Background – Library Service Strategy 2024 to 2029 consultation
Consultation closed: 23 June 2024
Consultation opened: 29 April 2024
This new Library Services Strategy will shape our services around local need and our strategic priorities. It will ensure that we will deliver a well-governed, vibrant, high quality, locally relevant and sustainable library service and meet our statutory duty to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service in line with the requirements of the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act. This includes books and access to digital resources, quiet spaces for study, activities for all ages, health and wellbeing support and digital inclusion support.
Our library service comprises twelve council-run libraries, one community managed library, a 24/7 online library service, a home library service, which delivers services to housebound residents and an Arts and Culture Team. The libraries can be categorised based on size, facilities and opening hours into main libraries, area libraries, community libraries and library access points. Main and area libraries have the longest opening hours.
Main libraries
- Dunstable: open 69 hours per week
- Leighton Buzzard: open 43 hours per week
Area libraries
- Biggleswade: open 43 hours per week
- Flitwick: open 43 hours per week
- Houghton Regis: open 43 hours per week
- Sandy: open 43 hours per week
- Shefford: open 43 hours per week
Community libraries
- Ampthill: open 27 hours per week
- Barton-le-Clay: open 27 hours per week
- Potton: open 27 hours per week
- Stotfold: open 27 hours per week
- Toddington: open 27 hours per week
Library access point
- Arlesey Resource Centre
Other services
- Home Library Service
- Online Library Service
- Arts and Culture Team
Central Bedfordshire libraries support local communities by:
- acting as information hubs with a diverse stock of physical and online resources
- providing educational support with a range of resources for learning
- supporting health needs by offering a wide range of health information
- providing community spaces where people can come together to enjoy events and activities
We provide a consistent core offer across all libraries to enable people to live active, healthy and independent lives. This consists of:
- advice and guidance from knowledgeable, trained staff.
- free access to a wide range of books and reading material
- free 24/7 access to online library resources, including a range of eBooks, e-magazines, e-newspapers, and other materials
- request service
- free public Wi-Fi and access to the internet
- printing, scanning, and photocopying
- support to enable everyone to access digital services
- health and wellbeing activities
- cultural activities
- free ‘Home Library Service’ if people are unable to get to a library building because of age, disability, or ill health
- initiatives that promote independence and healthy lifestyles (e.g. Good Afternoon clubs and Reading Friends Groups)
- self-service health-check kiosks at Flitwick and Dunstable Libraries
- events/clubs/activities to support children’s reading and development
- access to warm/cool spaces
We aim to ensure the service:
- delivers a high-quality experience for users
- focuses on improving digital and online services
- plans and provides library services based on evidence and need
- develops high quality partnerships and opportunities of co-location of services
- actively seeks investment to improve facilities and service delivery
- aims to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged
Libraries are acknowledged as an important part of our delivery of cultural activity with a range of arts and cultural activities delivered within and through libraries. This area of work is within our Arts and Culture Strategy 2024 to 2029, which is subject to a separate consultation.