Like many councils across the country, the Council is experiencing significant financial challenges due to an increase in demand and costs for services, particularly adult and children services.

The Council must save £44 million over the next three years. A decision was made in February 2025 for the library services to make a £433,000 saving – which is around 19.3% of the 2025-26 library service budget.

Running from now until noon Friday 24 October, the Council is keen for everyone to take part in the consultation so they can gain feedback, ideas and suggestions on a range of proposed ‘options for change’. These include:

  • Community-managed libraries: potentially transferring the management of up to three libraries to the community, where they might otherwise close. Three libraries are highlighted as potentially at risk in the consultation. These are Winscombe, Pill and Worle. Please note that Worle library may be at risk of closure under all the proposed options unless a community or partner led solution can be found.  This is because the council cannot afford the significant costs required to repair and maintain the building.
  • Adjusted staffed hours at libraries: Changing staffed opening times and expanding self-service options.
  • Alternative delivery methods: investing in outreach activities (such as delivering library services in community halls or other council sites) to maintain library services in areas where permanent library buildings may no longer be viable.
  • Reducing central budgets: Cutting central management, stock budgets, and streamlining back-office functions.
  • Income generation: Exploring increased room hires, partnerships, and fundraising to support library services financially.

For full detail on the consultation options, the analysis of their potential impacts and supporting information, please visit: https://n-somerset.gov.uk/libraries-consultation.

Cllr Mike Solomon, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Open Spaces at North Somerset Council said: “We want everyone to have their say and complete the consultation, which is open from now until noon Friday 24 October. We know and recognise that our libraries are very much loved and at the heart of communities. That’s why we are keen to ensure that North Somerset’s future library service is fair, accessible and future proof whilst continuing to fulfil our statutory duty of providing a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service. It needs to meet the changing needs of local communities whilst achieving our agreed £433K savings target. 

“By responding to the consultation, residents can inform the council of their needs and how best these needs can be met within the resources available. Your feedback will help us to meet these duties whilst delivering services in new, sustainable ways so please complete the consultation online or request a paper copy by emailing libraries.review@n-somerset.gov.uk.”

Based on factors like current library usage and cost, the consultation outlines that up to three libraries could close if no alternative way to deliver services in those areas can be found. The library buildings at risk are Winscombe, Pill and Worle. 

The Council will explore whether local communities are interested in running these three libraries, whether services could be delivered differently such as through the mobile library, community outreach, or the Home Delivery Service as well as promoting alternative libraries nearby and digital library services and other ideas to keep library services going in these three areas.

Any community organisation or group who would like to explore running or supporting one of the three potentially at risk libraries, please contact the council directly at Libraries.Review@n-somerset.gov.uk . They welcome enquiries and can help groups understand what’s involved. 

No final decisions have been made, and the Council wants to hear from communities and individuals who may be affected.  For anyone wanting more information, a number of public drop-in events will be taking place. Please check out https://n-somerset.gov.uk/library-consultation for further details.

There are several Children’s Centres that share buildings with libraries. During the public consultation about the future of libraries, children’s services will join libraries staff at Worle and Pill to talk to residents about these shared sites. 

After the consultation closes on 24 October, all feedback will be reviewed and considered. Final recommendations will be presented to Cabinet and Full Council in February 2026. A summary of consultation findings will be published on the Council’s website.

Please read the library service consultation supporting information and then complete the consultation online at https://n-somerset.gov.uk/libraries-consultation. 

Paper copies are available at libraries. For alternative formats or to request a paper copy, please contact North Somerset Council via email at consultation@n-somerset.gov.uk or phoning 01934 888 888.