**Ceredigion Council Proposes Library Reforms Amid Widespread Budget Pressures**
Library services in Ceredigion are on the brink of significant change as the council responds to ongoing financial pressures, reflecting a broader trend seen across Wales. Councillors have been deliberating changes which, if approved, would reduce opening hours at several local libraries, while notably ensuring that no branches will close.
These proposals were unveiled and reviewed at a council meeting held on 15 July, where members discussed how best to manage the library service amid continuing cuts to local authority budgets. The changes, now set to go before the Cabinet for final approval, aim to retain library access for residents, albeit with some compromises.
The revised plan comes in response to cost-saving measures introduced during the council’s 2024 budget process. According to a council committee briefing, these included cuts to staff numbers, reductions in council vehicle fleets, the relocation of some services, and a comprehensive review of library opening times. Such decisions were described as “difficult”, reflecting the challenging context facing local councils as they balance public service provision with financial realities.
Under the proposals, Aberaeron’s library service—a key facility for the community—looks set to move to a new location at Penmorfa, where it will benefit from an extended schedule. In fact, the Aberaeron branch is earmarked for an increase of around six opening hours per week. This expansion will also allow the site to offer new reception and corporate services, designed to bring wider benefits and improved public access overall.
Other main libraries in Ceredigion, however, will experience slight reductions in their weekly opening hours. Aberystwyth’s branch, the busiest in the county, would see its schedule cut by four hours but would still remain open to the public for 46.5 hours every week—making it the most accessible in the network. Cardigan and Lampeter libraries will see their hours trimmed by 1.5 and one hour, respectively. Cumulatively, this brings the total opening hours across the county’s four key libraries down by just one hour a week, from 165.5 to 164.5.
These proposed changes will not affect staffing levels significantly, nor are any redundancies anticipated as a result. During the council meeting, officials emphasised that job security is not expected to be compromised. The overarching aim is to streamline the service while maintaining comprehensive coverage for local residents.
Councillor Catrin Davies, Cabinet member for culture, leisure, and customer services, acknowledged that some users might find the reduced hours inconvenient. However, she stressed the administration’s priority was to keep all the county’s libraries open—an achievement in the current national climate. “Across the UK, libraries are closing,” Councillor Davies commented. “What we have tried to do is keep our libraries open. We believe our users are flexible and will support us, even as we make necessary adjustments.”
The council committee gave its collective support to these recommended changes. The ultimate decision now rests with the Cabinet, which will weigh up balancing service accessibility with the financial cuts imposed across the sector.
Across Wales—and indeed the UK—local government funding continues to shrink, forcing councils to make tough decisions about public amenities. Libraries are often particularly vulnerable in such debates, appreciated by many but sometimes seen as non-essential in times of budget constraint. Ceredigion Council’s approach seeks a middle ground, focusing on keeping facilities open while trimming costs where possible.
Residents and library users are encouraged to remain engaged with the ongoing discussions and provide feedback on the proposed changes. In the face of widespread library closures elsewhere in the UK, Ceredigion’s efforts to retain its network—albeit with reduced hours—offers a measure of reassurance for those concerned about the future of vital community resources.