'Substantial savings' needed for library services

Exeter-based Libraries Unlimited's contract to run 50 libraries for Devon County Council ends on 31 March 2026

"Difficult decisions" which will have a direct impact on services are required to make savings at Devon's libraries, a report has said.

Devon County Council funds 50 libraries through a £7m contract with the charity Libraries Unlimited, which is due to end on 31 March 2026.

A recruitment freeze in place is already "impacting on the ability to deliver published opening hours", according to the report prepared for a council cabinet meeting to be held on Wednesday.

A 12-week public consultation, due to start in November and conclude in January, is set to consider issues such as whether there should be changes to opening hours and possible community involvement.

The council has a statutory duty to provide "a comprehensive and efficient library service", with more than 113,000 active users at present, the report said.

It also said the council's financial position continued to face increasing pressure and "substantial savings and demand management" were needed.

Alex Kittow, chief executive of Libraries Unlimited, said the charity had been "been plugging the gap with our reserves" as funding had decreased over the years, but "cannot continue to do this".

He said: "As Libraries Unlimited is a charity, we are in a great position to support the libraries above and beyond the money we receive from the council.

"With Arts Council England funding, we run an exciting programme of low-cost events for everyone.

"We just revamped the children's library in Exeter using grant funding, we recently received National Lottery funding for a five-year climate project to work with communities across Devon."

Mr Kittow urged people to get involved with the public consultation "as libraries are vital to our communities".

The report said digital lending of books had "surged" and, while physical borrowing remained 22% below pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, the number of people attending events at libraries had risen to 218,000 - an 85% increase since 2019/20.

In a review of how some other local authorities operated, the report found Cornwall - which has only four in-house libraries - had the lowest cost per head due to a focus on its 27 community-managed sites.

During the public consultation, people will be asked to consider changes to opening hours; and whether volunteers, technology and other funding could help extend opening hours when a library is unstaffed.

People will also be asked about the possibility of community organisations taking control of libraries.

Following the consultation's end, a proposal is due to be submitted to the council's cabinet by April 2026 and the results put into place in May 2026.