Libraries survey sees 'emerging themes' for future

More than 25,000 people have taken part in a major public consultation into the future of Devon's libraries.

Devon County Council announced in 2025 it was considering cuts to opening hours, getting more volunteers involved in running libraries and allowing access to libraries without staff present.

The council has now said it is not making "definitive conclusions" but announced some "emerging themes", which could include changes to opening hours, more volunteer recruitment and working with parish councils to manage libraries.

It added there would be a full formal response to the consultation prepared to be discussed by cabinet members in May.

The consultation into the service, run by charity Libraries Unlimited, ran from 1 December 2025 until 22 February.

The council said more than half of the people who responded said changes to opening hours would affect the frequency of their visits.

More than 6,000 people said they would be interested in volunteering, with 70% in favour of extending opening hours - possibly through technology which allowed members access to libraries outside of staffed opening hours.

The report said there was "widespread concern" that "reducing staffed hours would undermine the role of libraries as safe community spaces".

It also noted "strong opposition to reductions in opening hours, particularly where this would affect children, older residents and those without transport".

The report will be discussed on Wednesday at a special scrutiny committee meeting.

The council had been looking at an "area-based opening strategy" with "at least one library in an area" open during the day throughout the week, but there may now be a review of the need for that strategy.

It said future plans may include new technology to allow access to libraries outside opening hours and working with town or parish councils and community organisations to develop "partnership-managed libraries".

In setting the budget for 2026/27, the county council reversed a proposed £650,000 saving and established a "transformation fund" of £1m to manage the changes.

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