6 days ago
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.'
