Budget cuts to library services in Swindon, Denbighshire and Derbyshire

Library services in Swindon, Denbighshire and Derbyshire are the latest to see budget cuts. 

Nation.Cymru reported that Denbighshire Council’s cabinet had approved plans to cut library opening times by 40% to save £360,000 a year, while the Derbyshire Times reported Derbyshire County Council has moved a step closer to relocating Staveley and Clay Cross libraries as part of cost-saving plans.

Just before Christmas the Swindon Advertiser revealed there are no plans to close any of Swindon’s five core libraries, but the council needs to make cuts of £660,000 from the service’s budget.

Public Libraries News also highlighted budget consultations affecting library services in Haringey, North London, and Nottingham. Haringey Council proposes a £675,000 cut to opening hours for libraries. Its budget consultation document said: “We want to look at varying the opening hours of our libraries to times when they are most heavily used, which could include later in the evenings, allowing us to allocate resources in a more targeted way.”

It stressed: “This will be based on demand and demographics, to ensure libraries remain accessible to all. The service is currently carrying vacancies and agency cover which will reduce the need for any proposed redundancies. No library building would be closed.”

In Nottingham, the council has proposed an assessment of library service provision, envisioning a £1.5m cut with 31 full-time equivalent posts lost.