Bedford Borough Council wants to hear your views over plans to extend LibraryPlus to Kempston and Putnoe libraries

Bedford Borough Council is consulting on the extension of the LibraryPlus service at the Kempston and Putnoe libraries.

LibraryPlus has been successfully running at Bedford Central, Bromham and Wootton libraries since 2017. In that time, over 12,000 library users have registered for LibraryPlus, taking advantage of increased overall opening hours, including Sundays and bank holiday at Bedford Central Library.

It provides a mixture of staffed hours as well as using technology to allow access to customers during unstaffed, self-service hours. During the self-service hours, LibraryPlus customers can enter the libraries to browse the shelves, borrow and return items, use the computers, study and work, and meet friends and family.

Cllr Doug McMurdo, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said: “The introduction of LibraryPlus has been very successful at Bedford Central, Bromham and Wootton libraries, and I know all library users are looking forward to when we can reopen the libraries once restrictions start to ease.

“LibraryPlus has enabled people to use their local library in a more flexible way, and has seen our libraries open more, for example, opening hours at Bedford Central Library went up from 48 to 60 hours every week after it was introduced in 2017.

“The council faces extremely challenging financial times. By introducing the LibraryPlus model to Kempston and Putnoe libraries, with self-service hours alongside core staffed hours, we would be able to increase overall opening hours, while making the savings that we need to through reducing staffed hours."

To have your say, visit here

You can also email [email protected] or write to Consulting Bedford, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, MK42 9AP