Liverpool Council is increasing the reservation and fine costs for its libraries
Liverpool’s Central Library(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
Everything feels like it’s going up at the moment. Energy bills, the price of a food shop, even parking charges. Earlier this year, Liverpool Council confirmed in some places fees would go up as much as 60%. Free parking after 6pm in the city centre is also a thing of the past now too. Every service is feeling the squeeze. Now, even libraries are the subject of cost increases.
As of Monday, September 1, the amount you pay to reserve a book and the penalty for returning one late will go up according to the city’s library and information services. In a bid to close funding gaps that the local authority faces, a whole host of provisions have gone up already.
The amended fees and charges for libraries comes amid an ongoing row between Liverpool Council and a community trust over the future of two sites it offloaded to keep them afloat. As of next week, the maximum fine imposed for late returns per borrowed item will increase by 10% to £2.20.
The upper level cumulative fine for all items borrowed before borrowing rights are stripped will go up more, from £15 to £16.90. Reserving an item will go up from 70p for adults to 80p, children will not be charged.
How much you fork out for returning a damaged item or losing a library book isn’t immune from the increases either. Adult hardbacks will cost you £17.30, up from £16, with an extra 70p for a softback at £7.70.
Children’s hardbacks will be charged at £6.60, up from £6 with softbacks moving to £4.40, an increase of 40p. However, a replacement library card should yours be lost will not change, at 60p for a new one, with the first one free.
A draft five year strategy for the council’s own libraries was unveiled this summer, aiming at transforming sites into “hubs of neighbourhood activity.” Around a quarter of the city’s population access council-run locations already.
The changes to fees comes as the local authority finds itself in a row over alleged unpaid debt.
Earlier this month, Alt Valley Community Trust accused Liverpool Council of defunding sites in Dovecot and Anfield after officials turned off the cash tap.
According to the local authority, this is due to “substantial” debts owed by the trust.
As a result, Liverpool Council will not sustain existing grants, in the region of £50,000.
Since 2015, both libraries have been managed on behalf of the council by the charity. AVCT has said it is now being “penalised” by the authority after it imposed a sub-lease and is making a claim for arrears.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of the city council, said the authority wanted to resolve the debt issue and there was a way forward if charity representatives came back to the table to negotiate.
The council’s decision to stop the funding has attracted attention from the area’s Labour MP and a former Lord Mayor.
AVCT has disputed the amount of debt owed to the council. Estimates have been made of around £700,000 outstanding for utilities at the trust-run Walton Sports Centre. A further £80,000 was said to be owed in relation to the Anfield library.
Cllr Ruth Bennett, city council deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said if the latter debt was paid, funds could be reinstated to support the libraries.