Devon County Council are preparing to reshape its library services to better suit the changing habits of its users, and from November residents will be asked for their ideas and views.
The aim of the consultation will be to gather residents’ views on how libraries should adapt and evolve to meet changing needs and financial pressures.
DCC currently operates 50 libraries which are run by the charity Libraries Unlimited.
There are currently more than 113,000 active registered Library users with children making up the single largest group at 28%.
However, the way the public uses library services has changed, and digital borrowing has surged past one million issues a year.
Last year, Devon’s libraries hosted over 12,000 events ranging from bounce-and-rhyme sessions to Coder Dojos, Lego Clubs and arts and craft such as knitting, drawing in more than 218,000 people.
Despite strong community use – 2.3 million visits were recorded last year – DCC faces mounting budget constraints.
Councillors on Wednesday heard that the newly developed Library Needs Assessment will guide future strategy and help identify gaps and opportunities for development.
The upcoming consultation will explore a variety of options such as revised opening hours, extending access through volunteers and technology, and transitioning some libraries into community hubs managed by local organisations with DCC support.
Cornwall, for example, runs four libraries directly and supports 27 community-managed sites, whereas Lincolnshire operates a hybrid model with 15 core libraries and 35 community partnerships.
The consultation will run from November 2025 until January 2026
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