Essex Public Library Service Consultation - Community Involvement - Tier 3

We, Essex County Council (ECC) have published a draft strategy for provision of library services in Essex over the next five years, from 2019/20 to 2023/24. We consulted the public on the draft strategy proposals for 12 weeks from 29 November 2018 to 21 February 2019.

As part of this draft strategy, we have identified locations where no library service is needed in order to have a comprehensive and efficient network, but where we could support the provision of library services run by a community or partner organisation. These locations are categorised as Tier 3 in the draft strategy document.
 

The 19 locations where we would like community groups to run a library are:

Brightlingsea

Coggeshall

Earls Colne

Frinton

Great Parndon

Great Tarpots

Hadleigh

Hockley

Ingatestone

Manningtree

Shenfield

South Benfleet

Springfield*

Stanway

Tiptree

Walton

West Clacton

West Mersea

Wivenhoe

(* Currently managed by ECC with the service delivered by volunteers.)

We hope community organisations will take the opportunity for people, who live and work in the community and who best understand the unique needs of their community, to run services in ways that fit local needs.

Over the next few months, we will work with staff and community groups to develop the principles for future Community Managed Libraries, what services can be provided and what support we will provide.

We will consider all responses to the consultation, report the outcome of public consultation and any recommended changes to the draft strategy to the Council’s Cabinet in summer 2019. If the strategy is approved, interested organisations will be provided more information about the support we will offer and be invited to submit detailed proposals to set up a Community Managed Library. If no suitable offer for a location is received and accepted within 6 to 12 months of Cabinet approval of the strategy, we intend to re-consult on the future of that library. Please refer to the library services strategy for more information.

Please complete this form if you represent a community organisation, or would like to form a community group, and are interested in running a Community Managed Library if the proposals for Tier 3 libraries go ahead.