws passed by our own parliament with the consent of the people.

On-line petitions to re-open

The County Council administration has today informed me that they are willing to re-open both the online petitions against library closure.
The first one refers only to Headington Library in Bury Knowle Park:-
http://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=10

the second refers to all Oxfordshire's threatened libraries:-

http://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=11

The Council is granting another couple of months for these. They will both be re-activated shortly. So if you did not sign either these or the paper petitions, or know anybody who did not get a chance to do so, and would like to, please pass on the word.
The petitions draw attention to the statutory obligation of the County to provide a library service, and the illegality of closing the libraries. This would also rule out private options since the County would not be fulfilling its legal obligations by proposing such an alternative.
It seems to me that transferring money from other parts of its budget is the County's only legal option. It simply has no other.
You will have to copy the addresses into your browser address bar to find the webpage.

NB I believe that tomorrow (Tuesday 15th Feb) is the day of the County Council's budget meeting and there may well be some citizens who wish to turn up at the Town Hall in the morning and make their feelings and views known in a peaceable and civilized fashion.

Should our library service be privatised?

In many parts of the United States, the operation of local libraries is being privatised by local government. The question is should Oxfordshire follow the same route or examine other options such as mutualisation and merging with other local library systems such as Gloucestershire and both Oxford's universities to achieve greater savings on administrative costs  etc.

 

Even in America there has been reported opposition to privatisation proposals.
To read more see:

 

• City of Stockton and San Joaquin County Agree to Keep Libraries Public; Reject Privatizing Library System

• Should a US company run Britain's libraries?

• Keeping the books public - Library pact avoids privatization, promises openness

• Public libraries won’t be run by private firm

• Germantown seeks way to expand library's story

• Friends' concern over library outsourcing

County Council formally acknowledge receipt of petition

County Council formally acknowledge receipt of your petition, submitted to Council on  11 January. It was made available to councillors  as part of the early comments on the emerging library proposals. This was made available  before the Cabinet meeting in January that  made recommendations to Council for the budget. The petition will also be considered again alongside responses to any formal consultation process in relation to the library proposals

Saving Libraries is a Long-term Project

It is heartening to see so much support for the current campaign to save Headington Library.
Over the past seven years I have been running Friends of Bury Knowle Library, it has often seemed as if only a dozen people cared.
Few if any local councillors were sympathetic or seemed interested in the issue. Many of them approved the suggestion by the City Council to move the library into a shop (to make it more accessible - not of course that they want to sell the valuable premises in Bury Knowle park) and it seemed amazingly difficult to get listed building permission to put in a simple ramp to help disabled people get in. Talking about that went on for years. The prevailing view seemed to be that preserving a Victorian style window here or there was far more important than keeping our library.
We adopted the name Friends of Bury Knowle Library to make it clear that we not only support maintaining a library but believe it should remain where it is in Bury Knowle House.
There are many other issues. Over the past ten years, the county library stocks have been steadily reduced. Older books, most of them expensive hardbacks, have been hastily sold off for a pound or even less, and replaced with videos which can legally be rented out. They begrudge even the cost of keeping books in store when they have not been recently requested. I saw the works of Simon Schama and Antonia Fraser being sold off at jumble-sale prices. When I protested, a librarian picked up one of the books, pulled roughly at its binding and said, "There you are, you see, it's falling apart."
About five years ago, there was an expensive refit of the interior of Bury Knowle library. It was re-decorated and the shelving was all replaced. But there are very few shelves and the design was altered to accommodate fewer books. The same is true of the alterations to the Central Library in Westgate.
Is a library just a building or does it need books?
Another important issue is the quality of librarians. There is no substitute for trained, experienced, professional librarians. When I first moved to Oxford, one of my friends, a graduate, worked at Bury Knowle and was able to pay a mortgage on a small house in East Oxford with the salary. I think she had a lodger in the house but she was definitely on the house ladder. A couple of years ago, I saw an advertisement put out by the council for part-time library helpers, who needed to have only five GCSEs, and would get a very meagre wage. I expressed my concern about this. It appeared to me that library work was being down-graded from a career into low-grade casual work. I was told to mind my own business and not try to "jump up" and make myself a library manager.
In my view, libraries always seemed to work best in the past when they didn't have managers - just proper librarians.
I am hoping that the County Council will see sense and recognize its legal responsibility to maintain a full and comprehensive library service, as required by the 1964 Act. If they try to evade it, I support taking court action, though how it will be financed is yet unknown to me.
Be that as it may, I hope that as a result of this campaign, many more people will become aware of the variety of ongoing threats to the library service, and will get involved with Friends of Bury Knowle Library instead of waiting for a crisis to galvanize them.

Headington Library Read In Saturday 5 February 2011

Several of Headington's finest writers participated today in an event staged by Save Headington Library Group as part of its campaign to fight against the proposed closure of Headington's only local library.
Amongst the writers who participated included novelist and artist Brian Aldiss, Mail on Sunday columnist and writer Peter Hitchens, Mark Thompson, David Boyd Haycock, Mini Grey and Helen Cooper.

  

http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/

Letter Writing Templates

Letter  Writing Campaign

We are currently running a letter writing campaign. We hope you will consider writing Cllr Mitchell  a  ‘proper letter’ to complain about the proposed library cuts. Emails are quick and simple to reply to, letters are not. All letters will need a response. We have prepared some letter templates which you might like to use. Letter collection boxes will be found in the foyer of the Library and the Reception at Windmill School if you wish to save the postage. The letter boxes will be collected on Sat 12th Feb. for a mass presentation at a Council Meeting. Please share this with your friends. Thanks for your support Lynda 

Here below a variety of letter templates on which to base a letter to Chris Mitchell County Council Leader of Oxfordshire. They include those writing from the perspective of a young family member, elderly, disabled etc.

Collection boxes in St Andrews and Windmill School foyers until Fr. 11th Feb

Headington Library until Sat. 12th Feb.

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

Your changes to the library services in Oxfordshire mean that as a Headington resident I will be expected to travel to Oxford to use the Central Library. I have mobility problems and journeys into Oxford are something I rarely do. Headington is a wonderful place to live because the bank, post office, supermarket and library are all within such close proximity of each other.

I am sure it was not your intention to cause older people and the disabled distress but that is what your decision has done. I will no longer be able to access books independently and I will no longer be able to benefit from the company and contact the library provides. I know this will cause stress to me and to others. Can you explain how you are going to address my concerns and what your reasons were for targeting Headington?  

Yours sincerely,

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

As a  holder of an over 60s FREE bus pass I am concerned about the number of over 60s who are now going to be making additional journeys into Oxford to  use the Westgate Library.  This measure seems to be saving money which will then be handed over to the local bus companies. Has any assessment been done into the number of library users who are over 60. 

Yours sincerely,

Cllr.  Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

Can I please urge you to reconsider withdrawing funding to Headington Library. The cost of public transport  to Oxford will be too expensive for my family to use the Westgate library on a regular basis. Travelling into Oxford with a pushchair is time consuming and  difficult, often we cannot get on the bus when it stops in Headington because there is already a pushchair on board. Will you be instructing the bus companies to carry more pushchairs per journey? We currently use the library after we have finished playing in the park, it provides us with a pleasurable FREE family outing. 

Yours sincerely

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

I regularly use the library with my toddler when we have been to the park. We Like to sit and look at lots of books and choose the ones we will take home. When the library closes  can you please explain what provision you intend to make to  ensure that pre-school children will be able to get access to books?

Yours sincerely

Cllr.  Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

I am writing to express my concerns about the proposed closure of Headington Library.

In the press it has been stated that you have made assessments of local needs.  I cannot believe that any sections of the Headington community could possibly have thought that travelling to Oxford on public transport or by car was a viable or affordable alternative to using our local library.

Can you please provide me with information concerning the individuals and groups who took part in these consultations.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

It is my opinion that the proposed changes and restructuring of the Oxfordshire Libraries has been done without due concern for local communities. Especially a large community like Headington with it’s well used library.

·         Social impact on communities loosing there libraries does not justify the financial saving

·         No consideration has been given to the needs of sections of the community living in deprived areas and the housing expansion in  areas like Barton

·         No travel impact assessment  have been carried out about how older people, disabled, children, young families and the unemployed are going to use and afford transport links to the Westgate

·         The Council have displayed a lack of logic around why some libraries have been recommended for closure and not others.

·         Closure of Headington library would mean not only a loss of books but the removal of the only FREE access to computers and the internet locally

 I would appreciate your comments on these matters.

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

Your changes to the library services in Oxfordshire mean that as a Headington resident I will be expected to travel to Oxford to use the Central Library. I have mobility problems and journeys into Oxford are something I rarely do. Headington is a wonderful place to live because the bank, post office, supermarket and library are all within such close proximity of each other.

I am sure it was not your intention to cause older people and the disabled distress but that is what your decision has done. I will no longer be able to access books independently and I will no longer be able to benefit from the company and contact the library provides. I know this will cause stress to me and to others. Can you explain how you are going to address my concerns and what your reasons were for targeting Headington?  

Yours sincerely,

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

Oxford and Oxfordshire have a diverse population. For many there is an excellent quality of life with access to good housing, schooling, leisure and employment opportunities. For others there is unemployment, low skills level, poor housing, anti-social behaviour. The restructuring will mean it is harder for people to escape their social class and have aspirations for the kind of advancement that reading can provide for them.

Closure of libraries would mean not only a loss of books but the removal of FREE access to computers, internet and information necessary for up skilling people so they can enter the work place, in homes where there are limited resources.

The elderly, disabled and unemployed will have their convenient access to FREE books removed, little consideration being given to the most vulnerable in our communities

Children (of a certain age) can have independent use of local libraries which they will not have when local libraries close

Additional travelling costs and time will affect library use when local libraries close

Adequate library provision at a local level is key to improving educational opportunities and raising standards. The plans show little regard for the needs of children who are already suffering because of the educational cuts, which are having an impact on resources in schools,  in our area with its poor educational attainment

Libraries play an important role in supporting learning and reducing barriers to learning particularly for those pupils who come from disadvantaged backgrounds

Can you please address these points and explain why you have chosen to make the most vulnerable in our community the biggest losers?

Yours sincerely,

Cllr. Keith Mitchell

County Hall

New Road

Oxford

OX1 1ND

February 2011

Dear Cllr. Mitchell,

Re: Proposal to cease funding Headington Library

It is my opinion that the proposed changes and restructuring of the Oxfordshire Libraries has been done without due concern for local communities. Especially a large community like Headington with it’s well used library.

·         Social impact on communities loosing there libraries does not justify the financial saving

·         No consideration has been given to the needs of sections of the community living in deprived areas and the housing expansion in  areas like Barton

·         No travel impact assessment  have been carried out about how older people, disabled, children, young families and the unemployed are going to use and afford transport links to the Westgate

·         The Council have displayed a lack of logic around why some libraries have been recommended for closure and not others.

·         Closure of Headington library would mean not only a loss of books but the removal of the only FREE access to computers and the internet locally

 I would appreciate your comments on these matters.