{"id":69743,"date":"2026-05-12T17:23:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=69743"},"modified":"2026-05-12T17:30:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:30:48","slug":"bid-protect-devon-libraries-1m-boost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/bid-protect-devon-libraries-1m-boost\/","title":{"rendered":"Bid to protect Devon libraries with \u00a31m boost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Our<\/strong> <strong>Cabinet next week\u00a0(May\u00a020)\u00a0will consider investing an extra \u00a31 million in Devon\u2019s library service and three proposals for future opening hours.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposals are set out in a <a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/documents\/s55131\/Future%20Library%20Service%20Transformation%20and%20Vision%20-%20Cabinet%20Report.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\">cabinet report published today&nbsp;(Tuesday May 12)&nbsp;<\/a>and follows&nbsp;a&nbsp;three\u2011month&nbsp;public consultation that attracted more than 25,000 responses, including&nbsp;5,300 paper surveys and feedback from 2,246 young people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Possible changes&nbsp;to staffed opening hours generated the strongest response, with many saying it would affect how often they use their local library.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next Wednesday&nbsp;Cabinet will be asked to consider three options for statutory opening hours:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>reducing total staffed hours by 30 per cent&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reducing hours by ten per cent&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>making no change to current staffed hours&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A scrutiny committee has already recommended that any proposals should not include reductions to statutory opening hours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Cabinet report also sets out wider plans to develop the library service, alongside a new&nbsp;long\u2011term&nbsp;vision. These include expanding Open Plus technology, making greater use of volunteers and community partnerships, and investing through a proposed library transformation fund.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consultation responses highlighted strong backing for libraries as community spaces, particularly for children, older&nbsp;people&nbsp;and more vulnerable residents. More than 6,000 people also said they would be willing to volunteer in their local library.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under all three options, there would be potential to extend opening hours in future through volunteering,&nbsp;technology&nbsp;and community partnerships.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_acf-block-6a0355b63ed76\" class=\"councillor-quote align-right dcc grid-x\">\r\n\t<blockquote class=\"councillor-quote-blockquote medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n                    <div class=\"councillor-quote-title\"><p>Councillor Cheryl Cottle Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Libraries, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n        \t\t<div class=\"councillor-quote-text\"><p> \u201cNo decisions have yet been made, but my personal recommendation is to invest more in our library service to protect it for the long term and safeguard statutory opening hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI said from the beginning this would be a genuine consultation, and I meant it. We received more than 25,000 responses and considered every one.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLibraries in their current form are not financially sustainable in the long term, and doing nothing would leave the service facing a cliff edge. That is why change is necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have shown that we are a financially competent administration and our aim is simple: protect the service, invest extra money and work with communities to make libraries stronger and more resilient.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy preference is for library hours to remain as they are today, while making libraries stronger and more sustainable through investment, partnership with local communities and a transformation programme that can help them weather future financial pressures.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to sincerely thank our library staff. I know this has been a difficult and uncertain period, and they continue to do an incredible job supporting Devon\u2019s residents every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n        <div class=\"councillor-quote-aside medium-auto small-12 cell\">\r\n\t<figure class=\"councillor-quote-image grid-x\">\r\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"small-6 cell medium-12\" src=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/UserData\/3\/9\/5\/Info00011593\/bigpic.jpg\" alt=\"Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\r\n        <figcaption class=\"councillor-quote-description small-6 cell medium-12\" >\r\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/democracy.devon.gov.uk\/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=11593\" rel=\"noopener\">Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n            <\/figure>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    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