Calderdale Council is looking at how it can continue to deliver good quality library services for local people whilst also managing reducing budgets.
The way that people use libraries is changing. A full review of the current library service provision began in November 2017 and has included a full public consultation as well as discussions with library staff and trade unions.
The review focused on the smaller, community libraries and almost 600 local people provided feedback.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet will now look at a number of options for the future of the library service, taking into account consultation feedback as well as the need to meet challenging saving requirements for the service of £160,000 by 2020.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhood Services, Cllr Susan Press, said:
“Our consultation showed how important our libraries are to local people and we want to ensure that we can continue to provide a good quality, relevant library service which is fit for purpose.
“We also have to make sure that the service is financially viable and we’ll consider a number of options for our community libraries, some of which are in a very poor state of repair.”
As part of the review, three community libraries have been identified which have significant repair needs and would be difficult and costly to repair. These buildings are in Bailiff Bridge, Walsden and on Beechwood Road in north Halifax.
The recommended option for Cabinet is that the Council would continue to explore opportunities to relocate services at these sites or to move into alternative shared facilities if possible.
Members will consider this and three other options for future delivery and determine which, if any, should be implemented.
The future of the service will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 5 November from 6pm at Halifax Town Hall.