16 Glasgow secondaries to start new school year with no library staff
Glasgow Life, which operates school libraries on behalf of Glasgow City Council, is currently carrying out a 'collective consultation' on those plans, but has failed to complete this process before the school year begins.
In a letter to affected schools, sent the day before pupils return for the new year, headteachers are told that the ongoing situation means that the body has 'not been able to recruit for current vacancies' and that this will 'have a localised impact in the short term.'
Our sister title The Herald has repeatedly asked for the names of the sixteen affected schools, but this information has not been provided at the time of publication.
Despite beginning the new academic year with no allocated staff, the letter to headteachers says that the libraries in affected schools 'will be accessible to young people and staff throughout.'
It has previously been reported in June that council budget cuts – voted through by SNP and Green councillors in 2024 – were behind proposals to remove every school librarian in Glasgow in order to save £100,000 per year.
The new model being proposed would introduce a 'principal librarian' as well as allocate three school librarians to 'area-based responsibilities.' Each school will then be served by a library assistant.
Officials claim that the funding cut will increase library services by raising the number of hours in which facilities have some form of staffing.
However, this was rejected by Scotland's biggest teaching union, which said that the cuts would deliver a "blow to the life chances of students" in Glasgow.
The professional body for librarians also dismissed the claim, arguing that running libraries with 'staff at a lower grade' will 'diminish the service's impact severely' and describing the move as 'de-professionalisation' which 'does not work and does not support pupils effectively.'
READ NEXT: Glasgow's transport cops promise this if you report a sexual crime on rail network
READ NEXT: 'I do the same job but get paid less': Glasgow young workers speak out on wage issues
Glasgow Life recently advertised ten library assistant posts, each of which offered a maximum salary of £25,861.29. Librarian salaries for the same organisation are advertised as being up to £39,089.87 per year.
A current librarian in Glasgow previously said that the changes will put services like book groups, lunchtime clubs and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support at risk, and rejected claims that services would be unaffected as 'propaganda' from Glasgow Life.
The individual said that librarians are "heartbroken" and described Glasgow Life's handling of the situation, including the decision to wait until "right before summer" to announce the plans, as "cruel".
In 2023 Glasgow Life also scrapped the School Library Outreach service, which was described as vital by teachers, and subsequently sold off much of the material it contained.
In a joint statement also covering Glasgow City Council, a spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: 'Glasgow Life continues to consult on the proposed redesign of Glasgow's Secondary School Library Service. When schools return this week, all school library spaces will be accessible to young people and staff. The proposed new model will ensure every school receives a minimum of three days' library provision each week, with overall provision across Glasgow schools increasing by 27%. The implementation of the new model may have a short-term impact on some school libraries, and we will continue to work closely with affected schools to support local matters and needs.
'When schools reopen on 14 August, 16 secondary schools will temporarily be without librarian cover due to current vacancies. All school library spaces will remain accessible to young people and staff who will be able to use the library resources.
'Glasgow Life is bound by Glasgow City Council's commitment to no compulsory redundancies. Should the proposal be approved, affected staff will have the opportunity to apply for promoted positions or be redeployed into available vacant roles commensurate with their existing pay and grade.'
