Decision on whether to close Hampshire libraries delayed until later this year because of coronavirus

Councillor Sean Woodward, executive member for recreation and heritage at Hampshire County Council, said a decision on the future of the county’s 48 libraries was expected to be made at the beginning of June but it will now be delayed.

He said a new date has not been set yet, but stressed the decision is still expected to be taken this summer.

It comes as thousands of residents had their say on the proposals put forward by the county council.

As previously reported, the number of libraries across the county could drop from 48 to 38 and the remaining ones could see a 15 per cent reduction in their opening hours as the county council aims to save £1.76m by 2021.

The plans also included proposals for all 48 libraries to remain open but with their opening hours reduced by a quarter.

As part of the public consultation residents were also asked to suggest alternative options.

Cllr Woodward said the responses are currently being considered.

‘We have had 21,000 responses, the largest number we have ever had,’ he said.

‘The decision is going to be later than the beginning of June.

‘It is going to be rather later in the summer.’

Meanwhile, last week the council reported an ‘unprecedented’ 770 per cent increase in people joining the libraries’ digital service as libraries were closed last month because of the pandemic.

The council had previously said that between November 2018 and November 2019, Borrowbox – an app offering free audiobook and eBook titles for children and adults – saw a rise from 4,668 registered users to 22,912.

Now the authority confirmed for the seven days commencing March 17, 2020, there were 200 new Borrowbox users compared to 23 in the previous week.

When asked what impact the growth in digital service users will have on the final decision over the future of libraries, Cllr Woodward said: ‘It is certainly something I will be taking into account. I think we have already had that trend.’

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In January this year the county council said the borrowing of digital eBooks and eAudio from 2016 to 2019 increased by 62 per cent, while the borrowing of print books decreased by 25 per cent.

Cllr Woodward also stressed that should the authority decide to propose a change in the libraries opening hours there will be another public consultation.

As previously reported, the libraries at risk of closure are Elson library in Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent library, Emsworth library, Horndean library, Blackfield and Lyndhurst in the New Forest, Fair Oak Library in Fair Oak, Chineham and South Ham libraries in Basingstoke and Odiham library in Hart.

Additionally, Kingsclere Community Library, Lowford Community Library, Milford-on-Sea Community Library and North Baddesley Community Library could be turned into independent community-managed libraries, meaning they will no longer be supported by the county council and will have to be run entirely by volunteers.

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