Libraries

Devon’s libraries are to be run by a new organisation owned by staff and the community.

Council chiefs today agreed that Libraries Unlimited, the new ‘public service mutual’ set up by the Council, will take over the library service in April 2016.

The move is set to secure the future of all 50 of the County’s libraries and save the authority a further £1.5 million in addition to the £3 million it has already saved from its library service budget over the past three years.

The County Council will remain responsible for the library service, but will commission the...

Libraries across Devon are taking part in a national initiative to help people learn new digital skills in order to support economic growth and improve wellbeing.

According to a recent report by the House of Lords, the UK is in danger of falling behind in its digital skills capabilities, which could cost the economy around £2 billion.

In response The Society of Chief Libraries (SCL) and the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians have joined forces to launch ‘The Universal Learning Offer’.

Bringing together hundreds of unique self-directed learning...

The creation of a new independent organisation to run Devon’s libraries could be given the green light next week.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet will consider final plans to establish a new ‘public service mutual’, which will run the library service from 1 April 2016.

The County Council will remain responsible for the library service, but will commission the delivery of the service from the new organisation, which will be owned by library staff and the community and managed by a Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.

The new organisation’s name will be Libraries...

Rail enthusiasts now have better access to one of the largest collections of railway resources in the country thanks to Devon County Council’s Library Service and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Devon Libraries received a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to improve access to their Railway Studies Collection which is housed at the Passmore Edwards Centre in Newton Abbot.

An essential resource for anyone interested in Britain’s railways, it boasts over 25,000 books, pamphlets, maps, periodicals and timetables and almost 60,000 images.

New signage designed...

Devon County Council’s flagship Exeter Library has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The library, which recently underwent a multimillion pound refurbishment, is one of only six from across the UK to be selected for the coveted Library of the Year accolade at the forthcoming Bookseller Industry Awards.

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for the Library Service, said: “We have invested a huge amount of money in transforming Exeter Library into a new multi-million pound resource for information, learning and culture at the...

Devon County Council will move forward with plans to set up a new independent organisation to run the county’s libraries.

Councillors have agreed proposals to establish a community-owned ‘mutual’ which would be commissioned by the County Council to run the library service on their behalf.

It means that, despite the authority facing a £50 million reduction in its funding in the next financial year, all of the County’s libraries would remain open and continue to be managed by professional library staff.

As well as the considerable budget savings, creating a new...

Plans to set up a new independent organisation to run Devon’s libraries have been unveiled.

The new community-owned 'mutual' would be commissioned by Devon County Council to run the library service on its behalf.

Similar models are successfully running library services in other parts of the country and saving council taxpayers' money.

The authority is facing a £50 million reduction in its funding in the next financial year.

It has already shaved £3 million off its library service budget over the past three years, and aims to save a further £1.5 million by...

Devon County Council is encouraging residents to ‘get connected’ with their local library next week as part of National Libraries Day (Saturday 7 February).

Libraries across Devon will be asking their users to provide their email address and mobile phone number so they can get in touch with information about their loans more easily and keep them up to date with news, as well as save the council money.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service, explains:

“We currently spend around £6,000 on postage every...

The latest Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme will be launched across Devon’s libraries on 2 February, to support people with dementia and their carers.

The scheme, which already helps over 275,000 people across the country with common mental health conditions feel better through self-help reading, is now turning its attention to the enormous need for quality-assured support for dementia care in the UK.

The national Books on Prescription scheme supports people with book-based therapy for common mental health conditions, through local libraries. It has played an...

Devon County Council’s Library Service has been upheld as an example of good practice in a national report on how England’s libraries could work best in the future.

Commissioned by the Department for Culture Media & Sport, the independent report highlights how the County Council has been exploring ways in which innovation can maximise the potential of its libraries to support happy, vibrant communities.

Over the past four years the Council has successfully expanded the role of Devon’s libraries into ‘community hubs’ providing a greater range of activities; extending...