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I am a Library Customer Service Assistant in Barnet Libraries, and before I that was a Library and Information Officer and before that  a Library Assistant.  I have worked for Barnet for 35 years and hoped to retire in three years’ time.  I know I will get redundancy money if I lose my job but it will not be able to cover my expenses for long. Personal circumstance meant that I had to give up my home and now I rent. Without a regular income I am not sure I will be able to cover my living expenses. I don’t splash out on a lot of luxuries but after working all my life I think I deserve more than just to exist.  I have spent my working life helping people in libraries. I have read stories to toddlers and then helped them with their homework when they got older.  One of the children I used to do this for came to work in Libraries with me a few years ago, before she got a job as a librarian in another part of London.   I know I have to retire sometime but I don’t want to be forced into giving up work. It should be my decision. It is bad enough that the Council want to hand our libraries over to private companies, but charities and residents groups should know better.

* Identities have been changed to protect the striker

Please, please, voluntary groups, please don’t take over our libraries. I don’t understand why you want to do this. I thought charities were all about doing good for people.  Taking jobs away is not what you should be doing. Also what about the people who use the libraries, they need them more than just 15 hours a week. I have only been working in my library for 2 years but I really like it. Working here much better than my old shop job which I had for a year after leaving school.  I have learned so much and feel much happier with myself. I used to be really shy at school but I need to talk to different types of customer now and they really need my help so I can’t be shy. I really don’t want to lose my job, I know it can be hard sometimes when someone shouts and swears at you, but most people are nice.

* Identities have been changed to protect the striker

I used to be a librarian but lost my professional post in the last restructure.  It has been difficult readjusting to the Library Customer Service Officer role, but I still am able to utilise my skills and knowledge and this has made the transition easier.  I was a victim of the Council’s lack of respect for Librarianship when the number of professional librarian posts were cut in 2013. It now appears I am to be a victim again when library staff are replaced with volunteers.  I have given nearly thirty years’ service to public libraries, most of it in Barnet.  I am very worried that if I am made redundant that I will not find it easy to get other employment as I am in my late 50’s.  I think those considering running a Partnership library really ought to reconsider. I realise my objections may be dismissed by some as just trying to protect my own interests, but experience tells me that Voluntary organisations are not equipped to run an efficient library.

* Identities have been changed to protect the striker

It worries’ me that libraries are going to be handed over to voluntary organisations to run. Please don’t misunderstand me, I think these do really useful work but they should concentrate on what they were set up for.  Running a library is not a simple matter of just lending books. A lot of organisation is needed to manage stock.  Much of what libraries do now is IT based and we also run a lot of events and activities for adults and children.  There are also times when library staff have to deal with very difficult situations and often we get verbal abuse and worse from customers. I just don’t think the charities and other groups thinking of taking over the libraries realise just how difficult it is.  They probably mean well but It’s seems they think that anyone can just walk in off the street and be a librarian, library manager or a library customer service officer. That’s just not true.

I have been working in Barnet Libraries since I was a teenager and I am now in my mid-thirties. I have children at primary school. It can be hard looking after my kids and working but I do not want to get the sack. It is not just because we have a mortgage to pay and bringing up kids is expensive, but I really love my job. I have learned a lot working in Barnet libraries and love helping people. Some of the elderly people I help sometime talk to no one else all day. What is going to happen to them when the libraries change?

 

* Identities have been changed to protect the striker

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No to closures
No to sackings
No to staffless Libraries

Barnet UNISON Library workers are taking strike action this Saturday 12 November outside Hendon Library from 9 – 12 noon

Please try to come down to the picket line to offer support and solidarity. You can send messages of solidarity to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Some Facts:

• 50.3 Full Time Equivalent Posts to go (approx. 70 staff). Workers to be informed that they will lose their jobs in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
• Building work to reduce library space by 15% to 90% resulting in less stock, study and activities space.
• Introduction of technology that is being used to replace staffed opening hours. Library staff will be on site only 30% of planned opening hours.
• Four Libraries to closed and re-opened by volunteers.

For details how to find Hendon Library click on this link  https://www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/libraries/find-yo

ur-local-library/hendon.html

“Dont take our members jobs”

Why we are asking all Barnet UNISON members to join us on 5^th November

This is critical moment in the future of Libraries. Volunteers are being used now to help push through brutal austerity policies and take the livelihoods of thousands of low paid Library workers.

Imagine if you will, going into work today. There you are carrying out your job, earning your living, paying your bills feeding your family. Next you receive a tap on the shoulder, you look up and a stranger/volunteer says:

 

Volunteer: “Excuse me, erm, this is all a bit awkward for me, I really am unhappy about this but if I don’t do this there will be nothing left.”

Worker: “What?”

Volunteer: “I’m your replacement, don’t worry they’ve told me although you are being sacked you will get redundancy pay”

 

I think you would be pretty upset and angry.

That is what is happening in Barnet.

Barnet Council are not closing the Libraries they are simply sacking the staff and using volunteers to replace them.

This isn’t a closure it’s “outsourcing” with mass redundancies (46% of the workforce are being sacked).

I have a message for any voluntary organisation thinking of running “Partnership Libraries” either here in Barnet or anywhere else.

“Don’t do it. Don’t be part of brutal assault on our Libraries. Don’t take the livelihoods of our members and their families.”

Join us on 5th November on the National Libraries, Museums, Galleries demonstration.