Opening hours cut at Sandwell libraries in bid to save £700k

Sandwell Council has vowed to keep every site open amid widespread budget cuts but says it needs to reduce costs by next year.

Nineteen libraries are affected by the move, with the revised hours dependant on how busy the branches are during the day.

Libraries are expected to lose around three hours a day on average from this week.

Bosses are reducing opening times at every library in the borough except Central Library in West Bromwich.

Hours have also been reduced at the Community History and Archive Service at Smethwick.

Sandwell Councillor Syeda Khatun, whose department is in charge of libraries, said the reduction has been made to help balance budgets

"We are reducing opening hours at all libraries, part from Central Library at West Bromwich which is our busiest, in order to meet our budget reduction targets for 2016/17," she said.

"We have not closed any libraries in Sandwell but we do have to find ways of reducing costs.

"The reduction in the number of hours varies from library to library, and is based on the relative business of each library and the hours it opens.

"We have undertaken consultation with local ward members, friends groups, partners, customers and staff to ensure that we reduce hours at the quietest times, to impact on the fewest people.

"Libraries in Sandwell allow community organisations to use libraries outside of advertised openings hours, to ensure our buildings continue to well-used.

"All the libraries have been advertising the new opening hours to their customers over the past month."

New opening hours have already been introduced at Great Bridge library and the Community History and Archive Service at Smethwick on January 4.

Dr Terry Daniels, who is chairman of the Friends of Sandwell Archives group, had called the reduction in hours at the facility a 'shame' but said it would help safeguard the service.

Tightened budgets have forced the council to bring in an increase in council tax for the first time in six years in the borough.

Council tax will rise by 1.99 per cent in line with government recommendations along with a further two per cent rise to deliver adult social care services.