Reading Council plans £600k cut to library service

Reading Borough Council said grant cuts from central government have impacted on its library service budget

A proposal to cut £600,000 from library services in Reading is being put out to public consultation.

Library opening hours could also be reduced and services moved to other buildings.

The proposed cut is part of a budget consultation aimed at cutting £7.24m from services including adult social care and council tax support.

The consultation closes on 23 November with a final decision due in the summer of 2016.

The seven libraries under scrutiny are in Battle, Caversham, Palmer Park, Southcote, Tilehurst and Whitley Library.

Central Library in the town centre would not be affected.

The council said latest figures show Central Library accounts for about "half of all items" borrowed by the 21,326 active library users in the borough.

The council's head of culture, sport and consumer services Paul Gitting said he wants as many residents as possible to take part in the consultation so that any savings are "based on accurate and up-to-date information people provide".