Hampshire County Council is asking people who live, work and study in Hampshire to have their say on proposed changes to libraries. A 10-week public consultation opens today (9 January 2020) asking for opinions on:   

·         the emerging vision for Hampshire’s Libraries to 2025;  

·         the level of need for library services in specific local communities;  

·         proposed changes to the Library Service and the potential impacts; and 

·         any alternatives that respondents may wish to propose.   

The County Council is committed to providing a high-quality library service, fit for the future, that responds to a new generation of library customers. Therefore, we feel the right thing to do is focus the resources we have on where they will be of most benefit - to make the library service relevant in a way that will improve the literacy, life chances and wellbeing of Hampshire residents. 

At the same time, Hampshire County Council is facing an anticipated budget shortfall of £80 million by April 2021. The council is having to look across all its services to find savings which can help to bridge this gap and the Library Service is required to identify £1.76 million towards the overall savings target

The proposals in the consultation have been carefully thought through and offer a genuine choice.  As well as increasing income and improving business efficiency, the consultation includes proposals for changes to the way services are delivered. This includes options to close up to 10 council-run libraries and reduce opening hours in others. It also considers exploring better ways to deliver library services in deprived communities.

These proposals may affect a library or libraries in your community which you, your colleagues and pupils may use. They may also impact on the way that the School Library Service delivers its Service level Agreement in your area. No decisions will be made until all the consultation responses have been fully analysed.  However, we will keep you informed and work with you to manage the impacts of any changes.  Please do use the consultation response form to identify any impacts the proposals might have for your school. 

Full details of all proposals can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/library-consultation – we also have printed copies of the information available to read in our libraries. Please share this information within your own organisation and encourage your colleagues and service users to participate in this public consultation.

The consultation is open until Wednesday 18 March 2020. Feedback received will inform decisions to be made by the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage in summer 2020.​ If you have any questions about the public consultation or its impact on your organisation please email the Hampshire County Council Insight & Engagement Unit insight@hants.gov.uk