Within North Lincolnshire there are 14 Branch and 2 Mobile libraries, all of which are to be retained under Labour, according to the new North Lincolnshire Council budget for 2011. Targeted by many local authorities as an "easy target" for saving a bit of cash, we have seen lots of branch libraries threatened with closure. Most telling next door in Doncaster, where a struggling council is being forced to close several branch libraries due to cuts in government funding. The roll of the library is central to most communities, and acts as a valuable resource for all age groups young and elderly alike. Libraries are not just about "borrowing stuff" either, take a look at the events held at your local library and you'll be surprised just what a hub libraries form in our communities. Central library in Scunthorpe has a fantastic collection of local archives, including newspapers, maps and family records; generally speaking the reference section is very comprehensive and the library can also provide on-line access to certain parts of the Bodleian Library in Oxford, for free! Following the budget announcement last Wednesday, North Lincolnshire Council announced that their would be no library closures due to funding over the next 12 months. This dispelled a rumour that Messingham library was to be closed, as in the meeting Councillor O'Sullivan stated categorically that Messingham library was to be kept regardless of what had been muted prior to the meeting. The council were however forced to make a reduction in funding for books and resources by �30k, and also a reduction opening hours across the county totalling �15k. The good news however is that users of the library services can make use of lots of library resources on line, for example the council runs an online search, reservation and renewal service (www.opac.northlincs.gov.uk) and also provides access to useful online research resources such as the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Lots of resources are available for immediate access via your library card through the library's online reading room. Don't panic if you are not a member though, you can even join online! Councillor O'Sullivan's speech last Wednesday also included a commitment by the ruling Labour group to reintroduce free swimming for under 16's over the school holidays; this was originally funded by central government until the funding was removed in the first set of cuts in August 2010. Cllr O'Sullivan also pledged to ensure that once the Pods have been opened, that Ridding's Pool (which was originally closed by the last Tory Council) will remain open and available to the public.

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Correction / Retraction

I've been informed by one of our readers that the statement I made about Riddings pool was misleading. Apparently while it was earmarked for closure by the previous Tory Council, it was never actually closed, and when the Labour Council got back in to power they kept it open. Apologies for not being 100% clear on this, but would hate to mislead.