334 library workers cut by cash-strapped councils
More than 330 members of staff have been cut from the wage bill in public libraries, while volunteer numbers have rocketed in the last six years as cash-strapped councils look to balance the books.
The figures show almost a quarter of employees were cut from the payroll as libraries were one of the services bearing the heaviest brunt of swingeing cuts.
The cuts to services in the Black Country follow a worrying national trend.
In 2010, there were 1,151 library employees in the Black Country, but now there are 817, a reduction of 334. In that time, volunteer numbers have soared from 365 to 799, a rise of 434.
Staffordshire was the worst-hit area, losing 114 employees, while Sandwell (91) and Wolverhampton (85), weren't far behind.
Walsall lost 38 members of staff, while Dudley lost six.
Staffordshire council has also taken on 214 more volunteers since 2010, more than any other council in the region.
Sandwell has taken on 102 extra, while Walsall has recruited 68 more than it had in 2010. There are 36 more volunteers working in Dudley libraries than six years ago, while there are 14 more in libraries in Wolverhampton.
Councillor Elias Mattu, cabinet member with responsibility for community hubs and libraries in Wolverhampton, regrets the loss of jobs but believes they are necessary due to government cuts to council funding.
He said: "If you look at other areas in the Black Country we are doing quite well.
"We do have libraries in several of our community hubs, which stay open later, so some areas have better access.
"I am still working hard to try and keep the services we have available. The trouble is, there are big cuts to the funding and you have to try and do more with less of a budget.
"I use the library myself and really don't want people to lose the service. I am working on a plan for the future of the library service here, so we will see how it goes. What matters is that we are meeting the demand. I am sorry that jobs have been lost, you never want to see that. But with the cuts to the funding, unfortunately it is sometimes necessary."
The figures have been revealed following an investigation by the BBC's English Regions data journalism team.
Across the UK, 8,000 jobs have been lost and nearly 350 libraries closed since 2010. Over the same period, 15,500 volunteers have been recruited, leading to fears over the future of the profession.
Children's author Alan Gibbons said the public library service faced the 'greatest crisis in its history'.
