At-risk library service is 'a lifeline'

Headteacher Tom Plim said children would lose out if the library service closed

A headteacher has described a county-wide school library service that is at risk of closing as a "lifeline" for children in rural towns and villages.

Tom Plim from Highley Primary School in Shropshire said the collection of books, artefacts and DVDs provided an invaluable teaching resource.

"It brings books, expertise and opportunity to children who wouldn't otherwise have access, and if it goes, it'll be the children who lose out," he said.

Shropshire Council is recommending that the service, which has been running at a loss since 2022, is either taken on by a third-party organisation or "cease trading and close".

The Liberal Democrat-run authority declared a financial emergency in September and desperately needs to find savings by the end of March.

The council is not legally bound to provide the service and said it did not have money in reserves to underwrite future losses.

"For a rural community like Highley, the school library service is a lifeline," said Mr Plim, who joined Highley Primary School almost eight years ago.

"We do have a small [public] library in Highley… but there are so many rural communities in Shropshire that don't have access to a public library and the school library service bridges that gap," he added.

£90,000 deficit forecast

The collection, which contains more than 250,000 items, was restructured last year by the former Conservative administration, which had faced backlash from teachers and parents for previously attempting to close it.

Opposition groups on the council, including the Liberal Democrats, also opposed the decision.

Leaders agreed to relaunch the service in January 2025 with a new tariff. But despite their efforts, the service has seen a further reduction in orders.

A report to be discussed by council leaders on Wednesday forecasts that the school library service will end the current financial year on a deficit of up to £90,000.

Cabinet is being recommended to engage with external agencies, such as multi-academy trusts, or town and parish councils, to explore opportunities for a third party organisation to run it.

If no external stakeholder expresses an interest in maintaining the service, then it will likely cease trading and close.

The council has said the collection would then be offered to Shropshire schools to compliment a government decision in September to have an onsite library in all primary schools by 2029.