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Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
16 Glasgow secondaries to start new school year with no library staff
The development is a result of a 'review' of school library services that has been jointly undertaken by Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council Education Services. It led to proposals to scrap all school-based librarians in the city and replace them with cheaper, less-qualified staff. Glasgow Life, which operates school libraries on behalf of Glasgow City Council, is currently carrying out a 'collective consultation' on those plans, but has failed to complete this process before the school year begins. In a letter to affected schools, sent the day before pupils return for the new year, headteachers are told that the ongoing situation means that the body has 'not been able to recruit for current vacancies' and that this will 'have a localised impact in the short term.' Our sister title The Herald has repeatedly asked for the names of the sixteen affected schools, but this information has not been provided at the time of publication. Despite beginning the new academic year with no allocated staff, the letter to headteachers says that the libraries in affected schools 'will be accessible to young people and staff throughout.' It has previously been reported in June that council budget cuts – voted through by SNP and Green councillors in 2024 – were behind proposals to remove every school librarian in Glasgow in order to save £100,000 per year. The new model being proposed would introduce a 'principal librarian' as well as allocate three school librarians to 'area-based responsibilities.' Each school will then be served by a library assistant. Officials claim that the funding cut will increase library services by raising the number of hours in which facilities have some form of staffing. However, this was rejected by Scotland's biggest teaching union, which said that the cuts would deliver a "blow to the life chances of students" in Glasgow. The professional body for librarians also dismissed the claim, arguing that running libraries with 'staff at a lower grade' will 'diminish the service's impact severely' and describing the move as 'de-professionalisation' which 'does not work and does not support pupils effectively.' READ NEXT: Glasgow's transport cops promise this if you report a sexual crime on rail network READ NEXT: 'I do the same job but get paid less': Glasgow young workers speak out on wage issues Glasgow Life recently advertised ten library assistant posts, each of which offered a maximum salary of £25,861.29. Librarian salaries for the same organisation are advertised as being up to £39,089.87 per year. A current librarian in Glasgow previously said that the changes will put services like book groups, lunchtime clubs and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support at risk, and rejected claims that services would be unaffected as 'propaganda' from Glasgow Life. The individual said that librarians are "heartbroken" and described Glasgow Life's handling of the situation, including the decision to wait until "right before summer" to announce the plans, as "cruel". In 2023 Glasgow Life also scrapped the School Library Outreach service, which was described as vital by teachers, and subsequently sold off much of the material it contained. In a joint statement also covering Glasgow City Council, a spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: 'Glasgow Life continues to consult on the proposed redesign of Glasgow's Secondary School Library Service. When schools return this week, all school library spaces will be accessible to young people and staff. The proposed new model will ensure every school receives a minimum of three days' library provision each week, with overall provision across Glasgow schools increasing by 27%. The implementation of the new model may have a short-term impact on some school libraries, and we will continue to work closely with affected schools to support local matters and needs. 'When schools reopen on 14 August, 16 secondary schools will temporarily be without librarian cover due to current vacancies. All school library spaces will remain accessible to young people and staff who will be able to use the library resources. 'Glasgow Life is bound by Glasgow City Council's commitment to no compulsory redundancies. Should the proposal be approved, affected staff will have the opportunity to apply for promoted positions or be redeployed into available vacant roles commensurate with their existing pay and grade.'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Sixteen Glasgow secondaries with no library staff for new school year
Glasgow Life, which operates school libraries on behalf of Glasgow City Council, is currently carrying out a 'collective consultation' on those plans, but has failed to complete this process before the school year begins. In a letter to affected schools, sent the day before pupils return for the new year, headteachers are told that the ongoing situation means that the body has 'not been able to recruit for current vacancies' and that this will 'have a localised impact in the short term.' The Herald has repeatedly asked for the names of the sixteen affected schools, but this information has not been provided at the time of publication. Despite beginning the new academic year with no allocated staff, the letter to headteachers says that the libraries in affected schools 'will be accessible to young people and staff throughout.' The Herald exclusively reported in June that council budget cuts – voted through by SNP and Green councillors in 2024 – were behind proposals to remove every school librarian in Glasgow in order to save £100,000 per year. The new model being proposed would introduce a 'principal librarian' as well as allocate three school librarians to 'area-based responsibilities.' Each school will then be served by a library assistant. Officials claim that the funding cut will increase library services by raising the number of hours in which facilities have some form of staffing. However, this was rejected by Scotland's biggest teaching union, which said that the cuts would deliver a "blow to the life chances of students" in Glasgow. The professional body for librarians also dismissed the claim, arguing that running libraries with 'staff at a lower grade' will 'diminish the service's impact severely' and describing the move as 'de-professionalisation' which 'does not work and does not support pupils effectively.' READ MORE Glasgow Life recently advertised ten library assistant posts, each of which offered a maximum salary of £25,861.29. Librarian salaries for the same organisation are advertised as being up to £39,089.87 per year. A current librarian in Glasgow previously told The Herald that the changes will put services like book groups, lunchtime clubs and English as an Additional Language (EAL) support at risk, and rejected claims that services would be unaffected as 'propaganda' from Glasgow Life. The individual said that librarians are "heartbroken" and described Glasgow Life's handling of the situation, including the decision to wait until "right before summer" to announce the plans, as "cruel". In 2023 Glasgow Life also scrapped the School Library Outreach service, which was described as vital by teachers, and subsequently sold off much of the material it contained. In a joint statement also covering Glasgow City Council, a spokesperson for Glasgow Life told The Herald: 'Glasgow Life continues to consult on the proposed redesign of Glasgow's Secondary School Library Service. When schools return this week, all school library spaces will be accessible to young people and staff. The proposed new model will ensure every school receives a minimum of three days' library provision each week, with overall provision across Glasgow schools increasing by 27%. The implementation of the new model may have a short-term impact on some school libraries, and we will continue to work closely with affected schools to support local matters and needs. 'When schools reopen on 14 August, 16 secondary schools will temporarily be without librarian cover due to current vacancies. All school library spaces will remain accessible to young people and staff who will be able to use the library resources. 'Glasgow Life is bound by Glasgow City Council's commitment to no compulsory redundancies. Should the proposal be approved, affected staff will have the opportunity to apply for promoted positions or be redeployed into available vacant roles commensurate with their existing pay and grade.'
