Libraries data for 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2024
Case reference FOI2025/02444
Received 12 December 2025
Published 2 January 2026
Request
1) How many hours in total were your council run public libraries open to the general public (not just people with library cards) in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
2) How many of these hours were unstaffed in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
3) How many free weekly library sessions for children under 5 years old (such as rhyme time, baby bounce or story sessions) were provided in your council run public libraries in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
4) How many free weekly library sessions for children between the ages of 5-18 (such as board games, homework clubs, reading groups) were provided in your council run public libraries in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
5) How many full-time equivalent library workers were employed by your council in the financial years:
a) 2015/16
b) 2020/21
c) 2024/25
Response
1) How many hours in total were your council run public libraries open to the general public (not just people with library cards) in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
Answer: Please see the table below. Please note, the Service Area have advised they record and report all their annual figures in Financial Years, 1 March to 30 April:
|
a) |
2010 (2010/11) |
18,486 hours |
|
b) |
2015 (2015/16) |
13,150.8 hours (Hereford Library closed for 8 weeks for building work) |
|
c) |
2020 (2020/21) |
4,784 hours (Reduced opening due to Coronavirus lockdown) |
|
d) |
2024 (2024/25) |
15,288 hours |
2) How many of these hours were unstaffed in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
Answer: Please see the table below:
|
a) |
2010 (2010/11) |
0 hours |
|
b) |
2015 (2015/16) |
0 hours |
|
c) |
2020 (2020/21) |
0 hours |
|
d) |
2024 (2024/25) |
0 hours |
3) How many free weekly library sessions for children under 5 years old (such as rhyme time, baby bounce or story sessions) were provided in your council run public libraries in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
Answer: Please see the table below. Please note, the Service Area have advised they were not required to report data on events to CIPFA before 2024:
|
a) |
2010 (2010/11) |
Information not held |
|
b) |
2015 (2015/16) |
Information not held |
|
c) |
2020 (2020/21) |
Information not held |
|
d) |
2024 (2024/25) |
198 |
4) How many free weekly library sessions for children between the ages of 5-18 (such as board games, homework clubs, reading groups) were provided in your council run public libraries in:
a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2024
Answer: Please see the table below. Please note, the Service Area have advised they were not required to report data on events to CIPFA before 2024:
|
a) |
2010 (2010/11) |
Information not held |
|
b) |
2015 (2015/16) |
Information not held |
|
c) |
2020 (2020/21) |
Information not held |
|
d) |
2024 (2024/25) |
46 |
5) How many full-time equivalent library workers were employed by your council in the financial years:
a) 2015/16
b) 2020/21
c) 2024/25
Answer: Please see the table below:
|
a) |
2015/16 |
39.5 FTE |
|
b) |
2020/21 |
30 FTE |
|
c) |
2024/25 |
29.8 FTE |
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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