Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The public library service makes an enormous contribution nationally. Public libraries have been the focal point for many communities in Ireland for more than 100 years and have been used as a safe haven for schoolgoers, college students, the elderly, the homeless and active retired people. The friendly and professional staff in our libraries have formed part of the social fabric of many communities with many movements and community organisations having started life in the public library setting. The move towards staffless libraries is a bad one for the country. The schemes have been rolled out in Dún Laoghaire, Offaly and Sligo have been rightfully met with discontent by members of the community and staff. It is understood that 12 and possibly more counties plan to introduce staffless libraries. This move should be blocked and discouraged.

Statistics for the staffless libraries in Offaly and Sligo show that the use of the library is down when no staff are present. Many vulnerable members of our community may be less willing to use a staffless library because of safety concerns. Having friendly and experienced staff in a library tends to create a non-threatening community space that all can enjoy without fear or anguish. Any savings that may be created will be diminished by the decreased use of public libraries and the loss of the innumerable hidden gains that staffed libraries provide.

In a move towards less face-to-face contact in libraries, banks and other front-line services, it is understood that the area office in Crumlin village will also be closing. This is a very distressing move for members of the community who rely on many of the services provided by Dublin City Council, with other area offices around the city closing also. Less face-to-face contact with service users will make this a more insular society and create even more social problems at a higher cost to the Exchequer.