Wirral Library Model Consultation

Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure they provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service for all people living, working or studying full-time in the area who want to make use of it.

In Wirral, the council has been looking in detail at the library service locally – who uses it, when and how often; what services they access and how they access them, in person or digitally; and are they in the right place and open at the right times to maximise their value to and usage by local communities?

Over the last few months, Wirral Council has been developing a new proposed operating model for libraries in the borough that aims to not only deliver a service that meets our statutory requirements, but also provides the kind of comprehensive, modern, accessible and sustainable service that will meet the needs of the diverse communities of Wirral.

The proposed eight-site model is made up of the following locations:

  • Bebington Central Library
  • Birkenhead Central Library
  • Eastham
  • Heswall
  • Moreton
  • West Kirby Central Library
  • Wallasey Central Library
  • Upton

The proposed model does not affect libraries previously transferred to community management, such as Pensby and Wallasey Village. Discussions are taking place with a number of existing community partners to explore the feasibility of supporting a future, community managed site. Under the proposed model, these community partner libraries would either close or they could, if agreement was reached, be managed by a local, social sector organisation. Community partner libraries include: Beechwood, Leasowe, Seacombe and the St James Centre.

To ensure the library service is comprehensive and sustainable, it is recognised that a full review of the current offer is essential. Access to online resources, for those that choose to access them, must be a core element of the offer. The proposed eight-site model will refocus available resources, providing the potential for future investment into both the digital offer and Wirral’s remaining suite of library assets.

Further information regarding the new proposed model can be viewed in the Documents section of this page including a Summary Document of the proposals and a detailed evaluation of local needs that was used to develop the proposal. Further information is provided by a set of frequently asked questions which is also available on this page.

We are now asking the public for their support in shaping the plans further; we want library users, stakeholders, people of all ages and from across the borough to tell us their views on the proposal. Please complete the survey below to provide your feedback.

Map of the proposed 8 site library model locations

The proposed model does not affect libraries previously transferred to community management, such as Pensby and Wallasey Village. Discussions are taking place with a number of existing community partners to explore the feasibility of supporting a future, community managed site. These community partner libraries would no longer be managed by the council under the new model e.g. Beechwood, Leasowe, Seacombe and St James Centre

Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure they provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service for all people living, working or studying full-time in the area who want to make use of it.

In Wirral, the council has been looking in detail at the library service locally – who uses it, when and how often; what services they access and how they access them, in person or digitally; and are they in the right place and open at the right times to maximise their value to and usage by local communities?

Over the last few months, Wirral Council has been developing a new proposed operating model for libraries in the borough that aims to not only deliver a service that meets our statutory requirements, but also provides the kind of comprehensive, modern, accessible and sustainable service that will meet the needs of the diverse communities of Wirral.

The proposed eight-site model is made up of the following locations:

  • Bebington Central Library
  • Birkenhead Central Library
  • Eastham
  • Heswall
  • Moreton
  • West Kirby Central Library
  • Wallasey Central Library
  • Upton

The proposed model does not affect libraries previously transferred to community management, such as Pensby and Wallasey Village. Discussions are taking place with a number of existing community partners to explore the feasibility of supporting a future, community managed site. Under the proposed model, these community partner libraries would either close or they could, if agreement was reached, be managed by a local, social sector organisation. Community partner libraries include: Beechwood, Leasowe, Seacombe and the St James Centre.

To ensure the library service is comprehensive and sustainable, it is recognised that a full review of the current offer is essential. Access to online resources, for those that choose to access them, must be a core element of the offer. The proposed eight-site model will refocus available resources, providing the potential for future investment into both the digital offer and Wirral’s remaining suite of library assets.

Further information regarding the new proposed model can be viewed in the Documents section of this page including a Summary Document of the proposals and a detailed evaluation of local needs that was used to develop the proposal. Further information is provided by a set of frequently asked questions which is also available on this page.

We are now asking the public for their support in shaping the plans further; we want library users, stakeholders, people of all ages and from across the borough to tell us their views on the proposal. Please complete the survey below to provide your feedback.

Map of the proposed 8 site library model locations

The proposed model does not affect libraries previously transferred to community management, such as Pensby and Wallasey Village. Discussions are taking place with a number of existing community partners to explore the feasibility of supporting a future, community managed site. These community partner libraries would no longer be managed by the council under the new model e.g. Beechwood, Leasowe, Seacombe and St James Centre

Page last updated: 14 May 2025, 05:02 PM