Bangor library faces cuts. Drastic restructuring at Welsh University proposes [pounds sterling]300,000 cull of subject librarians, writes .(University Wales Bangor)

Subject librarians face redundancy this summer at the University Wales Bangor (UWB). The Executive of the UWB has proposed restructuring the library, laying off eight librarians to reduce costs.

The UWB expects net savings of over [pounds sterling]300,000 from the staff costs as a result of the redundancies, according to its restructuring consultation paper. The financial position of UWB is described as "precarious" within the document.

Eileen Tilley, president of the Bangor Association of University Teachers (AUT) branch, and one of the librarians under threat, is working with colleagues to develop an alternative restructuring plan. "We will try to make savings in a way that doesn't threaten people's livelihoods," she said.

According to the consultation paper, which IWR has seen, librarians do not deliver "value for money" when compared to the internet. It states: "the process of literature searches is substantially de-skilled by online bibliographic resources." The report dismisses the support subject librarians bring to the academic and student communities as "hard to justify".

But Tilley told IWR: "Anyone who has had any contact with a first ...