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