Cheshire East libraries

Plans for a tier system for libraries to determine their opening hours and services are under discussion by Cheshire East Council.

The council has to make savings of over £600,000 in the library services over the next two years as part of its plans to stave of potential bankruptcy.

A report will be presented to the environment and communities committee outlining different tiers to include library hubs, community libraries and mobile library services.

Following presentation to councillors this week the strategy is likely to ‘go out to public consultation’.

It would put Macclesfield, Congleton, Crewe, Nantwich and Wilmslow libraries in tier one.

The council said these sites would become library hubs with core library services and free support for health, employment, skills, education and personal finance, and would host banking services.

Tier two libraries would have the core library services but opening hours would be determined by demand.

Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Middlewich, Poynton and Sandbach would be in this tier.

Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley and Handforth would become tier three libraries and act as customer service points offering some activities, staffed by council employees for up to one-and-a-half days a week.

Tier four would be the existing mobile libraries run by volunteers for residents who are unable to leave their homes.

Councillor Mick Warren from the committee said libraries were “very important” to residents.

“However, major financial challenges mean there is far less money available to spend,” he said.

“We must look at a different way of running our libraries so that we can still offer these valued services in the places where demand and need is greatest.”