From 1st April 2012
Total = 29
1 Mobile Library closed
Calderdale - 1 mobile - Article. From 1st April 2012.
12 Libraries closed
Barnet - Friern Barnet - Article - From 5th April 2012
Dorset - Portland Underhill - Article - From 30th April 2012 - replaced by mobile library.
Liverpool - 3 - Woolton, Great Homer Street, Lodge Lane - April 2012.
North Somerset - Backwell Leisure Centre Library - Article - April 2012 - replaced by a mobile stop once a week.
Warwickshire - 5 - Binley Woods - Article. Baddesley Ensor, Hartshill, Dordon and Water Orton. (will be replaced by mobile library stop).
Wigan - 1 - Atherton - Library closed, with books moved into nearby communty centre - May 2012.
16 Changed to volunteer-run/social enterprises
Buckinghamshire - Flackwell Heath, 24/4/12 and Long Crendon 21/4/12 and Gerrards Cross - 3/5/12.
Camden - 3 - Heath Library, Belsize Library and Chalk Farm - 1st April 2012.
Doncaster - Balby - 9/4/12 - Article.
North Yorkshire - Great Ayton 15/2/12 renamed as Derwent Valley Bridge, with 30 volunteers.
Warwickshire - 8 - Bidford-on-Avon, Bulkington, Dunchurch, Harbury, Henley-in-Arden, Keresley, Kineton, Studley - By end of April 2012.
1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012
Total = 121
The overall word for libraries are no longer directly operated by the council is heavily politicised. Local councils prefer to use the positive-sounding words "divested" or "community library" while campaigners prefer to use more negative words such as "abandoned", "DIY" or "volunteer-run". The catch-all word that this website uses is "withdrawn from direct council control" or "withdrawn" for short. Included below are all libraries affected since April 1st 2011 (start of the new financial year) which are now not run by the local authority.
If you know of a closure/withdrawal not on this list, please email. The list is taken only from that noted from news reports and is incomplete. It is also worth noting the vast majority of front-line cuts are expected late in 2011/early 2012.
21 Changed to volunteer-run
Bradford
Addingham Library - Article ["success so far" 28.12.11]- first of 4 expected. Transfer to be complete 1.1.12, volunteers supported by parish council who own the building.
Wrose Library - Article in association with parish council.
Denholme Library.
Buckinghamshire
Chalfont St Peter - 3/1/12.
Farnham Common Library - Article - first of 13 expected to be turned over to volunteers 2011/12.
Doncaster
Stainforth - 3/3/12 - Article.
Warmsworth, Bawtry, Rossington and Stainforth - 28/3/12
Isle of Wight
Five out of eleven Wight libraries were made volunteer-run in early 2012. Funded by extra rises in parish council precepts.
Bembridge Communty Library.
Brighstone Community Library "will be closing the New Road premises at 5.00pm on Thursday 23rd February. We will be closed for 8 days until we will open in North Street at 10.00 am on Saturday 3rd March"
Shanklin Community Library - Feb 2012.
East Cowes Community Library.
Edward Edwards Community Library (Previously Niton Library).
North Yorkshire
Masham Library - closed Christmas Day 2011, to be re-opened a community run in Malthamshire Community Office February 2012 and run by Masham Volunteer Trust.
Somerset
Highbridge - Article, Library Website - Council contribution -1 Council employee (£5k one-off "priming grant") who will train volunteers, £900 to pay for library computers (staff and public access). Town council pays £4k in set-up costs.
Wandsworth
York Gardens - Article - 1st November 2011.
Warwickshire
Kineton - Article, Library Website - 9th January 2012.
Studley - Library Website - March 2012.
Wiltshire
Purton - Article, Library Website.
4 to be run by social enterprises
Lewisham
Council Report on divesting libraries here.
Blackheath Library - Library Website - Closed. Initially 1000 then 6000 books will transfer to the Age Exchange Reminiscence Centre, with responsibility being taken over by the charity. £200,000 apparently given to Age Exchange by council.
Crofton Park, Grove Park and Sydenham Libraries taken over by Eco Computer Systems. Buildings given to ECS for peppercorn rent.
