A new delivery model for Buckinghamshire Libraries

Feedback updated 2 Jan 2025

We asked

We asked you to help us design our library services so that staff are available at the times when you need them most.

The consultation ran from 10 July to 18 September 2024.

You said

We received 1,212 responses to the consultation, including 221 paper surveys submitted. We also ran a number of focus groups and engaged with over 200 local services and organisations.

Your feedback on preferred days:

Friday and Saturday are the preferred days to access the library, with an average of 73% of respondents indicating these days as a preference
Monday and Sunday are the least preferred days
- Sundays are mentioned by less than 25% of respondents on average
- Sundays are slightly more popular with respondents under 65 years old, but it is still the least popular day of the week for that group

Your feedback on priority times for staff:

10am to 4pm are the most important hours to staff the library
- 10am to 12pm is the strongest preference, with an average of 74% of respondents indicating it as a preference
4pm to 6pm is also a priority for respondents under 65 years old, although still a lower priority than 10am to 4pm

Your feedback on Library Flex:

39% of respondents are likely to access the library during unstaffed times; 14% are neither likely nor unlikely; 43% are unlikely; and 4% didn’t know
20% of respondents consider the changes will have a generally positive impact on access to the library; 26% consider them neither positive nor negative; 46% consider them generally negative; and 8% didn’t know
66 respondents said they would be interested in using library spaces during unstaffed hours
- 36 respondents represented organisations interested in using library spaces during unstaffed hours

How you use the library:

88% of respondents use the library to borrow books
1% of respondents do not use any library services
83% of respondents use the library once a month or more
Respondents under 65 years old are more likely to use the library for borrowing e-books, using Wi-Fi, using as a work/study space, and for children’s activities

High Wycombe Library

High Wycombe Library was not selected for Library Flex because of the difficulties in adapting the building. Instead, we proposed to open the library on a Monday instead of a Sunday.

We received 162 responses on High Wycombe Library:

46% of respondents agreed with the proposal to change the opening day from Sunday to Monday; 14% neither agreed nor disagreed; 38% disagreed; and 2% didn’t know

Burnham Library

Burnham Library was not selected for Library Flex due to the constraints of the building. Instead, we proposed to make savings either through recruiting more volunteers or by reviewing opening hours.

We received 143 responses on Burnham Library:

generally, using the library in the morning is preferred by over 65s and using the library in the afternoon is preferred by under 65s
we were not successful in recruiting more volunteers

View the detailed consultation analysis report (PDF 2MB).

We did

On 2 January 2025, Cabinet agreed to implement Library Flex. For more information about what this means for each library, view the Cabinet reports.

Cabinet also agreed to:

modify the layout of High Wycombe Library and to open the library on a Monday instead of a Sunday
reduce the opening hours at Burnham Library from 38 to 27 hours per week

Overview

We are asking you to help us design our services so that staff are available at the times when you need them most.

Buckinghamshire libraries have transformed over recent years and offer a wide range of services and activities. A new vision and strategy for Buckinghamshire Libraries was agreed in 2023. Our vision is to provide welcoming and safe spaces for everyone to access reading, culture and the information and services they need to learn, discover, imagine, and thrive.

Buckinghamshire Council must save a total of £95.3 million over the next three years, with £41.3million to be saved in the current financial year (2024/25). The library service must make savings of £555,000 by April 2026.

To reduce costs and help ensure the library service remains resilient and sustainable, Cabinet agreed on 18 June 2024 to implement ‘Library Flex’ subject to consultation.

Library Flex

Library Flex means ensuring our staff are available at the times of greatest customer need and using self-operated technology to provide access to library services at quieter times.

This technology is already in use in 45 local authorities across England. It allows customers to use their membership card to access libraries during set times when staff are not present. During these times you can:

take out and return books
use wi-fi, public computers, loanable tablets and printers
access a space for study, reading or socialising
access the Council Access Point phone to get help with council enquiries such as council tax, benefits, waste and recycling

To do this, you will need to be at least 16 years old and to have completed an induction programme. Children will be able to use Library Flex when accompanied by a registered adult.

