A petition to try and prevent Buckinghamshire Council from reducing the number of open hours at Amersham Library has now received nearly 900 signatures.

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.

However, the notion has been widely lambasted by those in their respective communities, with many urging the council to reconsider.

Following the proposal, those in Amersham have began petition to thwart the idea from being passed, and at the time of writing, an incredible 839 signatures have been put forward.

Those fighting against the changes need 1,000 signatures to take it to the next stage.

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.

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