Bristol’s Library Crisis: A Tale of Closures, Staffing Shortages, and Deprivation
Over the past three years, Bristol's libraries have faced increasing closures, with the city’s most deprived areas bearing the brunt. As resources dwindle and staffing shortages persist, the communities that rely most on these vital services are losing access. This article explores the trends behind library closures across Bristol, including staffing challenges, recruitment efforts, and the socioeconomic factors driving the disparity.
1. The Impact of Staffing Shortages on Library Closures
Staffing shortages have been a persistent issue for Bristol’s library service. According to a statement from Unison representatives at a public forum in January 2023, over 35 vacancies have been left unfilled since August 2022, resulting in a loss of 554.5 hours of service per week across the city. This was due to ex-Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees’s recruitment freeze and caused unplanned closures every day, particularly in under-resourced areas. While central libraries have fared better, communities in more deprived areas, such as Lockleaze and Hartcliffe, have been hit hard.
Central libraries had an average of 5.67 weeks closed.
Outskirts libraries had a significantly higher average of 8.88 weeks closed.
Adding to the problem, five additional posts were cut as part of a cost-saving initiative, further reducing service hours by 137.5 hours per week. These cuts have left many libraries struggling to remain open, and the quality of service has suffered as a result.
2. Mapping Library Closures Across the City
The following map visualizes library closures across Bristol, highlighting the areas most affected. Libraries in the city’s outskirts—such as Avonmouth, Hartcliffe, and Lockleaze—have faced significantly more closures than their central counterparts.
This disparity underscores the urgent need for equitable resource allocation, as these areas often have fewer alternative public services available, leaving residents with limited access to educational and community resources.
3. Operational Hours and Their Correlation with Closures
In addition to closures, library operational hours vary significantly across the city. Libraries with more extensive opening hours, like Central Library and Bedminster, tend to experience fewer closures, while those with shorter hours, such as Filwood and Whitchurch, are more vulnerable to unplanned closures.
This imbalance highlights a systemic issue: libraries in the areas most in need of consistent service are often the ones facing the greatest staffing and resource shortages. Staffing accounts for 76% of the library service’s budget, meaning that without permanent hires, many libraries struggle to maintain regular hours.
4. The Role of Deprivation in Library Closures
A key factor affecting library closures is the level of deprivation in the surrounding area. Using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), we can see that libraries in more deprived areas, such as Hartcliffe and Filwood, experience longer and more frequent closures.
These findings suggest that libraries in deprived areas are not only more likely to close due to staffing shortages but also face greater challenges in attracting resources and support. This exacerbates inequalities in access to educational and community services, particularly for residents who rely on these facilities for digital access, study spaces, and social connection.
5. Recent Recruitment Efforts: Are They Enough?
At the Members Forum on 9 July 2024, the chair of public health announced that recruitment for 32 new library assistants began in February. However, these roles raise several concerns:
Only one position is full-time (36.5 hours per week), while the rest are temporary and fixed for 18 months.
Six of these positions (19%) are designated for Central Library, which has not experienced staffing-related closures, whereas only one position is allocated for Lockleaze, a library that has faced extensive closures over the past years.
While some permanent posts—such as a Library Porter/Driver and a Library Staffing Coordinator—have been filled, the heavy reliance on temporary roles does little to address the long-term sustainability of library services. It remains unclear whether permanent staff will be hired when the current 18-month contracts expire.
6. The Outlook for Bristol Libraries
There is talk of some end to the staffing shortages now that Labour and the mayoral system are no longer in power but budget cuts still mean the future of Bristol’s libraries remains uncertain. Libraries in the most deprived areas, where access to public services is already limited, are facing the greatest challenges. Without a significant shift in resource allocation and long-term staffing solutions, these communities risk losing vital services that provide educational support, social spaces, and digital access.
As the recruitment efforts continue, key questions remain:
What plans are in place to support the most affected libraries, such as Lockleaze?
Will the city commit to hiring permanent staff to ensure stability in service delivery?
What will happen when the 18-month contracts for temporary staff expire?
Unless these issues are addressed, the disparities in library access will continue to grow, leaving the city’s most vulnerable residents further isolated.
When asked for comment, the head of library services, Kate Murray, said: “The library service embarked on a round of recruitment in March 2024. We filled 19 of the 32 fixed term contract posts, and successfully filled all the other posts advertised. Lockleaze now has a member of staff and the number of ad hoc closures has considerably reduced there. We will be recruiting for further vacancies this week (w/c 22nd July).”
In September there was one closure at Lockleaze, which was much improved from six all-day closures in August.
The Chair of Public Health and Communities Policy Committee, Cllr Stephen Williams said: “I can assure you that both I and the Head of Libraries see the filling of the vacancies as an urgent priority.”
Note: Data sources are varied. Opening times for libraries were collected from the Bristol City Council library pages; the closed hours for libraries were collected from the Twitter feed provided by Bristol Libraries. The index of multiple deprivation data is available from the Consumer Data Research Centre.
Am I right in assuming that Kate Murray has been head of library services whilst all these closures and staffing shortages have impacted users? Her comment sounds like a public relations exercise.