Argyll and Bute Council’s budget cuts included the removal of librarians in secondary schools from the end of term, 30th June. A cut to qualified school librarians is a cut to all young people’s opportunities.

•  School librarians provide support for independent learning in all areas of the curriculum. 
• They help young people learn how to learn: skills those youngsters will need to be successful in any future education, job or career. 
• They provide access to computers for many who do not have access to the internet at home. They help young people learn how to use information technology for learning. 
• They provide a safe haven for youngsters with additional support needs, for example at breaks, lunch time and after school, by providing a place to socialise, to relax and to learn.
• Librarians give all young people a place to read, to daydream, to think creatively, to grow intellectually. They put the right book in the right child’s hands at the right time. 

 On Mull, Tiree and Islay this budget option will have an even more devastating impact as young people will be left with limited access to public library facilities. The Council should not be compounding the challenges already faced by its remote rural communities. It should be promoting achievement, not putting stumbling blocks in its path.

 We, the undersigned, appeal to all 36 Argyll and Bute councillors to discard this option when considering budget choices.

 We call on them to reinstate our secondary school librarians.