A council’s new plans commit to keeping libraries

A council says its new library strategy ensures they remains at the heart of the community.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said access to libraries is so important to so many people.

Last year, more than 800,000 items were borrowed across the council’s 24 libraries, which is about one every 39 seconds and highlights the demand for the service.

Councillor Andy Martin said: “Libraries are about so much more than books – they play a crucial role in our society and are a place of learning, culture and community.”

The new strategy will continue to provide a flexible service to meet the needs of residents and promises to retain in-person access across all libraries.

It also outlines the planned implementation of open access technology, with grant funding anticipated to allow residents to access library resources at a time that is convenient to them.

The proposal places greater emphasis on using available space for wider use by making four new community hubs in Charminster, Hamworthy, Southbourne and Rossmore.

Martin said: “This is an important new chapter for our libraries – keeping them accessible to our residents is the right thing to do and we are proud to provide that guarantee.

“This strategy is a clear statement of ambition and belief: recognising the importance of investing in libraries even in difficult times.”

“I encourage everyone to get behind their local library, make use of the community spaces on offer, and ensure BCP’s libraries continue to go from strength to strength,” he added.

BCP Council’s cabinet approved the library strategy on 29 October and will progress to full council at a later date for final determination.