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
Fury as Russell Findlay's Suffragette aunts' historic medals are lost to Scotland
Russell Findlay's Suffragette great aunts have not been honoured by Glasgow | PA Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The family of two Glasgow Suffragette sisters has criticised the city for once again failing to honour the women's memory. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay had called on Glasgow City Council to step in and save an archive of rare memorabilia linked to his great-aunts, Frances and Margaret McPhun. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The sisters endured hunger strikes and brutal treatment during detention in London's Holloway prison in an attempt to secure votes for women. Russell Findlay's Suffragette great aunts have not been honoured by Glasgow | PA Their father - who was a local councillor - is honoured with a memorial and gate in Glasgow Green but there is nothing to commemorate his daughters. It had been hoped a Scottish university or the council would step in to purchase an auction lot containing two exceptionally rare Hunger Strike medals awarded to the McPhuns as well as the women's diaries and letters from Holloway. However, it has now emerged the collection - which went under the hammer for a guide price of around £30,000 - has been bought by the University of Manchester's John Rylands Library. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Findlay said he was relieved the items were remaining in the UK but said it was 'disappointing' they are leaving Scotland. 'It's disappointing that these important items once owned by my great-grandmother's Suffragette sisters have left Scotland but a relief that they remain in the UK,' he said. 'It's also hard to understand why Glasgow City Council showed zero interest in acquiring these historic medals and documents. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's just as perplexing that Glasgow University sat back and did nothing instead of seizing the opportunity to celebrate these two brave and pioneering former students.' A University of Glasgow spokeswoman said: "This wasn't a collection we were aware of until it was sold. However we are pleased to hear that this collection has been acquired by an institution where it will be preserved and available to study and learn from." 'Gallant action' The medals, preserved in their original purple boxes with green velvet lining, bear the inscription printed in gold on white silk: "Presented by the Women's Social and Political Union in recognition of a gallant action, whereby through endurance to the last extremity of hunger and hardship a great principle of political justice was vindicated." The acquisition includes a significant body of correspondence, including letters giving intimate insight into the personal sacrifices made by these pioneering women's rights activists. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Rylands already holds internationally significant collections of archives, periodicals, and ephemera on the Women's Suffrage Movement. 'The collection is testament to the bravery of Edwardian women who fought for their political rights, enduring the indignities of forcible feeding and imprisonment in dark, stuffy cells,' said the Library's Dr Janette Martin, Research and Learning Manager. 'Today women in many parts of the world continue to fight for basic human rights and these objects are a powerful reminder that the battle for gender equality is still to be won.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Martin said the medals hold particular significance for Manchester, as the suffragettes were formed in the city in 1903. The Women's Social and Political Union, which presented these medals, was founded by the suffragettes and maintains a direct historical connection to these artifacts. "These medals represent not just individual acts of courage, but the broader struggle for women's political rights that began right here in Manchester," added Professor Christopher Pressler, University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library. "The correspondence adds an invaluable personal dimension to our understanding of the suffragette movement." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The newly acquired items will form part of a major exhibition planned for Manchester in 2028, marking 125 years since the suffragette movement began in the city. Frances and Margaret, both university-educated women in their 40s, travelled from their Scottish home to London to take part in a window-smashing campaign in March 1912. The pair were arrested and sentenced to two months' hard labour in Holloway jail.
