New Mill Library looks set to shut
Jun 12 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
It is envisaged that the mobile service would visit twice weekly to make sure that people who do not have their own transport are not disadvantaged.
The proposed library closure has been part of a programme of £2.6m of savings required within Culture and Leisure Services over the next three years, to 2012.
A council spokesman said: “Despite the staff’s best efforts to encourage new users there has been an underlying decline over the past few years with only 288 active borrowers now using the library and a 6% decrease in of visitors and a 16% drop in enquiries.
“Other libraries in similar locations and of a similar size to New Mill are better used by both borrowers and local community groups.
Closing New Mill Library would potentially save £41,000 which would need to be found elsewhere in the service if the move did not go ahead.
Clr Christine Stanfield, Cabinet member for Culture and Leisure, said: “At the full council meeting in February, not one councillor voted against the closure proposal.
“Because of the ongoing economic crisis the council has to consider taking hard decisions about continuing with underused public facilities such as the static library at New Mill”.
