Brighton & Hove councillors have approved significant changes to the city’s library network, agreeing to reduce opening hours at two major branches and close two community libraries from April 2026. The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on 11 December, is part of a wider plan to deliver substantial savings for the 2026/27 budget amid what the council describes as severe financial pressures.
Under the approved measures, Jubilee Library will lose five hours a week, closing earlier on Monday evenings and Sunday afternoons, while Hove Library will also reduce its weekly hours by five through earlier closures on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Two smaller branches—Hollingbury Library and Westdene Library—will close permanently. Rottingdean Library, originally considered for closure, will remain open for the time being, with a further review scheduled in 12 months after more work is carried out with local community groups.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sport, Recreation and Libraries, said the council recognises that the closures and reduced hours will be disappointing for many residents but insisted the measures were necessary. He said the city remains proud of its library service and stressed that Brighton & Hove will still offer more library provision per resident than the national average even after the changes are implemented. Residents will continue to have access to the city’s 11 remaining libraries, online resources and the Home Delivery Service.
The council has pledged to work with community partners to explore alternative options for the areas losing their libraries. At Hollingbury, based within the Old Boat Community Centre, officers will support the venue through book donations and digital inclusion schemes once the library closes. At Westdene, located beside the primary school, the council is exploring ways to donate books to support pupils’ reading and notes that residents could apply to the Better Brighton & Hove Fund if they wish to establish a community-run replacement.
These decisions follow a 12-week public consultation held between July and October 2025, after councillors agreed earlier in the year to save £210,000 from the library service budget. The consultation involved surveys, public meetings, drop-in events and discussions with local groups. The opening hours identified for reduction were selected based on the quietest periods at Jubilee and Hove, while the locations chosen for closure were assessed on factors including usage, geographic coverage and community needs.
The library closures and reduced hours are due to take effect from April 2026, and a staff consultation will now take place to address changes to rotas and site closures. The council’s current Libraries Strategy expires at the end of 2025, with a new long-term strategy set to be launched in 2026 to shape the future of Brighton & Hove’s library services.
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