This time last year the Lib/Lab Coalition running Walsall Council took the decision to review the borough’s library service. Doing nothing was not an option as that would make the service unsustainable. 

It was important to ensure that there was a library in each of the six District Centres, Willenhall, Darlaston, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Aldridge and Streetly as well as the Central Library in Walsall. the Mobile Library service would also remain. That we did but at the cost of having to shut a number of the smaller libraries.

It was important to encourage local communities in the areas where libraries were to close to take over the buildings for book exchanges and other community activities. When faced with a similar decision in the past Conservative Councillors proposed to sell off the buildings to the highest bidder.

One year on and the brave decision we took is beginning to pay dividends. From the start of 2018 the District Centre Libraries including the one in Willenhall, have begun opening their doors seven days a week with introduction of Sunday opening between 1.00 and 4.00pm. Once the Central Library in Walsall has completed its temporary move into the Council House to enable essential repairs to be done, it too will be open seven days a week.

Plans to make libraries even more accessible with the introduction of a card access system are well advanced and are expected to begin operation starting in March/April. the plan is to convert all libraries to easy access by the end of the year.

And what of those libraries which had to be closed because of continued government cutbacks? In a number of them the community has stepped up to the mark and plans are well advanced to run book exchanges as well as other community activities. this includes the former New Invention Library building at The Square, Lichfield Rd.

It’s early days yet things but things are looking a lot brighter than they did a year ago