Public pressure saves Devon library funding

A new chapter begins

Devon’s libraries have seen a plot twist in their funding story after a move with “real intent” to secure them more cash.

All of Devon’s 50 libraries are undergoing a consultation that could see hours cut and residents asked to travel to a library elsewhere when the one in their home town or village is closed.

But a late finance re-write for libraries was revealed in Devon County Council’s budget, that was backed by its councillors at the full council meeting this week (Tuesday 24 Feb).

Going into the meeting to confirm the council’s £839 million budget, libraries had been expected to find £650,000 in efficiency savings, but that has now been reversed.

The council said £225,000 would go to restoring the book fund back to its £500,000 level, and that an extra £425,000 had been found to support library delivery during any potential changes that could come about after the consultation on how they operate in the future.

The budget for libraries was due to fall from £7 million to nearly £6.5 million, but will now be kept over the higher figure.

Furthermore, the budget revealed that the council had identified £1 million to create a reserve for libraries and rural hubs that it said would “support genuine transformation and community-led improvement”.

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin (Liberal Democrat, Torrington Rural) whose cabinet portfolio includes libraries, thanked her colleague Councillor James Buczkowski (Liberal Democrat, Cullompton) for his “hard work and commitment to libraries”.

“Libraries matter deeply and they are not an optional extra or luxury, but a lifeline for many,” she said.

“They are places of opportunity, learning, connection and safety, and for many residents they are the only warm, welcoming and free community space available to them.”

Cllr Cottle-Hunkin, who campaigned to save the council’s fleet of mobile libraries when the council was Conservative-controlled, said the scale of responses to the consultation on libraries had been “incredible”.

“We’ve had 22,000 responses, which is one of the biggest to a Devon County Council consultation and four times more than the library consultation in 2006,” she said.

“It speaks volumes about how much people value their libraries,” she added.

Cllr Cottle-Hunkin added that the £425,000 to support library delivery showed the administration was “serious about listening and responding to what communities tell us”, and that it meant the council would have the “flexibility to act responsibly and meaningfully to the consultation”.

“If we are serious about aspiration, literacy and opportunity, then investing in literacy resources is the right thing to do, and the creation of a £1 million reserve to support library transformation and rural hubs is not a small change but a real investment in doing things differently,” she said.

“It gives us the ability to be creative, to explore new income streams, build resilience, and gives us the flexibility to pilot new ideas to ensure rural and remote areas are not left behind.”

The consultation has stated that none of the county’s 50 libraries will close, but could be grouped into areas where at least one library would be open Monday to Saturday.

This so-called network model has angered some campaigners, though, because they feel that many residents won’t be able to travel to a neighbouring library, especially if they are elderly or vulnerable and rely on public transport.

However, the council has said it is also seeking views on the use of volunteers and community managed libraries, where local organisations could take on day-to-day running with support from the council and Libraries Unlimited.

And there are even potential proposals to use technology to allow registered users to enter libraries outside staffed times.

The consultation closed on 22 February, and the council will now analyse the responses.