Have your say on library services in Batley and Dewsbury

Following the Council's cabinet meeting on 26 September 2023 we are consulting on the proposals made in the asset review report to modernise and relocate Dewsbury Library service to the Walsh Building and Batley Library service to Batley Town Hall.

Background

Libraries are run by staff and volunteers with support from local Friends of Groups.

Dewsbury Library is currently housed in a retail-style building on Railway Street and has been operating from this location since 1996. The library has 24 public access PC's, 3 self-issue book borrowing machines, as well as printing and photocopying facilities. Free Wi-Fi and public toilets including an accessible toilet are available.

There were 118,721 unique visits to Dewsbury Library between April 2022 and March 2023.

Batley Library is located in a Grade II listed building in the heart of Batley town centre. Built in 1907 with funds donated from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the library is in close proximity to the Town Hall and market. The library offers a range of facilities to the public including 10 PCs, 2 self-issue book borrowing machines, printing, photocopying and free Wi-Fi. The main library area has an IT section and a popular children's area.

There were 87,955 unique visits to Batley Library between April 2022 and March 2023.

Both libraries offer a wide range of family activities throughout the week such as Lego, Craft, Story and Rhyme Time and Saturday Showcase. Group activities include Family History, Meet and Mend, Knit and Natter and much more. The library space is regularly used by a range of partners including local schools, Kirklees College, West Yorkshire Police and Locala. Libraries also host special events by authors.

The proposal

The proposal is to move the libraries a short distance into buildings that have been identified as having available capacity which could be repurposed to support wider council services and community activities.

Dewsbury Library move to Walsh building, Dewsbury

Under the proposal, the Walsh building would be repurposed to support the delivery of a modernised multi-service hub, providing local residents with a one-stop shop for accessing both library and customer services support functions.

This proposal aligns with wider regeneration plans for Dewsbury as part of the Dewsbury blueprint.

Batley Library move to Batley Town Hall

Batley Town Hall will offer an opportunity for local people to benefit from a modernised library provision in a refurbished building.

This proposal would create a multi-use venue for the delivery of library services as well as community and cultural activities delivered through the town hall events team.

This proposal aligns with wider plans for Batley under the Batley blueprint.

What would happen to the existing buildings?

The Batley Library building, which requires extensive investment, would become surplus to organisational requirements subject to possible disposal through the council's asset management process.

The Dewsbury Library building would be partially mothballed subject to further review.

Share your views

The proposal offers local people an opportunity to influence the future offer of both Dewsbury and Batley libraries. Help us understand your priorities with regards to the relocation proposals and help us shape what a modernised library service might look like by letting us know what matters to you.

The consultation takes into account feedback from the Summer Library Engagement (May-July 2023) survey where people shared views on how they use their local library service at present.

The aim is for library services to be shaped by the voices of local communities.