Renfrewshire to Sefton

To make the list is factual as possible, please email ianlibrarian@live.co.uk if you have any further information or a correction.

Dates included are the date that the information was added to Public Libraries News.  In more recent posts, the number shows the month (e.g. 3 = March, 4 = April) the article that contains the relevant information was published.

1. Renfrewshire.
   1. 2-23: £7m refurbished Paisley Library due to open end of November (11)
   2. 2018: New Paisley Library postponed. (1) Paisley Central Library to move to temporary location while new library built. (7)
   3. 2017: £5m new library in Paisley (£3.5m from council, £1.5m from Scottish Government) to replace older library.(3)
   4. 2014: Considering moving libraries, culture and leisure to non-profit trust. £360k tax saving expected from move (source: 26th June 2014 council paper seen by PLN).
   5. 2012:  Johnstone Library to move into new all-purpose council building in 2015 (8/12/12).
   6. 2011: Lochwinnoch Library saved from closure (1 library to move into smaller sites in community centres) (RNIB subscription withdrawn)
2. Rhondda Cynon Taf
   1. 2018: Mountain Ash Library may move into co-location in community centre. (2) Welsh Government funding to modernise Tonypandy Library.(5)
   2. 2017: Library Court (now run by housing association Trivallis) is opened : combined library/housing/business development. (12)
   3. 2016: Decision to single-staff five libraries reversed. (2)
   4. 2015: £327k cut: Reduction in number of librarians, branch library opening hours reduced to 31.5 hours per week, single staffing introduced at 5 libraries (Hirwaun, Ferndale, Pontyclun, Mountain Ash, Rhydyfelin), 25% cut to bookfund, 1 out of 4 mobile libraries to be lost, magazines/newspapers reduced, part-time Community Learning Worker lost.
   5. 2014: 14 libraries (Treherbert, Ton Pentre, Penygraig, Maerdy, Ynyshir, Cwmbach, Penrhiwceiber, Ynysybwl, Cilfynydd, Beddau, Tonyrefail and Nantgarw) will close. Porth and Pontyclun libraries, which were both earmarked for closure, will remain open and Tylorstown and Rhydyfelin will close in their place. Rhydyfelin Library saved from closure after legal challenge. (6). Beddau and Tynant Library to become volunteer run, Maerdy Library to be changed into a “learning and prosperity hub”, Ynyshir Library to be changed into Art Gallery. (6).
   6. 2013: 14 out of 26 libraries threatened (Treherbet, Ton Pentre, Penygraig, Ynyshir, Maerdy, Cwmbach, Penrhiwceiber, Ynysybwl, Cilfynydd, Tonyrefail, Nantgarw, Beddau and Pontyclun) to meet £800k cut,
   7. 2012:  One back office position not replaced
3. Richmond
   1. 2021: Richmond library closed June to September for repairs (6)
   2. 2018: Whitton Library refurbished. (4)
   3. 2017: Whitton Library to be refurbished. (12)
   4. 2012: 3 under threat: Ham, Hampton Wick, Kew (Feb). Increased opening hours: Whitton, East Sheen, Teddington and Twickenham libraries will open on Mondays, and Castelnau Library will operate for an additional 20 hours per week. Staff 2007/8 110 2011/12 89.5 (15 prof, 74.5 other) Volunteers 2007/8 156 2011/12 100 (Cipfa).
   5. 2011: No libraries to close, Whitton library enhanced (as Heathfield closed earlier this year).  Ham and Kew libraries may be co-located with other council services. Self-service in all libraries. Bookfund protected. More online services. (£351k cut) (service may be privatised) Heathfield closed in March.
4. Rochdale.
   1. 2021: Balderstone Library extended, includes changing rooms for sport. (3)
   2. 2018: Audiobooks to be loaned free to all. )6_
   3. 2013: Consultation until 1st May 2013.  Cuts will happen as “staying as we are is not an option.”.  Volunteers, less hours, etc are all options 3.5 FTE cut due to self-service and 1 FTE book-processing cut and 1.57 FTE cut to Volunteer Support Co-ordinators. Bookfund cut from £100,000 to £138,370 for one year. Permanent £38k cut to bookfund.  CDs and DVDs no longer to be purchased. 2010/11 £200k cut in bookfund. (7/2/13). Central Library reopens in council offices (3).
   4. 2011: 1 under threat (some library managers to to go in first phase of cuts, bookfund cut by two-thirds); “Libraries under consideration to join Link4Life cultural trust. New central library still planned as part of municipal offices.  Part of GM FLP.  Link4Life cost pressures reported as disproportionately affecting heritage and arts services.” (MLA report, Dec 2010)
5. Rotherham
   1. 2024: Swinton Library and Civic Hall “neighbourhood hub” opens.(7)
   2. 2023: Mowbray Gardens Library and Brinsworth Community Library have staffless opening hours (2) Swinton Library closed due to RAAC: moved to civic hall until new library opens. (12)
   3. 2020: Consultation: Town centre library to move to markets, 3-branch staffless library pilot. (1)
   4. 2017: Visits down one third since 2005. (4)
   5. 2016: £474k p.a. cut; single staffing, Maltby Library to close (merged with customer service centre), mobile to close. (9)
   6. 2015: Dolly Parton Imagination Library to be stopped (£400k p.a.) (8)
   7. 2013: Swinton and Wath Libraries to become One Stop Shops (2/2/13). One mobile library ends – Mobile library cuts: service to be merged with housebound service – 69 stops reduced to 17 stops. (3) Kimberworth Library reopened after £36k refurbishment inc. new shelves and IT (8).
   8. 2012: Kimberworth Park Library confirmed to close by April 2013, Kimberworth Library reprieved.  £500k cut (23/11/12). 2 libraries originally  under threat : Kimberworth and Kimberworth Park libraries may close.  8 libraries (Brinsworth, Dinnington, Thurcroft, Greasbrough, Kiveton Park, Maltby, Swinton and Wickersley) will have reduced hours, 5 libraries (Riverside House, Aston, Mowbray Gardens, Wath and Rawmarsh) will have increased hours.  £500k cut
   9. 2011: Central Library to be demolished, libraries to move to new Civic Building, co-locating with customer services.
6. Rutland
   1. 2025: Ryhall Library to close due to lack of funds to bring library up to standard, consultation (1)
   2. 2024: £950k to turn Oakham, Ketton, Ryhall and Uppingham Libraries into “community hubs” (7)
   3. 2017: Overspend on Oakham Library reaches £309k on original £680k refurbishment. (4)
   4. 2016: £280k refurbishment for Oakham Library. (11)
   5. 2012: Appeal for volunteers means nineteen have come forward to do roles inc. shelving books (24/1/12).
   6. 2011: 6 libraries to have reduced hours, staff cut; Evening and weekend opening hours cut at  Uppingham, Oakham, Ryhall and Ketton. Budget will be cut £100k cut over 2 years, volunteers being used to make up staff losses.Opening hours cut at Oakham, Uppingham and Ryall. Ketton hours expanded due to parish council support. Council interested in community groups running libraries.
7. Salford
   1. 2025: Salford Community Leisure in financial difficulty (3)
   2. 2017: £590k over four years for IT (£100k): expanded or new library services in Irlam and Cadishead, Worsley and Broughton leisure centres, and Beesley Green, The Valley and Wardley community centres and the Helly Hansen Watersports Centre  Aim to save £1.26m p.a. by tech and co-location. (9) 14.4 FTE jobs lost (one quarter workforce), Open+ to be installed in Boothstown, the Height, Irlam, Ordsall, Hope, Worsley, Cadishead, Little Hulton, Clifton, Lower Kersal and Winton.  (9) Two-thirds of libraries (not all) to be Open+ (Email received – September 2017)
   3. 2013: Visitors up from 800k 2008/9 to 1.39m 2012/13.  Budget cut £511k 2008 to 2012. (12) 
   4. 2012: 3 counted as under threat: some libraries to move to sports centres or provide space for community groups (2 to have reduced hours). Working Class Movement Library under threat.
   5. 2010: Leisure, Libraries and Culture merged into Salford Community Leisure Ltd
8. Sandwell
   1. 2022: Bleakhouse; Brandhall; Cradley Heath; Great Barr; Great Bridge; Hill Top; Langley; Oakham; Rounds Green, Stone Cross and Thimblemill to have Open+  (3)
   2. 2015: Five libraries saved from closure : building shares, volunteers and booksales to limit impact of £700k cut over two years (1). £400k bookfund (plus £80k for non-book materials) – this is an increase of £6k on previous year.  (8)
   3. 2014: 6 management posts lost (down from 14.86 to 8.86) meaning £165k cut. £343k overall cut 2014/15.  Was 18.86 management posts in 2012. On top of £880k cut 2011/13. £300k cut 2013/14 (4). £700k cut (2015/17), five libraries under threat (Hill Top in West Bromwich, Oakham in Tividale and Langley, and Brandhall and Rounds Green) with all options (volunteers/co-location/moves etc) considered. (8).
   4. 2013: £300k cut to be met by co-locations (3).  29% cut in staff in last “few” years. Hours reduced in 2012. Less hours also expected in 2013 (18/2/13). 1 mobile to be withdrawn meaning £80k cut. Libraries budget to be cut by £300k 2013/14 (7/2/13).
   5. (2012) At least 1 library under threat: libraries may be closed and be replaced by “Express” libraries.  Reduced hours also possible.  £900k cut over last two years has included less staff.  Further £488k by end 2014 (14/9/12). One [sic] week long public consultation on libraries from 12 November (1/11/12) , Smethwick Library refurbished.  West Bromwich Central Library currently being refurbished.  (13% increase in visits) (8/5/12): 20% budget cut over next 3 years: 6 libraries (Cradley Heath, Blackheath, Brandhall, Bleakhouse, Rounds Green and Langley) to have reduced hours, services will be merged with other authorities, less staff, more self-service. Groups: Brandhall Library Friends, Friends of Rowley Library.
   6. (2011) £900k cut over three years, 12 libraries will become self-service “allowing a reduction of between one half and one member of staff per library”.  Library workers “working to rule” over pay cuts and volunteers taking over paid work.  Consulting on co-locating libraries, more volunteers.  To replace many paid staff with volunteers. New libraries at Oldbury and Blackheath  opened 2011/12
   7. Groups: Friends of Rowley Libraries (Facebook group), Bramhall Library Friends.
9. Scottish Borders
   1. 2021: Limited opening hours due to funds. (8)
   2. 2017: National newspapers stopped at all branches as part of cuts. Job losses.(3) Council reduces leisure trust budget by £320k (5%). (4) Co-op and Sainsburys pay for newspapers cancelled at Kelso Library by Live Borders. (5)
   3. 2016: redundancies offered as cuts expected. (11)
   4. 2015: Move to libraries being run by a Trust delayed. (6) announced February 2014. Libraries to be run by Borders Sport and Leisure non-profit trust.  (10)
   5. 2014: Libraries/museums/halls to be transferred to new Trust to save £276k. (2).
   6. 2013: Coldstream and Duns libraries reopened co-located with council contact centres. Kelso and Jedburgh will be co-located soon.  Innerleithen will converted March/April (30/1/13).
   7. 2012: Cuts in opening hours at Jedburgh and Selkirk  (down 8 hours per week),  Kelso (down 3 hours per week) (29/4/12) despite claims Selkirk will open longer due to “one stop shop” being included (12/3/12).
   8. 2011: Coldstream, Kelso, Jedburgh, Innterleithen and Duns libraries to be merged with council contact centres. Duns Library to be merged with Registrars as well. Co-location saving £60k per year, building sale will net £260k.  Work to refurbish areas will, however, cost £360k.  Number of qualified librarians to be reduced: staff to be trained both in libraries and council services. 2 librarians made voluntarily redundant, more to follow. Consultation on reducing Innerleithen Library hours extended.    Cuts in opening hours including in Melrose.
10. Sefton
    1. 2018: Maghull Library halved in size due to co-location with gym. (4)
    2. 2017: Volunteers may run converted station as library in Birkdale. (3)
    3. 2014: Opening hours to be cut by 15%, 22 staff at risk.(11)
    4. 2013: 20,000 responses to library closures means decision delayed.  Different models looked at, including selling fruit and veg. (16/2/13) Atkinson Centre Library opens inc. self-service, out-of-hours return, expanded children’s library, co-location with art gallery and tourist information centre. (4) 40 staff (16 to 19 FTE) may be made redundant. £400k p.a. cut.  (5) 7 libraries confirmed as closing (Ainsdale, Aintree, Birkdale, Churchtown, Crosby, Litherland and Orrell).  £400k cut. “Mitigations” for closure include “abolishing the 80p book reservation charge, removing charges for computer use, increased opening hours and the potential for a home visits service” (5). Churchtown Library closes. (11)
    5. 2012: 7 libraries under threat (Ainsdale, Aintree, Birkdale, Churchtown, Crosby, Litherland and Orrell): three others reprieved.) Previously10 libraries under threat  Closing seven (the preferred option) would be a cut of £450k (6/10/12). 1 mobile library closed (added to 2011/2 figure). Consultation until 10th July (25/5/12).  Mobile library (cut of £42k) to close on 31st March, £100k bookfund cut, local history service to close (2 posts, cut of £37k) (2/2/12) and (9/2/12).
    6. 2011: “several” under threat; 40% managers cut; opening hours cut; Aintree to be closed twice a week (Thu and Sun), Meadows Library to be closed on Sundays; opening hours scaled back to 2001 levels; voluntary redundancy for staff.£140k cut; Internet access to be charged for after first free 30 minutes.
    7. Campaign group: Friends of Carnegie Library