Take part in public consultation event on proposed changes to Derbyshire libraries
Tickets are now available for a public event where residents will get the chance to question Derbyshire County Council’s Leader about proposed changes to the Derbyshire library service.
Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis will answer questions submitted before and during the event being held at Chesterfield Library on Saturday 21 July 2018 between 2pm and 3.30pm.
Tickets are free but must be booked in advance, with people being able to apply for two tickets each.
The event is part of a 12-week consultation that Derbyshire County Council are holding for Derbyshire residents to have their say on proposed changes which include transferring 20 libraries out of a total of 45, and the mobile library service, to community management.
Other proposals include a reduction in weekly opening hours across the library service, a reduction in the materials fund (books, audio books, eBooks, eMagazines, eAudio, online resources like Newsbank and newspapers), considering the future implementation of Smart libraries and stopping the DVD hire loan service.
Derbyshire County Council are proposing the changes to achieve savings of £1.6m from the library service budget by 2021 and to ensure its library service reflects changes to the way people access information and books using new technology.
Councillor Lewis said:
“I have already met some Derbyshire residents at drop-in sessions to hear their thoughts on our proposals and this will be a good opportunity for me to answer people’s questions and hopefully allay any anxieties.
“These proposals are about securing the future of Derbyshire libraries and I’ve been clear that no libraries will close on my watch.
“I’d encourage anyone with an interest to come along to the public question and answer session and listen to what we have to say. Anyone can submit a question beforehand, even if they are unable to attend the event.”
People can submit questions in advance by email libraryquestions@derbyshire.gov.uk and there will also be an opportunity to ask questions on the day.
Paper copies of the consultation questionnaire will also be available at the event for people to fill in if they are unable to do this online.
The public question and answer session is just one event being held as part of the consultation.
Drop-in sessions have now been held at county libraries and focus groups are being set up in all 20 areas which have a library proposed for community management, with places still available. More details of how to register for a focus group are on the `libraries for Derbyshire’ web pages.
A separate focus group, concentrating on just the mobile library service, is being held at County Hall on Wednesday 11 July at 6pm.
If there is a lack of support for the proposals, the library service would need to review all aspects of the current service it provides, which could potentially lead to further significant reductions being made to opening hours, staffing, the materials fund and mobile library service. This could result in some libraries being open for less than one day a week with few or no new books or resources added to stock. However, if any further reduction proposals of this sort were to be put forward later on, these would then be subject to further consultation before any decision was made.
The consultation runs until Monday 30 July 2018.
