89 year old pleads - don't axe mobile library service
AN 89-year-old Milngavie woman has made a plea for the area's "invaluable" mobile libraries to be spared the axe.
Eileen Hardie is just one of hundreds of people who will have to do without the service after it fell victim to cuts made by cash-strapped East Dunbartonshire Council.
She said: "I am an 89-year-old lady who has used this service for the past few years. I am increasingly frail, have deteriorating eyesight and am unable to walk any distance. The mobile library has been invaluable.
"The mobile library van which comes to me is less than one year old and is on a seven-year lease. To withdraw the library while still making payments on the leasing contract makes no economic sense whatsoever.
"The withdrawal of the mobile library service could only have been taken by someone who has no interest in, or understanding of, the pleasure gained from books — both printed and audio.
"The elderly and housebound in our society are among the most vulnerable and to deprive them of a facility which adds immeasurably to their quality of life is reprehensible and quite unacceptable."
She was paid a visit recently by East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson and Alistair Carmichael MP, the Liberal Democrats' shadow minister for Scotland.
Ms Swinson said: "Eileen Hardie's story illustrates just how important services like the mobile library are to people in East Dunbartonshire, particularly the elderly and disabled, and I'm sure there are many others who feel the same way.
"It is well understood that the council has been forced to make cuts to its spending, but targeting those cuts at services which give so much to vulnerable people for relatively little cost make no sense, and suggests a total lack of understanding of what really matters to people."
Mr Carmichael added: "This was the first visit that I have made to East Dunbartonshire for some years. I was shocked to learn that the council is now targeting its savings on those who will find alternative provision most difficult to come by. I was impressed by the level of support that I encountered for a re-think by the council."
There was growing anger this week at the mobile library cuts. Bardowie couple John and Jean Hansen have e-mailed councillors detailing their disgust.
Their e-mail states: "We cannot believe that East Dunbartonshire has voted for the removal of the library van service. We absolutely understand that there have to be cuts made in the local budgets, but to take away a public service so readily is quite shocking.
"The van on its weekly run visits 10 sheltered housing complexes, one disability unit, four nursing homes, one day care centre, a community centre, four primary schools and many housebound people as well as the ordinary members of the public who frequent the library every week.
"So the council in its wisdom is going to deprive many elderly, disabled folk and youngsters, all of whom really rely on books, tapes, cds and large print editions. The cut in this budget is understandable as it's a very easy decision to make, but to cut all these people off from something that they really need is an utter disgrace. You should be ashamed of yourself for voting for it."
Council Leader Rhondda Geekie said: "Our library provision aims to ensure that all people have access to the service. Through the budget, we have ensured that rather than closure, our community libraries are maintained but with reduced opening hours. We will continue to deliver our current home library provision service for the housebound, through the community libraries and volunteers and we are exploring what level of service we can retain for the retirement community through care homes and sheltered housing.
"All East Dunbartonshire Library Service users are also able to request items through our request service and items are delivered to community libraries for collection on a daily basis as soon as they are available."
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Weather for Milngavie
Saturday 04 February 2012
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Heavy rain
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