Shaping the future of the library service in Albrighton

An open afternoon at Albrighton Library, held to start local discussions on the opportunities for both the library service and the building, was well attended by local people all wanting to find out more and to share their ideas for the future.

People who came along were able to find out more about what the library does at the moment and how changes are taking place at other libraries around the county. Short surveys were available for people to complete with their feedback on the current library service, and their thoughts on what it could look like in the future as a place in the community where people come to enjoy all that libraries offer, to get advice and information, to learn and to socialise.

Information about the ideas Shropshire Council has for enhancing the role of libraries in communities and copies of the survey for people to complete are available in Albrighton Library during August 2015. All the feedback will be collated and used to inform the local discussions that will continue with library users, the parish council and organisations in the village.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, said:

“As a result of financial pressures we, alongside other councils, face lots of challenges over the coming months and years, meaning that we constantly need to look at the way we do things to ensure that valuable services are delivered in the best and most sustainable way possible.

“Libraries play a big part in the well-being of our communities every day. We are keen to work with local people and organisations to try to find the best solutions to meeting the needs of that local community so that their library can continue to flourish.”

Malcom Pate, Chairman of Shropshire Council and local Shropshire Councillor for Albrighton, said:

‘The open afternoon was an opportunity for ideas and possible opportunities for the library to start to be shared, and these will be used to inform the next steps we take to build on the evident interest and enthusiasm. Local people made it clear how much they valued the library service and that they wanted to be part of shaping its future.”