CHANGES to library services in Ceredigion will – if backed by senior councillors – see some branches having reduced opening times, but no closures, and Aberaeron’s new facility at Penmorfa even seeing an increase of some four hours.
At the July 15 meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, members were asked to scrutinise changes to library opening hours in the county, recommending the changes be approved at a later Cabinet meeting.
A report for members said: “As part of budget savings introduced in 2024 difficult decisions were agreed requiring savings to be found in Library Services from a reduction of posts, vehicles, relocation of services and a review of library opening hours.
“The reduced staff have managed to maintain opening hours whilst a review was undertaken and decisions on relocation for Aberaeron were finalised. The new Aberaeron Library is on track for opening in September and will require different staff hours to maintain as we will combine building reception duties.”
It said a review of library hours had been completed, but the exact outcome for rotas will require staff consultation.
It added: “There are increased hours for Aberaeron as it moves to Penmorfa and will take on additional duties providing reception coverage and delivering wider corporate efficiencies as well as improved service to citizens.
“The changes will bring about an overall combined reduction in opening hours of one hour bringing the total hours of provision across the four main libraries from 165.5 hours down to 164.5 hours per week.”
Changes proposed include an actual increase of six hours at Aberaeron’s new Penmorfa library, a reduction of four in Aberystwyth, a 1.5-hour reduction in Cardigan, and a one-hour reduction in Lampeter.
At the meeting, members heard the changes were aimed t reducing complexity in the service and there was not expected to be any major impact on staff in the form of job losses.
Speaking at the meeting, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Customer Services Cllr Catrin M S Davies said that, while Aberystwyth was losing four hours, it would be still open for the most hours of the four libraries, at 46.5 hours.
She told members that, while some may find the changes difficult, “on the whole the users of the libraries are people who are flexible, who are going to be willing to go with us on this; we are keeping all the libraries open.”
She added: “Libraries are closing all over the country; what we have tried to do is keep our libraries open.”
Committee members agreed to support the changes, with the final decision being made by Cabinet.
