List of withdrawn libraries (no longer updated)

This page is now historical, with amendments to it having ceased in June 2018. 

This page lists all libraries that have been reported as having been taken out of local council control since April 2011.  This may mean that the library is closed or that the library has been taken over by volunteers.  It also includes mobile libraries.  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  The catch-all word that is used by Public Libraries News is “withdrawn from direct council control” or “withdrawn” for short. Information for this page is taken from news reports and information submitted by library authorities and library users.  It cannot claim to be fully accurate or comprehensive.

From 1st April 2018

– May 2018 – East Sussex – 7 – Polegate, Pevensey Bay, Willingdon, Ringmer, Mayfield and Ore libraries plus mobile library closed..

– June 2018 – Buckinghamshire – 3 – 3 mobile libraries withdrawn.

From 1st April 2016

• Bury – 10 – Ainsworth, Brandlesholme, Castle Leisure Centre, Coronation Road, Dumers Lane, Moorside, Topping Fold, Tottington, Unsworth and Whitefield. On December 20 2017.
• Cornwall – 1 – Upton Cross Library to close (August) St Keverne Library closed, replaced by mobile. (September 2017)
• Coventry – 1 – Arena Park Library to close on 27 August. [Mobile library closed, Willenhall Library closed – email received, 2018]
• Darlington – 1 – Mobile library closed, September 2016.
• Fife – 1 library and 1 mobile library – 1 (out of 3) mobile libraries closed: stops now fortnightly, not weekly. Kinghorn Library closed.
• Lancashire – 21 – Confirmed 21 to close by end of September 2016.
• North Lanarkshire – 2 – Old Monkland and Petersburn Libraries close at end of October 2016.
• Oxfordshire – 6 mobile libraries – From September 2016.
• Plymouth – 5 – September 2017.
• Rotherham – 1 and 1 mobile – Maltby Libray to merge with local council centre.
• Shropshire – 1 – Shawbury Library to close.
• Telford and Wrekin – 1 mobile (March 2017)
• West Berkshire – 1 – Wash Common (March 2017).

33 libraries confirmed as closing so far, 1st April 2015 to end March 2016. 9 of them in England.

• Bradford – 1 – Girlington (October 2015)
• Derbyshire –  8 – 8 out of 10 mobiles that Derbyshire County Council withdrawn from service.
• Dorset – 3 mobile libraries withdrawn
• East Ayrshire – 6  – Kilmaurs Library closed, Dalmellington Library closed, Mauchline Library closed.  Catrine, Hurlford and Ochiltree Libraries closing in March (source; email from council).
• Greenwich – 1 – Mobile library service withdrawn (confirmed in email from GLL, July 2016)
• Harrow – 4 libraries – Bob Lawrence, Hatch End, Rayners Lane and North Harrow libraries  – closed on June 13th.
• Leeds – Burley Library closed 15th February 2016 (source: email from Leeds Council)
• Leicestershire – 1 – Barwell (Barwell Library will close as volunteer plan falls through. ) October 2015.
• Lincolnshire – 5  – Wainfleet Library closed from 6 June 2015. Mobile stop replaces it. Hope for volunteers to establish new library in town. ; Washingborough Library; Coningsby/Tattershall, Skellingthorpe; Wragby.
• Newport – 1 – Carnegie Library
• South Lanarkshire – 1 library – East Kilbride Library closes (July 2015)
• Southend –  1 library – Thorpedene and Friars libraries replaced by Shoeburyness Library. (September 2015)
• Trafford – 3 closed (Bowfell will close 27 April, Davyhulme will close 3 May). Lostock (23 June: a self-service library will replace it in local school library with public access)

7 libraries transferred to others

• Liverpool – 5 – 5 libraries to be taken out from council control: Breck Road and Dovecot libraries to be managed by Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT); Fazakerley Library is to be managed by Fazakerley Federation; Kensington Library will be taken on by Kensington Fields Community Association and others; Walton Library to be run by Mersey Care (July 2015)
• Shropshire – 2 – 2 libraries leave council control: Craven Arms passed to Shropshire Furniture Scheme and Highley passed to Halo Leisure.

2 library passed to volunteers

• Leicestershire – Barrow-Upon-Soar to become first volunteer library, before the end of July 2015. Other libraries confirmed to become volunteer: Castle Donington (date to be scheduled), Hathern and Kegworth (January 2016), Anstey (October 2015), Rothley (October 2015) and Sileby (December 2015). 12 libraries still do not have strong expressions of interest to be passed to unpaid so may close.

