Access to books for two thirds of schools in Shropshire threatened
Shropshire Council are in the process of creating a new plan for the School Library Service following budget cuts
A headteacher in Shropshire has urged schools and parents to press councillors about the future of books in schools after the School Book Service was cut from Shropshire Council's budget.
The service, which is used by two thirds of schools in Shropshire, provides over 250,000 books and other resources. The school pay for its use but an additional £30,000 of council funding is needed to cover the costs.
Tracey Cansdale, headteacher of Christ Church C.E. Primary School in Cressage, started a petition to save the service after schools were not consulted by the council that it would be withdrawing its funding.
The council has since reversed their decision and are proposing for the service to be taken over by Shropshire Music Service who provide music lessons in schools across the county.
However, Mrs Cansdale says that she and her colleagues are nervous about the longevity of this solution.
'Concerned'
"At the moment the schools don't know what it's going to look like. We're delighted but also a bit concerned. We don't want this to be a way of the School Library Service existing for one more year then being closed when there's less publicity."
"If we don't have the books from the School Library Service, I can't buy them in. We have no spare money, we'd just have less books."
Mrs Cansdale says that it is vital that people ask their local councillors what they are doing about this issue and that schools continue to subscribe to the service.
"We need to use the service but we also need to keep the pressure up. This is a tiny bit of money that we're asking the council to invest in children's futures."
Shropshire Council’s cabinet will meet next Wednesday to discuss the plans for the service.