Surrey Aims to ‘Breathe New Life’ Into County’s 52 Public Libraries

Published on: 28 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 29 Nov, 2019

Guildford Library in North Street.

Fresh details have emerged about the SCC plan for our libraries. Consequently, we have revised our original story (November 24).

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

The county council is planning to revamp Surrey’s 52 public libraries and are inviting local communities to work closely with them over 12 to 18 months to update and expand the services available.

“Libraries aren’t just bricks and mortar,” said Dave Hill, county director of Children, Families, Lifelong learning and Culture. “They offer a service to a community and that service will work best when it’s shaped in collaboration with that community.

“But the number of people visiting libraries simply to borrow books is falling and we know that events and activities in libraries attract more people. Our plans are to work with communities, to shape a new library service that works for them.

“That will help halt this decline and breathe new life into our libraries. We don’t want to stop the provision of library services. We might move locations and we might shape things differently but ultimately we want to keep the library services accessible.”

Surrey’s libraries are to be revamped.

The plan includes putting libraries into three categories, library plus where more services are offered, library, and community-led libraries which are smaller and run by local volunteers. here will be a greater focus on community-led libraries.

Cllr Tim Oliver

Council leader Tim Oliver told the cabinet (November 26) that changes will not affect staffing numbers. “The more we can get libraries into community buildings the better,” he said. “I would like to expand the number of volunteers to help support the team in delivering this service.”

Council data shows there are 320,000 registered members and 37.3% of Surrey residents have used a library in the past year. Although there was a decline in adults borrowing books, the number of children accessing materials increased.

In 2017/18, about 5.15 million books were issued in Surrey and 3.24 million visits were recorded. The council also wants communities to help them explore ways of maximising use of technology to ensure the library service is fit for the future.

Guildford library entrance.

Digital swipe cards could extend opening hours, giving early-morning and after-work library access to suit working people. Click and collect services could ensure users of smaller library spaces still have access to the full range of books and can collect and return them at convenient places.

Some of Surrey’s largest libraries will offer the library plus service, locating other valuable services there so customers can access those.

Many other libraries will stay in their present locations, but with increased focus on offering services and activities which attract new users.

Cllr Mark Nuti said: “Change is always very difficult for a lot of people to accept. Not so long ago the libraries that would not have been performing would have just been closed and we would have just made the saving.

“But we haven’t done that. We’ve looked at the library service as a whole, and we are trying to bring it into the 21st century.

“What we are saying to people is ‘You can be a part of that decision-making process’.”

The council will engage with local communities across each district and borough to continue to explore relocating some less well-used and smaller libraries to community spaces, ensuring they provide the services and activities the community needs.

Ten libraries in Surrey are already run and managed successfully by community partners with support from library staff and dedicated volunteers. Embracing working with communities will help bring them closer to how their services are developed and enable them to influence the way they’re delivered.

As well as the 52 libraries, Surrey has an online library service, Library Direct to housebound readers and library services to four prisons.

There are 10 main town libraries, 18 town libraries, 14 community libraries and the 10 CPLs (community-partnered libraries).