Surprise ending of Suffolk Libraries contract

Editorial

The big news is this week is the shock decision of Suffolk Council not to renew the six-year contract of non-profit Suffolk Libraries. And I mean “shock”: the trust found out only 15 minutes before the public did and there was apparently no consultation with them or the many Friends groups beforehand.

So, what’s at play here? The libraries will again be part of the Council from 1 June, there are 45 libraries in the county, with 364 “frontline” posts and 56 others. Suffolk Libraries has been running the service since 2012 with no reductions in service with no increase, until last year, in initial council funding. Council funding was £5.9m in 2023/24, which has been increased to £6.6m for 2024/25 but Suffolk Libraries gained extra funding, and recorded an income of £9.9m according to its latest accounts for the year to the end of March 2024.

But also what’s at play is the viability of non-profits running public libraries in the UK. Including Suffolk, eight councils have returned libraries to the council fold since spinning them out since 2010: Falkirk, Flintshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Northamptonshire, the Library of Birmingham, Peterborough and Warrington. For single-council (ish) trusts, that leaves just a few including Devon’s Libraries Unlimited and York Explore (itself facing substantial cuts). Explore already looks a bit shaky. Libraries Unlimited must be feeling dismayed.

And as for Suffolk? Well, the situation is disputed. I think readers of my recent editorials will know my opinion of the Trust has changed but make up your own mind. Below, are the pros and cons (in no particular order) that have been quoted by everyone I’ve spotted for the move. You can read the article links in the special Suffolk session too.

For the move back to Council control

• The belief that all public libraries should be run directly by the Council – Unison, Library Campaign
• Council says Suffolk Libraries will reduce hours by 30% [Presumably to reach the lower budget provided by the Council compare with inflation? We don’t know – Ed.]
• Council says 33% of to the Suffolk Libraries budget was at “head office” and suggest this is wasteful, with money to be saved by making some of these staff redundant.
• The Council calls itself “safe hands” and casts doubt on the financial viability Suffolk Libraries.
• Return to in-house means more of the library budget should be invested in frontline services
• No libraries would close and there would be no reduction in opening hours.
• A total of £200,000 will be invested in replacing Suffolk’s aging mobile libraries and a further £157,000 for new books and on replacing public computers. This was in addition to the standard budget.
• Shorter-term proposal by SL would have breached procurement law.

Against the move back

• Trust says volunteers may be less willing to work for the Council than a charity
• Trust says decision will lead to loss of funding from external grants and fund-raising. Suffolk Libraries say that they have secured direct funding for several key projects including a long-term community arts programme and various other community and wellbeing services. “Hundreds of thousands of pounds and activities across Suffolk could be lost”
• Suffolk Libraries raised it’s own funds: £400k of its own money through fundraising in 2023/24 and SCC’s ability to match this figure to support the service will be severely restricte; Over £500k of rate relief on library buildings will no longer be available; Tens of thousands of pounds of money raised by library friend’s groups (and their time and support) could be lost; The forfeiting of the contract for prison libraries that contribute over £100k profit every year, offsetting some of the back-office costs. This appears to comfortable be more than £1 million if fully added up.
• Service costs £3m less than it did when SL took over (and the Council ran it) but offers more services.
• Decision “will potentially cost taxpayers at least £1m in the first year and potentially more in the long term”
• SL seen as innovative, “recognised as pioneers for change and are regarded as a leading force within the industry”
• Changing back to Council control will be expensive.

Changes by local authority

• East Lothian – Opening hours reduced for winter have been restored.
• Lambeth – £1m proposed cut
• North Lanarkshire – All three mobile libraries to be withdrawn from 3 March.
• Perth and Kinross – Cuts to libraries withdrawn, an additional £1m of funding to save five library facilities for the next two years.
• Salford – Salford Community Leisure in financial difficulty
• Suffolk – Bungay Library refurbished.

