Yesterday, my cabinet colleagues and I made a difficult but also decisive step towards a bright future for our library services by confirming that Suffolk County Council will bring Suffolk’s library service back under its care and control. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our libraries, ensuring they remain at the heart of our communities for years to come. As part of this decision, every library will remain open, with current opening hours maintained and provide security and certainty for front line staff.
Libraries are much more than places to borrow books—they are at the heart of our communities. They provide spaces for learning, connection, and support, where people can access resources to improve their lives. By keeping all 45 libraries open, we are reaffirming our commitment to making these community spaces even more relevant and accessible to all.
This move is not just about preserving the service we have; it’s about making libraries even more integral to the services we offer. While they already provide excellent spaces for reading and community engagement, we want to expand their role and ensure they become vital access points for a wide range of public services. For instance, we envision libraries offering easier access to information and advice on Adult Social Care, as well as non-clinical services like Feel Good Suffolk. We want to provide a seamless experience for residents looking for health and social care information, all within the welcoming, familiar setting of their local library. Additionally, we will enhance the support library staff can offer, equipping them with the tools and training to better guide residents to the services they need.
We also want to make libraries even more accessible for everyday services. For example, libraries could become points for reporting highways issues such as potholes or blocked drains, ensuring that residents can quickly access the help they need in a convenient location. This approach reflects our broader vision of libraries as multi-functional spaces that bring essential public services together under one roof. Additionally, as part of our commitment to digital inclusion, libraries will continue to play a crucial role in supporting residents with IT skills, online support, and access to the digital world, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.
In addition to these improvements, we are investing in the physical infrastructure of our libraries to ensure they are well-equipped for the future. We are committing £200,000 to mobile libraries, ensuring that rural communities continue to have access to library services, and £157,000 to refresh book stocks and replace outdated public computers.
A key part of this transition is the commitment we’ve made to our library staff. They have been the heart of Suffolk’s libraries, delivering excellent services to residents, day in and day out. We want to offer our front-line library staff job security and career stability as we bring the service back under council control. Their expertise and dedication will continue to be essential as we work together to build on the strong foundation they’ve already established. We are excited to welcome them back into the family of the council and support them in delivering even better services to our communities.
We are equally committed to working closely with our volunteers and the Friends of Libraries groups. Their efforts have been instrumental in keeping library services running smoothly and ensuring that libraries remain connected to the communities they serve. As we move forward, we will continue to work alongside them, exploring new opportunities for collaboration and ensuring their ongoing involvement in the future of our libraries.
We are grateful to the team at Suffolk Libraries for their hard work and dedication over the past 12 years. Their efforts have made a positive impact on our communities, and we will continue to work together to ensure the smooth continuation of library services during the transition period.
The official transition of library services back to Suffolk County Council will take place on 1 June 2025. During this transition, our focus will be on maintaining the high standard of services that residents rely on while also looking ahead to the improvements and expansions we want to bring to these vital community hubs.
