As many of you are aware, there has been what looks like a U turn by the County Council following its initial plans to axe libraries across Oxfordshire

The County Council’s website is now displaying this change of heart.

Based on the needs analysis of each area which should have been done before any proposals were made, the following 22 libraries make up those that would meet the council’s statutory requirement to provide a comprehensive and efficient network  of libraries and would remain fully staffed under the latest proposals:

Abingdon, Banbury, Berinsfield, Bicester, Blackbird Leys, Botley, Carterton, Chipping Norton, Cowley, Didcot, Eynsham, Headington, Henley, Kidlington, Littlemore, Neithrop,Oxford Central, Summertown, Thame, Wallingford, Wantage, Witney.

The council would welcome volunteers to supplement these fully staffed libraries – potentially allowing libraries to extend their opening hours.

There will be a four month consultation on these new proposals

You can tell the County Council your views in any of the following ways:

• Complete the online feedback form
• Collect a copy of the consultation document from your local library or from the Save Headington Library stall at next Sunday’s Headington Festival and send back the FREEPOST feedback form at the back. (Ruth will be helping the Save Headington Library group on our stall throughout the afternoon)
• Come along to a library service consultation event (date to be arranged)
• Come along and have your say at our next Headington Ward Focus meeting on 19 July at the Headington Baptist Church Hall (date to be confirmed)

The Save Headington Library Group committee will meet later this week to discuss the proposals. We are aware that Old Marston Library is one of the county’s 16 libraries for which

There would also be a positive future … as a result of free access to a suitable building, to the county’s book stock and to the library stock management system.

The staffing emphasis in these libraries would shift from county council staff to volunteers in a phased way over a three year period

This is cause for concern. Our group forms part of the wider Save Oxfordshire Libraries Group which will meet in June to discuss future action.

It is curious that the County had initially said it has no money to keep Bury Knowle Library open, but now it is saying it can not only keep it open but fully staff it. As ever, we need more information to understand this change of position!