Hoylake Library - towards a rationale for retention
Introduction
On Tuesday 25 November 2008 I was told that a meeting had been held and that the staff of Hoylake Library had been informed that morning that the library was to close, probably by the end of March.
This decision was included in the horrific “Strategic Area Review”, which went public that day, some two working days before being on the Cabinet agenda; the specific timing and methodology of the announcement and the incredibly fast positive responses from both the public and from our four local MP’s is beyond the scope of this paper.
I would however stress that no Council Officers are to blame for this – it is a result of the SAR, commissioned by Wirral Borough Council Cabinet and produced by independent consultants.
The SAR entry for Hoylake Library reads
Recommendation: Close
Comments: Examine options for alternative uses and disposal
The WBC website homepage (latest news page) includes:
Buildings will be disposed of as quickly as possible but, where appropriate, provision will be made to weatherproof, protect and/or demolish the buildings. Financial provision will be made for this.
This frightening scenario needs to be set in context at various levels.
National
The Government
are currently really pushing to improve child literacy standards. The website www.everychildareader.org states:
The vision is that every child who needs early literacy support receives it and that the numbers of children experiencing long term literacy difficulties are dramatically reduced. Progress towards this vision took a leap forward when government announced in December 2006 that Every Child a Reader would be rolled out nationally, benefiting 30,000 children year on year from 2010-11.
The roll-out, which began in September 2008, [i.e. actually whilst Wirral’s SAR was being formulated – my emphasis] is being managed by government through the Primary National Strategy, working in partnership with the Reading Recovery National Network at the University of London Institute of Education. The charitable funders who helped set up the programme will maintain an important role.
Through the Every Child a Chance Trust they will, over the period 2008-10:
- independently monitor and evaluate the national roll out of Every Child a Reader in schools and local authorities ;
- contribute expertise to shaping the national roll out;
- add value to the Government’s expansion of the programme by intensifying activity in targeted geographical areas where funders have interests;
- add value to the Government’s expansion of the programme by helping schools explore opportunities to engage local businesses through sponsorship – for example enabling them to expand their stocks of appropriate books;
- research and explore practices which will ensure that more children exiting Reading Recovery reach age related expectations by the age of 7 and 11;
- develop and implement an accreditation/award scheme for schools;
- set up a long term evaluation of the impact of Every Child a Reader through to age 16;
- fulfil a continuing communications strategy;
- fulfil a continuing advocacy function.
The Trust will present an independent annual report on the progress of Every Child a Reader to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.
A Powerful Advocate
The Library Association’s website www.la-hq.org.uk/directory/about.html says:
Since 1877, The Library Association has been speaking up for Britain's libraries. The energy and commitment of our members and the expertise of our staff enables us to influence local and national decisions which impact on the provision of library and information services across all sectors.
As the global information age becomes a reality there is a widespread recognition across government, education and business of the central role which good libraries can play in delivering the public and corporate agenda.
The need for excellent libraries has never been greater.
The Library Association campaigns for a healthy, well resourced library network well placed to meet the opportunities of the future.
Timing is everything…
The National Year of Reading – yes, this year, 2008 - is a year-long celebration of reading, in all its forms. It aims to increase awareness of the many values of reading – anything, anytime, anyplace [my emphasis] – for children, families and adult learners alike.
Some of the information on its website www.yearofreading.org.uk includes:
A new report reveals that reading can reduce loneliness, dissatisfaction with life, and even cut chances of divorce. The National Literacy Trust findings, published [11 September 2008] by the National Year of Reading, show the effect literacy has on the nation’s happiness, particularly men’s, and demonstrates how reading is the route to a better quality of life.
One particular item of interest states: This [report] brings into sharp focus just how critical a skill reading really is, whatever kind of life you want. Without it, you’re not only limiting your future earning power, but your chances, and your children’s chances, of leading fulfilled lives. All parents really need to see the powerful links between reading and success, not just in school but for every
day of their lives, in order to break the cycle of poor literacy rates and the reduced life chances that seem to go hand in hand with them.
Local
The following information has been obtained from the Charter Mark notice board inside Hoylake Library plus earlier Minutes etc.
The present building was opened on 14 December 1967, replacing a totally inadequate group of rooms forming an annexe to Hoylake Town Hall and it was only when Hoylake UDC relinquished library powers in the mid-1960’s that the then Cheshire County Council undertook to build a new library for Hoylake. The new building then had inflexible shelving and a strange wedge-shaped first floor. The shelving was, of course, replaced in the revamp in 2005 – yes, it took 40 years – the shape of the floor is harder to change but actually seems to work very well.
There is no doubt that the Library - both the building it occupies and the service that it provides - is the hub of the educational and cultural life in Hoylake, thanks in no small part to the work and dedication of the staff.
