LIBRARIES in Teignbridge look set to have a secure future following the decision to create a new organisation owned by staff and the community.

Devon County Council chiefs have agreed that Libraries Unlimited, the new ‘public service mutual’ set up by the authority will take over running the library service from April next year.

While the county council will remain responsible for the service, it will commission the delivery from Libraries Unlimited.

It is hoped that by operating as an independent body, the mutual will be able to be more efficient and generate income.

The organisation will be managed by a chief executive and led by a board of trustees recruited from library staff, Friends groups and independent members of the public over the coming months.

As well as securing the future of the county’s 50 libraries, the move will also save the authority a further £1.5 million in addition to the £3 million it has already slashed from its library service budget over the last three years.

Libraries Unlimited chairman Julie Dent is confident they can continue to deliver an affordable, sustainable and innovative library service for Devon and save money.

She said: ‘This is a landmark day for Devon’s libraries as we are being a new chapter in what I’m confident will be a bright and successful future.

‘One of the keys to our success will be to develop the service to become more efficient and generate income.

‘Operating as an independent organisation will allow us to access new grants and funding opportunities but we also need to be more dynamic and enterpreneurial in our approach.’

Proposals include maximising the use of libraries by hiring space and working with partners and the business community to provide additional services.

As well as maintaining reading, learning and information services, there are plans to expand support for enterprise, digital services and health and well being.

Mrs Dent said: ‘To make this a success, we’ve got to be more ambitious.

‘With a more concentrated focus and greater opportunities to engage more directly with customers, communities and partners, we can continue to develop Devon’s award-winning libraries as a sustainable, modern, vibrant organisation that meets changing local needs.’

Cllr Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for the library service, said: ‘It is not my intention to close libraries as other authorities have done.

‘Residents value our libraries and the professional staff that run them but with budgets as tight as they are, we have to think about doing things differently in order to maintain the service.

‘By creating a public service mutual to run our library service, we have found a way of not only saving money but also giving the service new opportunities to allow it to grow and be sustainable for the future, as well as allowing staff and the community a real say in how the service is delivered in the future.

‘There’s lots of hard work to look forward to but the rewards will be significant, especially for all those residents who told us how much they value their local library and our dedicated staff whose knowledge and expertise have made the service the success it is today.’

Recruitment to the board will take place over the coming months.

Anyone interested in applying to become a trustee is invited to a special information event on Monday, November 30 at Exeter Library.

Further details will be posted on www.new.devon.gov.uk/futurelibraries by the end of next week.