Subject librarians face redundancy this summer at the University Wales Bangor (UWB). The Executive of the UWB has proposed restructuring the library, laying off eight librarians to reduce costs.

The UWB expects net savings of over £300,000 from the staff costs as a result of the redundancies, according to its restructuring consultation paper. The financial position of UWB is described as "precarious" within the document.

Eileen Tilley, president of the Bangor Association of University Teachers (AUT) branch, and one of the librarians under threat, is working with colleagues to develop an alternative restructuring plan. "We will try to make savings in a way that doesn't threaten people's livelihoods," she said.

According to the consultation paper, which IWR has seen, librarians do not deliver "value for money" when compared to the internet. It states: "the process of literature searches is substantially de-skilled by online bibliographic resources." The report dismisses the support subject librarians bring to the academic and student communities as "hard to justify".

But Tilley told IWR: "Anyone who has had any contact with a first year student will know that they do not find it easy to find resources on the web."

The UWB plans to split the library from the Information Services department as part of the restructuring, a move that is supported by Tilley and the AUT. "We were looking forward to the separation as it will give us more representation on the board."

Tilley has been given until 15 March to produce an alternative restructuring strategy. "We want to help the university, but the way they have done this is antagonistic," she said. The UWB has 10 library branches, which Tilley said could be culled to reduce costs. "At some of them it costs £10 per book to issue a title to a student." But the UWB has told the AUT it cannot suggest branch closures as part of its restructuring proposal.

The AUT believes if the restructuring goes ahead it will ration library staff at Bangor to just one librarian to every 2000 students - the recommended level is one to every 400. This will reduce research and degree awarding powers, while damaging the education of mature and special needs students.