First look at which Birmingham libraries face axe and which could be saved in shakeup

Birmingham City Council has revealed its preferred plans for the future of libraries after a consultation that saw protests across the city. Ten libraries look likely to remain open full time, operating as 'community hubs', as the council looks to cut £2.3 million from its libraries budget.

Under the proposals, shared with BirminghamLive this morning, fourteen more will open part time only. In four more locations, the library buildings will close and the service will 'co-locate' in another setting in the community.

Another seven could remain - but only if community organisations are able to step in to staff and fund them. If those partnerships fail, the library will close.

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The council is also recommending buying in a second 'mobile library' to visit affected neighbourhoods. The proposals are set out in a new consultation about to go live. The council says it has listened to concerns raised by residents and activists about the importance of local libraries to draw up its recommendations. It says the decisions are not yet final, and will only be confirmed following a further period of consultation, going live tomorrow.

Library services have been put at risk as part of a desperate attempt to cut costs by the broke council, which is in a financial crisis. It is having to make around £150m of cuts this year, with more to follow, along with an estimated £200m of cuts next year. The council is currently under the direction of Government appointed commissioners.

The council has this morning briefed councillors, MPs and campaigners about its proposals, including alternative options. If you are affected by these proposals: email jane.haynes@reachplc.com or alexander.brock@reachplc.com

The full list of proposals are set out in a consultation pack currently circulating, which considers four options. It is 'Option 4' that the council says is their preference as it retains the highest number of libraries, has the greatest geographical spread and achieves the cuts needed. Its recommended proposals, all subject to consultation, are:

10 libraries would open full time (35 hours a week, five days) in these locations:

Acocks Green Library - the community hub for Yardley constituency

The Library of Birmingham - will be the community hub for Ladywood, but is also the city's flagship and will remain open six days, 40 hours a week, with the express service available for an additional 34 hours a week.

Druids Heath Library - the community hub for Selly Oak constituency

Erdington Library - the community hub for Erdington constituency

Handsworth Library - the community hub for Perry Barr constituency

Kings Heath Library - the community hub for Hall Green and Moseley constituency

Mere Green Library - the community hub for Sutton Coldfield constituency

Northfield Library - the community hub for Northfield constituency

Quinton Library - the community hub for Edgbaston constituency

Ward End Library - the community library for Hodge Hill and North Solihull constituency

14 libraries would remain open, but part time (14 hours a week)

Balsall Heath Library

Birchfield Library

Hall Green Library

Kings Norton Library

Kingstanding Library

Perry Common Library

Shard End Library

Sheldon Library

Small Heath Library

South Yardley Library

Sparkhill Library

Stirchley Library

Weoley Castle Library

Yardley Wood Library

Four library buildings would close but the service would be 'relocated' to shared settings in the community

Aston Library

Harborne Library

Selly Oak Library

Tower Hill Library

Seven could be run and funded by community partners and organisations. Otherwise they would close. These are:

Bartley Green Library

Bloomsbury Library

Boldmere Library

Frankley Library

Glebe Farm Library

Sutton Coldfield Library

Walmley Library

One library will remain closed permanently

Spring Hill Library

Under the recommended proposals, the council intends to 'withdraw all council staff and funding' from seven locations and instead look to 'community partners' to keep them going. Discussions are already under way in some of them, as follows:

Bartley Green Library, in Edgbaston constituency, where 'initial conversations are under way with a community organisation'

Bloomsbury Library, in Ladywood constituency, where there is a 'Community Asset Transfer opportunity'

Boldmere Library, in Sutton Coldfield constituency, where the council is 'exploring options to retain the Library Service with partners'

Frankley Library in Northfield constituency, where 'initial conversations' are taking place with a partner organisation

Glebe Farm Library in Hodge Hill and North Solihull constituency, where there is a 'Community Asset Transfer opportunity'

Sutton Coldfield Library, in Sutton Coldfield, and Walmley Library, also Sutton Coldfield, where options are being explored to 'retain the service with partners.'

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In its briefing, council officials told councillors and MPs that every library would be able to access the city's full book catalogue, including in any new partner-led facilities and on the mobile libraries. It said it had chosen which libraries to retain full time, or part time, or not at all, by considering the level of deprivation in the neighbourhood among other issues. It had also assessed the consultation response, usage, and building specific issues, including the condition of the building and its potential for sale or as part of a regeneration plan.

It considered multiple options, including:

• Do nothing and retain all services, but this would not meet the cuts requirement, and no alternative ways had been found so far to 'address the funding gap' in the service

• Keep Library of Birmingham plus six community libraries in larger 'hub' spaces, support by a better digital library service, mobile libraries and the libary at home and prison library services. This would not meet its statutory obligations, says the council.

• Keep 11 libraries open, including the Library of Birmingham, which would open six days a week, with services co-located with early intervention and prevention services, some partner led.

But the recommended option is to switch to the new 'delivery model' that will have community library hubs open five days per week, one in each constituency, providing library and early intervention and prevention services, supported by part-time council run libraries, some co-located in other settings, and further partner-led opportunities.

The council believes this option will result in the city ending up with 25 'building based library services' but with shorter overall opening hours. Hundreds took part in a recent consultation by the council over its initial proposals to downgrade the library offer.

Celebrities and authors joined the calls to save the libraries, backed by a major local campaign. An outline of responses received during consultation showed that 40.5% said they like to visit their library weekly and two thirds said they liked to walk to their library. At present, just under half said they travelled 'less than a mile' to get to their library.

If you are affected by these proposals: email jane.haynes@reachplc.com