National news

• Can book fans turn the page on decline in reading? – BBC. “I can’t help but lament the closure of public libraries which have a very important community function.”
• CIPFA library research reveals rising income not enough in face of cost pressures – Public Finance. “The cost of running libraries remains a “significant challenge” despite income from the service rising by almost a fifth over the past financial year, ” … “revenue from libraries – including grants, overdue charges and fees for reservations and photocopying – rose by 18% to £978.90 per 1,000 people in 2023-24. Library use also continued to rise, with in-person visits per 1,000 people increasing by 13.5% and online visits by almost 37%, while the number of books issued also went up by 0.5%. However, CIPFA warned that the rise in income would not be enough to address cost pressures on library services, with total expenditure increasing by 2% to £12,732 per 1,000 people.” … “The survey also detected a falling off in staffing levels, with the number of paid library employees falling by almost 1.7% per 1,000 people, although volunteer numbers rose by 7%.”
• How public libraries break down barriers to digital inclusion – DCMS. “Public libraries play an important and inclusive role in making sure everyone has the equipment, skills and confidence required to access digital services which is recognised in the Plan.”

• Libraries Connected submits evidence to Parliamentary inquiry into council funding – Libraries Connected. “Libraries Connected has submitted evidence to the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee’s inquiry looking at whether the local government finance system in England is fit for purpose. The evidence outlines the precarious state of local government finances, and the impact this is having on library services – including closures and cuts to opening hours, staff and book budgets. It argues that the current regime for identifying and responding to financial distress “incentivises short-term savings over long-term investment in communities”.”
• New Literary Foundation announces awards for children’s authors – GLL. “The newly launched GLL Literary Foundation has selected 17 children’s authors from across the UK to receive bursary placements for 2025 worth up to £4,000 each.”
• Public Libraries 2024: Netloan Survey Results – Lorensbergs. Concentrating on public access computers: “Councils are investing in the infrastructure with up to 40% of authorities planning a PC refresh in 2025-26″ … “PC use has remained constant in nearly 60% of libraries, with increases or decreases in approximately 20% of libraries in each case” … “Library footfall and/or event attendance are increasing in nearly 50% of libraries due to a range of factors including extra events, reopening refurbished sites, publicity, extended self-service hours, partnership services inclusion, and face-to-face support for council services”. 109 library authorities took part in the survey.
• Second round of Microgrants announced – Libraries Connected. £1-5k. “The 12 successful projects include a pop-up library at a Traveller site in Bristol, a manga exhibition in Northumberland, singalong sessions in a rural Cornish community and a scheme bringing older people together to play carrom, a tabletop game popular throughout South Asia.”

Suffolk

• Council to manage libraries after contract dispute – BBC. “Suffolk County Council said the charity had proposed unacceptable terms for the new contract and that the libraries would now be “in safe hands”.”
• County to bring libraries back in house – Local Government Chronicle.
• Crucial weeks ahead as Suffolk Libraries fights for future – Ipswich Star. “The chair of trustees of Suffolk Libraries, Sylvia Knights, revealed that supporters and volunteers from across the county had been in touch to express their shock and anger after Monday’s news that the contract would not be renewed.” … “”A lot of our volunteers have been telling us they want to come and support Suffolk Libraries but they’re not prepared to give up their time for the county council.”” … “Suffolk Libraries earns much of its income from other sources, including running prison library services and is also able to tap into other funding streams like Arts Council grants, Ms Knights  said.” … Unison in favour of move back to Council control ” opposed the moves to divest Suffolk Libraries when they were first proposed in 2011.”
• Fears Suffolk County Council can not afford libraries – East Anglian Daily Times. Registration wall. Several people record their worries.
• Libraries boss ‘incredibly shocked, disappointed and frustrated’ over Suffolk County Council decision to take control of service – Suffolk News.
• Libraries to come under Suffolk County Council control once again after negotiations break down – Suffolk News.
• Library charity ‘shocked and frustrated’ after losing £6m-a-year council contract – Third Sector.
• Sign petition to save charity which runs Suffolk’s libraries – East Anglian Daily Times. Registration-wall. “Suffolk County Council wants to take the library service back in-house and abandon the charity that has run it so successfully over the last 12 years. This is a costly disaster in the making.”

