PLANS which form part of a project to transform libraries across the county will also hope to see a £200,000 saving in costs.

The biggest chunk of cuts would be reducing opening hours across libraries which the council said would save them £108,000 over the next year.

Proposed changes for libraries in the Taunton Deane and West Somerset area would see opening hours reduced at libraries including Bishops Lydeard, Dulverton, Langport, Minehead, North Petherton, Priorswood, Watchet, Wellington, Williton and Wiveliscombe.

Some libraries will see their opening hours extended, this is where they form part of a hub - sharing space with other services such as a children’s centre in Glastonbury.

Other proposals to make up the rest of the savings include efficiencies through workforce reviews and changes in library management system.

A remaining £25,000 will be saved from changes to mobile libraries which were agreed in 2014 but did not come into practice until August 2015.

There has also previously been discussions to move Taunton Library in to County Hall.

Taunton resident Pamela Llewellyn was a member of the Taunton Library Campaign which was instrumental in getting the library moved from its former home in Corporation Street to its home now in Paul Street. 

She said: “Moving the library into County Hall will mean it is not as accessible or as inviting to people as it is now. 

“A library should not be intimidating, it should be somewhere people can walk into.

“I can’t imagine how they’re going to transform part of County Hall into an area suitable for a library, I’m not convinced that all the facilities that there currently are will be able to be duplicated at a library in County Hall.

“We are the county town, we should have a library we can be proud of, like the one we currently have, if they think these plans will save money they are mistaken.”


Related articles


Somerset County Council is running a consultation until February 11 on libraries and the proposed changes.

To have your say, visit www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti/LLCHubsandLibraries/consultationHome.