Libraries consultation
About the consultation
The way people use library services has changed significantly, locally and nationally, over the last 5 years.
We are asking for people who live, work or study in Birmingham, and who want to access the service, to help shape the future of the library service for the city.
As more people use technology in their lives, more people are accessing library collections digitally for the flexibility of using the service at a time that suits them. Since 2014, there has been a reduction in people visiting library buildings, but interest in our online activities and events, mobile service, click-and-collect offering, and home library service has increased.
Like many other local councils, we continue to face a significantly challenging financial situation and are required to make considerable budget savings across all our services.
While savings have been announced, no decisions have been made on what the library service will look like in the future. The consultation outcomes will help inform decisions that will be taken by the council after it has ended.
Some Community Libraries will be closed on the morning of Thursday 25 April to allow for staff consultation on the proposed changes to the Library service. You can contact your local library for further information and opening hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
The Library of Birmingham will be open as normal.
To find out more about the consultation before you take part, we suggest that you read the following:
Download Birmingham libraries consultation 2024 FAQs
Download Birmingham's Strategic Framework for Library Services
Download libraries consultation launch pack
View Libraries Needs Assessment Dashboard
Download Libraries Needs Assessment appendix
Have your say
Complete our survey
Have your say by responding to the survey on our Be Heard website.
The consultation will close on Wednesday 17 July 2024.
Join an online consultation session
During April and May we will also be running a series of online consultation sessions.
In recognition of Eid celebrations falling on the 10 April, we have added extra dates for Hall Green, Bartley Green and Walmley online sessions for those who could not attend on the original date.
You can join a session by phone or mobile using the dial in by phone number and entering the phone conference ID when prompted to do so. The dial in by phone numbers and phone conference IDs for each session are detailed in the table below.
Or, if you are not dialling in, you can join using your desktop or mobile device by downloading the Microsoft Teams app:
Download the Microsoft Teams app for mobile devices (for Android and Apple mobile phones)
Download the Microsoft Teams app for desktop devices
|
Library |
Date and time |
Link to session (join via the Microsoft Teams app) |
Dial in details for phone and mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartley Green Library (additional session) |
7 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 376 475 127 278 Passcode: w54wzt |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 132 492 086# |
| Erdington Library |
10 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 365 623 330 466 Passcode: 94agFB |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 394 178 571# |
| Hall Green Library (additional session) |
9 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 310 843 623 938 Passcode: x33z8F |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 318 810 776# |
| Harborne Library |
10 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 386 960 558 920 Passcode: Tz9NG7 |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 331 892 262# |
| Shard End Library |
10 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 338 015 385 774 Passcode: 4MS9hW |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 291 257 56# |
| Tower Hill Library |
9 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 392 616 358 636 Passcode: zdC3Vj |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 708 008 73# |
| Walmley Library (additional session) |
8 May 10:00am to 11:00am |
Meeting ID: 367 163 778 970 Passcode: Qkjky7 |
Dial-in by phone: +44 20 3794 0272 Phone conference ID: 936 692 808# |
You can also download the schedule of online consultation sessions
Attend an in-person consultation sessions
In addition to the online consultation sessions, during April and May, we are hosting a number of in-person sessions.
View our schedule of in-person consultation sessions
Page last updated: 1 May 2024