“The Library Campaign as always taken the view that public libraries should be run directly by  local authorities in order to ensure accountability. So we welcome the news that the service is being brought back to where it should be. The detail of the failed negotiations to let the IFS carry on is beyond our pay grade so we await with interest the Council’s plans. They say they won’t close any libraries and will put money into book buying. They also claim that the IFS proposed cutting opening hours by 30% and there was concern about the cost of its head office, which it said equated to 33% of annual staffing costs.”

Library Campaign

• Stop Suffolk County Council wrecking our fabulous local libraries – Change. “For the last 12 years our libraries have been successfully run by a charity with Suffolk County Council’s financial support funding just part of the service.  But they are now under threat following a proposed move by the Council. The charity has transformed our libraries into true community hubs offering a wide range of services, particularly relied on by families, children and some of the more vulnerable members of our community. Remarkably, the service now costs £3 million pounds less now than it did in 2011 whilst offering so much more to local people. ” 3822 signed at sign of checking.
• Suffolk County Council to resume control of library service – East Anglian Daily Times.
• Suffolk Libraries plans to ‘fight’ decision to bring libraries back under council control – Rayo.
• Suffolk Libraries reaction to Suffolk County Council decision on future of the library service – Suffolk Libraries. ““We are incredibly shocked, disappointed and frustrated by this afternoon’s announcement by Suffolk County Council. It’s a bolt from the blue and in our opinion, it’s a staggeringly short-sighted decision. “Suffolk Libraries has done an amazing job of running the library service in Suffolk for 12 and a half years under very challenging circumstances.  We have successfully steered the charity to become a recognised pioneer for change within the library sector and we are now regarded as a leading force within the industry. We currently have one of the best run library services in the country which has saved millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, increased the impact and value of libraries and ultimately made Suffolk a better place to live by offering residents access to a ground-breaking and diverse range of services and support. “Suffolk County Council’s decision will impact everyone in the county and indeed will send out worrying signals to the nation with regard to the future of libraries within the community. Even if you don’t use libraries, we believe the proposed change will be a very inefficient and costly process and the cost to the people of Suffolk is even higher. “We intend to fight this decision and will comment further once we’ve had a chance to fully digest the details from today’s briefing.””
• Suffolk’s 45 libraries to remain open and see new investment as Suffolk County Council plans to take service back in house – Suffolk Council. “an attempt to secure an external provider for a new six-year contract (with the option to extend for up to a further six years) which had to be abandoned due to difficulties in aligning submissions with the service requirements and budgets. ” Open letter to staff. Open letter to the public.

“We appreciate that this may come as a surprise to some, but want to assure you that this is happening to protect our valuable community libraries and the wide-range of services they provide.”

Suffolk Council

International news

• Belgium – Breakdown at Flemish libraries – lending system down – Brussels Times. “Since approximately 9:00 on Saturday morning, a significant number of the nearly 300 Flemish libraries have been unable to lend or return books due to a technical issue with the Wise lending system, according to Cultuurconnect, the organisation that provides the service to Flemish libraries.”
• Canada – CNA joins province’s public libraries as more N.L. groups ditch Musk-owned X platform – CBC. “there has been a drop off in user engagement on X”, “the discourse on the platform has shifted”
  • Book Banning in Canada Is Quiet, Systemic, and More Effective than Ever – Walrus. “Ontario progressives, no less than Florida conservatives, find in “child safety” a warrant to ban books. “
  • Opinion: Public libraries celebrate the freedom to read what you like – Edmonton Journal. “The mission of EPL is: We Share! We share expertise, information, technology, and space with Edmontonians for learning, connecting, creating, discovering, enjoying and enriching communities. “

