Librarians told not to express views on cuts

Librarians have been asked not to express their views on cuts to the service while at work or within a library.

All libraries run by North Somerset Council are under threat of reduced hours and three have been earmarked for closure.

The move comes after the council announced it was axing its annual spending on libraries by £433k.

When asked why librarians were being told not to talk to journalists about the cuts, North Somerset Council said librarians were just following the standard practice.

The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Library staff are also free to express their own personal views on the library consultation, but we have politely requested this does not take place within a library building or within working hours so 'business as usual' is not disrupted.

"If they wish to comment, they should respond as a member of the public rather than as a staff member as any 'council' interviews should come from the library service's cabinet member."

Worle Library, Pill Library and Winscombe Library are all under threat of closure under the plans, although one library in either Pill or Winscombe could be kept open.

Councillors voted in February to cut £433k from the libraries budget as the council tries to make £44m of savings across the next three years to balance its budget.

They will vote in February 2026 on the specific actions to achieve that cut, which could be implemented between summer 2026 and September 2028.

A consultation on how to make the cuts is open until October 24.