Roger McMaster, Head of Suffolk Libraries Resigns

Roger McMaster at the Stradbroke Public Meeting
on 21st February

This blog can reveal that Roger McMaster the Head of Suffolk Libraries has resigned.  Well liked and respected by his colleagues, Mr McMaster is taking early retirement after a distinguished career in public libraries dating back over 30 years.

Suffolk's Press Office declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his departure but there are rumors that he had concerns about the divestment process started by Suffolk County Council and by plans to replace professional library staff by volunteers.

In what has turned out to be a chilling prediction he described his own post as "time limited" during the Public Meeting at Stradbroke on 21st February and told the meeting "he didn't spend 30 years working in public libraries to close them down". A month later he has resigned. Mr McMaster will leave Suffolk County Council in June, a month before Cabinet are due to make their decisions on the future of Suffolk's libraries.

Ann Kerr, Chairman of Stradbroke Parish Council commented:

When he came to Stradbroke, he apologised for earlier misleading information and he seemed genuinely moved by the film of library users talking about what the library meant for them. I thought he really cared about Suffolk Libraries and didn't want them to close.

Roger's departure leaves a big gap at the head of Suffolk libraries and the County Council do not appear to have any plans to replace him further underlining their lack of commitment to run library services in the future.

I hope Roger has a long and happy retirement.