Banagher librarian retires as three Offaly libraries face first weekend of cuts

Reduced hours at libraries in Banagher, Daingean and Kilcormac came into effect on Thursday. The cutbacks see the three libraries down a total of nineteen and a half hours each week as well as one librarian. Banagher librarian Mary Hynes confirmed her decision to retire is connected to the reduction in local library hours. Ms Hynes, who has worked at Banagher and Kilcormac libraries for a total of 14 years, finishes work today (Saturday) and local councillor Connie Hanniffy said she will be a great loss. Cllr Hanniffy said Ms Hynes retired now "on point of principle". "She has been a very good librarian," she said, adding that in her time she both promoted the library and provided a space for local events. "It's massive the amount of linkage she had with the local community," Cllr Hanniffy said. "The library was truly a connecting point." Banagher library has lost three hours, opening for just 14 hours each week now instead of 17. Daingean library hours have been reduced from 13 to just six, while Kilcormac library hours have plummeted from 16 to six and a half each week. The move means Banagher library will no longer open on Tuesdays or Wednesdays as it once did, while Daingean and Kilcormac libraries lose previous Friday and Saturday openings. Cllr Hanniffy has questioned why the decision to reduce hours in smaller rural libraries was taken rather than shaving some hours off larger urban libraries. "It was very simple to take an hour a day off Tullamore, Edenderry or Birr," she said. "That extra five hours a week to Daingean would have made an awful lot of difference. I cannot see why that type of structure wasn't looked at. I think it should have been looked at. This decision was made in haste." The councillor said that she sees the reductions that have come into operation this week as "the road to the deathknell of trying to eliminate rural libraries and place everything in larger centres" and said such a move is "very unfair". Cllr Hanniffy said the matter is due to be discussed at a Housing, Social and Cultural Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) meeting, which SPC Chair Molly Buckley confirmed is scheduled for May 17 next. Cllr Hanniffy said she has been told anything that might result from that meeting will only happen if it can be operated within the budgets the library service must currently abide by. However Cllr Buckley said at the meeting she and her colleagues will be looking both at the impact of reduced hours at the libraries in question as well as creative ways of ensuring a good library service in every area.