Shropshire Council has published a proposal to “restructure and relaunch” its school library service, in a desperate bid to make it financially viable.

Following the news that the service had been operating at a loss for two years, the council have made plans to make it more sustainable.

Some of the council’s proposals include relocating the service to a new premises, from its current location at the Shirehall.

The service allows schools that subscribe to borrow books and artefacts relating to school topics and receive training for staff and pupil librarians.

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for children and education said: 

“Consultation with schools and the public has helped us to find new ways to make the School Library Service financially sustainable for the future, as it is clear the service we provide is valued by those who use it. 

“We have proposed a comprehensive plan to simplify the current subscription model and enhance our communication with schools, with a view to making the service viable for the future within the wider financial challenge we face in Shropshire.  The future of the service will still depend on enough schools signing up to use it following the relaunch. 

“Like lots of other councils, we do have difficult decisions to make in order to balance our books.  We must make sure these are the right decisions to become a healthy, financially sustainable council to continue delivering The Shropshire Plan.”