Cabinet considers the future for libraries
TWO West Lancashire libraries could be saved under latest council plans.
Among the libraries being considered to reopen are Parbold and Thornton.
The plans are set to be considered by Lancashire County Council’s cabinet.
This comes after the cabinet agreed plans for the phased reopening of 14 libraries last month, nine of which will be run by the county council and the remaining five as independent community libraries.
Parbold and Thornton were among 12 other libraries about which decisions were deferred to allow time for further consideration.
A report to the cabinet meeting today (Thursday, August 10) states that the council had been considering proposals to transfer ownership of the two libraries to local groups under the provisions of the Community Asset Transfer policy.
But both groups have since indicated that they would prefer the county council to operate a library service rather than continue with an asset transfer.
It is now proposed to add the two libraries to those which will reopen between November 2017 and April 2018.
The planned reopenings come after 26 of the council’s original 73 libraries were closed under the previous administration.
County councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “Libraries are a vital service at the heart of our communities, offering free access to books and information, as well as being a place where communities can get together.
“We are grateful to all the voluntary and community groups who have and continue to commit time and resources into the library service and its future development. We want to improve people’s access to libraries as soon as we can, and I am pleased that cabinet will now consider adding Parbold and Thornton libraries to those we will reopen in the coming months.”