• Ireland – Clare Libraries To Receive Laptops And iPads As Part Of €100,000 Investment – Clare FM. “This county has received a total allocation of €110,115 under the Libraries Capital Programme while will make new computers, laptops, iPads and other ICT equipment available in all 15 locations countywide.” … “The investment is part of a €1.3 million package and is intended to make libraries more digitally inclusive with a particular focus on young, elderly and disadvantaged people.” [£13m if sized for the UK population – Ed.]
  • Galway Libraries project wins gold at annual LAMA Awards – Galway Daily. “Galway Libraries developed programming that encompassed ‘Science from land to sea’ as the driving theme for programme delivery with workshops, interactive sessions, coding and VR experiences for children of all ages about the importance of marine life, biodiversity and the impact of pollution.”
• Spain/Catalonia – Why are fewer and fewer people going to read in public libraries? – Ara. “The authorities who make decisions on this matter would do well to know that fewer and fewer people are going to public libraries with the intention of reading: what they do is work on their own or a home computer, copy notes from a friend at school, chat – often in a very loud voice – and do what is now called “socialising” in the expression.”
• USA – Relocation of 30,000 Young Adult Books in Louisiana Library Shows Harrowing Impact of Moral Panic Over Obscenity and Vague Laws that Lead to Book Censorship – Pen America.
  • Georgia Senate again tries to expose librarians to legal consequences for giving inappropriate books to kids – Rough Draft.
  • Statement: Removal of access to and modification of data by authorities in the USA – CILIP. “the removal, hiding, and modification of data, research and other information resources by authorities in the USA is already starting to impede the vital work of UK library and other information professionals, as well as researchers and educators.”

