Plans to save school library service from council cuts

Shropshire Council is likely to U-turn on its decision to end its School Library Service following a backlash from parents and headteachers.

The authority announced in April that proposals had been put forward to stop providing the service, as part of plans to save £62m from its budget.

Primary school headteacher Tracey Cansdale launched a petition to save it, claiming "books were being taken out of the hands of children".

The council is proposing to restructure and relaunch the service, following a consultation with schools.

The School Library Service has a catalogue of more than 250,000 books, artefacts, DVDs and online resources.

Two-thirds of schools across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin paid to use it in the last financial year, subscribing to various packages.

Schools outside of the county, in areas like Kidderminster and Stafford, also subscribed to the service last year.

Shropshire Council has warned that the service will have to be cancelled if not enough schools sign up to use it.

"I'm delighted it's been saved and that people's views have been listened to," said Tracey Cansdale, headteacher of Christ Church C.E Primary School in Cressage, who started an online petition to save it.

"We want our children to have really high-quality reading material and exciting resources, so I'm really pleased it's been saved in some form.

"I hope there's a long-term commitment to see it through, rather than review it after one year, that's my concern," she added.

Despite the service generating more than £255,000 in subscription fees, Shropshire Council had to meet a £30,000 shortfall in income in 2023/24.

The service is non-statutory, meaning the council is under no obligation by law to provide it.

Council officers will spend the next few months restructuring the entire service under the management of the Shropshire Music Service, with a plan to relaunch in January 2025.

"We have proposed a comprehensive plan to simplify the current subscription model and enhance our communication with schools," said councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight, portfolio holder for children and education at Shropshire Council.

"The future of the service will still depend on enough schools signing up to use it following the relaunch.

“Like lots of other councils, we do have difficult decisions to make in order to balance our books,” she said.

At present, the collection is housed in a building next to Shirehall, which the council will vacate within the next few years.

The council hopes a new premises for the service will be more efficient to run.

The plan will be considered by Shropshire Council’s cabinet next Thursday.

Follow BBC Shropshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]