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BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Isle of Man library facing closure 'a lifeline to families'
Regular visitors to a family library which is under threat of closure over future funding have said the service as "a lifeline" that they would be "devastated" to May, directors of the Isle of Man's Family Library said the facility would close on 31 July due to expected annual losses of £100,000 as a result of rising costs and declining online fundraiser set up by volunteer group The Friends of the Family Library in a bid to protect the service and its mobile library has raised more than £5, Michelle Lord, who supports the campaign, said the facility was "so more than just a library", adding: "It isn't just about the books, the team here foster growth in the kids." Since full funding was pulled by the then Department of Education in 2011, following a revision of the island VAT income, the services have been run as an independent library on Westmoreland Road in Douglas offers activities to young people, schools and adults, such as discos and funding set to end in 2026, and the education department has said it has "no plans" to provide further directors of the facilities have said unless a long-term funding solution can be secured, the facility will close its doors next month as they could not "guarantee" it would have the funds to operate for the next 12 months. Ms Lord, from Douglas, who takes her children to the service three times each week said it was "a really special place", which was "always inclusive and welcoming".She said: "Life can be overwhelming, but at the library we play, read and craft. It's somewhere we reconnect, we leave in such a better space as a family.""I think we're going to lose a massive support system for so many people across the island if it disappears." Laura Parry, who visits every Friday, said if the library were to close it would "leave a big gap in our lives"."My mum brought me and my brother when I was a kid, and I've brought my two boys," she said."The kids can be free, play, enjoy the books, and there's no expectation to spend any money which is so rare.""Both the parents and children take a lot away from the group activities, I don't think there's anything that compares to it on the Isle of Man." As well as the Douglas facility, the charity also operates a mobile library in rural areas, with a home service available for those who are Dovey, from Andreas, has been using the mobile service fortnightly for 15 said: "Living in the middle of nowhere, I can go for a week and not talk to anyone, other than perhaps on the phone.""The volunteers know the people who borrow books, and what they might like to read, as well as what is happening in their lives"."It isn't just a library, it's a point of contact which is an absolute lifeline for people like me."I would be bereft without it." Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Long-term fix' needed to stop Isle of Man Family Library closure
A "fix for multiple years" would be needed to save a family library and its mobile services is threat of closure over future funding, its director has Isle of Man's Family Library is set to close on 31 July after rising operational costs set against declining income left the service losing £100,000 a year. Director Kurt Roosen said the facility was not currently "distressed or disorganised" but could not "guarantee" it would have the funds to operate for the next 12 months."We've got to be sensible, honest and forthcoming. I wouldn't want to be in a position where I couldn't pay a bill," he said. The charity runs a library on Westmoreland Road in Douglas offering activities to young people, schools and adults, as well as operating a mobile library in rural areas and a home service for those who are services have been run as an independent charity since full funding was pulled by the Department of Education in 2011 in response to a reduction in the island's VAT 2022, the government agreed to a five-year funding plan on a sliding scale beginning with £125,000 in August of that year, with the final sum of £65,000 due to be awarded in August 2026. Mr Roosen said those behind the libraries had "got to the point where we've almost tried everything" to create a sustainable funding said the service had been run in the "most efficient way that we can" but costs such as heating and electricity had increased at the same time as donations were reducing."From an operational perspective it would be irresponsible of us to continue if we weren't certain about our future", the director said."We have all sorts of obligations, I don't want to be saying to the staff we can't pay you this month." Mr Roosen said he would "love to see a solution" but it would need to be "something that isn't a fix for one year" but "a fix for multiple years going forward".If the service were to close it would "leave a hole" as the services had been "fulfilling a need", he said."But clearly someone has got to fund that," he urgent question on about discussion between the Family Library and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture is set to be answered during the May sitting of Tynwald on Tuesday. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
