20/07/2016 - Permalink

Cabinet to decide on opening hours at county’s libraries

Related topics: Community / Leisure, culture and heritage

Changes to library opening hours across Shropshire will be discussed by councillors next week.

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet will meet on Wednesday 27 July 2016 to agree the recommendation highlighted in the Shropshire Library Opening Hours report, which could save the council around £52,000 per year.

The report follows a countywide public consultation with residents who were asked their views on proposed changes to library hours at Bayston Hill, Bridgnorth, Ellesmere, Gobowen, The Library at the Lantern (in Shrewsbury), Ludlow, Market Drayton, Much Wenlock, Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Wem and Whitchurch.

A total of 1,355 people responded to the public consultation which ran between 24 May 2016 and 6 July 2016. The opening time proposals were based on an analysis of visitor numbers to each of the libraries which was undertaken to identify the quietest periods which were identified as early mornings, evenings and Saturday afternoons. Proposals are also made in the context of changing trends in how people access their local library, with the number of actual visits falling and access to online services, through the e-library, increasing.

The initial proposal was to take around 68 hours off the library opening times across 12 libraries, but following the comments made in the consultation the overall hours have been reduced to 57 hours across 11 libraries.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said;

“We understand that changes to library opening hours can cause concern for local residents; however, we are in a very difficult position, where we have to make significant savings across all services.  At the same time we have to look at how best we can continue to provide this valuable service in response to how people are now using their libraries.

“The huge response from residents illustrates the importance that the public attach to their local library. This is reflected in the revised proposals which takes into account the feedback received.”

If the recommendations are agreed, opening times will continue to vary across the county to meet local needs.

The full Cabinet report along with opening times proposals and revised proposals following library user feedback can be found here.

Further information

No changes have been proposed for the mobile library services or e-library service, which allow library members to access e-books and e-audiobooks and a range of free online reference materials 24 hours a day.

The proposals are part of a wider transformation programme for the county’s libraries, which Cabinet approved on 14 October 2015, and will help towards the library service’s savings target of £585,000 over the next three years.

Proposals to changes of library opening hours do not affect libraries that have already transferred to alternative community management arrangements, or are being directly supported by local town and parish councils and other funding.