Devon library review moves forward as councils and communities are consulted

Library users in Devon are being encouraged to take part in a county-wide consultation on proposed changes to Devon’s library service, as Devon County Council asks town and parish councils to help shape its future.

The proposals have prompted discussion locally on Dartmoor after Okehampton Library shared details on social media warning of possible changes to opening hours.

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According to the post, proposals for Okehampton Library could see it close on Mondays and Wednesdays, with staffed opening hours reduced from 42 hours a week to 27.

Library users have been urged to complete Devon County Council’s consultation before it closes on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Several residents have shared concerns online, with one library user saying she had completed the survey but objected to the proposals. 

ABOVE: Okehampton Library (Image: Google Maps)

Another commented “Done the survey but I don’t like the proposal. Cuts should be reinstated ASAP.”

In response, Okehampton Library staff have stressed that the changes are proposals only and that public feedback is important.

A wider consultation covers all 50 libraries across Devon and is being run by Devon County Council due to financial pressures on the service. 

ABOVE: Tavistock Library (Image: Google Maps)

Libraries on Dartmoor that form part of Devon’s 50-strong service include Okehampton, Tavistock, Chagford, Moretonhampstead, Bovey Tracey and Ashburton.

The council says the library budget has reduced in real terms while costs to deliver the service have continued to rise.

Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, the council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries, has written to town and parish councils inviting them to take part.

“This consultation will play a key role in shaping the long-term future of the library service, and we want to hear directly from everyone so we can work together on a sustainable future for Devon’s libraries.”

ABOVE: Bovey Tracey Library (Image: Google Maps)

She said that although efficiency savings have already been made, the current model is no longer sustainable.

Despite the challenges, Cllr Cottle-Hunkin said the council remains committed to keeping all libraries open.

“Devon’s libraries are trusted spaces at the heart of our communities, and we remain committed to keeping all 50 libraries open,” she said.

She added that changing patterns of library use meant the service needed to adapt.

“As the way people use libraries continues to change, this consultation is an important chance to rethink and update the service, so it better reflects how people use libraries now and how they hope to use them in the future,” she said.

ABOVE: Ashburton Library (Image: Google Maps)

The council says it is exploring the use of new technology and has looked at how other authorities, including Lincolnshire and Cornwall, manage a mix of council-run and community-led libraries.

So far, around 14,000 responses have been received, including from a survey aimed at 13 to 17-year-olds, with separate surveys for younger children also available.

Consultation forms can be completed online, collected from libraries, or returned by post, with paper and online copies available in every library.

The Moorlander previously reported on the opening of the consultation on December 1, with all responses set to be reviewed before revised proposals are presented to Cabinet in spring 2026.