We have in our midst a gentleman whose career was dedicated to library services, working at the most senior level, including creating the library service for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Having retired to Stonehaven, Kirby Porter is not happy with Aberdeenshire Council’s proposals to relocate our library to Viewmount. He has kindly shared a letter he sent to our Councillors explaining why.
Dear Councillors,
I attended the first of the Stonehaven library consultation exercises about proposed changes to the library and the recent meeting of the Stonehaven Community Council which had invited Tim Stephen to discuss the matter further. I went with an open mind to both events as I have been an active library member since I was six years old and worked in the sector for over 40 years before retiring to live in Stonehaven. I am writing to you, as local councillors, to express my concerns about both the nature of the consultation to date and the lack of transparency about what the Council seems to be considering; moving the library to Viewmount.
The consultation exercise lacked both focus and context. It appeared, on the surface, to be an attempt to gauge how the current library is being used but by restricting participants to those who borrow books on a regular basis, it failed to consider the needs of those others who use the library in a number of different ways and the fuller role the library plays at the heart of our community. Much better to have simply asked the library staff who their users are and what they do in the library. Those charged with managing the library might have been surprised.
But then it immediately became obvious that there was more to the exercise than this given the fact that there were very carefully drawn plans of what the library would look like after moving to Viewmount displayed prominently in the area where we were seated. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this caused something of an uproar, dominating early questions and comments but none of those responsible for the consultation were in a position to provide any credible explanation of why they were there or how they related to the questions that we were being as asked. They said that nothing has been decided but I am not sure anyone believed them.
I had hoped that the appearance of Tim Stephen at the Community Council would provide more detail about what was being proposed but was again disappointed. Rather than address the meeting on what was being proposed he chose to answer questions put to him by Council members and members of the public in attendance. He often seemed reluctant to engage with the Committee and provided no real detail on
- What was being proposed
- What options were being considered
- Whether these options had been costed
- If a business plan had been developed
The timescale envisaged for any work undertaken
- Whether there will be any further consultation with the community.
Except, of course, to say that ‘the only change to the library service is a geographic one – a move about 80m up the road.’ A wonder that he did not bring the Viewmount plans with him. He sat with his back to the public throughout, not once turning round to see who was asking a question of him or answer them directly.
This is just not acceptable. Stonehaven library is essential to the well-being of our town and our community and any process for change should be conducted in a transparent manner and the community should be properly consulted and their views taken account of. While I know that you are not a member of the Communities Committee, as a local councillor, I would hope that you share my concerns and lend your voice to this call for proper considered public consultation before any decision is made.
Which leaves only the question of Viewmount; the white elephant on the hill. As you know Viewmount opened amid much fanfare and great hope in July 2022 after a projected spend of 3.3 million pounds which probably ended significantly higher, As Councillor Agnew said at the time, ‘I am sure customers and staff alike will enjoy making use of what is now a modern space that is designed to be flexible in its use and will serve the community for years to come.’ Yet it now lies virtually empty completely inaccessible to many in the town. In my years as a librarian, I must have visited thousands of libraries and can say with all honesty that I have never seen a worse location for the possible siting of a small-town library. And that without factoring in how much it will cost to make it fit for purpose and accessible for all. In stark contrast to the current location of the library on Evan street right in the centre of town. A case of throwing good money after bad, surely? Perhaps this is the building asset which should be realised rather than the library.
A library that loses its visibility at the centre of the community it serves is at great risk of further decline. Loss of footfall inevitably bringing more retrenchment. I would argue that Stonehaven library is already a community hub and the services it provides could be enhanced to develop a one-stop information point providing medical, community, tourist, council and other government information, building on the expertise of the staff that work there and which could provide a suitable location for other community services such as the Audiology service which already has a monthly presence there. The town centre, already suffering from the effects of economic hardship, does not need another shuttered building to sit alongside all the others.
I hope that, as a local councillor you agree, and that you will do everything possible to ensure that Stonehaven library stays where it is so that it can continue to ‘serve the community for years to come.
Kirby Porter
Formerly Head of library services for the London Borough of Haringey
Formerly Head of library services for the Northern Ireland Civil Service
Formerly Head of the Northern Ireland Assembly library