Changes by local authority

• Aberdeenshire: Blog: Libraries are a vital support for people on low incomes – Poverty Alliance. “As part of the Taking Action on Rural Poverty project, the Poverty Alliance have been working alongside Aberdeenshire residents who live on a low income in rural parts of the shire to form a citizens panel of people who want to feed into the Council’s decision-making process. The panel is particularly keen to feed into the plans to close 13 libraries across Aberdeenshire, many of them in rural areas.”
• Birmingham – Save Spring Hill Library – Change. “Spring Hill Library is at risk of permanent closure. It was closed ‘temporarily’ for heating repairs in 2022 and Birmingham City Council promised to reopen it as a top priority but now say they can’t afford to. But there is hope. Campaigners have won the right to officially question the cuts to Birmingham’s library services, which have now been halted to allow for public scrutiny.” 73 signatures when checked.
• Blackpool – Library service secures funding to develop pilot with Spot On Lancashire – Blackpool Council. “We are thrilled to announce a partnership with Spot On Lancashire, funded by Libraries Connected and Arts Council England. This spring, three branches of our libraries will host professional performance shows, bringing theatre, and music from Canada and Argentina to the heart of our community.”
• Bolton – Bolton Central Library finalist in The British Book Awards 2025 – Bolton News. “Bolton Central Library has been named a finalist for Library of the Year in the North England category at The British Book Awards 2025.”. Recent ” £4.3 million investment from the Bolton Town Deal, provided by the Department for Levelling Up”
• Bromley – Burnt Ash Library reopens with new children’s space after revamp – News Shopper. “Burnt Ash Library has reopened following a revamp which includes improvements to accessibility and the children’s space. Burnt Ash Library is the latest in a string of Bromley libraries to undergo refurbishments in an £11 million investment to improve libraries across the borough, including West Wickham and Bromley Central Library.”
• Cheshire West and Chester – World Book Day vouchers swap at Cheshire West libraries – Chester Standard. [Yes, that’s me in the photograph – Ed.]
• Cumberland – Hard hats and hardbacks: Carlisle Library reopens, ready for construction to start – Cumberland Council. “Cumberland Council is pleased to announce that Carlisle Library will reopen its doors Monday 3 March, welcoming visitors back while construction work continues. During this phase, the first floor will be open to the public, featuring a fantastic fiction section, while the second floor remains closed for refurbishment. The council reminds visitors that construction will continue for the next 10–12 months, and some noise and disruption should be expected.”
  • ‘Community Hub’ launched at Workington Library to help improve access to services locally – Cumberland Council. “A ‘Community Hub’ designed to improve access to a range of local services in one place has opened in Workington on a pilot basis. The hub, an initiative led by Cumberland Council, is located in Workington Library with the idea being to support residents to access support as early as possible across a number of areas. “
• Devon – Local libraries’ costume swap for World Book Day 2025 – Muddy Stilettoes. 14 libraries.
• East Lothian – Libraries which suffered winter cuts to have hours restored – East Lothian Courier. “Last November, East Lothian Council announced that East Linton, Gullane, Longniddry, Ormiston and Port Seton libraries would have “temporary winter opening hours” applied until February 28, drastically decreasing the amount of time the facilities were open each week.” … “Now, East Lothian Council has confirmed that the cuts will be reversed, with new opening hours starting from Saturday.”
• East Riding – Libraries to host World Book Day costume swaps – BBC. “East Riding Libraries said, although it would host the swap scheme, it had no responsibility for the costumes but each one would be checked by staff for current EU fire safety labels”
