Libraries in Sandwell to have opening hours extended after grant awarded

According to a cabinet document, however, the Labour-led council claims it will be reviewing staff hours to deliver ‘quality services’ for the borough.

Arts Council England, a government-funded body dedicated to literary arts and culture, will award Sandwell council £495,000 from its Libraries Improvement Fund.

Up to £247,500 will be paid at the start of the project this month. A further £198,000 will be granted in November 2022 and the remainder – £49,500 – by June 2023.

The money will be used to implement ‘Library+’ – Sandwell council’s own version of unstaffed libraries. Residents will be able to access their local library using their library card and a private PIN number, according to a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday .

Libraries in Sandwell, including Bleakhouse, Brandhall, Langley and Rounds Green – all in Oldbury – Cradley Heath and Oakham in Rowley Regis, Great Bridge in Tipton, Hill Top in Wednesbury, and Great Barr and Stone Cross in West Bromwich, will be receiving funds to install the technology.

But buried in the document were claims that some library staff may leave without a ‘severe impact’ on services. It stated: “Library+ in Sandwell will mean that residents can access their local library from approx. 8am until 10pm (dependent on library) and staffed hours will remain as advertised for now.

“We will however, take the opportunity to review staffed hours to ensure that staff are on site at the most appropriate times and delivering quality services and activities e.g. story times or homework support.

“It will also mean that staff who have expressed an interest in leaving the service via the planned leavers scheme may be able to do so without having a severe impact on service delivery.”

In the meeting, cabinet members discussed how users will need to sign up to a ‘robust membership agreement’ and take part in a short induction before using the service.

The authority hopes to extend opening hours from 8am – 10pm as a result of unstaffed libraries. People will have access to books, computers, study space and allow groups to meet at times convenient to them.

Thimblemill Library user Claire MacRorie said: “It’s absolutely brilliant for us shift workers especially when we cycle past here every day when we go to work. So when we come back from work, we can call in because we’ll now have the pass to use outside of working hours.”

Amie Byrne from ASIRT charity said: “We run a weekly club, we’ve been here for four years running our homework club. Library+ has enabled us to have a little bit more independence so we’re able to get in and out the library at times that suit us and the families we work with, so we are able to use the space whenever we need to.”

It comes as the council submitted an expression of interest in September last year to the Arts Council to seek funding for their library and archive services.

A pilot was launched last month at Thimblemill Library, in Smethwick. Opening hours increased from 42 to 92 hours – a 119 per cent increase, according to the council.

Councillor Danny Millard, and cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: “I went to a launch at [Thimblemill Library]. It was fantastic, there was someone from the Arts Council there saying: ‘This is great, we want more libraries in funding’. We want people coming back to our libraries.

“I spoke to several community groups there who were really positive that they can come along, access the building, and get the community out of their houses back into the library and community.”

Councillor Bob Piper said: “There is no community centre in my ward, but the library is our community centre. They use the library from 8am – 10pm for things, not just as an old-fashioned library with books, but with community groups, people working on computers who can’t afford or access broadband at home. This is a really good project.”