Libraries in Cork City have been informed that their spending powers are to be suspended indefinitely and with immediate effect by Cork City Council. The freezing of the libraries book fund will prevent them from being able to purchase new publications, CD's and DVD's, as well as curtailing their spending on basic maintenance work and furniture items, such as shelving.

The enforced cutback provoked an angry response from Socialist Party Councillor Mick Barry, who described the spending-freeze as yet another attack on the less-well-off in our society.

"This cutback means that if you want a new book you will have to go to a privately-owned bookstore and pay for it. If you cannot afford to pay for it you will have to go without. We are meant to be building a knowledge economy but this decision says that knowledge is for people with money. The decision is an attack on social equality as well as being an attack on learning, education and culture."

He added, "I would be opposed to this cutback if it were put in place for a matter of weeks or months. But the freeze on spending is open-ended, it is in place 'until further notice'. Do the Council intend keeping this ban in place for years on end? Do they plan to turn our libraries into dying organisations with buildings stuffed full only of old books? I think we should be told".

Comments (2) »

I forgot..
written by Gabriel, July 04, 2009

Im tired of looking for in the national newspapers a good literary section. Instead of i found plenty of them with half pages of sport! forty pages of sport (see Irish independent saturday !!today) familiar pictures to see themselves inside and urge somebody buy it. etc Beer and Sport, you cant speak with yourself only about this. Thanks

getting worse
written by Gabriel, July 04, 2009

It was expected. I am from Italian and i have never seen one library in such a poor condition. There isnt variety of books.They are destroy. Is impossible find out one classical book in good condition and even though you arent going to find them because the software doesnt works. It isnt intelligent, you have to ask always and anyway the assistants. It is very sad! Because neither you can find them in english traslation in UCC library, nor in those of few "book shops" that use answer you : "You can buy it by internet." But why they dont have nothing good? Always the same commercial stuff. Poor people and poor country. Im so sory for you. Thanks and I hope

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