Hayley Coles: ‘Now we want to see how we can go further—making libraries places where people come not just to read, but to meet, learn, create, and grow.’

Staffordshire County Council is inviting residents to help shape the future of its 43 libraries.

While continuing to provide their core library services, many libraries across Staffordshire already offer much more—such as creative workshops, youth programmes, arts and music events, digital support, in-house cafes and community groups.

Now, the council wants to hear from residents about what isn’t currently offered but would be useful, and what existing services work well and could be built upon.

The consultation will also explore opening hours, ensuring they better suit modern lifestyles, and how libraries can support and engage volunteers to help deliver a broader range of services and activities.

The Community Managed Library (CML) model was introduced to Staffordshire in 2016, when 27 libraries across the county were transferred to the management of a range of organisations—including parish councils, Rotarians, an NHS mental health trust, and local groups specially formed for the purpose.

The council committed financial resources and staff time to support these groups, encouraging innovation and diversity while maintaining the statutory service and the buildings they operate from.

CMLs have delivered a wide range of initiatives, including:

• Access to medical assessments, police surgeries, and dementia-friendly programmes;
• Groups to combat social isolation, support older people with IT, and provide dial-a-ride services in rural areas;
• Projects to recycle electrical appliances and secure grants for business start-up advice centres;
• And in some cases, the introduction of in-house cafés to create more welcoming, social spaces.

The council is now looking to build on this success by expanding the role of libraries as community anchors—especially in areas where they may be the only council building on the High Street.

Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said:

We’re proud of the innovation shown by our community partners.

Now we want to see how we can go further—making libraries places where people come not just to read, but to meet, learn, create, and grow.

Whether it’s a youth drop-in, a music night, a workshop for local entrepreneurs—or simply a welcoming space with a café—we want to hear what matters most to you.”

The consultation will also include feedback on the mobile library service.

You can find out more and take part by:

• Filling in an online survey at the ‘Let’s Talk community hub libraries’ webpage at https://bit.ly/LetsTalkCommunityHubLibraries;
• Filling in a paper copy at any Staffordshire library;
• Drop into a consultation coffee morning, to be publicised locally.