Brent to Cambridgeshire

To make the list is factual as possible, please email ianlibrarian@live.co.uk with any additions, corrections or omissions.

  1. Brent
    1. 2024: Wembley Library opens after £2m refurbishment (12)
    2. 2019: £150k cut postponed.(1) £150k cut cancelled after consultation.  (2) Kensal Rise Library reopens as volunteer.(9)
    3. 2017: Mayor of London promises £40k for volunteer library in Cricklewood, if rest of funding found.(7) £115k raised via crowdfunding for improvements at Cricklewood. (9)
    4. 2016: Abandons proposed move to libraries non-profit trust. £160k budget cut will therefore be made in another way. (2)
    5. 2015:  Considering outsourcing to become a Trust. (1) Library visits up 40% (now 2 million). (5)
    6. 2014: Visits up 8.4% on 2012/13, loans up 3.5%.  (4) 42% increase in visits, 7.4% increase in loans. (9).
    7. 2013: £816k cut from libraries budget due to closure of six libraries. Overall, 1% increase in usage, 1.2% decrease in visits (figures supplied by Cllr Powney, lead for libraries). Usage figures for the remaining open libraries (4). Honesty collections of library books to be left in cafes, shops and pubs (5).
    8. 2012: Six libraries closedWillesden Green Library will be redeveloped into a joint library/cultural centre (18/1/12) with the front of Willesden Green Library demolished (13.1.12) and the rest of the land sold off to developers to pay for the work.. Save Cricklewood Library petition. Staff 2007/8 133 2011/12 68 (20 professional, 48 other) Volunteers 2007/8 0 2011/12 10 (Cipfa).
    9. 2011: Council has spent £154k on legal costs trying to close libraries.  Cost of redundancy of sacked staff was £258k. 6 out of 12 confirmed as closing82% of consultation responders said council plans to close 6 of 12 were not reasonable; £1m cut in budgettalking to private company LSSIlegal challenge; Central Library will move to new Civic Centre building in 2013; the 6 libraries not being closed will be open seven days, with longer hours during exam periods, more ebooks and more audio. 
    10. 2010: Harlesden Library refurbished (£2.5m).
  2. Bridgend
    1. 2025: Maesteg children’s library refurbished.  (1)
    2. 2024: Consultation, expected cuts to opening hours and book fund.  (5) Betws Library being refurbished.  (10)
    3. 2022: Pencoed Library too be refurbished (6)
    4. 2019: £70k cut 2019/20 and further £60k cut 2019/20. (2) Fines to end on 1 April. Pyle Library reopens. (3)
    5. 2018: Welsh Government funding to modernise Pyle Library. (5) Library part of Maesteg rtown hall redevelopment. (8)
    6. 2012: Move of Bridgend Library to Recreation Centre (£4.2m “upgrade”) with access problems, consultation from July 2012. 3 threatened libraries (see below) still open as of 15/1/12 therefore removed from danger on tally.  Town’s library may move to bigger building.
    7. 2011: 3 libraries threatened (BlengarwNantymoelCaerau). Service may not be able to reach Welsh Assembly library standard.  Opening hour cuts at most branches.
  3. Brighton and Hove
    1. 2025: Up to three libraries under threat (3) Council services to move into Jubilee Library and Hove Library (4)
    2. 2024: Saltdean will reopen in February after £7m refurbishment.  (1)
    3. 2023: Mile Oak Library may close in £35k cut (2) Mile Oak Library will close (5)
    4. 2018: Hove Library basement to be rented to nursery. Building to be modified. (6)
    5. 2017: Late fees reintroduced for children’s books. (1) Proposed £700k for replacing Saltdean Lido Library. (2) Open technology will not be suitable for Hove on Sundays as it has too many rooms. (4) Hollingbury Library closes at current site: to move into community centre. (10) Holingbury Library reopens in community centre: staffed one morning but open seven days per week (self-service machine, otherwise card access). (11)
    6. 2016: Rottingdean to have remote-control Open+ at cost of £23k to increase hours. (4) Open+ extended to all libraries, which become “Libraries Extra”. (8)
    7. 2015: 2 libraries to allow access while unstaffed outside of normal hours. (8) Hove Library may close and move into Hove Museum. Westdene Library may close and move into Westdene Primary School. Hollingbury Library may close and move into Hollingbury Children’s Centre. (10) £1 million cut by end 2017/18.  (11)
    8. 2014: Woodingdean Library opens in new co-located building with community/medical centre (old library closed). (6). New library (co-location with academy) opened at Mile Oak. (8)
