Libraries to become independent of Herts County Council?

A six-week public 
consultation is covering five possible options for 
changing how the county’s libraries are run.

One possibility is to keep them ‘in-house’ and run by Herts County Council – but chiefs warn that ongoing budget cuts are likely to mean service reductions.

Alternatively they could be run by a ‘local authority trading company’, meaning 
they are still owned by 
County Hall but with “added freedom to pursue commercial opportunities”.

Other options include a ‘public service mutual’ run by either the council, the community or staff, which is seen as the “most flexible” option.

Option 4 is to outsource the libraries altogether, but this has the risk of poor 
performance and that 
income would not be 
reinvested into services.

Or the council could 
enter a joint venture with a third party.

The consultation runs until February 18.

To take part visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraryconsultation