I WRITE in response to the letter published in the April 22 issue of the Western Telegraph entitled ‘Is this bleak future in store for us?’.

The letter pertained to Pembroke Dock library which has benefitted from Welsh Government funding to create a new health information service. This is in addition to the excellent range of services already provided at the library.

The new service will provide high quality health information and will be a venue for a range of health providers to utilise with the aim of empowering and equipping people to live healthier lives.

It is through innovative initiatives such as these that public libraries can demonstrate their ongoing relevance and importance to communities in the 21st Century.

Our partnership with Jobcentre Plus and the free access to the internet that we provide at the library is highly valued by job seekers who, without access to the internet at home, would struggle to access information on job opportunities which are predominately advertised online nowadays.

The Welsh Government publishes standards on the amount of money that should be spent on the purchase of new library book stock and the Pembrokeshire library service meets those standards.

Many thousands of new books are purchased each year to satisfy the needs of our customers, including at Pembroke Dock library.

Finally, staff in our libraries are paid more than the minimum wage and they have not been transferred to no-hours, non-renewing contracts with no holidays or pension contributions as the letter claimed.

COUNCILLOR ELWYN MORSE

Cabinet Member for Culture,

Sport and Leisure Pembrokeshire County Council