+44 (0) 1273 386849Why Do Community Libraries Fail? Understanding the Risks, Realities, and Need for Resilience
Driven by local passion for reading and books, community libraries have become a more familiar part of the UK’s library system since the onset of government austerity. By 2024, over 500 community-managed libraries were operating across the UK, representing a significant portion of all public libraries in England. This shift has been driven largely by the withdrawal of council funding and the search for cost-saving alternatives to closure.
Drawing on recent UK reports, investigations, and ongoing conversations with community library professionals, this final post in my series on community libraries explores the complex, interconnected reasons why some these libraries struggle – or even fail – despite the best intentions and efforts of those involved.
What do we mean by “failure” in this context? Failure doesn’t just mean library closures. It can also refer to a library becoming unsustainable, unable to deliver a safe, inclusive, and effective service, or falling short of its community’s needs. The risk of failure often builds gradually, shaped by multiple overlapping pressures.
Financial austerity and unsustainable funding models
Since 2010, local councils across the UK have faced severe funding cuts. Public library budgets have fallen dramatically, pushing councils to explore cost-saving measures, including transferring libraries to community management.
The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 legally requires councils to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service but what that means in practice is open to interpretation. While community-run libraries may appear to be a local council’s answer to a financial black hole, many of these initiatives struggle to become self-sustaining.
- Initial council grants often reduce or end entirely over time.
- Community groups are expected to raise their own revenue, but income generation is often limited by building restrictions, local demand, and rising overheads.
- Costs like utilities, insurance, building repairs, volunteer management systems, library management systems (LMS), and technology upgrades must all be covered, often with few funding options available.
As councils look to more radical models to save money, community and volunteer groups are often left carrying the financial risk with limited long-term support.
Over-reliance on community library volunteers
Volunteers are at the heart of community libraries but depending too heavily on them brings real risks. Evidence from research and sector reports highlights several common challenges:
- Recruiting volunteers is often easier for visible, front-of-house roles than for the critical behind-the-scenes tasks, for example, finance, admin, fundraising, IT support, and outreach.
- Sustaining interest over the long term is difficult. Initial enthusiasm can fade, especially in communities under socioeconomic stress. This has been highlighted in a recent Volunteer Scotland report, where it said, “the cost-of-living crisis has made it ‘harder for people in Scotland to volunteer’”.
- Training, support, and flexible arrangements are needed, but these all require time, coordination, and leadership.
- Imposing set shifts or mandatory training can cause tensions.
- Volunteer burnout is common, particularly if leadership relies too much on one or two individuals.
- Some libraries have closed entirely due to a lack of volunteers.
To thrive, community libraries need a diverse, well-supported volunteer base, across all ages, backgrounds, and skill sets. This will continue to be a challenge based on the continuing cost-of-living crisis.
Deprofessionalisation and impact on service quality
Replacing qualified library staff with volunteers or relying on self-service technology can undermine the quality and accessibility of library services. As CILIP believes,
“Volunteers add a huge amount of value alongside professional staff, but are not a replacement for staff. Public opinion supports this with half of people in favour of volunteers adding value to the services that paid library staff offer and less than 10% of people in favour replacing staff with volunteers.”
- Volunteers bring passion and community knowledge but they cannot fully replace trained library and information professionals.
- Unstaffed libraries can raise safety concerns and reduce personalised support, especially for vulnerable users. Self-service technology is increasingly used, but it raises concerns around safety, accessibility, and user support.
- Services such as information literacy, digital support, education and engagement, and safeguarding are harder to maintain without professional training and expertise.
Despite these challenges, it’s vital to acknowledge the contribution of community library volunteers. To everyone involved and volunteering their time, heart and energy to keep vital services running: your work matters. You are creating a warm, safe space for local people to connect, learn, and care about others in the face of real challenges.
Premises and transition challenges
For community libraries, the building itself and the process of taking it on can be both an opportunity and a significant challenge.
- Many library buildings require repairs, upgrades, or adaptations to meet legal requirements like accessibility or health and safety standards.
- Costs such as heating, electricity, insurance, and ongoing maintenance can quickly become overwhelming without predictable funding.
- Shared premises may result in logistical conflicts, unclear responsibilities, or restricted community use.
- Legal complexities, such as licences, leases, ownership, compliance, and liability, can fall heavily on volunteers, many of whom may not have the expertise or support to manage them.
At the same time, the handover from council to community is rarely straightforward:
- Delays, legal ambiguity, or poor communication can stall progress and create frustration.
- Community expectations may be high, but the practicalities of running a library are often more complex than anticipated.
- If the transition is rushed or poorly managed, it risks damaging trust and morale within the community.
Assuming responsibility for a library building and service is no small task. It requires time, transparency, and a realistic understanding of what’s involved, alongside meaningful support from councils and partners.
Conclusion: A complex, interconnected picture
The decline or closure of a community library is rarely due to one issue. Rather, it reflects a complex interplay of financial strain, volunteer capacity, policy gaps, council relationships, and operational realities.
Yet many community libraries do succeed, thanks to incredible dedication, local support, and creative thinking. Their stories are not about failure, but about resilience in the face of systemic challenge.
Resilience alone is not a strategy. To secure a future for community libraries, we need structural support, not just goodwill.
Recent discussions in Parliament and new funding announcements from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have put libraries back on the national agenda. A £30 million Cultural Investment Fund including £10.5 million for statutory library improvements is a welcome step. But crucially, this funding excludes community-managed libraries, even though they now form a significant and growing part of the UK’s library ecosystem.
For community libraries to thrive, we need:
- Sustainable funding and access to income streams
- Realistic expectations around volunteer capacity
- Professional support and training
- Ongoing council partnership and accountability
- Clear governance and skill development
- A national strategy that recognises, listens to, and invests in community libraries
If you’re running or supporting a community library, we see you.
What’s worked for you and what’s been hard? Share your story in the comments, in your networks, or with your local leaders. Community libraries don’t just survive on books and goodwill, they endure because of policy, planning, and the people who champion them
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Why do community libraries fail in the UK?
Community libraries often fail due to a combination of factors, including lack of sustainable funding, over-reliance on volunteers, building maintenance challenges, and reduced professional support. While driven by passion, many struggle to meet long-term service demands without adequate council backing or a clear strategic framework.
What are the biggest challenges facing volunteer-led libraries?
Volunteer-led libraries face issues such as volunteer burnout, difficulty recruiting for behind-the-scenes roles (like admin or fundraising), and inconsistent service quality. Rising costs, limited training, and a lack of long-term support from councils also put these libraries at risk.
Are community libraries a replacement for council-run libraries?
No. While community libraries offer vital services, they are not a like-for-like replacement for council-run libraries. Volunteers add value, but cannot replace the expertise, safeguarding, and structured services provided by trained library professionals.
What role does funding play in the success or failure of community libraries?
Sustainable funding is essential. Many community libraries start with small grants but struggle when these end. Without steady income to cover utilities, systems, repairs, and technology, libraries can quickly become unsustainable.
How does volunteer burnout affect community libraries?
Burnout occurs when a small number of committed volunteers are asked to do too much without adequate support. This leads to stress, drop-offs in participation, and sometimes library closure. A diverse, well-supported team is crucial for long-term success.
Can community libraries still provide high-quality services?
Yes—but only with the right support. When backed by professional guidance, proper governance, training, and adequate funding, community libraries can offer safe, inclusive, and meaningful services tailored to local needs.
What is needed to help community libraries thrive?
To succeed long-term, community libraries need:
Sustainable funding
Ongoing volunteer training and support
Realistic expectations around capacity
Council partnerships and clear communication
National recognition and strategic investment