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Public consultation on Âé¶¹¸ßÇå libraries starts today

Published: Thursday, 4th April 2024

People in Âé¶¹¸ßÇå are being invited to help shape the future of the library Âé¶¹¸ßÇå in the city through a public consultation which includes online and in-person engagements.

The Âé¶¹¸ßÇå libraries consultation will be running from Thursday 4th April 2024 until Wednesday 17th July 2024. The review of our library Âé¶¹¸ßÇå aims to achieve greater efficiency and value for money, and the continuing provision of a library service. While savings have been announced, final decisions have not been made on what the library service will look like in the future; the public consultation will help inform any next steps. 

We want to work with local people to find flexible and sustainable ways of providing library Âé¶¹¸ßÇå. The following information details the recommended options, a move away from our current 35 community libraries to a mixed delivery model of the following:

  • BCC run Âé¶¹¸ßÇå Library hubs open 5 days per week providing library and early intervention and prevention Âé¶¹¸ßÇå
  • BCC Âé¶¹¸ßÇå Library hubs open part time hours providing library and early intervention and prevention Âé¶¹¸ßÇå
  • BCC staff co-located with partners/community groups providing library Âé¶¹¸ßÇå
  • Âé¶¹¸ßÇå groups running library Âé¶¹¸ßÇå via Âé¶¹¸ßÇå Asset Transfer
  • Library of Âé¶¹¸ßÇå 
  • Expansion of mobile provision
  • Prison Library
  • Virtual (digital) Library
  • Self Service
  • Libraries at Home Service

Based on current information on community interest and co-location opportunities, we estimate a combination of the council run and community-led provision might secure circa 25 building-based library Âé¶¹¸ßÇå. This figure may change through the consultation as we gather more information.

Prior to taking part in the consultation, we highly encourage a review of the documents which have been produced, this includes the draft libraries strategy framework, a FAQ document and a consultation launch pack. This information, along can be found on the budget consultation webpage via the following link here: