Wokingham Borough Council recognises and welcomes the passion for good, well-run libraries that is highlighted by the petition on the future of library service due for discussion by the council on Thursday November 17.

Executive member for internal services UllaKarin Clark said: "We share the passion that those who have signed these petitions have for libraries and that is why we are exploring the option of finding an expert partner to help us safeguard our libraries for the future.

"The issues will be discussed on November 17 and we do not want to pre-empt those deliberations, but we can say we are looking forward to an open debate that will, we hope, provide an opportunity for us to allay some of the more worrying fears that have built up around this issue.

"We are currently in a competitive dialogue process with potential library partners and cannot discuss details of these discussions. But we can say that many exciting and innovative ideas have come forward that could build on what is offered at our libraries, while protecting their unique nature."

In May this year, the council’s decision-making executive decided to investigate the possibility of entering into a partnership with an expert provider to help and enhance delivery of the council’s vision of a modern library service at the heart of a thriving community.

Update:

Resolution of the library petition...

“Council recommends to the Executive that they will review their decision on the future of the library service, after the competitive tender, to take account of public feeling as expressed by the petition debated at the November 2011 meeting of the Council.”