A ‘group’* on Facebook has been formed out of ex-librarians and other culture workers to protest cutbacks and closures affecting Highland Libraries. Their profile gets quickly to the point:
The rural libraries which could face closure are: Bettyhill; Knoydart; Achiltibuie; Lochcarron; Cromarty; Golspie; Lairg; Broadford; Mallaig; Bonar Bridge; Muir of Ord; Plockton; Caol; Invergordon; Helmsdale; Ardersier and Beauly. Other libraries would suffer reduced hours. Also under fire is the Bookstart programme, which introduces literacy to young children.
Highland Libraries have more than 1 million visitors every year, they loan 1.3 million items and provide more than 90,000 hours of free Internet access. Your council wants to reduce that service by more than half for a saving of less than £200,000
This news is confirmed here with a related article here and an earlier report on the issue at the P&J.
The council is seeking the public’s views on the following ideas:
- Closing up to 17 small local libraries (saving £185,000).
- Closing one major urban library (saving £87,000).
- Reducing library opening hours by 10 per cent (saving £71,000).
- Removing seven school librarian posts (saving £97,000).
- Ceasing Bookstart, the early years library service for young children (saving £44,700).
These Highland Council cuts are getting incredibly out of hand, I wish they’d just cut back spending on the things that don’t form a vital part of daily life. For some examples: Streetscape; winter festivals; fireworks; Gaidhlig translations**; billboards and magazine ads; various underperforming; overpaid Council staff. None of that is necessary.
But when it comes to checking out expensive reference books, or light reads, comics and DVDs, getting internet access when your own is broken, taking kids out for the day or having some time to yourself – the libraries and pools are a vital and well used part.
You have to wonder what they’ll be cutting next.
Footnotes:
* Being pedantic, it’s actually a Facebook user, not a Facebook group. I might speak to them about creating an actual group if they need assistance with that.
** Suas leis a’Ghaidhlig! I (clumsily) speak and support it, don’t get me wrong, but it takes lesser priority than community facilities. Money alone won’t save it.
Madainn mhath a charaid :-)
More Gaelic books would be a lot better than more translations of English Documents, often documents that don't make sense even in English lol.
It would be good to see a group starting up for the Libraries, I'd join it and there's no doubt about it if the Campaign to save Nairn Swimming Pool succeeds a lot will be down to the activity coming out of the Facebook Group
Madainn mhath!
I really like that idea. Gaelic literature would be great for teaching new learners, as well as giving existing speakers a way to enjoy their native tongue.
I'm not a big fan of translations of things like road signs – all Gaelic speakers have English knowledge as well, the sign translations seem like cultural boasting or a thin attempt at gaining approval instead of a genuine attempt at saving the language. Not that it isn't nice to see the Gaelic place names, but it's just too much money for too little gain. I'd rather it was used for books, comics, TV and radio shows – things that would garner up a lot more enthusiasm for the language. The BBC has done some brilliant things for it so far.
I tried to get one of my works translated into Gaelic once – unfortunately, the translator fees were still going to be huge even with some financial support from the Highland Council, so that couldn't go ahead. Perhaps another time.
If signs are being put on new roads or if signs have to be replaced or resprayed then the cost of making them bilingual is minimal. You're right of course new signs do not create any more gaelic speakers but they do have other benefits in creating an environment where a language is normalised.
Of course it's all academic if the number of speakers continues to decline. Kids are being educated in Gaelic but once they leave the school gates they tend to speak English, creating community is another problem – just where do you use Gaelic once educated in the language?
True enough about if it's being replaced or resprayed. If I recall correctly, though, Highland Council have a bad habit of replacing perfectly good signs with bilingual ones at a whim, which is where it gets unnecessarily expensive. I do like that it gives learners some relatively simple phrases to practice with, but unless the signs are needing replacement the money still seems better used on learning media.
Aye, I know what you mean about having nowhere to speak it. I had a good handle on it, but after being out of school for a while it's all slipping fast. Unless you're going to Sabhal Mor Ostaig and into a career in Gaelic TV/Radio or translation, it's all too easily lost. Even living somewhere like Lewis, it's not spoken often enough to really stick without proactive effort… and it's been a worryingly long time since I've overheard people speaking Gaelic in Inverness or Nairn.
Still, it's not all doom and gloom. The Sabhal Mor Ostaig, various festivals, Dè a-Nis? and BBC Alba all do some excellent work keeping the language going.
Uaireannan tha beagan conaltraidh ri fhaighinn ann an Inbhir Narann ach feumaidh fios a bhith agad cò eile a tha ga bhruidhinn sa chiad dol a-mach. Co-dhiù fhathast a-mach air cor na Gàidhlig sgrìobh mi rudeigin air a’ Ghurn mu APC, bidh e a’ nochdadh aig Fèis leabhraichean Inbhir Narann. ‘S e duine conspaideachd a th’ann an APC – nam bheachdsa.
Tiors