Do you know who owns this library?

Do you know who owns this library?

Campaigners trying to save a Sheffield library face more uncertainty due to its lack of owner.

Stannington Library is easy for rural and disabled people to access.

The Save Stannington Library group were surprised to be told by Sheffield City Council that they had no record of who owned the library. The group are trying to run it independent from the Council but will not be able to until they have an owner to take it from.

The Library will close unless campaigners can show they have a workable plan for running it by the 10^th January 2014.

Campaigner Jenny Van Tinteren has asked for more information about the library to support their bid but it has not been provided.

“That’s been a bit of an obstacle for us because we did want our outline bid to be as accurate as possible,” said Ms Van Tinteren.

Lynne Richardson, Project Manager for Library Reviews, said despite its lack of records: “The council is 99% sure that it owns Stannington Library.”

A non-civil service

The Council is trying to save nearly £1.7 million by cutting library budgets. A Council report said Stannington Library did not warrant further Council funding due to lack of use.

However Lib Dem Stannington Councillor David Baker said: “This rural area has no other way of accessing a library. Hillsborough library is difficult to park at and when you do park it’s a long way to walk if you’re disabled.”

The Save Stannington Library group has been given a guidance pack by the Council and is seeking advice from other libraries.

Ms Van Tinteren said: “We’re hoping we can introduce new services but we have got to be sustainable and viable. So there are likely to be services that would generate funding.”