Halton Library Service is carrying out a public consultation on library opening hours, with the aim of providing a more consistent offer across the library sites.
Information from the consultation, along with data on local needs, will be used as the basis for a review by the Council.
Consistent opening hours were identified as one of the proposals following a review of the library service that was conducted by the Council’s Transformation Delivery Unit in 2023.
We need to consider how best to provide a library service that responds to library user needs, which continues to meet our statutory duty and is mindful of reduced resources. The Council must make significant efficiencies over the next 3-year period, this means tough budgetary decisions around the delivery of services need to be made. A review of the library service may result in budget savings for the Council while keeping our four libraries open.
However, the Council is clear that it does not want to close libraries and is considering making some changes which would help make libraries more sustainable and cost effective. The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires the Council to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all those who live, work or study and want to access the service in the borough.
Cllr Paul Nolan (Executive Board Member Employment, Learning and Skills and Communities) said:
“I am proud to have libraries within my portfolio, they offer a great service to our users, from libraries within our communities to the Home Library Service. I am supportive of the library service and everything it offers. As with all council services, the library service must ensure it can continue to meet the needs of the community and provide best value for money. The consultation is important to ensure that any decisions are informed by the views of the community. All responses to the consultation will be analysed and no decisions will be taken until after all the findings have been considered.”.
The consultation closes on Tuesday 8th October 2024.
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