Library volunteers cut (From Oxford Mail)

Library volunteers cut

12:13pm Friday 2nd December 2011 in Oxford

COUNCIL chiefs have cut the proposed number of volunteers needed to keep libraries open.

Oxfordshire County Council had planned that 16 libraries would be one-third staffed by council employees, with the rest of the staff made up by volunteers.

But now all 43 of the county’s libraries will be at least half staffed by council library workers.

Twenty two libraries will be fully staffed, 16 will be half staffed and five will be two-thirds staffed by council employees.

The new plan has come after a four-month public consultation into the proposals, which attracted nearly 5,000 responses.

A decision on the new plan will be made by the council’s cabinet on Monday, December 12, at County Hall in Oxford from 1pm.