Disparity in local authority library costs highlighted

Douglas running costs half a million more than comparable facilities

Further investigation is needed to explore the disproportionately high cost of running the Henry Bloom Noble Library, according to a Tynwald select committee investigating library provision in the Island.

Initial figures suggest the library, which is operated by Douglas Borough Council, costs half a million pounds more than other local authority facilities of a comparable size.

Libraries in Onchan and Ramsey have annual costs of around £140,000, while the figure for the Island's capital is £650,000.

The committee says longer opening hours and the cost of rented premises are among the contributing factors, but don't account for the scale of the additional running costs.

Chair Clare Bettison MHK says the disparity needs to be more carefully analysed: