Ten Staffordshire libraries receive share of £5m libraries investment

Staffordshire County Council is investing £5m over the next five years to modernise buildings and improve public areas.

More than 25 of Staffordshire’s 43 libraries are now community-managed services, where day to day running is carried out by a community group while the county council remains responsible for providing books, other stock and IT services and paying utility and maintenance costs. The scheme sparked concerns in some communities when it was first proposed more than a decade ago, but it has been hailed for keeping libraries open across the county and providing community meeting space and facilities.

At the latest Economy, Infrastructure and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting (February 27), members were given details of the authority’s Libraries Investment Plan. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member for communities and culture, said:

“Our 43 libraries are cornerstones of their communities, which is why we have always maintained, invested in and renewed them.

“Not only they are a place of learning, enjoyment and study, but a place where people can come together to meet, or to access other services. We know how much they are valued, so I am delighted that we are able to invest in all the county council-managed libraries that have not been refurbished in recent years.”

Libraries and arts manager Sue Ball, speaking at the meeting said: “It’s really important we listen to people and understand how they use libraries, and how they and their families will use libraries in the future. Each library refurbishment we carry out starts with local engagement to make sure the design meets the needs of local people.

“People have told us they want bright, light and airy spaces. They want the spaces to be flexible to be able to accommodate activities and events, but they also want those spaces to enable them to be able to sit and read, and to be quiet so they can study.

“They want opportunities for digital connectivity, so people can bring their own devices and plug them in. And they also want inspiring children’s areas that will encourage that love of reading and exploration of books.

“Funding will be used to modernise county council libraries that have not had a refit since 2015. During the period of refurbishment we will offer a temporary library facility so each community has a library offer.

“There is £625,377 for our community-managed libraries and an additional £300,000 will be allocated from the libraries and arts budget to the community-managed libraries. Each community-managed library will be invited to submit an application for spending up to £30,000 on the public-facing areas of their libraries.”

Committee members praised the improvements made to library services across the county in recent years, such as Tamworth’s facilities which committee chair Tina Clements said she was “blown away” by. But they also questioned the level of support given to the county’s 27 community-managed libraries in comparison to the 16 council-run services.

Councillor Ross Ward said: “I’ve got two fantastic community-managed libraries in my division – Werrington and Blythe Bridge – which are amazing places to go to. Werrington feels like it is ready for some capital investment – can we have some reassurance there is a programme that follows the community-led libraries?

“Also, with the £30,000 the community-managed libraries can apply for, I presume they’re all aware of this and are well-educated in how to go about the applications. Is that £30,000 commensurate with a similar level of investment in the county-run libraries, or are they potentially the less well-looked after members of the library family?

Councillor David Smith said: “I commend the recommendations. You can’t have a meeting like this without saying what a fantastic job Lichfield Library is

“I would raise the matter of Shenstone Library – I do accept we have a £30,000 bid they can make. But we do seem to look at community libraries as being second citizens to the mainstream libraries.

“If you look at what the community libraries are achieving, they’re doing everything the main libraries are doing but in a slightly smaller way. I think we tend to promote our main libraries at the expense of community libraries and it seems as if there are two levels of library which perhaps we ought to overcome.”

Ms Ball responded: “What we are trying to aim for is to integrate the library offer. We support our community-managed libraries with their book stocks, IT support and with building maintenance work.

“Strategic property are keen to carry out any maintenance work, so the investment funding will be used on the public areas of the library. There might be parts of a new roof or heating system or new lighting.

“We recognise our community-managed libraries and partners we work with to deliver those can access funding that, as a county council, we may not be able to access. We also have a support mechanism around them in terms of staffing and we encourage them to make use of our library social media and our county newsletter.

“We support them with the summer reading challenge and buy their core materials for them. If they want to buy anything extra they can do that.”

County council-managed libraries in line for refurbishment in the coming years and total costs

2025

Leek Library – £437,000 (£320,000 will be county council investment and £117,000 from the Levelling Up Fund)

2025/26

Stafford Library Multi-Sensory Room- £30,000

Stone Library – £233,496

2026/27

Biddulph Library – £248,217

Perton Library – £378,797

Kidsgrove Library – £220,801

2027/28

Rugeley Library – £358,978

Burntwood Library – £712,726

2028/29

Cannock Library – £662,341

Uttoxeter Library- £462,455