Plans for an improved library service to be considered at Cabinet
Croydon Council’s Cabinet will be considering changes to the libraries service which, if approved, would see vastly improved opening hours across nine of Croydon’s libraries. Under the proposals, every library in Croydon would be open for at least five days a week, including Saturdays – with Central Library, Norbury Library and Selsdon Library open six days a week.
Between 2019 and 2022, the previous Labour Administration made cuts of more than £800,000 – reducing opening hours in some libraries to just two days per week. They set up Croydon’s library service to fail, with staff stretched thin and maintenance for 13 buildings given a shoestring budget. As a result, just 10% of Croydon’s residents use the borough’s libraries. The proposed new model aims to increase this number.
In order to fund the increased maintenance and opening hours for nine libraries, four libraries are proposed to close – Bradmore Green, Broad Green, Sanderstead and Shirley. All money saved from the closure of these four libraries will be reinvested into the library service – the libraries budget is not being cut. In return, these areas will see extensive outreach services, such as the provision of book borrowing and weekly activities in other local community venues.
It is clear that the library buildings are very important to local communities. That’s why, if the proposals are agreed at cabinet, the Council is committed to supporting community and voluntary organisations to keep the buildings in community use wherever possible. Croydon Council will welcome applications from groups to turn the buildings into Assets of Community Value (as Sanderstead Library already is). The Council will be arranging a series of workshops to support any local groups who would like to explore this option, with more information to be released shortly.
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, said:
“We know how loved and valued our library service is, and that is why we have to do something to improve it.
“Despite the best efforts of library staff, residents have told us that the current model simply isn’t working, with fewer than 10% of Croydon’s residents using libraries. Labour cut the libraries budget by over £800,000, which crippled the service and made it unsustainable in the long term. The new proposals do not cut the libraries budget, but re-organise the service to provide more opening hours, with every library open every Saturday.
“The decision to close library buildings is a difficult one. I know people who are losing their local library will be sad to see it go. That is why I am absolutely committed to supporting community and voluntary organisations who are interested in taking these buildings on to keep them in community use, and I encourage anybody interested to join the upcoming workshops.”
The proposed numbers of opening days for the libraries are as follows:
