List of Library Trusts and prospective Library Trusts

Included below are a list of trusts running libraries. A “trust” is defined on this page as any non-council non-profit organisation running a library or group of libraries.

Single-council leisure trusts

  1. Angus – Angusalive – with leisure and culture, started December 2015.
  2. Argyll and Butewith leisure and culture, from 2017.
  3. Blaenau Gwentto transfer leisure/sports/history/libraries into “Life Leisure Trust” (March 2014). Aneurin Leisure Trust runs service and reports low budget from council (April 2015).
  4. Bridgend – Libraries part of Awen Cultural Trust.
  5. Dundee transferred its libraries late in 2011 to Leisure & Culture Dundee.
  6. East Ayrshiretransferred to East Ayrshire Leisure Trust, 1st July 2013.
  7. East RenfrewshirePlan to transfer libraries/leisure centres/community halls/theatre to Trust by Summer 2015. Confirmed December 2014.FifePart of Fife Cultural Trust.
  8. Glasgow – a combination of Trust (for tax advantages) and CIC (for trading advantages). Covid caused loss of income for Glasgow Trust, with several venues, including libraries under threat (April 2021)
  9. Highland – converted to High Life Highland in Sep 2011.
  10. HullLibraries formally handed over to Hull Culture and Leisure Trust (HCAL).  (March 2015)
  11. Luton –  Luton Libraries were in a trust with Arts and Museums (called Luton Culture). In April 2020 Libraries were moved into another trust, Active Luton, which runs sports facilities and promotes healthy living in Luton.
  12. North Lanarkshire – Moved to Culture NL, July 2013.
  13. Northeast Lincolnshire – Libraries and leisure centres to move into combined trust, after private company contract for leisure centres ends in 2013. Libraries will move into Lincs Inspire Trust after review carried out (May 2014)
  14. Northumberland – Leisure Trust “Active Northumberland
  15. NottinghamshireLibraries became part of non-profit trust Inspire (along with archives and culture, music teaching, community learning and skills service, music hub and education library service). (November 2015), announced November 2013. Inspire website.
  16. Perth and KinrossLibraries/Museums/Arts/Galleries  run by non-profit trust Culture Perth and Kinross from April 1st. (January 2016)
  17. RedbridgeVision – Originally leisure centres, the trust took over responsibility for libraries in May 2011. Trust received extra grant from council December 2011.
  18. RenfrewshireConsidering moving libraries, culture and leisure to non-profit trust. £360k tax saving expected from move (source: 26th June 2014 council paper). Became a Trust January 2015.
  19. RochdaleLink4Life – Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) includes local studies but not libraries.
  20. SalfordSalford Community Leisure Trust – Combines leisure, libraries and culture.
  21. Scottish BordersLibraries run by Borders Sport and Leisure non-profit trust.  (October 2015). announced February 2014. Move to libraries being run by a Trust delayed. (June 2015)
  22. South Lanarkshire.

Multiple-council leisure trusts (all run by GLL)

Library trusts

Trusts smaller than a single council

Returned to council control

  1. Falkirk changed over on 1st July 2011 (inc. leisure centres, museums as well as libraries, with an hoped saving of £1m in rates and VAT). Membership body criticises council’s decision to take leisure charity back under its control | Third Sector (February 2021)
  2. Flintshire changed over to Aura (Flintshire Leisure and Library Services run by a community benefit society.  in January 2017. The council took back control and set up a trading company from 31 October 2024.
  3. Merthyr Tydfil Wellbeing Merthyr (formerly Merthry Tydfil Leisure Trust) to return all leisure/library services to council. with alternative provider being sought. (March 2024) cf. Libraries formally handed over to Merthry Tydfil Leisure Trust. (March 2015)
  4. NorthamptonshireWas run by First for Wellbeing (community interest company focusing on integrated wellbeing inc. health, libraries, parks] (2016). This was a partnership between the council, the local university and the local NHS. However, due to council overspending, libraries returned to council control and then were split into the two successor councils in 2022.
  5. Peterborough –  Leisure trust Vivacity hand back contract for libraries to council after losses caused by lockdown (June 2020). this Trust, Vivacity, has merged museums, art galleries, libraries, sports and leisure into one organisation (most of its trustees are from private enterprise).  Vivacity started having volunteers used to extend opening hours as pilot project for three months (4/3/12).
  6. SuffolkSuffolk Libraries.  Library services run by an Industrial and Provident Society, with Bungay becoming the first branch formally under its control. Transferred libraries to an Industrial and Provident Society, with 95% of funding from council.  Hoped to gain 80% reduction in property rates; to remove “council bureaucracy” and allow for more grant applicationsCost was £652,000 to set up but estimated as 27.6 per cent cheaper to run, assuming rates exemptions stay in placeSee details here on what an Industrial and Provident Society is. Previously: interested in community interest company or other variant).  The board of the IPS is currently appointed (that is, nominated, not elected) but will be elected by members of the IPS in late 2013.Separate to this county-wide Trust, one of the seven pilot non-council runners of the smallest libraries  run by its own community interest company. Suffolk Libraries returned to Council control, March 2023.
  7. Wigan – Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust. Created in 2003, paid for by a council grant/external funding/income generation.  It has had some successes (extending services and running services from other councils) but faced a cut of over £1m and considered closing 6 of its libraries. The Trust document “The Next Chapter” details the changes.  The Trust has a trading arm which lost a reported £250,000 on an event, leading to calls for the service to be taken back under Council control.  In July 2014, it was decided that Libraries were to be taken away from Trust and returned to council control and it was reported that they had done so November 2014.
  8. Birmingham –  In October 2016, the Library of Birmingham Trust was wound up.  It was set up as a separate fund-raising body for the LoB, seeking funds from companies and philanthropists.  It failed to raise sufficient money and blamed cuts to the Library itself for philanthropists being unwilling to pay.
  9. Warrington Livewire (leisure/libraries) brought back under full Council control at £5m cost due to Covid/high energy costs in March 2024. Was spun out in 2012.

Councils which considered passing libraries to Trusts

  • #1 written by Sam McDowell
    about 12 years ago

    Highland Council transferred its libraries to Highlife Highland in September 2011

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