Positive response to library consultation

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted Friday, June 27, 2014 - 10:46am

Communities say they are keen to work with Devon County Council to ensure their library service continues.

Towns and villages, which had feared a potential loss of their library services due to budget cuts, are saying that alternative solutions are achievable if people put their minds to it.

So far, more than two out of every three of the 2,500 people (67.7 per cent) responding to the council’s consultation agree with the proposals for their local library.

More than eight out of every 10 respondees agree that sharing library space with multiple services – the Council’s “Devon Centre” model – is the best way to reduce costs.

But with just three weeks left before the consultation period ends (17 July), the council is keen for more communities to engage, with ideas for how their local library could be sustained.

In Colyton, local volunteers work in partnership with the librarian through their very active Friends group.  

Chairman, Jane Dauncey explains: “We’ve got a lot of ideas that we’re talking to the County Council about. 

“Some of them are about how we could cut costs immediately by taking ownership of the building as a charitable trust, becoming responsible for the building’s maintenance, and reducing other overhead costs. 

“Other ideas are about how we could open the building up for other community purposes and possibly generating income.

“Where there is a will, there’s a way, and the one thing that is for certain is that is that Colyton will keep its library.”

Councillor Roger Croad, the county council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service said: “We’ve had a lot of really useful and constructive conversations in communities across the county and while the feedback so far has been largely positive, we are not pre-empting the consultation which has a few weeks yet to run.

“It’s not surprising that there is a lot of energy and passion from communities who want to prevent any loss or reduction in their library service.

“That goal is shared by the County Council, and while we are financially bound by having to make considerable savings to our budget, we will do everything we can with communities to maintain access to their library service.

“Many communities so far are channelling their energy to come up with really useful ideas.  Some are talking about sharing buildings to reduce costs, while other ideas include bringing in other local community services alongside the library, and about the role that willing volunteers might play.

“With just three weeks left for the consultation, we’d like communities from which we’ve not yet had engagement, to get in touch.”

Share this