Haringey libraries have finalised their revised operating hours following a period of staff consultation and a review of staffing structures, while also working to retain key services.
The changes, initially approved by the Cabinet in December 2024, were confirmed by Councillor Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, at a meeting on Monday, 8 December 2025. The decision to vary operating hours comes as the council addresses its challenging financial position.
The council has a statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service. According to the Cabinet Member Signing confirmation of variation in hours, the changes are based on strategic plans, alternative delivery models, careful assessment of needs, and consideration of impacts and mitigations.
As the council navigates these financial constraints, it has also sought to minimise the impact on other vital library services. Alternative proposals put forward during the staff consultation were considered, and where possible, incorporated while maintaining the financial envelope. Examples given include the retention of the Library Development function and the Home Library Service.
A public consultation took place between August and October 2024 to gather feedback on library usage and valued aspects. Following the consultation, the Cabinet adopted Option 3, which aimed to mitigate the impact of reduced hours, particularly on those with protected characteristics. Key changes included maintaining lunchtime opening to ensure continuous access to library services. To facilitate this, the library service increased existing lone-working practices, with measures implemented to ensure staff and customer safety, including staff training, lone-working devices, and CCTV coverage.
Throughout the development of the proposals, library staff were engaged, and formal staff consultation took place. The final staffing structure incorporated changes to job titles, roles, and reporting arrangements, based on staff and trade union feedback. However, the operating hours and other arrangements outlined in Option 3 of the December 2024 Cabinet report remained unchanged.
Alternative options, such as taking no action, were considered but discounted because the new structure and opening hours were required to deliver the library service savings. Concerns over lone working were addressed with mitigations to identified risks.
