A way ahead for libraries?

[John Dean]

As you may know, I am a big supporter of libraries at a time of public sector budget cuts which have ready led to many closures (many councils see them as soft targets). However, maybe a development in Suffolk, England, points the way ahead. From today (Aug 1), library services are transferred from Suffolk County Council to Suffolk's Libraries (IPS), an entirely new organisation.

All Suffolk’s 44 libraries and the mobile, school and prison services will come under the direct control of the IPS – a first in the country – which will work in partnership with local library groups to support and expand the service. It will also take responsibility for employing all paid library staff.

Unlike others parts of the UK which have had to close libraries, reduce opening hours or move from paid staff to volunteers to reduce costs, the Suffolk solution means all libraries have been saved and paid staff are not being replaced with volunteers.

Councillor Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “The future of all of Suffolk's libraries is secure. That is something I am immensely proud and pleased to be able to say. We've seen councils elsewhere in the UK forced to close libraries or reduce opening hours in order to balance the books. The Suffolk model is the complete opposite. By creating an IPS to take the service forward, we've found a way of saving money, opening up new funding opportunities and given community groups a real say in how the service is delivered.”

Shona Bendix, Suffolk’s Libraries IPS' chair, said: “What has been quite clear in the last seven months is the unwavering dedication that so many people have to their local library and the service as a whole. It's exactly that commitment and enthusiasm that we want to harness for the good of the communities we will be serving.”