Fears raised over mobile library service

Fears have been raised over the future of mobile libraries after council bosses launched a consultation into the service.

Shropshire Council announced it is reviewing its library service again, just two years after it last changed the way it worked.

But now Councillor Andy Boddington, for Ludlow North, said he fears it is an excuse to get rid of the mobile library service.

He said: “Shropshire Council’s library services were reviewed two years ago. 

“The conclusion of that review was that three tiers of library would be established: tier one was library hubs in Shrewsbury and larger market towns; tier two was community libraries in the smaller market towns such as Church Stretton; and tier three was community libraries in smaller market towns such as Craven Arms. 

“Rural areas would be served by mobile libraries with 281 stops in all.

“The new library strategy was to last for five years. But just two years into its implementation, Shropshire Council has announced another review. 

“The council does not give a straightforward reason for the review.

“Given how stretched staff are within the council, and how stretched its finances are, it is inevitable that people are wondering whether the review presages another round of cuts. 

“Otherwise why allocate so much staff time?

“The council says it is committed to retaining the three tier library structure. But it hasn’t said it is committed to keeping mobile libraries. I fear for their future.”

The council is conducting a two stage consultation over the next three or four months on the future direction of libraries. 

The council’s cabinet will consider the outcomes of the review and make decisions in Spring 2020.

In the first stage, the council has posted an online survey to gather information on how people use libraries and what they most value.

This survey closes on November 8. 

To back up the survey, council officers are hosting a series of drop in sessions to capture the views of walk in users of our libraries.

Councillor Boddington added: “The first phase of consultation does not include mobile libraries. 

“They seem to be out of sight and out of mind. 

“Mobile libraries are vital in a rural county with poor public transport like Shropshire. 

“We have a lot of library users living in rural areas who can’t get to the bricks and mortar libraries.”

Shropshire Council said: “We recognise that there’s a need for a new strategy following a period of significant financial change. 

“The existing strategy detailed a three-tier hierarchy of library service to inform how resources would be financed and managed over a five-year period. 

“This hierarchy will continue to underpin funding decisions to ensure library services are sustainable for the future. 

“Two years on we identified the need for a refreshed strategy that offers a robust vision with clear priorities for the library service of the future. 

“We’d like to seek views so that the draft strategy can reflect local priorities and needs.”