Staff cuts, a reduction in opening hours and the future of the mobile library service will be considered by councillors as they wrestle with how to manage a shortfall of more than £700,000 a year in the running costs of Suffolk's libraries.
In November last year Suffolk Library Service identified a potential deficit in its budget of £60,000 per month, or £720,000 per year.
On Tuesday, May 16, councillors from Suffolk County Council will decide on how to reduce the costs of maintaining the service without taking the libraries away from the residents.
The deficit has been contributed to by a post-Covid shift in the way people and organisations use the buildings and services, as well as an increase in staff pay and increased running costs.
To increase income some libraries across Suffolk may share the space with community services, including high street banks.
Even though commercial partnerships are also on the table, those opportunities are not large enough to manage the cost pressures.
The council made a commitment to continue to support the SLS and is looking for possibilities to co-locate libraries with children's centres, leisure providers and cafes where appropriate.
There are two options that will be taken into consideration, including reducing the offer and focusing on delivering the service within the current £5.9 million per annum budget, which would require changes including a reduction in opening hours and a reconsideration of the mobile library offer, cuts in staff, or maintaining library service at its current level and creating a cost pressure for the county council.
Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries, said that the organisation has a "very positive and supportive relationship" with the council and is grateful for the proposed additional funding.
He added: "Our direct library costs have significantly increased over the last few years and the pandemic impacted our ongoing fundraising and income generation from room hire, etc.
"We have already made significant cost savings and efficiencies over the past ten years and have increased our efforts to raise money to sustain and improve the library service – including this year’s PAWS-itivity art sculpture event."
Cllr Bobby Bennett, cabinet member for equality and communities, said: "We recognise the important role that libraries play in the community, they offer so much more than just books; providing community spaces which bring people together, to learn, socialise, read and take part in activities.
"We have worked closely with Suffolk Libraries to understand the financial challenges they are facing. We are proud of the work Suffolk libraries do, which is recognised nationally, and we are committed to supporting the service to maintain this high standard."
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