Cabinet set to recommend new library strategy

Cabinet is set to recommend the report to full council at their meeting on 23 November.

The library strategy will replace the previous 2012 strategy and run from 2023 to 2028. The role of the library has developed significantly since 2012 and the strategy aims to meet the ambition of providing a forward-thinking service to residents of Gloucestershire.

It will maintain its core service of providing free access to a wide range of books and information, which has been extended to include an extensive catalogue of e-books that can be accessed from your own home.

The draft strategy sets out how services will continue to develop to meet changing demands and covers five key themes, including creativity, climate and the community.

The response to the climate emergency is a key area outlined in the draft strategy. Libraries will work with partners to encourage wildlife and tree planting in library gardens, look to install electric vehicle charge points in library car parks, promote recycling opportunities and raise awareness of initiatives to help the environment.

A 12-week public consultation was undertaken to allow residents, students and workers in the county to have their say on the strategy, and 88.8 per cent of respondents rated the strategy as either excellent or good.

Cllr Dave Norman, Cabinet member responsible for libraries at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I am delighted that our new library strategy received such positive feedback from our residents.

“We have taken their comments on-board to help shape the updated strategy, which sets out the ambitions of the service over the next five years.

“Our library service has evolved a lot over the last few years, but libraries remain at the heart of our communities and we want to ensure this continues.”