Posted on Friday 23rd January 2026
The libraries investment is part of a wider programme of council expenditure.
Millions of pounds are in place to accelerate the development of Staffordshire’s libraries into community hubs.
Many of Staffordshire County Council’s 43 libraries already act as the front door to a wide range of local services, advice, activities and community support, alongside the delivery of the core library service.
Now the authority has allocated around £5 million for all its libraries to move in that direction, including the 16 directly managed by the county council.
Hayley Coles, pictured, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Culture, said:
In recent months council officers and I have visited libraries across the county to speak directly with staff, volunteers and residents. Their insight has been invaluable in shaping the next stage of the library service.
Building on the extensive feedback gathered from these visits, along with the recent public consultation, the county council will use this money to enhance library provision across all sites. This investment will strengthen existing services and help each library evolve into a genuine community hub—driven by the needs and ambitions of the people they serve.”
Emphasising that there are no cuts to the mobile library service, Hayley Coles added:
Over the last decade, our community‑managed libraries have already grown into strong centres of community life, helping residents access a wide range of services and support all in one place.
In recent months, officers and I have visited libraries across Staffordshire and spoken directly with the staff, volunteers and surveyed residents who know these buildings best. Their feedback has been absolutely vital in shaping our vision for the future.
It is clear that people value their libraries enormously and want them to continue evolving into true community hubs—not just in name, but in the services and support they provide.
We have already secured the funding needed to support this development, and we are committed to delivering the improvements communities have asked for.”
The investment in the library service is part of a wider programme of expenditure as part of the county council’s budget proposal for 2026/27.
Spending plans include:
- For Motorists – an extra £15m to fix potholes and improve the county’s highways;
- For Children – an extra £5.5m to recruit almost 120 staff to help keep vulnerable babies and youngsters safe;
- For Schools – Plans include a town centre site to welcome a school’s sixth form students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities;
- For the Countryside – this year marks the first year of a major £18m investment drive to reinvent Chasewater, Cannock Chase Discovery Centre and Revitalising Staffordshire Way.
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.
See Hayley Coles talking about the investment at: https://youtu.be/MEr1DXADKe4