Shropshire library visits fall a quarter in five years

The statistics, which were released as part of an update into the management transfer of Shropshire Council's library service, show requests, loans, active borrowers and computer usage have all dropped since 2011.

In 2011/12, a total of 1,358,493 visits were recorded in the county's libraries, while in 2015/16 there were just over one million – a drop of 26 per cent.

The data comes as Shropshire Council works toward cutting £77 million from its budget, resulting in libraries facing cut backs and potential closure.

In a report which will go to the council's environment and services scrutiny committee on Monday, director of commissioning George Candler set out the current status of the county's 22 libraries.

He said: "Our vision is that within our smaller market towns traditional face to face services will be delivered through community enterprises that are already active within those communities.

"These enterprises are best placed to utilise their links into communities and therefore maximise every contact that is made with them.

"Seven libraries have been transferred to new local community management arrangements – Albrighton, Shifnal, Broseley, Cleobury Mortimer, Craven Arms, Bishop's Castle and Highley.

"Two libraries are continuing to be managed by Shropshire Council, pending the introduction of new local arrangement with financial support from the local parish councils and other funders – Pontesbury and Gobowen.

"Discussions are well advanced at Bayston Hill, Ellesmere and Much Wenlock."

Discussions are taking place with town councils and community groups over taking the county's larger libraries in Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry and Whitchurch.

The most advanced discussions are taking place in Shrewsbury and Market Drayton, and proposals are expected to be put forward for both by the autumn.

Meanwhile, Mr Candler said after a "lengthy process of local consultation and engagement", consultation has closed putting forward the potential closure of Shawbury Library, the county's least used library.

The village's library had 3,937 visits in the last year, and 5,253 loans.

But the county's mobile library service, made up of four mobile libraries, has seen visits increase by 37 per cent since 2011/12.

At the meeting, which will be held at Shirehall at 2pm, members will discuss the update and progress being made to redesign library services.

Mr Candler said: "The council will continue to look at best practice elsewhere, encourage comments and ideas from local residents and actively encourage the participation of local community groups in the development of alternative approaches for delivering library services."