Herefordshire Live : 6th May
Closed book: Hereford Library unlikely to open again until 2017
http://herefordshirelive.co.
Lancashire County Council : 6th May
Cabinet report outlines plans to transform services with fewer buildings needed
http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/
Clitheroe Advertiser : 6th May
REVEALED: Libraries and services proposed to shut by LCC
http://www.
Blog Preston : 6th May
Preston and South Ribble library and children’s centres closures revealed
Part of the county council’s plan includes introducing seven ‘satellite libraries’ which it says will be self-service kiosks.
http://www.blogpreston.co.uk/
Shropshire Star : 6th May
‘Catastrophe’ warning on impact of losing services in Oswestry
http://www.shropshirestar.com/
The rather lengthy article about Hereford Library does present a fairly clear description of the situation in the city. The library has now been closed since last Autumn for the removal of asbestos (which was found ironically during improvement works) and HLUG have taken the opportunity to push forward plans they have been developing for many years to create a new library and cultural hub behind the listed facade. However the casual mention of possibly closing Ross, Leominster and Belmont is rather a shock since we have been campaigning against these closures and are given to understand that, partly thanks to our campaigning (including a 7500 signature petition from Ross) these libraries are currently safe, with no new decisions until this coming October. Meanwhile the newly formed Joint Action for Herefordshire Libraries (JAHL) is working hard with the Library Service to come up with viable plans for the future.