Sub-committee set to advance plans for new libraries strategy

Councillors will meet next week to continue their discussions over the development of a new strategy to adapt and modernise Wirral’s libraries and enable them to provide the kind of services needed by local communities into the future.

The Libraries Sub-Committee, which is a dedicated off-shoot from the council’s Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure (TCCL) Committee, will meet on Thursday 20th November – the second time it has met since the parent TCCL committee decided to reject a proposal to move to a new eight-site library model at a meeting in September.

A new library strategy to take the service up to 2031 is necessary as the current strategy, first implemented in 2021, comes to an end in 2026.

Members of the sub-committee will debate a report which reflects on the current library strategy – the progress made so far on a plan that positioned library services and the buildings that house them as a key enabler of community recovery and more widespread digital inclusion as the country emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report goes on to describe the need to build on the platform of the 2021-26 strategy and develop an approach through to 2031 that better aligns with Wirral Council’s commitment to a ‘hubs and partnerships’ model, encouraging more collaboration with other council and partner services.

These include children’s services, customer engagement, family help and support, lifelong learning and public health, sharing insight and co-designing activities to be delivered within the setting that meets collective needs.

In addition, the new strategy will continue to recognise that the library needs to maintain its almost unique role these days in being an interactive ‘first line of information’ between public services and many vulnerable residents, signposting them to additional support and helping to build their confidence and trust in local services.

The development of the new strategy has already been kickstarted by the research and engagement work that was carried out in support of the now-rejected eight-site operating model and in which included some initial public consultation and feedback from staff and stakeholders.

At its meeting in October 2025, members of the sub-committee highlighted that improved promotion and marketing of the library offer within communities, particularly for digital and e-services, was necessary as was better engagement with non-library users and those from ethnic minority communities. Members also stressed the importance of libraries remaining welcoming spaces, providing refreshments and interactive features.

At the November meeting on the 20th, members of the Sub-Committee will now be asked to agree both a ‘work plan’ and an ‘engagement plan’ aimed at supporting officers to produce a first draft Library Strategy for discussion at a further meeting in February 2026.

A public consultation will follow in March-April 2026 before the draft strategy goes before the full TCCL committee for approval in summer 2026.