![\"Locals](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_JS344102129.jpg\")
Locals use the facilities of Handsworth Library on September 3, 2024 in Birmingham(Image: Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nBirmingham City Council has acknowledged several of its libraries are in a “poor state of disrepair”Locals use the facilities of Handsworth Library on September 3, 2024 in Birmingham(Image: Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Birmingham City Council has confirmed a temporary change to library opening hours amid upcoming disruption from planned works.<\/p>\n
The fate of the city\u2019s libraries has been a recurring concern throughout the aftermath of the financial crisis which engulfed the council<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Labour<\/a> authority previously said its divisive plans for the service would see opening hours for \u2018council-led statutory library provision\u2019 fall from 1,049 to 763 hours a week.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Birmingham Council\u2019s care homes plan welcomed after \u2018unacceptable\u2019 uncertainty<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The council now wants to carry out refurbishment works at up to 10 libraries after acknowledging several buildings were in a \u201cpoor state of disrepair\u201d.<\/p>\n They will include the installation of new more energy-efficient boilers, LED lighting upgrades and the replacement of fire doors.<\/p>\n The council said the works are set to begin in spring 2026 and some libraries will be closed for a period to allow the refurbishment to be completed.<\/p>\n Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday morning, cabinet member Saima Suleman confirmed a change to Saturday opening hours will be introduced in a bid to minimise disruption.<\/p>\n Previous controversial changes meant eight community libraries in Birmingham<\/a> began opening on alternating Saturdays, with four open on each.<\/p>\n But during the scheduled works, Saturday opening hours will be extended, ensuring that all libraries currently open on Saturdays, whether weekly or fortnightly, will now open every Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an exciting milestone in our new service model to transform Birmingham\u2019s library and advice services,\u201d Coun Suleman said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe refurbishment work will ensure our community library hubs continue to be safe, inclusive spaces for knowledge, connection, and support for all our residents, while also helping us modernise facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Roger Harmer, leader of the Liberal Democrats<\/a> at the council, welcomed the temporary change to the Saturday opening hours during Tuesday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the Saturday opening is actually critical to library service so can the cabinet member now commit to actually ensuring that full-time Saturday opening continues after this work has been done,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Birmingham City Council ‘suspend’ pest control services for mice and bedbugs amid bins strike<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Coun Suleman responded by saying the council\u2019s plans were about \u201cincreasing access to the most vulnerable citizens through our library service\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is absolutely something that we\u2019re looking at in terms of how we can increase the opportunities within the libraries,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u2018Health and safety defects\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n The eight full-time and two part-time library buildings set for refurbishment works are Handsworth<\/a>, Northfield<\/a>, Mere Green, Quinton<\/a>, Small Heath<\/a>, Acocks Green, Erdington<\/a>, Kings Heath<\/a>, Hall Green<\/a> and Perry Common.<\/p>\n \u201cThe proposal is to roll out a programme of works to refurbish and upgrade up to ten libraries to bring them up to a reasonable condition and extend the buildings\u2019 life,\u201d a council report published prior to the meeting said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis forms phase one of the investment works.<\/p>\n \u201cThe work will address the library buildings\u2019 health and safety defects and ensure the council\u2019s statutory responsibilities are met, including the implementation of essential fire prevention works.\u201d<\/p>\n It also acknowledged the council\u2019s library property portfolio is in a \u201cpoor state of disrepair with little capital investment spent on it over the past ten to 15 years\u201d.<\/p>\n Another 17 condition surveys are to be carried out on the remaining libraries, excluding the Library of Birmingham, which would form the basis of future funding for a second programme of work.<\/p>\n The council\u2019s wider plans will see community libraries and information services integrated to create a new Connected Communities service.<\/p>\n This will involve ten community hubs being established across the city, which it said would \u201csupport residents with localised activities and support on their doorstep\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2025-09-09-at-130844-1jpeg.jpg\")
Birmingham City Council’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 9(Image: Alexander Brock)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757484136_275_1_JS344102117.jpg\")
A man reads a book in Kings Heath Library, Birmingham(Image: Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n