eBookworm

Manchester City Council are having to find £109 million of saving this year, and £170 million next year. Libraries are going to be taking a cut. Following consultation, these proposals have been approved by at the City Council’s Communities and Neighbourhood Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Executive Committee, and will be put in place this year:

• A reduction in opening hours across the city from Monday 5 September
• The closure of Clayton and Rack House Libraries with effect from 30 September 2011. 
• The retention of Barlow Moor Library, with its existing opening hours, until July 2012, when its lease will terminate.
• Relocating Hulme Library in the coming year
• Complete withdrawal of the street-stop mobile library service, the children’s mobile library and the sheltered housing service from 28 October 2011.
• A review of library charges and potential income generation opportunities.
• Increased use of volunteers to support local and community activities.

See the council’s official page on changes to Manchester Library Services for more detail.