LEWISHAM: Library changes 'unavoidable' says mayor (From News Shopper)

Mayor of Lewisham warns of unavoidable changes to libraries

11:00am Sunday 30th January 2011 in News

CHANGE in the way libraries are provided is “unavoidable”, Lewisham’s mayor has warned.

Lewisham Council is seeking alternatives to running five of its libraries to save cash, while neighbouring Greenwich Council is considering handing its services over to a trust.

Writing for a local government website, Sir Steve Bullock said: “There is no escaping the fact that some of the services we provide, particularly to young and old, are pretty much matters of life and death.”

He added: “We need to rethink what constitutes an acceptable level of provision for those services which contribute to the vitality of our communities, but are not essential on a day-to-day basis.

“Library services are inevitably going to be part of that consideration.”