The following lists are as complete as I can make them – in no special order:
Activities
Baby Bounce & Rhyme – for about 25 pre-school children and their parents
Hoylake Bookmarkers – (one of two) children’s’ reading groups
“In Stitches” craft group
Hoylake Library Users group
Computer / internet access *
Copying and faxing *
Newspaper and other jobsearch facilities*
* these three services free of charge to jobseekers
AND, OF COURSE, BOOKS ! – both reference only and to borrow
Partners
Wirral Scouts – charity stamp sales
British Legion – poppy sales
H & WK Libraries' Friends Group – talks / fundraising
Adult reading group “Get Into Reading” with Liverpool University
Housebound Library Service with CVS
Hoylake Cottage Hospital – awareness-raising
St. John’s Hospice – fundraising
WHISP - cancer information and support
Barnardos – fundraising
Hoylake in Bloom – fundraising and support
Schools
Support and visits to/from:
Great Meols Primary School
Hoylake Holy Trinity Primary School / Pre-School Annexe
Kingsmead School
Our Lady of Pity Hoylake Annexe
Bright Smiles Day Nursery
Ducklings Day Nursery
Smarties Pre-School Playgroup
Hoylake Children’s Centre
Work experience provided for pupils from:
Hilbre High School
Pensby High School
West Kirby Grammar School
Statistics
These figures are from October 2008, the latest available, although apparently not their busiest month:
4,458 books loaned, 5,070 visitors and 513 computer users.
This last figure has been achieved using just six terminals, this high demand being the reason why Hoylake was specifically selected to have all their terminals upgraded within the last 12 months.
Personal
This I have included as an excellent example of personal hardship and insane logistics that would be caused by closing Hoylake Library. I am all too aware that we are not alone; the 2001 Census figures show that 8.72% of the population of Hoylake and Meols (together) are permanently sick and/or disabled – this is 65% higher than the average in England.
My wife and I moved into Hoylake when we got married in Summer 1975 and have lived here ever since. My son also lived here from birth in 1986 to 2005 when he went to University, and for about two years was actually a member of the Hoylake Library User Group.
For seven years Carol was capable of walking to Hoylake Library but in 1982 she had both her kneecaps removed, and as the joints were really badly damaged, has never been able to have them replaced. Since then she has been confined to a wheelchair when outdoors.
For the next 24 years either one of her personal assistants or myself had to
go to the library for her, often getting the “wrong” books. The staff at the library, very kindly, took over the task of choosing books for her and checking on their system if they were ones that Carol had already read.
Other than the odd “Comments” form we kept faith with Wirral Council’s promises that one day the library would be made disabled-accessible and indeed, just three years ago, it was, at a cost of some £28,000. This was still only the ground floor but we accepted what the Council told us, i.e. that the
cost of making the lecture/reference area accessible would be prohibitive; sometimes you just have to accept the penalties that disablement brings.
.
So for only 7 + 3 = 10 years out of 33, Carol has been able to get in the place.
Now the Cabinet propose to close it! When she has access to the library, Carol likes to choose her own books, research her hobby (card-making), which may lead to a part-time job, and also learning to use the computer.
If this closure actually happens it means that Carol would have two options:
She can either use the “housebound” service about which we know very little other than it is run by the CVS or go to any other library.
The first option is downright ridiculous – she is not “housebound” in so much as she has an electric wheelchair, but Hoylake is the only library within battery range. She also likes to choose her own books and to use the library, which we have both worked and paid for, one way or another, for a third of a century.
The second option is just not viable. It means driving in her Kangoo, which is fitted with a crane for the electric wheelchair, but that in turn means walking to the car, loading the chair, driving somewhere and then reversing the process, all the time carrying books. None of this can she do unaided.
Carol receives Direct Payments money which pays for two part-time personal assistants but they are not allowed to do anything other than personal care unless we pay their wages ourselves out of her other benefits and to do that just to change library books is not economically possible.
Even if the rules were changed to allow such a use of the D.P. money it would not help as Wirral Council have also this week cut this money by 30%, which means that we have had to cut the personal assistants’ hours by the same amount, and we are not in anyway sure how this will work on present jobs,
let alone “luxuries” like reading.
Fortunately my son is now an adult – how he, or us, would have coped without Hoylake Library when he was at school I have no idea.
Conclusions
Nationally - It is crystal clear that the idea of closing Hoylake Library completely contravenes both Government policy and the Library Association’s standards, especially in this, the National Year of Reading.
Locally - It is also against the wishes of the local population and, I would imagine, the staff, who almost certainly do not want their livelihood put at risk.
[NOTE: the local perceived wisdom is that the cancellation of the idea of Saturday-afternoon-closing some two years ago was the result of pressure from the Library Association and not just the arrival of the Open Golf; I can not confirm or deny the accuracy of this statement.]
Personally - If you have never experienced disability, or lived with someone who has, and found out what it entails, then you cannot imagine the problems.
Jim O’Neil
Printed or electronic copies of this paper are available free on request from:
29 Shaw Street, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2BW
0151 632 2047 (Mon-Fri 6pm-8pm, Sat-Sun 2pm-8pm)
jimoneil@btinternet.com (will be checked up to 10.30pm every evening)
Version 1, 30th November 2008
Version 2, 1st December 2008
Version 3, 2nd December 2008
Version 4 (final), 3rd December 2008
Minor typographical corrections 7th December 2008
