Library Strategy 2023-2028

St Helens Borough Council is passionate about providing people with opportunities to read for pleasure, to access information and to develop their knowledge and skills while providing safe, secure and welcoming spaces in which to do so.

However, St Helens Borough Council must make significant budget savings in the next year because financial support from central Government has shrunk from £113m a year in 2010 to just £11m this year. Such huge cuts will inevitably have an impact on the way the council delivers many services, libraries included.

While it may not be easy, together we can make the most of this opportunity, meeting the changing demands of residents while of course making sure we provide support to the communities most in need.

The council has a statutory duty to consult on changes to its library service. An extensive 12-week consultation period has taken place from 1st May to 31st July 2023. The consultation consisted of: 

• an open survey which anyone could complete

• an on-street representative consultation where both users and non-users of libraries were asked to contribute

• drop-in consultation sessions at each library giving residents an opportunity to meet council officers

• specific consultation with groups who use libraries to meet