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Cash-strapped council could shut three libraries

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporting Service
George Carden
BBC News, Brighton
George Carden/BBC The Jubilee Library in Brighton which is a large 4 storeyed building with glass panels. It has a big library sign on the front and has a large pedestrian square at the frontGeorge Carden/BBC
The Jubilee Library in Brighton could have its hours reduced as part of cuts to council services

Three libraries in Brighton and Hove could close as part of efforts to address the council's £16m budget shortfall.

Brighton & Hove City Council currently spends £3.7m a year on libraries, a council report says, and the cuts would save the authority £250,000 over the next two years.

Two of the city's main libraries, The Jubilee Library and Carnegie Library, could also have their opening hours reduced to save £69,000.

But people in Brighton have said it is a "shame" that the council may have to resort to cutting libraries and reducing opening hours.

The report, which the council will discuss on Tuesday, has not identified which libraries would close but said at least 10 libraries would stay open with a "geographic spread" across the city.

Resident Becky Netley said: "It's such a community hub for people, whether they're new mums looking for somewhere to go with their babies, people who are working there, or those wanting to enjoy a good book.

She said it was "sad for those in the community who use it".

George Carden/BBC Becky Netley stood by the entrance to the glass walled Jubilee Library in Brighton. A man is walking out of the library. Becky is wearing a navy blue jacket and large green and white chequered scarf. George Carden/BBC
Becky Netley said libraries were valuable for mothers to bring their children to

Robert Pay, who was visiting the Jubilee Library, said: "It's not fair on anybody, including the young ones and old ones.

"[The library] is full of people, so why cut the hours down?"

Valerie Ritchie said: "Probably cutting a couple of hours at the end of the day is a good idea, but I wouldn't be cutting it more than a couple of hours."

The report said: "A range of mitigations have been identified to offset the impact of reductions in public library services."

These included increasing the use of Libraries Extra, which enables customers to access libraries when they are unstaffed, and boosting online services and the home delivery of books.

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