• Essex – How to save libraries and what to do with them next – East Anglia Bylines. A look at the successful campaign against library cuts in Essex. “Residents can be grateful that libraries are evolving to stay popular and relevant. Essex did well to keep its full range of libraries.”
• Gateshead – Blaydon Library final to be refurbished as part of Transforming Libraries project – Gateshead Council. “Blaydon Library will temporarily close next month as the final of our four libraries being upgraded with Government funding. In 2024, both Crawcrook and Pelaw libraries re-opened with fresh-look facilities, and earlier this year, Birtley was temporarily closed as the third council library to undergo the same refurbishment works as part of the ‘Transforming Libraries’ project. Now, Blaydon is the fourth and final library to be refurbished”
• Hampshire – Winchester Library finalist for library of the year award – Hampshire Chronicle. “This recognition highlights the dedication and innovation of our team, particularly Library Team Assistant Rebecca Leadley, who on her own initiative, set up the Read Aloud program which has formed a key part of the recognition”
• Havering – Community Opposed And Unpopular HRA Budget That Closes Libraries Barely Scrapes Through By One Vote. – Havering Daily. “The £204million budget for 2025/26 will see council tax shoot up by 4.99%, council rents increase by 2.7%, and the closure of three much loved libraries.” …”Labour, Conservative and independent residents’ group councillors all proposed alternative budgets they said would prevent the closure of libraries in South Hornchurch, Gidea Park and Harold Wood.” …”Their closure will save the council around £300,000 a year – and avoid around £850,000 in repairs – though opposition councillors say the move will harm communities.”
  • Havering Conservatives Alternative Budget That Proposes To Save Libraries And Increase Police Officers Is Voted Down By HRA – Havering Daily. HRA is the ruling party in the borough: “Havering Residents Association”. ““When the HRA tell us they have no choice, clearly they have. These are political choices they want to make. We choose to save the libraries and put more police officers on our street.””
  • Labour Councillors Bid To Save Libraries Rejected By HRA – Havering Daily. “the administration of the Council refused to accept a proposal by the Labour councillors to keep South Hornchurch and Harold Wood Libraries open, at no additional cost to the council.”
• Hertfordshire – Harpenden Library reopens after ‘safety assessments’ – Hertfordshire Advertiser. “a spokesperson for Herts County Council libraries revealed it was shut due to “leaks over the weekend”
• Hull – Telecoms firm calls time on library in a phone box – BBC. Company says putting books in phone box is a fire risk.
  • Library that lends just about anything needs cash – BBC. “The Hull-based library offers everything from tools to toys. But it needs to raise £7,000 to pay for its premises and other costs.”
• Lambeth – Lambeth denies ‘burying’ a £1 million package of savings to libraries in 10 page spreadsheet – Southwark News. “Claire Holland, leader of Lambeth Council, said she was ‘proud’ of how ‘open and transparent’ the Labour authority was being about proposed reductions to the £4.6 million libraries service budget.” … “The council’s Liberal Democrat opposition said it was ‘concerned’ that the £1 million planned savings to the libraries service weren’t included in an earlier list scrutinised by councillors in December 2024.”
  • More than 1,000 sign petition against library cuts of £1 million as decision is “rubber stamped” by Lambeth’s Labour cabinet – and council leader Claire Holland says: “We need to be open with residents” – News From Crystal Palace.
  • Residents rally outside town hall against £1m cuts to library budget – London News Online. “Lambeth Unison and Friends of Lambeth Libraries took to the street outside Lambeth council’s building in Brixton Hill, holding T-shirts with printed messages reading “Don’t Steal Our Libraries, Lambeth”.” Measures include shaving £1million from library funding across the borough, almost a quarter of the £4.7million current budget for the service.

