More than 16 full-time posts will be axed from the borough library service as part of a proposed restructure that will also involve library closures.

Cash-strapped Cheshire West and Chester Council says the Localities Directorate, in charge of libraries, must make £8m savings towards bridging the authority’s £49m funding gap over the next three years.

A leaked confidential council document shows 32.47 full time equivalent (FTE) posts will be lost, including 12.25 FTE librarians, but new posts will also be created, resulting in a net loss of 16.43 FTE posts.

In addition, Elton and Willaston libraries will be closed and replaced with a mobile library although the number of mobile library vehicles is being reduced from two to one.

Bishops’ High School library will no longer be open to the public. Wharton Library at Winsford will be managed remotely from Winsford Library in future.

More self-service customer facilities will also be introduced.

The Elderly People’s Home mobile library service, which visits residential homes, will be replaced with provision from local libraries.

There will be an increase in the Books on Wheels delivery service for anyone who is house-bound, provided by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service.

The confidential consultation document argues the change is necessary to achieve budget savings, develop links with communities, address service inefficiencies and free up librarians by devolving management responsibilities to a new role.

Fewer management posts will enable qualified staff to use their expertise to engage proactively with local communities, organisations and partners, it claims.

The staff consultation ends on May 2 with the new structure implemented from July 1. The leaked document adds: “Staff who cannot be re-deployed elsewhere would be dismissed, with notice, on the grounds of redundancy.”     

One staff member told The Chronicle: “A cull of librarians – signals the end of the service as we know it.”

Another correspondent said: “I am unfortunately sending this email under a false name as I need to stay anonymous due to the subject and the threats made to all staff.” 

The person added: “Front line staff are once again being targeted in libraries but we are sworn to secrecy. Why can we not have a voice, we need to save our librarians and ask that you will be our voice to the public and help save our librarians and ultimately the ‘People’s Libraries’.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council spokeswoman Laura Johnson said the decision to review library services and make savings was taken at the recent budget meeting.

She explained: “All library staff, including professional librarians, are currently being consulted regarding a proposed new staffing structure and some staff may be ‘at risk of redundancy’ dependent upon the outcome of the consultation.

“The proposals set out a reduction of 16.43 full time equivalent posts, however there are new posts open to professionals and non-professionals who are at risk. Some of the affected posts are currently vacant.

“Proposals regarding the revised staffing structure to support library services are reflective of many customers increasingly being able to utilise self-service technology or online information sources and the desire for CWaC to focus resources where there is most need.

“Inevitably there will be fewer staff at larger libraries and work patterns will in some cases have to change so that busy times are catered for. However, there is no reason to suppose that it will be impossible to deliver children’s story times or indeed specialised events with the support of other services, organisations, and possibly volunteers.

“Customers will see a change to the way services are delivered, for example, customers with complex bibliographical and general enquiries which need to be answered by a librarian will still be dealt with by professional staff, remotely.

“Where there are very low levels of usage there will be changes to the way services are delivered – in the council’s budget setting meeting there was a discussion regarding replacing Elton and Willaston Library Centres with mobile stops.

“The current mobile service is expensive and used by very small numbers of customers. It is proposed that there should be changes to current routes and stops. Customers and rural communities will be consulted before any changes are made.

“The mobile service to residential homes for the elderly visits homes in the west of the borough only. Homes elsewhere in west Cheshire have a service provided by their local library, which works well. The proposal is to provide this service across the borough.

“Nobody has been sworn to secrecy, however we respect the right of people facing significant change not to have information which could identify them in the public domain and for this reason staff were asked not to share details which could identify individuals.

“Library services will continue to be a very important service to CWaC and plans are currently being formulated to invest further in library services to ensure their continued success.”