1 paid for by parish council
Wiltshire
Aldbourne - Article, Library Website - Parish council ran poll, 2 out of 3 who voted agreed to pay extra £7 on council tax to pay for salaried librarian (£5k p.a.)
51 mobile libraries closed
Bexley - 1 mobile withdrawn Oct 2011.
Blackburn with Darwen - at least one mobile withdrawn in 2011 - Article.
Central Bedfordshire - Article - Council's sole mobile library is stopped.
Ealing - Article - One mobile lost.
Gloucestershire - Article - Homelink mobile serving elderly people's homes stopped.
Hampshire - Article - 13 mobiles cease, four survive.
Herefordshire - Article - 2 mobiles withdrawn.
Lambeth - 2 mobiles appear to be withdrawn.
Lancashire - 1 mobile appears to have been withdrawn.
Middlesbrough - 1 mobile appears to have been withdrawn: Library list now shows no mention of mobile library which was posted as under threat in 2011. It is therefore assumed to be closed.
Northamptonshire - 2 (out of 4) withdrawn.
Nottinghamshire - 4 (out of 7) withdrawn. There now (Mar 2012) appears to be just three routes.
North Yorkshire - Article - 10 out of 11 ceased.
Sefton - 1 mobile ends - Article.
Shropshire - Article - Weekly mobile stops changed to fortnightly. 2 mobiles stopped.
Stoke on Trent - Article - 1 mobile withdrawn.
Surrey - Article - 5 mobiles withdrawn.
Vale of Glamorgan - 1 mobile withdrawn June 2011.
West Sussex - Article - 1 out of 3 mobiles closed.
44 library buildings closed
Bolton
Astley Bridge - to be closed by before April.
Castle Hill - Article - closed 2/3/12.
Heaton - Article - closed 26.2.12 - alternative facility placed in children's centre with "collection point" for books.
Highfield - Article - closed 13.1.12.
Oxford Grove - Article - closed 26.2.12.
Bradford
Wilsden - Website - closed end of June. Reopened as volunteer run April 2012.
Brent
Barham Park
Cricklewood
Kensal Rise
Neasden
Preston
Tokyngton
Cumbria
Harraby - Moved into a community centre, with self-service machines only.
Doncaster
Denaby - Article.
Carcroft.
Flintshire
Bagillt - Article - closed 24/11/12.
Garden City - Article - closed May - due to be demolished
Hartlepool
Foggy Furze - Article closed 2nd April.
West View - Article closed 19th December 2011.
Lambeth
West Norwood - Article (see comments) - "merged" with Old Library in Knight's Hill.
Leeds
Allerton Bywater - Article closed 18th July.
Armley Heights - Article closed 18th July
Belle Isle - Article closed 18th July.
Broad Lane - Article closed 18th July.
Holbeck - Article closed 18th July.
Ireland Wood - Article closed 18th July.
Kirkstall - Article closed 18th July
Lofthouse - Article closed 18th July.
Osmondthorpe - Article closed 18th July.
Richmond Hill - Article closed 18th July.
Swarcliffe - Article closed 18th July.
Swillington - Article closed 18th July.
Swinnow - Article closed 18th July.
Lewisham
New Cross - Article closed 28th May.
Manchester
Clayton - Article - closed 30/11/11.
Rack House - Article - closed 30/11/11.
Northern Ireland
Moneymore - closed 29/11/11.
Moy - closed 31/3/12.
Shropshire
Shrewsbury Reference Library (now merged with central library).
Waltham Forest
South Chingford - 2/12/11 - A volunteer-run library will open in area in April 2012.
Harrow Green - 2/12/11.
Warwickshire
Bedworth Heath Library - closed 25/1/12 - Replaced by a "honesty library" of 1500 books, unstaffed with no security in local community centre. This new "honesty library" was used by only 60 people in its first five weeks (27/3/12).
Kingsbury - Article - closed "at the end of March" - replaced by mobile library stop.
Westminster
St James - Article closed 23rd August. From council website "This is Westminster's newest library and opens earlier than our other libraries for the sake of the many local residents and commuters rushing to their offices and schools."
