The Isle of Wight is the setting for some of my crime novels and the council's 'community libraries' plans on the IOW concern me greatly
The Isle of Wight is a special place for me. It is the setting for some of my DI Horton crime novels and my thriller In For The Kill . I regularly walk on the Isle of Wight and have many friends there. I also know some of the libraries and librarians and the great service they provide to the community. So while I am pleased that the Isle of Wight is not to lose all its libraries in the Draconian cuts imposed on this splendid and valued community service I am concerned to learn that five libraries originally scheduled for closure last June will become "community libraries". Concerned because professional librarians will lose their jobs; concerned because the skills demanded in running a library and all it entails will be lost; concerned there will not be enough volunteers to keep these libraries open and flourishing; and concerned that this plan to hand the libraries over to volunteers is a "a cut by any other name". IOW council said libraries in Bembri...