Customer safety Customer safety

Customer safety is our priority. The self-operated technology includes automated control of doors and lighting. It will be linked to fire and intruder alarms and have monitored CCTV to keep library users safe.

Volunteer and community group activities Volunteer and community group activities

We will also increase volunteer and community group activities in the library during Library Flex unstaffed hours to maintain a safe and welcoming space. We already have many volunteer and community-led activities taking place in our libraries, such as Knit and Natter, Bounce and Rhyme and reading groups. We want to be able to provide even more opportunities for community groups to use the library space.

Staff will still be available during the times when customers need them most. We have information about the most popular times for our customers, but it is important that we hear from you about the times when you would like staff to be available. We want to hear your views whether you currently use a library, or not.

Opportunities to increase our opening hours Opportunities to increase our opening hours

Library Flex will also provide an opportunity to increase our opening hours, benefitting people who work, commuters and students. Many of our libraries open from 10am; with Library Flex they could open without staff from early in the morning until later in the evening, and for longer during exam times so that people can go there to study. We want to hear from you about when you would prefer to be able to visit the library.

We are planning to introduce Library Flex in the following libraries:

Amersham
Aylesbury
Beaconsfield
Buckingham
Chesham
Hazlemere
Marlow
Princes Risborough

Partners, community groups and organisations

Library Flex will allow us to make better use of our buildings with more activities and services taking place. It will also provide opportunities for room hire for community groups outside of our current opening hours.

We want to hear from partners, community groups, volunteers and organisations that have an interest using library spaces outside of staffed times.

High Wycombe Library and Burnham Library

High Wycombe Library and Burnham Library have not been selected for Library Flex. Instead, we are considering other options.

High Wycombe Library High Wycombe Library

High Wycombe Library was not selected for Library Flex because of difficulties in adapting the building. Instead, we will be re-modelling the layout to deliver most library services from one floor and introducing new partner services in under-used areas.

We also want to review the opening times of High Wycombe Library to ensure that we are open at the right time for our customers.

Current opening times

Day	Opening times
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	9:30am to 5pm
Wednesday	9:30am to 5pm
Thursday	9:30am to 7pm
Friday	9:30am to 5pm
Saturday	10am to 5pm
Sunday	12pm to 4pm

We are considering opening High Wycombe Library on Monday instead of Sunday. This would enable us to increase the total opening hours for the library and increase access to the Council Access Point. Initial feedback from room hirers, partners and some of our customers suggest that there is a demand for a Monday service at High Wycombe. High Wycombe Library would continue to be open six days of the week, including Saturday.

We want to hear your views on opening on Monday instead of Sunday at High Wycombe Library.

If you would like to see the plans for High Wycombe Library, these will be displayed in the library at 5 Eden Pl, High Wycombe HP11 2DH. They are also available to view under ‘Related documents and links’ below.

Burnham Library Burnham Library

Burnham Library has not been selected for Library Flex due to the constraints of the building.

Instead, we will seek to make savings by increasing volunteer numbers or by reviewing opening hours.

Burnham Library is currently open longer than most other libraries in the county.

Current opening times

Day	Opening times
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	9:30am to 7pm
Wednesday	9:30am to 5pm
Thursday	9:30am to 5pm
Friday	9:30am to 5pm
Saturday	10am to 4pm
Sunday	Closed

We want to know when you would be most likely to use Burnham Library.

If you are interested in volunteering at Burnham Library, please contact lib-bur@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

How to have your say

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

complete the online survey using the link at the end of the page
complete, and return, a printed version of the survey (PDF 0.43MB) or a large print version of the survey (PDF 0.43MB)
complete a printed version of the survey at a Buckinghamshire library

If you have any questions about this activity, please email us at library@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Please tell us your views by 11:59pm on Wednesday 18 September 2024.

What happens next

The responses we receive will inform the opening and staffed time at Library Flex libraries as well as the support we will provide to customers.

They will also inform the opening time of High Wycombe Library and Burnham Library.

Detailed proposals and an implementation plan for each library will be presented to Cabinet in November 2024.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

Areas

All Areas

Interests

Culture
Sport & Leisure
Libraries
Mental health and wellbeing
Communities

Contact