A bold new vision for the future of Caerphilly county borough council’s Library Service could be agreed this week.
A bold new vision for the future of Caerphilly county borough council’s Library Service could be agreed this week.
The Library Service has been under review since March 2024 as the council seeks to deliver a modern and sustainable service to meet the needs of residents in the future.
The proposals to be considered aim to improve the overall service the council provides – offering a simpler, more modern and accessible customer journey that better meets the changing needs of our communities.
Widespread public consultation has been a key part of this process, and councillors will now be asked to make a final decision on the proposals at a meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday 14 May.
If agreed, a core principle of the new strategy is the expansion of an exciting new Community Hub model, which has been successfully piloted at Rhymney Library recently. These ‘Tier 1’ sites would be strategically located at Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Rhymney and Risca libraries.
Smaller ‘Tier 2’ Community Hubs would also be created at Ystrad Mynach and Newbridge libraries.
This would see the other community library sites repurposed or delivered in a different way in future. These sites are Aberbargoed, Abercarn, Abertridwr, Bedwas, Deri, Llanbradach, Machen, Nelson, Oakdale and Pengam, which would close from the 31st of August 2025.
However, to mitigate the potential loss of smaller village libraries, a new Community Outreach Service would be developed to maintain contact in the community.
Cllr Carol Andrews, Cabinet member for Education said, “We very much value our library service, but the unprecedented financial pressures facing us means that we must act now to secure a sustainable library model which is fit for the future.”
“We believe the concept of developing fewer, but enhanced town centre library hubs will better meet the changing needs of our communities. The success of our pilot Community Hub model at Rhymney Library demonstrates the benefits that this approach can deliver for local people and the local economy.
“I would like to thank all those who took the time to engage in the recent consultation as this feedback will help shape the way we deliver this important service in the future,” she added.
The details of the Cabinet report and supporting information can be found on the CCBC website by clicking here – https://democracy.caerphilly.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=592&MId=14851&LLL=0
Related Posts
No public convenience in Aberdare Library but Treorchy Library to house new public convenience
Future of Library Service under review
Guidance issued for councils on library service duty as anger grows over cuts