We’re asking residents to help shape the future of the county’s 50 libraries, as we launch a major 12-week public consultation today (Monday).
From Monday 1 December people across Devon will be able to give their views on proposals to reduce and ‘standardise’ opening hours and options to extend opening hours through additional volunteering by using technology and the potential introduction of community managed libraries.
Our consultation will also include a dedicated survey for children (13 and over) – there are currently more than 113,000 active registered library users in Devon and 28 per cent of those are children, the single largest group.
No libraries will close under the proposals.
We currently have 50 libraries, run by the charity Libraries Unlimited, alongside a Home Library Service and outreach programmes.
Together, they welcomed 2.6 million visits last year and hosted more than 14,000 events, ranging from children’s story sessions to digital skills workshops.
Our consultation comes as we face mounting financial pressures which means that we must now look at how services are delivered.
The library service budget has been reduced year on year, and whilst efficiency savings have been made the current model is no longer sustainable.
And although digital borrowing of e-books, audiobooks and e-magazines has grown, physical book borrowing is below pre-pandemic levels.
Residents will be able to view the proposals for their local library and will be asked whether they support plans for ‘standardised’ staffed hours.
Currently each of libraries has its own individual opening hours – under the proposals we are looking to group a number of libraries together within an area, and each area will have at least one library open Monday to Saturday.
We are also seeking views on the use of volunteers and community managed libraries, where local organisations could take on day-to-day running with support from the authority and Libraries Unlimited.
This happens in Cornwall where four out of the county’s libraries are maintained by the council, with 27 run by local community groups, town and parish councils.
Other proposals include the use of new technology such as ‘Open Access’ systems which would allow registered users to enter libraries outside staffed times.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle Hunkin, our Cabinet Member for Libraries, said:
“Devon’s libraries are trusted spaces at the heart of our communities, and we remain committed to keeping all 50 libraries open. As the way people use libraries continues to change, this consultation is an important chance to rethink and update the service, so it better reflects how people use libraries now and how they hope to use them in the future.
“By making sensible use of new technology, we can support libraries to develop further as community hubs, giving local people and organisations more opportunities to make good use of their library spaces. We’ve seen this technology used successfully in other parts of the country to extend opening hours, improve access, and offer more flexibility for residents.
“We’ve also looked at how other authorities, such as Lincolnshire and Cornwall, manage a mix of council-run and community-led libraries to help inform our thinking.
“This consultation will play a key role in shaping the long-term future of the library service, and we want to hear directly from everyone – residents, young people, library users and community groups so we can work together on a sustainable future for Devon’s libraries.”
Alex Kittow, the Chief Executive of Libraries Unlimited, said:
“Libraries are absolutely vital community spaces offering everything from books to blood pressure monitors, repair cafes to baby weighing, community fridges to low-cost cinema and much more besides.
“Crucially they are spaces to come and be and connect with others, where everyone is welcome and it doesn’t cost any money to join. Our responsibility is to protect these spaces and ensure they continue to exist long into the future. This consultation offers a way to do this, and we encourage everyone to have their say.”
The consultation runs until Sunday February 22 2026. Forms can be completed online, at local libraries, or returned by post.
There is also be a survey available for younger library users aged 13 to 17. All responses will be reviewed before revised proposals are presented to Cabinet in spring 2026.