Protests over city library plans

A campaign to save Belfast libraries which public service union Nipsa says are facing the axe is to be stepped up this week.

The union has organised midday protests at Ballymacarett and Ardoyne libraries in the city on Tuesday.

But the Belfast Education and Library Board said no proposals had been passed to close libraries and a consultation process was under way.

"The aim is to provide a modern service for the city," a spokesman said.

"The 'Future Vision for the Library Service in Belfast' is available on our website."

Nipsa's Dooley Harte said: "We hope our demonstrations at Ardoyne and Ballymacarrett will create a greater awareness to library users of these closure plans and we encourage members of the public to attend our demonstrations," he said.

"While we recognise the difficult financial position of library services at present, we are opposed to these proposals as they remove services from some of the most socially deprived areas in Belfast.

"Proposals will close libraries in Ardoyne in north Belfast and Ballymacarrett in east Belfast as well as libraries in Sandy Row, Ligoniel, Oldpark and Suffolk."