Shropshire library book fund hit by £100,000 cut
Libraries across Shropshire will have almost £100,000 less to spend on new books this year, new figures have revealed.
Shropshire Council has announced plans to slash the Library Service's book fund from £395,000 last year to £304,000.
But council officials said the spending reduction should have no adverse affect on library users. The authority has also revealed it is planning a 'major review' of the county's libraries in the near future.
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Shropshire Council library chief Gwilym Butler said: "The Library Service has had to make savings of around £100,000 for 2012/13 and the book fund will now be £304,000.
"The service to the public has not been adversely affected as we have been able to buy books in different formats.
"We will shortly be undergoing a major review of the service as a whole."
The library service spent £341,000 during 2012/13 – £54,000 less than its £395,000 budget. The reduction on spending on books is part of a wider effort to reduce spending on libraries, which saw the council save £300,000 last year.
The council's revenue outturn report for 2012/13 showed a £297,930 reduction in library spending for 2012/13. The council spent £4.4 million from its overall library budget of £4.7 million.
The report said savings came through less being spent on books, as well as on IT and salary costs.
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