Morale slump at libraries

STAFF working for East Sussex libraries feel 'frustrated and under-valued'. That was the bottom line of a report to East Sussex County Council yesterday (Thursday) setting out an internal best value review

STAFF working for East Sussex libraries feel 'frustrated and under-valued'.

That was the bottom line of a report to East Sussex County Council yesterday (Thursday) setting out an internal best value review.

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The report said that some 65 per cent of the East Sussex population used the library service, and expected much from it.

But, it added: 'The service is unable to meet all these expectations and as a result, while they remained dedicated to the service, staff at all levels in the organisation feel frustrated and under-valued.

'The extent to which the staff are cynical about the council's intentions for the public library service is significant and contributes to its low morale.'

There were many reasons for the low morale, the report added. Staff perception of communications with management was one, but other factors included the lack of resources that the service had at its disposal.

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The council also needed to more effectively demonstrate its commitment to the public library service.

This was not simply a matter of funding.

However, overall, the budget for the public library service had been reduced by seven per cent in 2002/03.

Recent budget decisions had included redundancies, staff relocations, library closures and the reduction of mobile libraries.

The report concluded: 'We are very concerned at what has become apparent to us regarding the morale of library staff.

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'Remedial action must be taken quickly and, if they value the library service and the staff that provide it, councillors, the chief officer and senior managers within the directorate should be willing to attend staff meetings to discuss the way forward.'