Your Libraries need you now!
Devon County Council (DCC) have just launched a formal consultation on the future of the library service in Devon. (ending 22nd February 2026). https://devonlibraries.commonplace.is/
Proposals include cutting opening hours, severely in some cases, allowing entry to the buildings without staff present, and having some libraries run completely by volunteers rather than paid staff. Totnes library has a relatively small cut in hours proposed, but this may well change in the future. Ashburton and Buckfastleigh are likely to be open only 6 hours a week.
Libraries Unlimited comment: “This is a crucially important time for local libraries across Devon. DCC commission us to run 50 public libraries in their area (the 4 we run on behalf of Torbay Council are not affected by this consultation) and we want as many people as possible to have their say and help shape how services are delivered in future. Financial pressures, alongside the way people use Council services, are driving this consultation. We’ve been using our charitable reserves over the last few years to plug funding gaps, but we can no longer continue to do this. The consultation that has now been launched will help DCC understand how people use library services and how they’d like to see things develop in future years.”
The Friends of Totnes Library are a voluntary group set up to support the library, and we are encouraging everyone to take part in this survey. Just by doing this you can show that libraries are very important to you. In responding to the proposals, you may like to consider the effects that cuts may have on all sectors of society, and that there are many services other than book provision that could be affected.
Friends of Totnes Library
We need you!
Look at the proposals and give your views at https://devonlibraries.commonplace.is/
Please tell others – share on social media and spread the word.
Would you like to be part of this friendly group? We are looking for people like you who care about the library, reading and community wellbeing.
We urgently need a treasurer. The money involved is very small, but without a person with this responsibility we will be unable to continue as a group.
To contact the Friends of Totnes Library email Fiona Gibbon, on feglibs@talktalk.net, and please include a contact phone number. (As so many emails are going into junk!)