New library may have hours cut to save money
A NEW flagship library building could have its opening hours cut even before the builders have moved off site as part of a cost saving which could lead to compulsory staff redundancies.
Barnsley Council’s libraries service needs to save more than £160,000 and proposals have been drawn up which could see most of the district’s network of public libraries getting their opening hours cut – with job cuts as a consequence.
Libraries which are used as a home for other activities and get extra funding from elsewhere would escape the cutbacks.
Barnsley Council says numbers of people borrowing library books has been falling in recent years and public consultations about the future of its branches have been ongoing since 2016.
Councillors on the Cabinet are now being asked to approve a further round of consultations over plans which would see hours reduced and jobs lost.
The move would see the Central Library in the town centre have its opening hours cut to 47 per week, losing two-and-a-half hours. The facility is currently housed in a temporary building on Wellington Street and is to be replaced by the Lightbox, a futuristic £4m building on May Day Green in the autumn.
Reduced opening hours at other branches would be more significant, with only those at Cudworth, Penistone and Grimethorpe escaping reduced opening hours.
Many venues which open for about 45 hours a week currently would see their hours drop to 37 if the changes were implemented, with those opening 31 hours a week reduced to 24.
Overall, the council calculates that the savings will be in excess of £207,000, more than the target for savings.
The aim would be to minimise compulsory redundancies through moving staff to fill vacancies and through voluntary early retirement.