Table of Contents
Wirral Council's Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee will decide on October 22 whether to adopt a new five-year strategy setting out the future direction of the borough's library service.
The 'Libraries for All' strategy wants to strengthen libraries as community areas across the Wirral, and aligns how they will change to serve residents' needs across the borough.
Under the proposed strategy, local libraries will continue to be community support spaces that are inclusive that support learning, reading, digital inclusion, wellbeing, culture, and access to information. The strategy also wants libraries to connect residents to more council and partner services.
Under the proposals, libraries would continue to evolve as welcoming, inclusive and trusted community spaces supporting reading, learning, digital inclusion, wellbeing, culture and access to information. The strategy also positions libraries as a key community front door, connecting residents with a wider range of council and partner services.
Performance monitoring
At the core of the strategy is the commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.
At the heart of the strategy is a commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. Members are being asked to endorse a dedicated Performance Management Framework to monitor delivery and provide regular assurances that commitments are being achieved.
Members will have progress communicated to them annually, all of which will be defined by a new Wirral Library Service Standards developed to set clear expectations for customer experience, library environments and service quality.
The council's focus on performance management follows consultation observations that showed although residents support the strategy's intention, only 48% of respondents showed confidence in delivering those improvements. Wirral Council says any concerns will be introduced through open monitoring and regular reports.
Consultation findings
Public consultation on the draft strategy took place between 2 March and 13 April 2026 through the council's Have Your Say platform, attracting 190 responses. Around 30 pupils from Years 7 to 9 also took part in a dedicated engagement session in June 2026.
Wirral Council have used the feedback to master the final strategy and honour specific commitments that it will have to people across the borough.
The strategy supports the priorities emerging through the draft Wirral Plan 2027-2031 and aligns with the council's proposed operating model, which emphasises community hubs, locality working and easier access to services.
The vision states: "Wirral Libraries will be welcoming, inclusive and trusted spaces at the heart of our communities. They will be places of connection and creativity, with access to reading, digital resources, learning opportunities and trusted information. Our libraries will be the community's front door to the Council."
If the strategy is approved, libraries will be guided over how they develop through a five year plan, which will be edited annually based on performance and feedback.
