**SAVE SALLYNOGGIN LIBRARY
-DEFEND COMMUNITY AMENITIES**
PROTEST RALLY
Saturday Feb 27th at 12 midday (Outside Sallynoggin Library).
Local residents and library users in Sallynoggin will hold a protest rally on Saturday February 27th at 12 midday, outside the library, which was earmarked for closure by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Council at their December budget meeting
The Council intend to press ahead with plans to close down the Sallynoggin library in the next few months, despite widespread local opposition to the closure plan.
Local anger and protests have so far delayed the closure, which was originally due to take place in January. However, the Council intend to go ahead with the closure over the next few months.
In response to local protests, the Council are proposing to replace the existing library with a book collection in a local school or community building that they hope will be run by volunteers.
However, those opposed to the library closure believe that a volunteer run book collection is no substitute for losing a proper library run by trained librarians and with all the other services a library offers.
They also point out that at a recent meeting organised by the Council seeking volunteers, only two locals turned up – indicating that the proposed substitute book service would almost certainly collapse through lack of volunteers, even if it got off the ground in the first place.
Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett, who is involved in the campaign to save the Sallynoggin library said:
“It is simply unacceptable that Sallynoggin should be singled out to have its library closed. Sallynoggin has few enough local amenities and is a community where there is significant disadvantage and literacy problems It has also been hit very hard by the worsening unemployment crisis. To take such an important facility away form this community just when it needs it most is an absolute disgrace.
It is outrageous that the government can pour billions into bailing out the banks that have wrecked this country’s economy, but that they won’t bail out a vital local library service that is really needed by a disadvantaged community.
The Council’s attempt to compensate for this scandalous attack on Sallynoggin is an insult. A volunteer run book collection is no substitute for a proper library. A library requires trained librarians and all the other services that go with it, such as internet access, daily newspapers, somewhere quiet to read or study, or to do job-hunting related research.
In any event, it is quite likely that a volunteer run- book service would quickly collapse because it would not get enough volunteers. The Council recently organised a meeting in the area looking for volunteers and only two people turned up. So such a plan is just not viable.
While the primary responsibility for this disgraceful closure plan lies with the government for implementing unfair cut-backs on those that can least afford it, it is also shocking that the Fine Gael/Labour controlled Council has singled out Sallynoggin Library for closure.
It is particularly scandalous that while closing Sallynoggin and curtailing hours in other libraries, they are still planning to spend €20 million euro on a new super-library at Moran’s park in Dun Laoghaire. If cut backs and staff shortages are the problem how are they going to staff and pay for a new super-library? Clearly, this can only be done by robbing local communities of the libraries they already have.
So while, Sallynoggin is the first to come under threat, other local libraries will almost certainly follow unless the public protest. Of course, we would all want to see new library facilities in the county but they should not come at the expense of smaller existing local libraries, they should come in addition to those already there.
However, the battle is not over. The protests and public anger have rattled the Council and the main political parties that voted for the closure. Now it’s time to crank up the pressure and the protests. A protest rally has been organised on Saturday Feb 27th at 12 midday outsides the library. We need big show of opposition to put pressure on the government parties and those that run the Council to abandon this closure plan.”
More info: RICHARD BOYD BARRETT 086-7814520