We would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation. We received 52 responses to the questionnaires, and are also are grateful to those who attended the drop-in sessions. Without your valuable input the consultation would not have been possible.
Please read the full consultation report for further information.
Overview
Barnet Council recognises that libraries are a universal and unique service that offers learning opportunities to all from the early years through to retirement. Our ongoing ambition is for libraries to continue to:
- help all children in Barnet to have the best start in life; developing essential languageContinue reading
We would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation. We received 52 responses to the questionnaires, and are also are grateful to those who attended the drop-in sessions. Without your valuable input the consultation would not have been possible.
Please read the full consultation report for further information.
Overview
Barnet Council recognises that libraries are a universal and unique service that offers learning opportunities to all from the early years through to retirement. Our ongoing ambition is for libraries to continue to:
- help all children in Barnet to have the best start in life; developing essential language, literacy and learning skills, and developing a love of reading from an early age
- provide residents with the skills to live independently; to improve their health and wellbeing, and to get a job and progress whilst in work
- bring people together, acting as a focal point for communities and assisting resident groups to support their local area.
Despite economic growth, Barnet Council faces a significant budget gap of £61.5 million between now and 2020. This means that many of the council’s services have to make savings and do things differently to ensure we can continue providing the services we know that residents value and rely on.
After a comprehensive review and extensive consultation with residents and library users we have committed to retaining all 14 of the current libraries, as well as the Home & Mobile and digital library service as part of the new strategy for the Library Service. More information about these wider changes can be found on the website www.barnet.gov.uk/libraries.
During the consultation residents told us that co-locating library services with other services is a good way to tackle some of the financial challenges faced by the library service. An opportunity has now arisen to provide new, modern, fit for purpose library facilities for local residents through re-providing and re-locating East Barnet Library. This is a result of the council’s decision to invest in new leisure facilities at the Victoria Recreation Ground in New Barnet which will replace those offered at Church Farm. This decision also followed extensive consultation with local residents.
As part of the library strategy, East Barnet library will be a community-led Partnership Library from April next year, in a reduced space within the current building. For more information on the wider libraries strategy please click here.
We want to hear your views on the council’s proposal to relocate the community-led Partnership Library to the new premises at the Victoria Recreation Ground in early 2019 when the new leisure facilities are scheduled to be delivered. To find out more about our proposals and the proposed future location, please take the time to read our consultation document.
Why We Are Consulting
We have engaged with residents throughout the process of developing a proposal for the future of Barnet’s library service within a reduced budget.
We want to give everyone – regardless of whether they currently use Barnet libraries or not – the opportunity to have their say on the current proposal before a decision is made and we will take your views on board.
Your views and opinions are important to us and will help us to make the right decisions.