Fen Ditton Parish Council

Library Services Review - message from CCC

National Government is asking authorities to make massive savings to meet the national deficit. Cambridgeshire County Council is required to make a £2 million reduction (almost 30%) from the Library Service budget over the next 3 years.

Cambridgeshire's County Councillors want to do their best to maintain library services, rather than cutting services to meet these targets. The aim is to protect front-line services by transforming how things are done and to listen to communities to see what they think and what facilities they want. However, the challenge is tough and means it will be impossible to make the required savings without some reductions.

From August 9, people will be asked to have their say at a series of public meetings and road shows touring the County . A questionnaire will be available at libraries as well as online and at the roadshows. This will help shape proposals for Councillors in the Autumn and could be the first of a series of consultations depending on what changes are suggested.

The first of 10 public meetings kicks off on August 9 in Little Thetford Village Hall between 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The consultation ends on September 30.

Residents will be able to see a taster of what libraries offer, complete the questionnaire and find out how they can get involved on the Council’s website

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/library and in libraries.

A range of proposals for transforming the Library Service across Cambridgeshire, designed to meet the required budget savings, have been approved by County Councillors. The proposals include:

• possible new shared and / or externalised management and support arrangements
• introducing self-service machines into all libraries and working more closely with community volunteers
• a review of library provision in Cambridge City and the surrounding area
• streamlining the mobile library service
• new support arrangements for Library Access Points
• cutting costs
• increasing income