Exeter library services at risk as Devon proposes deep funding cuts

Exeter’s public libraries are set to be among the hardest hit by major funding cuts proposed by Devon County Council, with core staffed opening hours across the county facing a reduction of nearly 30 per cent.

Under plans currently out to public consultation, the total number of staffed library hours in Devon would fall from just under 1,300 hours a week to around 915 hours – a drop that campaigners warn could have serious consequences for communities across Exeter.

Of Devon’s 50 libraries, 43 would be affected by the changes, including all four branches in Exeter: Exeter Central, Topsham, Pinhoe and St Thomas.

Although the county council has stated that no libraries will close under the proposals, the consultation also invites residents to comment on the option of closing some branches, a point that has prompted questions from library users and local organisations.

The impact on Exeter would be significant.

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Opening hours at Exeter Central Library would be trimmed only slightly, from 58 hours a week to 55. But the city’s three smaller libraries face far deeper cuts.

Topsham Library would see its staffed hours fall from 17.5 hours a week to just six. 

Pinhoe Library would also drop from 15 hours to six, while St Thomas Library would be reduced from 38 hours to 15 – a fall of more than 60 per cent.

Together, those changes represent a dramatic scaling back of access for many residents, particularly families, older people and those without internet access at home.

Around 24,000 of Devon’s 114,000 active library users live in Exeter – the highest proportion of any district in the county. 

More than half of the physical library stock in the city is used by children, highlighting how central the service is to young families.

Devon’s libraries are far more than book-lending services. Across the county they recorded 2.3 million visits in 2024–25 and hosted more than 12,000 events attended by over 218,000 people.

In Exeter, libraries provide computer and internet access, printing facilities, warm and safe meeting spaces, children’s activities, and support for people seeking work or training.

Exeter Central Library also houses a Business & Intellectual Property Centre offering free support to local entrepreneurs, while FabLab Devon provides digital makerspace facilities.

Libraries Unlimited, the charity that has run Devon’s library service since 2016, is also an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and delivers a wide range of cultural and community programmes.

But despite those successes, the organisation remains heavily dependent on public funding. In 2023–24, more than 80 per cent of its income came from contracts with Devon and Torbay councils.

Devon County Council says the cuts are unavoidable due to mounting financial pressures.

In a statement, the council said: “The library service budget has been reduced year on year, and all realistic efficiency savings have already been made. The current model is no longer sustainable.”

Libraries Unlimited has acknowledged that it has been using its financial reserves to plug funding gaps in recent years but “cannot continue to do this”.

To manage the reduced budget, the council is proposing to “standardise” opening hours, rely more heavily on volunteers, expand the use of community-managed libraries and introduce more “Open Plus” technology that allows registered users to access buildings when no staff are present.

A 12-week public consultation on the plans is open until 22 February 2026, with final decisions expected in the spring.

However, Devon County Council’s Cabinet is scheduled to decide on a two-year extension to Libraries Unlimited’s contract on 14 January – almost six weeks before the consultation ends – a move that critics say undermines the process.

The proposed cuts come at a sensitive time for Exeter, which is promoting itself as a future “City of Culture” under its UNESCO City of Literature status.

Exeter Vision 2040 sets out an ambition for the city to be known nationally and internationally as a centre for culture, creativity and heritage.

But local campaigners argue that slashing library services sits uneasily with those aspirations.

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature (ExCoL) has issued a strongly worded statement calling on Devon County Council to protect the network.

“Libraries are essential infrastructure, not optional extras,” the organisation said.

“They foster social cohesion, civic engagement and community identity. They provide digital access, lifelong learning and safe spaces for those facing barriers in our community.”

ExCoL pointed to national research showing that England’s public libraries generate at least £3.4 billion in social and economic value each year – roughly six times the cost of running them – and help reduce pressure on health services.

The group warned that cutting hours and replacing staff with volunteers would disproportionately affect low-income, older and digitally excluded residents.

There is also growing anxiety about the long-term future of Exeter’s historic library collections.

Local historian and former librarian Ian Maxted has highlighted how much specialist material has already been moved away from the city, including the Westcountry Studies Library collection, which was transferred in 2012 to the Devon Heritage Centre on Sowton Industrial Estate.

He warned that Exeter Central Library’s rare books and heritage holdings – including more than 5,000 historic titles and collections dating back to the 17th century – could be vulnerable in an era of shrinking budgets.

“What price, culture, heritage and memory?” he asked. “Exeter and Devon should work together to pool resources rather than operate in separate silos.”

The debate is taking place against the backdrop of expected local government reorganisation in Devon, which could see Exeter become a unitary authority once again.

If that happens, the city would regain direct responsibility for its own library service under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 – a change some believe could offer new opportunities for investment and innovation.

For now, however, the immediate focus remains on the county-wide consultation.

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Libraries, said the authority was “committed to keeping all 50 libraries open” but needed to “rethink and update the service”.

Alex Kittow, Chief Executive of Libraries Unlimited, added: “Libraries are absolutely vital community spaces… Our responsibility is to protect these spaces and ensure they continue to exist long into the future.”

With Exeter accounting for the largest share of library users in Devon, the outcome of the consultation could have a profound impact on the city.

Campaigners are urging residents to respond before the 22 February deadline to make clear how important staffed, accessible libraries are to local life.

As Exeter seeks to position itself as a city of culture and learning, many fear that a dramatic reduction in library provision would pull the city in the opposite direction.

The consultation can be completed online, at local libraries or by post.