Take a leaf out of their book (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Take a leaf out of their book

10:57am Friday 26th February 2010 in

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Sir.–I read Councillor Hussey’s recent letter with interest. I, too, had contacted county councillor, Mrs Snaith-Tempia, with my concerns about what will be provided for Basingstoke during the closure of the library. She did not reply to me, but arranged for a reply from an officer of the library service.

It is easy for Hampshire County Council to say that if they don’t provide a proper service during the closure, it will save money which can then be spent on improvements to the refurbished library. It would save even more money if they abandoned the library service altogether.

At this stage, too, maybe it is not yet known what will be provided, but it is said that Basingstoke will have a mobile library two or three times a week.

Many people use the library for research, many use the computers, and many cannot easily travel to libraries outside the town centre.

Where will the microfilmed records and viewers be sited?

We know that Winchester was provided with an alternative service during the closure of their library. When I raised that question, I was told the closure was longer because Winchester took two years and our closure may be only six months.

But six months is a long time to be without a service for which we pay through our council tax and it is tempting to think that what goes for Winchester is sometimes better than what is provided for Basingstoke. As Hampshire taxpayers, we funded Winchester’s alternative library service during their closure, so surely Basingstoke should get equal treatment and be provided with a proper service.

–Debbie Reavell, Basingstoke