Image
Last month, our Cabinet agreed to move forward with a 12-week public consultation this summer.
It opens on Thursday 31 July and will be available online on our website.
We’ll also be holding in-person events so look on the webpage for details nearer the time, or follow us on Facebook to stay updated.
Libraries are at the heart of our communities and we want to know what you think of how they should be run.
While they bring people together, support learning, provide access to information and open doors to opportunity, the way people use them is changing.
We face tough financial times and so need to make sure the service can thrive for years to come.
The consultation will run until October and ask for ideas and feedback on how we can:
- improve community outreach so more people can access services,
- adjust opening hours to better match demand, and
- explore how to provide strong services with fewer buildings.
We must save £44m over the next three years, including £433,000 from the library service from 2026.
Currently, library services are delivered from 10 local libraries, one community-run library in Congresbury, and a mobile library visiting 27 areas.
We also have the home delivery service for people who can’t visit a library in person, services for care homes, and a 24/7 digital library for eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers and more.
No final decisions will be made until we’ve heard from our communities and residents.