Stanmore library potential closure story

This is my story for WINOL on the potential closure of stanmore library, i created a package and an OOV-act but only the OOV-act made it into the bulletin. I have also provided the written script.

Written story:

Hampshire County Council is set to shut Stanmore library in Winchester in September 2012 if local residents can’t be found to run the service.

The library has been reviewed alongside all the other libraries in Hampshire in an attempt to cut the cost of the service by £450,000 as a result of budget cuts in 2012. Library times across Hampshire will be reduced by 145.5 hours a week.

But it has been proposed to close Stanmore library as it has become too costly to run this library; costing  £36,000 a year, while the library is the least well used library in Winchester. The decision has been taken as only 3% of people in Hampshire use the service, while the library is situated within 2 miles and 1 bus journey from The Winchester Discovery Centre.

Hampshire County Councillor Jackie Porter said in a statement for WINOL: “The Council has looked at the usage and decided that this library is not well used. They have a shortfall in the budget. They have decided which libraries are the most used. Hub libraries will be kept open, local ones reduced in hours. Stanmore is a real victim, with an offer to local people to man it...

Personally, I think this library is in the centre of a community which could be very supportive towards ‘loving books’ the student population could be real leaders in this: taking on the role of introducing books to enjoy to local young readers, and to others. Many of the students live on the estate and are training to be teachers and social workers etc. It is ideal job experience too. I hope that the library can be saved in this way. The local population need access to books. The students could help them achieve this- and perhaps have computer access too...

 This community is one of the poorest in the Winchester district. Many children will not have many books at home. HCC could act positively towards a children’s library-and offer support through the children’s centre.”

Residents who wish to voluntarily take over the running of the library have until 28^th December 2011 to come forward.