Devon County Council’s Consultation on ‘Shaping the Future of the Library Service’ is Now Closed

We’re incredibly grateful to the thousands of people who’ve taken the time and effort to submit their thoughts and comments for the libraries consultation carried out by Devon County Council, which closed on 22nd February. Everyone at Libraries Unlimited is immensely proud of the service that we provide, and the number of responses to the consultation proposals alone shows that communities across Devon are really galvanised when they think these services are under threat.

We know that like us, you’ll be keen to know what happens next. DCC will still be collecting and processing any handwritten forms and will be adding these to the online consultation results. As this was a consultation on proposed changes, the Officers at the Council will be preparing reports for their Councillors to consider the views of local people. We look forward to seeing Councillors debate the consultation results as soon as possible, and to come up with proposals which balance the funding they have available, with the thoughts and feelings of local people.

Libraries Unlimited, as a separate charity, commissioned to run public libraries by the council, and governed by our own Trustees, has already put forward a vision to demonstrate how the library service in Devon can be imagined from the community up, rather than county down. We hope our views, alongside residents, helps shape a really positive future for Devon’s Libraries, enabling us to continue to work hard to improve child literacy, promote economic inclusion, support the most vulnerable, and of course provide spaces which are fun, friendly and welcoming to all.