“There’s already kids sitting on the floor to study most weekends at Brixton library. Anyone in favour of cuts should go and explain to them why it’s the right thing to do. We need an expanded library service, not a reduced one.”

Lambeth – Ben Rymer

• Lincolnshire – Council investment to create business hub at Grantham Library – Lincolnshire Council. “The exciting transformation will see a new IT suite equipped with business software added, as well as drop-in working zones kitted out with acoustic booths and ‘bubbles’ – the perfect place to host interviews and online meetings. Facilities have been designed with flexibility in mind, meaning the spaces can be used as additional study space for library users, as well as by local education providers, community groups, and more.” … “Grantham is the third library in Lincolnshire to benefit from the addition of business hubs”
  • Borrowers paid almost £16,000 in overdue fines to Lincolnshire libraries last year – with Grantham raising the most cash and Bourne the least – Lincs Online. “£15,919.42 was raised via late returns, although this was lower than the £17,085.12 secured in 2023, a freedom of information request showed.”
• Moray / Perth and Kinross – Councils halt plans to close libraries – BBC. “Perth & Kinross Council announced a 9.5% council tax increase and said the rise made it possible to assign an additional £1m of funding to save five library facilities for the next two years.” … “In Moray, a number of alternative provisions will be considered after the council halted the plans to shut seven out of its 11 libraries.”
• North East Lincolnshire – Civic society’s fears over future of Grimsby Central Library building – Grimsby Telegraph. “Members of a society committed to making North East Lincolnshire a better place to live are calling for a full restoration of the Grimsby Central Library building and clarification on the Council’s plans for the libraries in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. As North East Lincolnshire Council continues to “look at options” on how the building will be used in the future, the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society has issued a statement to express their concerns.”
• Northern Ireland – Redeveloped Fivemiletown Library officially opened by Minister Gordon Lyons – Impartial Reporter. “the library has been rebuilt and extended, with its revamp including the installation of energy-efficient heating and lighting measures.”, sensory garden, flexible meeting space.
• North Lanarkshire – Council confirms they are scrapping a library service – Glasgow Times. “North Lanarkshire Council has decided to shut down the mobile library service. The three mobile libraries will be removed from service starting Monday, March 3.”
• North Northamptonshire – Contractor chosen for listed library roof repair – BBC. “The roof of Kettering library and art gallery in Northamptonshire was damaged during heavy rain in 2023. It will be restored by using Collyweston slate from the county by local firm Messenger. North Northamptonshire Council earmarked almost £7m for the repairs.”
• North Yorkshire – Mobile Libraries Offer Novel Approach To Bus Journeys – Yorkshire Times. “Harrogate International Festivals has once again teamed up with Transdev, which runs the Harrogate Bus Company, to bring a whole world of books to bus passengers. Over the past few years, the arts charity has provided more than 1,000 novels to create mobile ‘libraries’ onboard Transdev’s 36 buses travelling on the Leeds-Harrogate-Ripon route.”
• Rutland – Rutland County Councillor pleads with colleagues ‘not to be lean and mean’ over future of Ryhall Library – Lincs Online. “The cabinet of six will make a final decision in April about whether to close the library, as had been recommended by officers in January, or to keep the doors open.” … “The authority had set aside £70,000 to make improvements but has said estimated costs are closer to £250,000 which it cannot afford. Like most local authorities the council has to make millions of pounds of savings over the next few years to make sure its accounts balance.”
  • Campaigners continue fight for library – BBC. “Campaigners trying to protect their village library in Rutland have said the county council’s budget – just approved – offers them no assurance about its future. The annual budget, which included a council tax rise of 4.99%, was agreed by a majority of Rutland county councillors at a meeting on Thursday night. But the future of Ryhall library remains unclear. The authority says a consultation on its use is yet to conclude and plans will be drawn up after that point. Rutland County Council has planned a programme, using £950,000 of national grant cash to develop libraries into new “Living Well Centres”.”
• Salford – Council issues statement on cuts to Salford’s libraries and leisure centres amid finance problems – Manchester Evening News. “Salford Community Leisure (SCL) – the firm which runs sites across the city including Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Salford Sports Village, and a number of libraries – is struggling to keep up with rising costs of wages and inflation according to a new report from the council. The ‘significant’ problems stem from staffing and running costs going up, with recent pay awards costing the company £2.3m over the last three years.” … “Salford City Council today agreed to bail out the company with a one-off payment of £350,000 to cover management costs this year, but more cash could be needed as soon as next year to the tune of £1.5m.” … “SCL’s reserves – cash set aside for a rainy day – have been ‘wiped out’ to cover the rising running costs, the report stated, leaving the firm in a ‘critical’ situation.”
• Suffolk – Bungay Library improvement work nearing completion – Suffolk Libraries. “The project has been carried out by local builders, Sprake and Tyrell, thanks to funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) via East Suffolk Council, £39,000 raised by The Friends of Bungay Library with support from local charities, in addition to £70,000 from Suffolk County Council.”
• Swindon – Promoting Goan culture through books – The Goan. “As many as 55 books on Goa’s culture and history are being dispatched from Goa to Swindon as part of this project.”
• Thurrock – Thurrock’s top ten most-borrowed library books revealed – Thurrock Council. All are children’s books.
• Warrington – ‘Unequal’ funding is creating a ‘town of two halves’ Warrington councillors say – Cheshire Live. “dismay at the budget’s ‘unequal’ parking charges and the proposed removal of staff from libraries in the south, which he described as ‘partisan politics’.”
• Warwickshire – ‘We are thrilled that Rugby has been recognised’: Library makes competition finals – Warwickshire World. “Staff at Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester libraries are delighted to be selected as finalists for Library of the Year at The British Book Awards 2025.”
  • A quicker and more user-friendly online experience is coming soon to Warwickshire Libraries – Warwickshire Council. “The new library management system will include an improved user experience for customers with several new features, including a new library app which will enable customers to use a digital library card, making the issuing of items and renewals much more efficient. From Wednesday 9 April, Warwickshire Libraries will enter a 14-day changeover period to prepare for the new library management system. The transition to all libraries operating on the new system will begin to take effect after the Easter weekend.”
• Warwickshire Libraries to host World Book Day® community token exchange hub to help reach more young readers – Warwickshire Council.
• Worcestershire – Worcestershire libraries to welcome authors to discuss books – Kidderminster Shuttle.
• York – Our ten most wanted books – York Explore. “Each month we will publish a list of our top ten most popular books on our website and we are asking you to consider buying or donating a copy. Please take a look at the list by clicking the button below. You will find details of how you can buy a copy for us or donate your own copy once you have finished reading it.”
  • York alternative budgets would save libraries from £600K cuts and drop ‘bin tax’ – York Mix. “Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said his party’s proposals which include scrapping £600,000 cuts to the contract to run York’s libraries would help protect the city’s most vulnerable.”