Final library cuts plan to be discussed by council

Revised plans to reshape Derbyshire's library services in a bid to save money are to be discussed by the county council.

A library service strategy aimed at saving £625,000 over the next four years was unveiled by Derbyshire County Council in July.

A 12-week consultation with more than 3,800 responses has seen the authority draw up its final strategy, which will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 9 January.

The council said the reshaped plan would see all of its 43 libraries remain open but with a 10% reduction in opening times.

Opening hours would be localised for each community and would reflect the busiest periods, the council said, with all libraries open for a time on a Saturday and its busiest libraries also opening until 18:00 at least once a week.

The council also plans to merge the mobile service and home library service to create one "outreach" service for vulnerable people and for those who live in remote areas.

This outreach service would use new smaller, lower carbon vehicles that will "increase efficiency, lower costs and reduce the service's carbon footprint".

As already in place at Killamarsh, where the library has relocated to inside a leisure centre, the authority wants to explore opportunities to share space in other buildings and recruit more volunteers.

Council leader Barry Lewis said: "The fact that we received more than 3,800 responses during the public consultation shows that Derbyshire people feel as passionately about the service as we do, and I welcome the new strategy which sets out a clear path to securing the future of this valuable service.

"I have always said that no libraries will close on my watch and a lot of hard work, thought and planning has gone into developing this new strategy which we are confident will ensure libraries and the service as a whole can go from strength to strength for years to come.

"We had a lot of ideas and suggestions on this proposal during the consultation which is exciting and they will be followed up in due course."

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