Devon's libraries are an 'outlier' as consultation agreed which could see community groups asked to help out
A 12-week consultation is due to start in November
A new report's calling Devon's libraries an "outlier" - as councillors agree to consult on asking volunteers to help run some sites.
Devon currently spends £8.82 per person on its library service, across 50 sites with a 'population per Library' of 16,526.
Cornwall Council, spends just £2.63 across the four sites it operates and lets community groups run 27 other sites, with a 'population per Library' of 15,360.
The consultation could start within weeks, after the vote by Devon County Council's cabinet. There are currently 113,661 active users across Devon’s libraries, with children (28%) being the most 'engaged' group.
Around 1-million books are borrowed digitially in Devon each year, whilst physical book borrowing still remains 22 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 states that 'there is a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service that should be tailored to the community, focusing on local needs and is delivered within the budget available'.
Exeter shows the highest library use, 18 per cent, with Torridge and Teignbridge lowest at 11 per cent.
Deputy leader Cllr Paul Arnott told the meeting: "We are at a time of culutral danger - losing our discourse through artificial intelliegnce.
"To take our libraries away, that would be to take away one of the hallmarks of democracy."
Leader Julian Brazil added "I think our libraries are safe, and we are working in a very mature way with Libraries Unlimited."
We all know how important they are and I think this is the opportunity to move the service forward - but we are under cost pressures."
"The fact that Cornwall can do this at less than a third of the cost of Devon I think there are definitely lessons to be learnt."
In November 2023, Devon's mobile library service was cut over cost concerns
The report reads: "Overall, Devon has become something of an outlier nationally in the scale and delivery of its current statutory library offer, particularly in its comparatively limited use of direct community involvement and delivery.
"However, Devon's libraries are at the heart of most communities and already utilise volunteering of local people, the input of Friends groups, and support from local networks. Devon can build on this and now has an opportunity to redevelop a needs-led future library service, informed by residents and users alongside the learning and delivery of other councils and communities."
"As an example, Devon has the highest number of directly funded libraries we reviewed. Cornwall has the lowest cost per head, due to its focus on community managed libraries. The models of commissioning libraries are also evolving nationally too, for example earlier this year, Suffolk County Council took the decision to bring the service back in house after 12 years of outsourcing."
It adds: "The council’s financial position continues to face increasing pressure, and substantial savings and demand management will be required over the medium term.
"This will have a direct impact on how services are delivered, and will require difficult decisions, innovation, and a collective focus on prioritising resources to protect the most critical outcomes for our communities."
The 12 week consultation will look to include
• Proposals for changes to statutory opening hours
• Options for extending opening hours through use of volunteers, technology and other funding streams when the library is unstaffed
• Proposals for the development of Community Hubs where community organisations take control of their library supported by a grant from the
The council notes that local government, acorss Devon, could soon be reorganised and adds: "The Council will be submitting its proposal on the future of Local Government in Devon in November of this year. The Government’s published timetable for councils to receive feedback and a decision on the structure of Councils in Devon is expected by the summer of 2026, at which point it should be clearer what impact the changes will have on services and contracts."