Susan Jefferies

In Corfe Mullen our Library opening hours have been cut from 30 hours a week to 20 hours.  The staff report that during the hours they are open they are busier than ever, the same number of visitors and the same amount of work to deal with in two thirds of the time.

We are also very sad to lose both our long standing Library staff, we will miss them.   However we are very pleased to welcome our new Librarian to Corfe Mullen.

We now have a Children’s Centre in our Library.  This is available whenever the library is open and is also making full use of the days when the library is closed.  Many local people have said that they are pleased to see that our lovely building is being fully utilized.

Across Dorset:

• Staff numbers are being reduced and redundancies have taken place
• Expensive Self Service machines are being installed reducing the personal touch even further. In Corfe Mullen the Library will be closed from March 16th – 20th to allow the installation to take place.
• The cuts in hours all took effect in November, half of Dorset’s libraries are now closed on at least one day, one third are closed on 2 or even 3 days during the week, and evening openings are very restricted.
• A further cut in the Book Fund means the shelves are looking emptier.
• Charges are being levied for the use of computers.
• Library opening hours are: