IT HAS been publicised before that Poole central library has seen many changes over the years with books being taken out in favour of blank space and it has been given that corporate unfriendly feel with self service kiosks, coffee machines and lack of staff being the norm.

But are residents aware this feel is now being rolled out to the smaller libraries?

Up to now many have had a unique look and a unique offering.

Some are located in quaint old buildings with those nooks and crannies that you find something new in every time.

Sadly, this seems to be no more as it is noticeable that the smaller libraries are being stripped bare of any individuality having to follow the ‘norm’.

The result of this approach is that they are losing more and more customers.

Who wants to keep visiting empty buildings with no soul?

What is there to attract people in?

No way is this a slight to the many staff and volunteers who have given time and effort working hard to involve the local community, but this is a message to senior management to not let libraries lose their uniqueness and why people visit there.

I doubt you will find anybody who says they go there to use the coffee machine, get served by a machine or see the same thing that the other libraries have.

Cost cutting is an issue but how much more cost cutting can libraries take before we lose them? Let the libraries breathe and be the community hub they should be.

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