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Barnet library changes information sessions

Author: Nick Griffin

Published:

Barnet Council is holding a series of public information sessions throughout October and November 2016 on upcoming borough-wide changes to library services.

The decision to keep all of the current 14 libraries open was agreed following a comprehensive review and extensive public consultation. In order to keep the libraries open, as well as retaining the home, mobile and digital library services and deliver necessary savings, a number of changes will be made from 1 April 2017. The aim of each session is to inform residents about key changes to their local libraries and the new library service offer.  

As part of the new library service some changes will be made to the buildings with all libraries reducing in size. The information sessions will provide residents and library users with an opportunity to see proposals for how the building will change and to provide feedback ahead of the submission of the planning application. The session will provide information on timelines of building works and any temporary closures required. The same information will also be available to view on the Barnet Council website as the sessions begin.

The new library service will:

  • see all 14 library sites retained, as well as the home, mobile and digital library services
  • have fewer staffed opening hours
  • see an overall increase opening hours at 10 sites through the use of new technology to enable a library to open unstaffed, as trialled at Edgware Library
  • provide volunteering opportunities for individuals and community groups to help run their local library
  • increase income generated through greater commercial usage of library buildings to off-set the level of budget reductions.

Information sessions are taking place at the following libraries:

Library

Date

Time

North Finchley

Tuesday 25 October

10:00 - 12:00

Osidge

Tuesday 25 October

14:00 - 16:00

East Barnet

Wednesday 26 October

14:30 – 16:30

Chipping Barnet

Wednesday 26 October

18:00 – 20:00

Burnt Oak

Thursday 3 November

14:00 – 16:00

Hendon

Thursday 3 November

18:00 – 20:00

Edgware

Friday 4 November

11:00 – 13:00

Mill Hill

Friday 4 November

15:00 – 17:00

South Friern

Wednesday 9 November

11:00 - 13:00

East Finchley

Wednesday 9 November

18:00 – 20:00

Golders Green

Thursday 10 November

12:00 - 14:00

Childs Hill

Thursday 10 November

16:00 – 18:00

Councillor Reuben Thompstone, the Chair of the Children, Educations, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee, said:

“Libraries are at the heart of our communities in Barnet and the public consultation demonstrated a clear desire to keep all of our libraries open. We have listened to those who live, work and study in the borough throughout the process and have agreed plans that will enable us to deliver a cost effective, modern service that retains all 14 libraries, including building two brand new sites, and maintain the mobile and digital services. These information sessions have been designed to give the public an opportunity to find out how their local library will be changing.”

More information on the sessions and changes to library services can be found on the Barnet website