The changes mean job losses within the education department and the closure of one island primary school and the withdrawal of funding for 11 pre-school facilities.

Prospect said staff affected by the cuts were informed on 16 February. They broke down in tears at the news that the services, which provide a vital link to the elderly, housebound, disabled and least privileged in Manx society, would go forever, said negotiations officer Angela Moffatt.

"There are groups of people relying on the family and mobile library who have little else. Local schools regularly use the facilities and there is heavy use for both services. We were told by the department that the decision has not been made on how much the services are used or who is using them. The department has just spent £100,000 on a new mobile library – this illustrates how completely shambolic these decisions are.

"People are saying that the Council of Ministers have got this wrong. Government needs to help the Department of Education sustain services and make the savings elsewhere. The Council of Ministers could do that but have chosen not to. They need to get back to the drawing board and think again," said Moffat.

She urged reps and members to keep the pressure on the IoM government by taking a few seconds to sign an online petition to support our members on this issue via the link the below.

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/iomfamilylibrary

Paper petitions can also be obtained by e-mailing [email protected]