Important changes to Manchester Library Services

The City Council needs to find £109m of savings this year, rising to £170m next year. The library service has to make a contribution and has been faced with some difficult choices.  Between March and June 2011, we carried out a consultation exercise in which a series of cost-saving proposals were made. More than 3,700 people responded and told us their views.  As a result of our own research, combined with the consultation findings, a report was submitted to the City Council's Communities and Neighbourhood Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which met on 22 July 2011, and the City Council's Executive Committee on 27 July 2011. The proposals outlined below were approved at both meetings and will now be put in place over the coming weeks and months.

Opening Hours

A reduction in opening hours across the city from Monday 5 September. All libraries (except City Library at Number One First Street) will be open on Saturdays and no library will be open less than five days per week. Current opening hours at City Library and City Library at One First Street will be unchanged.

See information about revised opening hours

Branch Libraries

The closure of Clayton and Rack House Libraries with effect from 30 September 2011. Library staff will work closely with local community groups to look at opportunities for them to provide and fund a community book exchange service within these communities.

Read more about the closures

The retention of Barlow Moor Library, with its existing opening hours, until July 2012, when its lease will terminate. Library staff will continue to explore any development opportunities for alternative library provision and to work with the community to consider community-led provision in the area.

Relocating Hulme Library in the coming year, to create a new community and cultural services facility in the area.

Miles Platting Library will remain in its current location until a new location is provided in the area.

Mobile Libraries

Complete withdrawal of the street-stop mobile library service, the children's mobile library and the sheltered housing service from 28 October 2011. We will make more information available during the coming weeks.

A new Books to Go service will replace the Home Delivery Service and some parts of the work formerly done by mobile library vehicles. The Books to Go service will be provided by dedicated staff, transport and collections, with an increased use of volunteers. 

Other proposals

A review of library charges and potential income generation opportunities.

Increased use of volunteers to support local and community activities.

Continued exploration of opportunities and potential savings offered by working more closely with other Greater Manchester library authorities.

A full copy of the committee report, providing background information about the library service and the rationale for the proposals listed above, as well as full consultation results and Equality Impact Assessment is available here.