As well as continuing to deliver the same rich and impressive community library services, the council plans to:
- Keep all 45 libraries open
- Create job security for all frontline staff
- Secure a sustainable future for all 45 libraries across the county
In addition, the council sees opportunities to make it easier for residents to access other council services under one roof, including:
- Offering easier access to information and advice around Adult Social Care services and non-clinical services such as Feel Good Suffolk. This includes exploring the opportunity to bring health and social care information together via digital kiosks, as well as boosting the support that library staff can give
- Exploring further integration of Family Hub activities into libraries
- Setting up convenient points for reporting highways issues like potholes or blocked drains
- Expanding help and guidance for digital inclusion across the county, including how to access online support and providing IT skills
- Building on existing services such as local banking hubs, Post Offices and package collection points
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality at Suffolk County Council, said:
“Bringing the Suffolk Library Service in-house not only ensures that all 45 libraries remain open, with no reduction in hours, but also creates significant opportunities for us to modernise and enhance the service.
“By integrating the library service into the council, we will be able to deliver more cohesive and accessible public services, connecting residents with vital health and social support.
“These library spaces will continue to serve as community hubs, providing seamless integration with other public services and ensuring that Suffolk's residents can access the help they need, when they need it.
“This is a positive move for Suffolk’s communities and the future of our libraries.”
The council’s proposal for the library services also includes over £350,000 of new investments, including new mobile library vehicles, public computers and books. These upgrades would improve access to services, particularly for those in more remote areas and enhance the library service’s capacity to offer digital services, virtual learning opportunities, and public health programmes.
Important information won’t be made public following decision by Suffolk Libraries
The council’s vision for the library service has been outlined in a Cabinet paper published yesterday (10 March 2025).
Suffolk County Council has been in negotiations with Suffolk Libraries to secure their agreement to publish information, provided by Suffolk Libraries, that has led to Suffolk County Council having serious concerns about the financial viability and strategic direction of the organisation.
Suffolk Libraries has refused Suffolk County Council’s requests to publish the information, meaning that when councillors consider the report on 18 March, part of the meeting will have to be held in private - with the press and public excluded from the council chamber and the live video stream of the meeting temporarily suspended. This is highly unusual for the county council and at odds with its approach to transparent, open and honest conversations.
Speaking about the restricted information in the report, Cllr Faircloth-Mutton added:
“It is disappointing that the public won’t get to hear the full story and be privy to all the facts.
“The irony is not lost on us that in an open letter, Suffolk Libraries invited us to share our evidence, but our attempts to do so publicly have been denied.”
In reply to Suffolk Libraries open letter dated 5 March, Suffolk County Council has today published an open reply but has been forced to redact some of the information due to Suffolk Libraries’ refusal to allow publication.
If the proposals are agreed on 18 March, the library service and frontline staff would return to the care and control of Suffolk County Council from 1 June 2025 - providing opportunities for greater collaboration with the council. This move would create a more cohesive approach to delivering essential public services and the libraries would be better positioned to support a wide range of community initiatives.
The library service has long benefitted from the dedication of its 1,250 volunteers and Suffolk County Council is committed to expanding these opportunities, with volunteers shaping the future of services. The council will also enhance partnerships with voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations to further integrate libraries into local communities.
You can read the Cabinet papers here.
