Cabinet to consider new library, museums and archives fees and loan charges
Lancashire County Council's cabinet will consider a proposal to increase fees and charges in libraries, museums and archives at its meeting on 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 will consider increasing 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 at Gawthorpe Hall
• The charge for a copy of an archive probate record

It is also proposed to bring in 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: "We haven't increased our charges for some time, and given the county council's current financial position this situation can't continue.

"Unfortunately we can't continue to absorb these costs, and the proposed increases are consistent with those introduced by other councils across the country.

"Although increasing charges is never popular, it is something that we need to consider 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