‘End of the librarian’ as staff sacked for automatic check out machines

Recession-hit Leicestershire County Council has replaced library staff with self-service machines to cut costs, in a move that has been heavily criticised by locals.

'End of the librarian' as staff sacked for automatic check out machines
Customers at Leicestershire County Council libraries will have to use machines to borrow books.

Customers at the council's libraries will now be forced to use automatic check-outs machines to borrow books, CDs and DVDs instead of dealing with library assistants.

The move, aimed at saving tens of thousands of pounds, will affect 16 outlets across the region and cause 19 staff to lose their jobs.

The Tory-run council defended the decision saying it was part of a wider plan to cut millions between now and March next year.

But the plan, disclosed yesterday, has been criticised by staff and locals.

“Lots of staff feared for their jobs because of cuts, but no-one dreamed they would be replaced by a machine,” one library assistant said.

“I can't see how this will benefit customers at all.

“In some places the library is the only regular place for social contact for a lot of people.”

Denise Woods, of the Hinckley Pensioners' Action Group, condemned the decision.

"Whatever will they think of next,” she said.

“They should not be looking to cut jobs in libraries which are essential services for elderly people. If the council needs to make cuts they should come from elsewhere.”

Earlier this year The Daily Telegraph disclosed that services would be cut and thousands of workers likely to lose their jobs as town halls struggled with a £1billion budget black hole.

Local authorities in England and Wales were looking to cut budgets by up to 10 per cent, with social services, education and transport bearing the brunt of the cuts.

A council spokeswoman said the self-service areas would offer customers a “choice of quicker and easier methods of checking out and returning books in the library”.

She added: “The county council has got to make big efficiency savings over the next four years and libraries have to make a contribution to that.”

A spokesman for the Local Government Association declined to comment on the council’s actions, but said councils were facing a “perfect storm” of falling revenue and increasing demand for services.