5 mobiles confirmed as closing

• Enfield – Mobile library confirmed to be closed. 11 libraries to be “community” sharing buildings with other services.
• Poole – £50k cut: July 2015.
• Thurrock – Mobile library will close 2nd July.
• Wiltshire – 2 mobile libraries closed from October.

44 libraries withdrawn from 1st April 2014 to end March 2015

15 libraries and 24 mobile libraries closed

• Bromley – 1 out of 1 mobile library to close from September 2014.
• Cornwall – 5 out of 6 mobile libraries closed.
• Derbyshire – 8 out of 10 mobile libraries to end from January 2015.
• Doncaster – 2 mobiles withdrawn end of April 2014.
• Halton – Mobile library to close 28th March
• Hampshire – Family Library Link mobile library and also at least one other mobile library to cease from January 2015.
• North East Lincolnshire – Laceby Library has closed (may be taken over by parish council/volunteers). (December 2014).
• Rhondda Cynon Taff – Maerdy Library to be changed into a “learning and prosperity hub”, Ynyshir Library to be changed into Art Gallery (June 2014). Treherbert, Ton Pentre, Penygraig, Tylorstown, Maerdy, Cwmbach, Penrhiwceiber, Ynysybwl, Clifynydd, Beddau, Tonyrefail and Nantgarw closed (October 2014)
• Sheffield – 2 mobiles closed (August 2014).
• Worcestershire – 3 out of 4 mobiles withdrawn (February 2015).

5 libraries transferred to volunteers

• Ceredigion – New Quay Library taken over by 25 volunteers for at least one year.
• Manchester – Fallowfield Library renamed “The Place” and transferred to  Friends of Fallowfield Library and City South housing association. (August 2014)
• Rhondda Cynon Taff – Beddau and Tynant Library to become volunteer run (June 2014)
• Worcestershire – Broadway (August 2014) Hagley (December 2015).

13 Mobile Libraries closed

• Aberdeen – 1.
• Bath and Northeast Somerset – 1 – Article – June 2013.
• Brighton and Hove – 1 – Article. 2013.
• Gloucestershire – 3 – Article – At least 3 out of 6.
• Luton – 1 – Article.
• Nottingham – 1 – Article – April 2013.
• Suffolk – 3 – Article – Out of 6.
• Warwickshire – 2 – Article.  Out of 5.  November 2013.

38 Libraries closed

• Camden – 1 – Regent’s Park Library.
• Carmarthenshire – 2 – Pontyates and Tumble.
• Cheshire East – 1 – Weston.
• Cheshire West and Chester – 1 – Saughall.
• Doncaster – 1 – Denaby – Article.
• Hampshire – 1 – Stanmore – Article – books transferred to community centre with self-service machine.
• Hull – 2 – Anlaby Park and KC Stadium.
• Knowsley – Whiston and Page Moss – 2 – March 2014.
• Luton – 2 – Wigmore, Sundon
• Moray – 7 – Out of 15. Article.
• Newport – 1 – Brynglas House.
• Newcastle – 1 – Moorside, 2013.
• Sefton – 7 –  Article – From late 2013.
• Sunderland – 9 – Doxford Park, Easington Lane, East Herrington, Fence Houses, Hendon, Monkwearmouth, Silksworth, Southwick and Washington Green.  To be closed (September 2013).

20 Changed to volunteer-run/social enterprises

• Cheshire East – 1 – Hurdsfield May 2013.
• Gateshead – 5 – July 2013.
• Herefordshire – 1 – Leintwardine, in preparatory stages 10/13,
• Newcastle – 9 – Cruddas Park, Denton Burn, Dinnington, Fenham, High Heaton, Jesmond, Blakelaw, Fawdon and Newbiggin Hall. 2013.
• Sheffield – 2 – Ecclesfield reopens as volunteer run October 2014,  Stannington Library to be volunteer run from September 2014.
• Surrey – 1 – Tattenhams (15/6/13)
• Tameside – 1 – Dane Bank Library – purchased building off council for £30k and “six figure” loan (July 2013) – not counted in overall states as was closed in 2012, now reopened.

