VOLUNTEERS and technology could be vital pillars for the future of Devon’s libraries as a public consultation on a possible overhaul gets ready to start.

Devon directly funds 50 libraries across the county through a single contract with Libraries Unlimited, but this agreement – valued at just over £7 million this financial year – ends in March.

This has prompted Devon County Council to consider how it can juggle the pressure on its finances while supporting the library service.

It is already struggling, with a report prepared for its cabinet next week, stating that to deliver the current service within the available budget it is having to take steps such as delaying maintenance work, implement a more cost-effective computer network, and put in place a recruitment freeze.

“This is impacting on the ability to deliver published opening hours and to provide cover for when staff leave, retire or are absent due to annual leave or sickness,” the report states.

Data shows there are 113,661 active users across Devon’s libraries, with children being the most engaged group – making up 28 per cent of the total usership.

Exeter has the highest engagement at 18 per cent, while Torridge and Teignbridge have the lowest at 11 per cent.

The council said digital borrowing had surged, with over 1 million digital issues annually, while physical borrowing remains 22 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

Libraries also hosted over 12,000 events in 2024/25, attracting more than 218,000 attendees—an 85% increase since 2019/20..

“Whilst people are using libraries differently, they remain a trusted and well used space and footprint for the council,” the report added.

“There were 2.3 million visits to Devon libraries last year.”

The 12-week public consultation, due to start in November, will consider various factors such as whether there should be changes to statutory opening hours, whether volunteers, technology and other funding could help extend opening hours when a library is unstaffed, and consider proposals for developing community hubs, where community organisations take control of their library supported by a grant from the council.

The consultation is due to end in January, with a fully-formed proposal submitted to cabinet by April, and then the outcome implemented in May.

The county council said it had analysed how some of its peers run libraries, and found that Cornwall only has 4 in-house libraries with 27 now run by local organisations, while Lincolnshire has a contract to run 15 libraries and collaborates with community organisations on another 35.

This means that Lincolnshire has the same number of libraries as Devon, but only spends £5.7 million compared to Devon’s more than £7 million.

In 2023, Devon County Council voted in favour of axing its mobile library service.

One of the main campaigners trying to save the service was Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, who at the time sat on Torridge District Council, but is now a member of the county council and a cabinet member for rural affairs and broadband.