HELP SHAPE LIBRARY SERVICES

Over the last three years, libraries across Staffordshire have changed to better fit the needs of the community.

Financial challenges are seeing public libraries close across the country, but not in Staffordshire.  We are bucking the national trend by choosing to modernise and develop our library service with our community rather than close our libraries. All 43 libraries remain open. However, the number of people using libraries continues to fall.

At the same time, demand for the county council’s key services, such as social care for the most vulnerable, continues to increase whilst budgets are falling.

We are committed to keeping our libraries open but we need to find ways to make them more flexible to people’s needs within the budget we have available.

A 12 week public consultation is now being held to hear everyone’s views on our initial proposals for Staffordshire’s 20 county council Managed and Delivered Libraries and the Mobile and Travelling Library Service.

Please have your say by midnight 1st April 2018 before a final decision is made in the Spring.

You can have your say in the libraries consultation in a number of ways.

There is a consultation event happening at every county council Managed and Delivered Library.  The Kidsgrove Library event is on 13th Feb from 3-6pm. Drop in and talk to a member of staff about what you think about our initial proposals and any ideas you have at these events.