Libraries get self-checkouts but avoid 'automation'

Bradford Council has opted against replacing librarians with an automated system

Self-checkouts have been introduced at libraries across Bradford as part of cost-cutting measures.

Customers will now be able to serve themselves when borrowing from branches run by Bradford Council, but the authority stopped short of fully automating the libraries and said staff would be retained.

An 11% reduction in opening hours was also agreed at a meeting on Tuesday as part of £175,000 budget savings.

A report presented to the council stated that officers had discussed making libraries "self-service" but the idea was rejected because of the resulting job losses and the investment required in new technology.

Bradford Council has been amending the way its libraries are run due to budget pressures

The meeting was told that self-checkout machines that had already been installed were helping librarians during "busy" periods.

The authority had already approved earlier closing at the branches from April 2025 following a public consultation exercise.

A voluntary redundancy programme has begun as the changes would mean a loss of 216 staff hours, or six full-time roles.

There are 10 council-run libraries in the Bradford district and a further 17 that are managed by community and voluntary groups.

Jo Hinchliffe, assistant director of culture and leisure at Bradford Council, told the meeting of the council's executive: "We've worked very closely with the unions throughout this process and staff input has been taken into account.

“The aim is obviously to make sure we're protecting the services as much as possible in order to make sure we're meeting community needs.”

The report referred to at the meeting confirmed that the budget for the library service had already been "significantly reduced" in recent years but that "extraordinary" funding challenges meant more savings needed to be made.

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