CONSULTATION: East Riding of Yorkshire Council is asking residents to give their views on the future of its library service.
The council says it is proud of its library service, and has worked hard to improve facilities and remains committed to providing an excellent service in the future. However, ominously, a council press release continues:
“The world is changing and councils need to adapt. In common with local authorities across the country, the council is facing huge pressures on its budget as a result of continuing reductions in funding from central government.
“The council needs to consider whether savings can be made to the libraries budget while providing a library service which is flexible, modern and relevant to today’s and future customers.”
The council will be launching a consultation process from Tuesday 29th September 2015 to give anyone who has an interest in the East Riding Library Service an opportunity to say how they think the library service should be delivered in future years.
Councillor Stephen Parnaby, OBE, leader of the council, said: “This council has an excellent track record of investing in services like libraries and our recent investment in superb new facilities at Haltemprice and the ongoing work on the new community facility at Driffield demonstrate that commitment. However, the reality is that, in a time of ongoing financial cutbacks, we have to find savings and we need to re-examine how we spend the money we have.
“We need to consider whether savings can be made to the libraries budget and we are launching a consultation process to allow people to give us their ideas as to whether this can be done and how we can best achieve a vibrant and sustainable library service which can best meet the needs of our customers.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation, to give us as wide a range of views as possible and to help us develop a plan for future delivery of this popular and important service.”
Information about the consultation is availble online
http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/libraries-consultation/
Hard copies of the survey will also be available at libraries, customer service centres, leisure centres and children’s centres. The closing date for the return of the surveys will be 21 December 2015.
Results from the survey will be used to consider whether changes will be made to the service. Any proposals will be the subject of a second phase of public consultation in 2016.
Press Release from East Riding of Yorkshire Council:
Nearly 8000 responses received to libraries consultation in the East Riding.
The first phase of the public consultation about the future of the library service in the East Riding closed on 21 December, 2015. East Riding of Yorkshire Council received 7780 responses by the closing date.
The Consultation on Library Services is now open – visit: http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/libraries-consultation/