Bristol people asked to help decide on cuts to libraries

The future of Bristol's libraries has been thrown into doubt with the announcement of a city wide consultation.

It comes with a warning from Mayor George Ferguson that doing nothing is not an option.

The council has to save £83m from its budget by 2017 and that includes cutting the money given to libraries.

West Country author Rebecca Westcott, who wrote children's books Dandelion Clocks and Violet Ink, tells us why libraries are so important in the community:

Major cutbacks are due to take place to Bristol's libraries and people in Bristol are being asked what they think of possible ways to save money.

Only 1 in 7 people regularly use the city’s libraries, and about a third of those are over 60. The council wants to find out what would tempt more people through the doors.

It also says it wants to develop flexible, modern spaces for communities to learn and socialise in, and will be gathering suggestions and feedback from Tuesday 11 November.

The council needs to save £1.1 million from its libraries by April 2016. This might mean library closures, or reduced stock and services.

Information from the survey will help them make some of these decisions.