Your say / libraries
‘We are looking for people with workable ideas for their local library’
Have you got ideas or suggestions for your library and its building? Can you help make these ideas happen?
Last July, the mayor and cabinet decided to keep all of Bristol’s 27 libraries open and pledged to hold a series of community events to bring together local people and organisations to identify opportunities for community-led activities and partnerships that will create a library service for the future.
We want to let people know how they can get involved and how the library team is going to be working alongside residents and organisations to come up with solutions for extending the service and the use of the buildings, while also looking at the wider needs of the local community.
is needed now More than ever
These meetings will offer an opportunity for collaboration and will consider the support needed – both financial and practical – to take ideas forward that will become pilot projects.
We want people to come to these events with suggestions and ideas – small ideas that could be developed quickly, and bigger ideas that make a significant difference to how a library service is provided in the future. This is not about saving money, it is about the community finding sustainable solutions and working with us to deliver them.
It is a busy time for libraries. While the community events are taking place, the council is developing a library strategy to help modernise the service and take it forward. The strategy will propose the following areas of priority: reading and learning, digital inclusion and access, extended access and Knowledge Hubs. The strategy will align with the proposed community engagement events which will look in detail at local ideas and solutions for each library.
Libraries continue to provide key services for local communities, but what residents want from them is changing, and the service needs to change with this. We want to hear from community organisations, current and potential library users, businesses and councillors. The idea is that we work together to find the best possible solutions. We are looking for people to come forward with workable ideas for their local library – we are open to discussing new ideas and are keen not to stand in people’s way. This will be different in each area as it needs to be targeted to what that local community wants and needs. We understand that there is no one-size fits all approach.
For those that cannot attend an event, there will be an online ideas form where people can share suggestions.
To find out more about the community events or take part in the survey, please visit www.bristol.gov.uk/libraryideas
Inside St George Library, within Asher Craig’s ward of St George West
Meeting dates:
Jan 29 10am-midday & 7pm-9pm
Rose Green Centre, Whitehall
Libraries being discussed: Hillfields, Fishponds, St George, Junction 3
Feb 4 10am-midday & Feb 7 7pm-9pm
Withywood Community Centre
Libraries being discussed: Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe, Whitchurch
Feb 12 10am-midday & 6pm-8pm
City Hall
Libraries being discussed: Central, Clifton, Redland, Bishopston, St Paul’s
Feb 26 10am-midday & March 2 10am-midday
The Park Centre, Knowle
Libraries being discussed: Wick Road, Knowle, Stockwood, Filwood, Marksbury Road, Bedminster
March 6 10am-midday & March 9 10am-midday
Greenway Centre, Southmead
Libraries being discussed: Southmead, Westbury, Henleaze, Horfield, Lockleaze
March 11 7pm-9pm & March 13 10am-midday
Shirehampton Public Hall, Station Road, BS11 9TX
Libraries being discussed: Henbury, Shirehampton, Avonmouth, Sea Mills
Asher Craig is Bristol deputy mayor with responsibility for communities, events and equalities
Read more: Bristol libraries could be run as ‘private, community-led initiatives’
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