ESSEX County Council has said local government reorganisation in Essex poses an “exciting opportunity for libraries” despite concerns that they could be closed down to save money reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
Campaign group Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE), which successfully fought to stop the closures of branch libraries across Essex five years ago, warns that libraries could be seen as “easy targets” for cost-saving after the new system starts in 2028.
At that point, the county council will disappear, and possibly three or five new Essex councils will take over the running of all services in their areas, which will most likely include local libraries, although it has not yet been decided exactly how local government reorganisation will work.
SOLE has said it is concerned about the future of separate library services run individually by each new council, especially if each faces having to run libraries on a tight budget, with consequences for book stocks, inter-library loans and staffing.
Campaigners point to the footfall in Essex libraries actually increasing after the Covid lockdowns as the public enthusiastically supported their local branches.
SOLE says that local branches are a community resource and one of the few remaining public spaces for information and learning.
A spokesperson said: “Communities across Essex rallied to fight for their local libraries when a previous county council administration threatened to close many branches.
“The service has more than proved its worth over subsequent years. We don’t want our libraries under threat once again due to a reorganisation that looks like it may end up being done on the cheap.
“Libraries aren’t just a ‘nice to have’, they’re a vital part of people’s lives all the way from children learning to read, through adults studying, to older people accessing services and information.
“If libraries are just seen as a source of easy savings or are broken up with no concern for an integrated service, it will be a disaster for people across Essex.
“SOLE pledges to fight for the library service alongside users of every local branch across the length and breadth of the county. We urge the public and councillors to stand up for our service. We will defend our libraries.”
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) has the potential to be an exciting opportunity for libraries. One of the core drivers of LGR is long-term financial sustainability, which the current status quo does not provide.
“Alongside their core purpose, libraries fulfil important roles as community hubs and venues for a whole host of activities. We expect these will be a feature of the business case for new unitary councils.
“Libraries being run by new unitary councils means they can be brought closer to local areas and made more responsive to the needs of local residents.”
