A petition has been launched to try and stop Buckinghamshire Council from potentially reducing the number of open hours at Amersham Library.

In June this year, the unitary authority confirmed they plan to deduct the amount of time libraries across the county are open to try and save approximately £500,000 per year.

The move, which has been dubbed as the ‘library flex’ will impact eight venues in the county.

Those affected are in Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Chesham, Hazlemere, Marlow and Princes Risborough.

The plan has been widely criticised by residents in each of the areas with many campaigning to try and stop the notion from going ahead.

This includes those based in Amersham, who are aiming to fight the proposed plans.

A petition has since been launched with 512 signatures being confirmed from a 1,000 goal.

A section of it reads: “Buckinghamshire Council are reducing the number of hours that Amersham Library will be staffed from 41 hours down to 28.7 and eventually to 20.5 hours.

"Outside of these times you can only access it via an automated system with no staff on hand to help.

“After the huge investment in the building, it seems very short-sighted to now reduce the use of such an important asset to the community.

“This is a short-term financial saving which will have a long-term negative impact on Amersham residents, particularly the youngest, the oldest and the most vulnerable.”

They then listed their concerns which are the following:

  • Children under 16 will not be able to use this service unless accompanied by an adult. 
  • The library already has self-service machines, which many people require help to use. 
  • This is not just reducing library services time; it is reducing even further the Council Access Point services.
  • This discriminates against people who are not computer literate.
  • Losing the face-to-face contact with library staff, who can help when a computer cannot and who may give up coming to the library as a consequence.
  • Security and safety of the building and its contents. People may be able to tailgate official users of the scheme into the library, and it should not be up to these users to challenge people as to whether they are allowed to be there. 
  • Limiting access to Librarians advice to so many groups of people: the young, elderly and vulnerable.
  • Greater responsibility for groups using the library when there is no staff member available, this may lead to reduced usage.
  • The consultation is designed not to ask whether it should happen but only on how it should it happen, making it harder for residents to object.

Speaking in June, leader of the council Martin Tett said: “I liked the librarian always behind the counter. I think they performed not just a library service, with their knowledge of books and literature, but also a social service.”

However, he stressed that the council was in a ‘tough’ financial position and had to make ‘difficult decisions to balance the budget’.

To sign the petition, go to www.change.org/p/stop-bucks-council-reducing-staffed-opening-hours-at-amersham-library-we-demand-a-say.