    9. 2013: Mobile library closed (£84k p.a. cut) used by 800 people.  1500 petition disregarded. Plan to save mobile lost when no volunteers came forward.  To be replaced by £37k “books on wheels” home delivery service. Woodingdean Library to close, with new building merging library, community centre and medical centre. £500k on library (£1.6m overall) (3).
    10. 2012: 1 mobile library may end in 2013 after review (23/9/12) possibly to be replaces by home delivery service (one officer and volunteers): £49k p.a. cut (15/9/12). 15/1/12) Wifi to be installed at Jubilee Library17 job losses (but new library equal access officer and income generation officer),  cuts to opening hours at Hangleton and Portslade libraries. (10/2/12).To remove RNIB talking books representing cut of £22k (2/2/12).  Community groups asked to take over running of mobile library to save it from closure (13/1/12) £440k cut to libraries budget, no building will close. (9th January 2012) New Woodingdean Library  planned. However, £150k cut 2012 budget includes mobile library to be closed.
    11. 2011: Refreshments and spaces with toys to be introduced in all libraries, free wifi at Jubilee Library.
  4. Bristol
    1. 2025: Up to £2.4m out of £4.7m budget to be cut (1) Threats of cuts/closures removed.  (1)
    2. 2024: Money found to cover temporary library shortages. (1)
    3. 2023: “Widespread opposition” means Central Library will not move. (1) Repeated library closures due to staff shortages (12)
    4. 2022: Central Library could move somewhere cheaper, in potential £1.38m cut.  (11)
    5. 2021: £30k bookfund cut (7)
    6. 2019: Central Library returns to opening seven days per week. (3)
    7. 2018: All libraries to remain open until 2020. (6)
    8. 2017: Confirmed £1.4m cut. First reports suggest 19 out of 28 libraries to close/pass to volunteers (unconfirmed).(1) No decision made on number of closures as yet, £1.4m cut confirmed (direct email from council). (1) 30% cut: £1.4m – £300k cut 2017/18, £740k cut 2018/19, £360k cut 2019/20. Staffing and building cuts expected. Bishopston new library opens, replacing Cheltenham Road Library.(5) Up to 17 branches to close. (6) Threatened libraries named “Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Sea Mills, Redland, Clifton, Westbury, St Paul’s, Horfield, Lockleaze, Hillfields, St George, Bishopsworth, Marksbury Road, Filwood, Whitchurch, Stockwood and Wick Road“(10) Central Library may move to cheaper building / universities may be asked to help fund. (10) Cuts to libraries postponed by four months due to consultation/exploration towards change to mutual or co-location. Government fund used. (11)
    9. 2016: Up to £2.1m cut from total budget of £4.6m: may be more volunteers, co-location, move to Trusts (10)
    10. 2015: St Paul’s community centre transferred to ethical investment company (1) 7 (out of 27) libraries may close: Clifton, Eastville, Marksbury Road, Redland, Sea Mills, Westbury, Wick Road. £1.1m cut, 12 week consultation. (2) No closures until at least April 1st 2016: volunteers may take over threatened libraries. (3) 1 library (Eastville) closing, 6 others saved from closure but with reduced staff (£500k cut)and opening hours. £635k cuts still to be identified.
    11. 2014: Up to 26 full time equivalent job losses expected (1). Building of new Bishopston Library delayed due to concerns over quality of  building work (3). £1.1 million cut before April 2015, some libraries may close. (10)
    12. 2013: New library Junction 3 opened, £3m inc. computer suite and learning centreFree School may take over bottom levels of Central Library (6). Confirmed that two storeys of Central Library will be rented out to Cathedral Primary School for £60k per year. (12).
    13. 2012: Mobile Library closedMobile library will close in April (30/1/12). Five libraries (Robinson House, Fishponds, Knowle, Filwood and Bedminster) to be merged with council information points.  Self-service installed. New Bishopston Library will be built on site of old Baths due to deal with developers (26/8/12).
    14. 2011: 1 Mobile library could be withdrawn.  Public consultation. £200k cut from staffing, self-service to be installed  “alternative provision” explored. £90k cut off bookfund of £700k.
  5. Bromley
    1. 2024: Library £10m repair programme 2024/5 for Southborough, Beckenham, Burnt Ash, Chislehurst, Orpington, Mottingham, Petts Wood, Penge, Hayes.  (6) Bromley Central Library may move to larger new site.(7) Central Library to have £15m move due to asbestos.  (7)

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