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THE Dilmun Club Library has been at the centre of a gripping drama of its own this week after the librarians quit over plans to change the way the facility is operated.
Regular users of the facility found the library doors locked during normal opening hours on Friday and some received an email from the disenchanted women at the centre of the storm highlighting their grievances.
Dorothy Turner, head librarian, and Karen Boyd, relief librarian, alleged that ‘attacks’ on their self-esteem had ‘taken their toll’ although the expat club’s executive committee claim changes were being made to make the loss-making service more accessible to members.
“With sadness and regret, we must inform you that today is our last working day in the library,” said the librarians’ message sent via the club’s own email account.
“We are extremely sorry to leave library members for whom we have such respect. It has been a pleasure to serve you over the years and we had hoped our fight to save the library might end in being able to continue. It has now become apparent through job applications given to reception ladies, that librarian duties are to be incorporated into their job descriptions, with no place in the structure for a dedicated librarian.
“Sad but something the committee intended from the beginning.”
Dorothy was renowned for her good humour and literary knowledge and had overseen the library operation for several years with its computerised book loan system.
As the plot thickens, it appears that not all the part-time receptionists were happy with the outcome and one claimed that their working arrangements had been changed, hours increased and salaries slashed, with librarian duties incorporated into new job descriptions.
She said the closing date for applications was today and claimed that previous service would not be taken into consideration as these were ‘new positions’ and the starting salary would be BD250 per month.
“We would need to be interviewed and there was no guarantee of being appointed. Also, the librarian duties were incorporated in the job descriptions. We were all very sad that it came to this because we did not want to lose our jobs. We took the decision to walk away and let them get on with it,” one receptionist, who asked not to be named, said.
The Dilmun Club, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, has been through some rocky times in recent years and although currently without a general manager the six-strong executive committee, led by chairman Karl Bowles - all volunteers voted on by its membership - says it has steadied the ship and the future looks rosy.
Treasurer Alec Peck said as far as he was aware only one receptionist had not decided to apply for the role but had still offered to carry on with relief shifts as and when family commitments allowed, another was ‘still making up her mind’ and ‘the rest we are waiting to hear formally from’.
Suggestions that the library could be transformed into a café have been dismissed and the committee has issued a statement to reassure book-loving members and says a new chapter is dawning.
“We have always understood the importance of the library and appreciate the value it brings to the club. It is an important part of the heritage of the Dilly but we do need to make changes to ensure its place in the future of the club. The numbers fluctuate but there are around 40 reasonably active users of the library but the cost of running it is over 10 times more than the income from books,” the committee said.
“The harsh reality is that the vast majority of our club members do not use the library and yet it is their membership fees that are being used to pay for it. Clearly that is not sustainable. However, rather than close the library we are actually going to invest in it by increasing the hours it is open to allow a greater number of members to use the facility. In this way we hope to close the gap on the operating costs and open up the library to the majority of members who simply could not use it before due to the restricted opening hours.
“Of course, it is also true to say that a library is more than just a collection of books so it was with much regret that the current library staff felt unable to operate under the new plans. However, we are speaking to others with great experience in planning and running a modern library and we are excited about the improvement in services that we hope that will bring.
“Generally the club is on a real high at the moment and the changes that have been made throughout the year are really starting to pay dividends. At the year-end we expect to see a swing in our favour of around BD50,000 compared to last year, we have made a profit for the last three months running, we have made key changes in the running of the club that mean we are taking decisions based on real data not gut feel, the stables are going through a renaissance with income up 50 per cent, we have introduced new fitness classes, tennis is booming, there is an active squash league where courts once lay empty, we still offer some of the best value entertainment on the island as well as fantastic value food and beverages.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t still have a lot to do. In particular we need to put our focus back on improving facilities for families with younger children but we have plans in place to do precisely that.
“All in all the club is getting back on track and with great value memberships we would encourage people to come and see what the Dilly has to offer … including the library!”
