26/11/10….Thame escapes proposed library cuts – for now

OXFORDSHIRE County County proposes to stop funding some of the libraries in the county, and though Thame is not among those currently under threat, the council has said that there may be possible further changes to service levels in future years.

Chinnor library is among the 20 of the 43 libraries to have funding removed.

The council says: “Proposals have been formulated around a clear vision of providing library hubs centred on key areas of population in Oxfordshire with a quality support network of mobile library services and an extension of the library loan service to include e-books and e-audio downloads, so people can get the books they want direct to their home PCs.

“Residents will continue to be able to go online and order books from an online catalogue. The books can be delivered either to the nearest library hub or to the village/town by the mobile library service for users to collect.

“In formulating proposals for a new way forward there has been a strong emphasis on the comparative quality of the public transport links that enable local communities to reach libraries in individual localities and geographical spread. Usage figures have also been considered.”

The council states that: Details could yet change when more information becomes available on Local Government Settlement Day – the day when all UK councils learn in detail what their grant funding from central Government will be in future years. Oxfordshire County Council receives 65 per cent of its funding from central Government.”