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Anger at Moville Library cuts
05.02.09
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
MOVILLE Community Library is to have its days of
opening reduced from five days a week to two. The
changes, announced to Moville Librarian Gerard Duddy
at the start of last week, are likely to be
implemented mid-February.
It’s understood that Mr Duddy is being moved to
Carndonagh Library to cover for a member of staff
who is taking maternity leave. The Moville Library
will still be open on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent this week, the
executive librarian for Inishowen, Carmel Barron,
said that the proposed changed to the opening hours
in Moville would be temporary.
“These changes would only be in place until November
when both the bigger libraries, (Carndonagh and
Buncrana) have a full complement of staff once
more,” she said. |
Though the Carndonagh-based
librarian admitted the new arrangement would be
‘terrible’ for those who use the Moville Library on
a regular basis, the reduction in opening hours was,
she said, better than the alternative which was the
closure of the Moville Library on a temporary basis.
“The only good thing is that there will still be a
library service in Moville and that [Mr Duddy] is
not having his hours cut.”
Last summer the Moville Library relocated to larger
premises in the Market Square. Mr Duddy’s part time
assistant was laid off at the end of 2008. |
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News of the reduction
in opening hours at Moville Community Library was
brought to the attention of the Inishowen
Independent by prospective Donegal County Council
election candidate Shane Carey.
The Moville businessman was scathing in his
criticism of the planned move.
“The decision to take away the full-time library
service in Moville is absolutely ludicrous,
especially in this time of economic difficulty when
confidence is low and the people need their public
library more than ever, for doing up CVs etc.
“I know from personal experience that the place is
flat out with students and jobseekers. There have
been times I have had to book ahead to use the
internet at the library.
“In the run up to exam time, this is the last thing
that local students need.
From the ordinary Joe Bloggs in the street to the
man in the suit and tie, everybody uses the
library.”
Local Fianna Fail county councillor Marian McDonald
said she had written a letter to the county director
of Library Services, to ask for an explanation for
the move.
“There have been a terrible lot of complaints about
this in Moville. In the current economic climate,
people depend on their local library to investigate
new jobs. I would definitely want to see the Moville
Library stay open five days a week,” said the
Moville councillor. |
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