63 Libraries withdrawn from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013 noted 

6 Mobile libraries closed 

• Bristol –  1 – From 1st April 2012.
• Calderdale – 1  Article.  From 1st April 2012.
• Middlesbrough – 1 – Article. 2012.
• Sheffield – 3 – (Source: email from Council (17/8/12)

18 Libraries closed

• Barking and Dagenham – 1 – Markyate – Article – From 29/9/12).
• Barnet – 1 – Friern Barnet – Article – From 5th April 2012
• Dorset – 1 – Portland Underhill – Article – From 30th April 2012 – replaced by mobile library. Dec 2012.
• Liverpool – 3 – Woolton, Great Homer Street, Lodge Lane – April 2012. Larkhill Library closed at unknown time but was replaced by West Derby Library so is not counted as a closure for the tally.
• Newport – 1 – Stow Hill, March 2013.
• North Somerset – 2 – Backwell Leisure Centre Library – Article – April 2012 – replaced by a mobile stop once a week.  Barwell Library will be closed on 31st August – Article.
• North Tyneside – 1 – Coast Road – From September 2012 – replaced by mobile library stop.
• Sheffield – 1 – Limpsfield Library – From 30th March 2012 (one combined with a school library) now entirely a school library. Mobile stop provided instead.
• Wakefield – 2 – Kettlethorpe – November 2012 and  St Mary’s Community Centre.
• Warwickshire – 4 – Binley Woods – Article.   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.

39 Changed to volunteer-run/social enterprises

• Bexley – 1 – Bexley Village Library from 19/7/12.
• Buckinghamshire – 5 – Flackwell Heath, 24/4/12 and Long Crendon 21/4/12 and Gerrards Cross – 3/5/12 and Beacon Villages Community Library (previously Ivinghoe) 2/6/12 and Haddenham 3/11/12, Wing 10/11/12, Wendover 4/12/12.
• Camden – 3 – Heath Library, Belsize Library and Chalk Farm – 1st April 2012.
• Carmarthenshire – 1 – Pontyberem.
• Doncaster – 1 – Balby – 9/4/12 – Article.
• Dorset – 4 – Burton Bradstock – Oct 2012.  Wool – Jan 2013. Charmouth – Nov 2012. Puddletown – Jan 2013.
• Gloucestershire – 5 – Lechlade, Berkeley, Bream, Brockworth and Mitcheldean – 4/11/12.
• Isle of Man – 2 – Mobile Library and Family Library – 12/9/12 – Article.
• Leeds – 1 – Drighlington – Article – From 12/11/12.
• Surrey – 3 – Byfleet (25/9/12) and New Haw (4/10/12) and Virginia Water (16/1/13)
• Wakefield – 2 – Havercroft and Kinsley to transfer to Learning Centres and be run with volunteers, late November,
• Warwickshire – 10 – Bidford-on-Avon,  Bulkington, Dunchurch, Harbury, Henley-in-Arden, Keresley, Kineton, Studley – By end of April 2012, Baddesley Ensor (24/5/12). Dordon (by 5/9/12).
• Wigan – 1 – Beech Hill closed but then reopened by BookCycle charity (March 2013)

22 Changed to volunteer-run

• Bradford – 4 – 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 – 2 – Chalfont St Peter – 3/1/12. Farnham Common Library – Article – first of 13 expected to be turned over to volunteers 2011/12.
• Carmarthenshire – 1 – Llannon – Tumble Hall library passes from Carmarthenshire Council to Llannon Community Council last year.  Usage now down to one person per week.
• Doncaster – 3 – Stainforth – 3/3/12 – Article. Warmsworth, Bawtry, and Stainforth – 28/3/12
• Isle of Wight – 5 – 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 Lincolnshire – 1 – Goxhill Library – volunteer-run since 4th April 2011.
• North Yorkshire – 1 – 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. Great Ayton 15/2/12 renamed as Derwent Valley Bridge, with 30 volunteers.
• Somerset – 1 – 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 – 1 – York Gardens – Article – 1st November 2011.
• Warwickshire – 2 – Kineton – Article, Library Website – 9th January 2012. Studley – Library Website – March 2012.
• Wiltshire – 1 – Purton – Article, Library Website.

4 to be run by social enterprises

• Lewisham – 4 – 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 – 1 – 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.)

55 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.
• Manchester – 4 mobiles – Article – Date of ending unclear but from context appears to be October 2011.
• 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.

48 library buildings closed

• Barking and Dagenham – Wantz Library – closed 31/3/12 – Article, Website.
• 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.  Heaton closed 2011 – Article.
• 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. Rossington too.
• 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).
• Wakefield – Balne Lane – Article – closed January 2012. Middlestown – Article – Demolished in 2011.
• 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.”