Opening hours of Bradford's libraries could be cut by 15%

The cuts could see libraries close over lunch, not open on some days over the week, or open later in the morning.

Bradford Council says the changes are “likely to have a significant impact on staff contracted hours and could result in the risk of redundancies.”

The authority will also consider placing donation boxes in its libraries in a bid to bring more money into the cash strapped service.

A report on planned savings in the library service also reveals that the Council will no longer provide paper copies of national newspapers in libraries – a move expected to save £11,000 a year.

As part of a swathe of budget cuts, which the Council says is needed to prevent the authority effectively becoming bankrupt, council bosses ordered a review of Bradford’s library services, as well as its sports and leisure services.

Libraries are a statutory service that Councils must provide, and Bradford Council operates 10 libraries across the district. Other libraries are either “community managed” or run as hybrid models.

On Wednesday, Bradford Council’s Executive will discuss ways to reduce the library service’s budget by around £175,000 in the next financial year.

A report to members lists a number of possible options that were considered to save this cash, including reducing financial support for the community managed libraries and switching libraries to more of a “self-service” model.

But members will be told the preferred option will be to reduce opening hours at the 10 Council-run libraries.

The report to the Executive says: “The Strategic Review Board, which has oversight of the Library Review and the development of options, has concluded that the option that provides most assurance in terms of delivering the savings for next financial year and with least risk around library closures and impact on the statutory service is the option to reduce opening hours at our Council managed libraries.

“Our two hybrid libraries and the 15 community managed libraries would not be affected by this proposal.”

Members will be told that the reduced hours would be based on “library usage data and knowledge of local circumstances” and that local communities and users would be consulted on the changes.

The report points out that there have already been reviews of library opening hours in recent years, but adds: “There is scope to further reduce opening hours and, given the Council’s current financial situation, there is a need to consider further reviewing and rationalizing library opening hours informed by current levels of demand, linked to a reduction in staff hours.

“Options include closing libraries for one hour over the lunch period, shortening Saturday opening hours, opening later in the morning, or looking at some half or full day closures during the week.

“It is expected that this option would require a reduction of up to 15 per cent of current opening hours to achieve the savings target.

“The proposal to reduce library opening hours is likely to have a significant impact on staff contracted hours and timetables and could result in the risk of redundancies. Therefore, statutory consultation with Trade Unions on this proposal will also be essential.”

The report reveals that from later this month the Council will end a policy of providing paper copies of national newspapers in libraries, saving £11,000 per year.

The authority argues that the papers are still available online via Press Reader.

Fees and charges were also recently increased, and new charges for local history research were introduced in April.

Members will hear that the Service is also planning to:

• Increase income from room hire
• Charge an administrative fee to reading groups
• Increase withdrawn book sales in libraries
• Introduce donations boxes

Any decision of the Executive will go out to public consultation following the meeting.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby (Image: Newsquest, Mike Simmonds)

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are already running these services at a low cost, this is necessary because of our low council tax base. 

“But unfortunately, we have to make more savings and look at the services we provide and make some difficult decisions. 

“This review will allow us to make informed decisions on our libraries services with consultation with our residents who use these services. 

“We value all these services and know residents do too."