Home Local News Cabinet agrees new library, museums and archives loan charges

Cabinet agrees new library, museums and archives loan charges

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Lancashire County Council’s cabinet has agreed to increase fees and charges in libraries, museums and archives at its meeting held today (Thursday 18 January).

Library reservation fees have not been increased since 2005, some 13 years ago, and fines have not risen since 2012. Charges for the archives service were last reviewed in 2016, and those for the museums service in 2013.

Cabinet has agreed to increase the costs for:

• The library reservation fee
• The late return of library books
• The commission on artwork and crafts sold in libraries and museums
• Admission charges to Gawthorpe Hall
• The charge for a copy of an archive probate record

It has also been agreed to introduce a new handling charge for requests to provide copies of archives from outside the UK.

County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: “The county council’s financial position means that we have to review our charges from time to time. We hadn’t increased these charges for a while, and although we would prefer not to have to, this situation had to be addressed.

“It was agreed that we couldn’t continue to absorb these costs. The increases are consistent with those that have already been introduced by other councils across the country.

“Although charges are never popular, this decision was necessary in order to reduce the pressure on the council’s finances and help to meet our priority of continuing to protect services for our most vulnerable people.”

Anyone who lives in the UK can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person. It’s free and there are no age restrictions.

For more information, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries or www.lancashire.gov.uk/museums

Alternatively call 0300 123 6703.

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