Bedford Borough Library Strategy 2026-2031 and future development of Bedford Central Library consultation

The Council is consulting on the following:

• The draft Bedford Borough Library Strategy 2026-2031.
• Three potential options for the future development of Bedford Central Library.

The consultation will help the Council understand how residents, library users and stakeholders use library services today, what they believe the future priorities for the library service should be, and their views on the different options for the future development of Bedford Central Library.

Under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, the Council has a statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service for all those who live, work or study in the Borough. The consultation provides the opportunity to ensure that the Council continues to fulfil its statutory duty. 

The draft Library Strategy sets out the Council's vision and priorities for library services between 2026 and 2031. The future of Bedford Central Library is an important part of that vision because the Central Library is the Borough's flagship library and plays a key role in delivering many library services.

The consultation on Bedford Central Library considers three different options for how the library could develop in the future. Consulting on both issues at the same time allows residents to consider priorities for library services over the next five years and how a future Central Library could support those priorities.

No.

No final decision has been made regarding either the adoption of the Library Strategy or the future development of Bedford Central Library. The Council is seeking feedback before any recommendations are made and any final decisions are taken.  

Consultation responses, the Libraries Needs Assessment, Equality Analysis and other relevant evidence will all be considered before recommendations are brought forward for a final decision. Any future recommendation regarding Bedford Central Library would also be subject to further feasibility work and development of a business case.

Library services have changed significantly in recent years.

While reading and access to books remain at the heart of libraries, modern libraries also provide digital access, learning opportunities and access to information, facilities and activities for children and families, cultural and community activities, support for health and wellbeing, and flexible spaces that meet the needs of the community. 

The strategy provides a framework for how the library service will respond to changing needs and priorities over the coming years, helping to ensure that future decisions about library services are based on an understanding of local needs and evidence.

• View the draft Bedford Borough Library Strategy 2026-31 (PDF) 
• View the supporting Bedford Borough Libraries Needs Assessment (PDF) 
• View the Library Strategy Consultation Information (PDF)

The draft strategy proposes the following vision:

"Libraries at the heart of Bedford Borough's communities: inspiring reading, supporting learning, promoting wellbeing and connecting people with opportunities." 

The draft strategy proposes four strategic priorities:

1. Inspiring reading and connecting people with opportunities.
2. Reducing inequalities and improving wellbeing.
3. Strengthening communities through creativity and culture.
4. Sustainable libraries for a changing Borough.

The consultation does not propose the closure of any libraries.

The Council continues to operate Bedford Central, Bromham, Kempston, Putnoe and Wootton libraries, together with the Mobile Library and Home Library Service. 

The consultation seeks views on future priorities for the library service as a whole and on options for the future development of Bedford Central Library.

The Council wants to understand which library services people value most and what factors influence people’s use of libraries.

This will help ensure that the future direction of the library service reflects the needs, priorities and experiences of residents, library users and communities across Bedford Borough.  

Bedford Central Library is at the heart of Bedford Borough's library service. It supports reading and learning, provides study space and digital access, hosts activities and events, and helps connect people with information, opportunities and each other.

Libraries are changing. While borrowing books remains important, people increasingly use libraries for study, digital access, children's activities, community events, health and wellbeing support, and access to information and services.

As part of developing the draft Bedford Borough Library Strategy 2026-2031, the Council has reviewed how Bedford Central Library can continue to meet the needs of residents and communities in the future. We would like to develop the Central Library provision so that it is modern, accessible and flexible, with: 

• new and modern facilities
• improved accessibility
• greater visibility within the town centre
• better facilities for children and families
• more flexible community and activity spaces
• improved study and learning facilities
• enhanced digital provision
• support for wider regeneration objectives and positive impact on economic challenges facing the town centre

The Libraries Needs Assessment shows that Bedford Central Library plays a vital role within Bedford Borough's library network. It accounts for almost 60% of all library visits, delivers almost half of all library activities and events, provides the largest concentration of digital access, and serves residents from across Bedford Borough. 

The Needs Assessment also highlights growing demand for:

• Services for children and families.
• Learning and study space.
• Digital access and support.
• Community activities and events.
• Health and wellbeing activities.
• Flexible and accessible community spaces. 

The Council's view is that any future Central Library should be able to respond to these changing patterns of use and continue to meet the needs of residents and communities across Bedford Borough.

Bedford Central Library remains a valued and well-used community facility. However, it was built in 1972 and was designed for different patterns of library use. Today, the main public library is located on the first and second floors, while the ground floor consists of an entrance lobby. This makes the library less visible within the town centre and creates accessibility challenges for some users. 

The Libraries Needs Assessment suggests that space is not being used as efficiently as it could be. Library use has changed significantly over time, with growing demand for services for children and families, learning and study space, community activities, digital support and health and wellbeing activities. The current layout can make it difficult to provide the flexible and adaptable spaces needed to support these uses. 

The assessment also identifies opportunities to use space more effectively. Public computer provision occupies a significant amount of space, but usage is relatively low compared with the number of computers and hours available. The assessment also shows that borrowing is concentrated in particular stock categories, especially children's books, while some other stock categories are used less frequently. 

As with many buildings of its age, the library also requires ongoing investment in maintenance and repairs. Taken together, these factors have led the Council to consider how the Central Library provision could be developed to better meet the needs of residents in the future.

The Council is consulting on three options for the future development of Bedford Central Library:

Option 1 – Relocate Bedford Central Library to the Howard Centre

This option would involve creating a new ground-floor library within the Howard Centre, designed to provide a modern, accessible and flexible library environment.

Option 2 – Develop Bedford Central Library in its current building by moving the main public library to the ground floor

This option would involve keeping the library within its existing building but relocating the main public library from the first and second floors to the ground floor to improve visibility and accessibility. This means the ground floor area that is directly below the current library areas with a similar footprint to the current first floor. The present entrance to Bedford Central Library would form a welcoming accessible entrance through to a ground floor library with windows along the front.

Option 3 – Retain Bedford Central Library in its current location on the first and second floors and improve the facilities

This option would involve retaining the current arrangement of the library while improving where possible the layout, facilities and overall customer experience within the existing building.

Further information about each option, including potential benefits and considerations, is available in the Bedford Central Library Consultation Information (PDF).

No.

No final decision has been made regarding either the adoption of the Library Strategy or the future development of Bedford Central Library. The Council is seeking feedback before any recommendations are made and any final decisions are taken.

Consultation responses will be considered alongside the Libraries Needs Assessment, Equality Analysis, feasibility work, financial information and any future business case development.

Any future recommendation regarding Bedford Central Library would be considered through the Council's formal decision-making process before any final decision is taken.

The three options have been identified by considering needs, available opportunities, and initial feasibility work.

They represent different ways of responding to the same challenge: how Bedford Central Library can continue to meet the needs of residents in the future while improving accessibility and visibility, making more effective use of space, and providing facilities that reflect how people use libraries today.

The options range from improving the library within its current layout, to reconfiguring the existing building, through to relocating the library to a different town centre location. All three options have been developed on the basis that they could be delivered within the available funding and are being consulted on before any recommendations are made.

The three options would result in different amounts of public library space and different layouts.

Option 1 would relocate the library to the Howard Centre. The proposed space is around 915m², compared to around 1,400m² for the main public library floor areas in the current building. The library would be redesigned around a ground-floor layout that combines vacant units with the connecting mall area, with a greater emphasis on accessibility, learning and study space, digital access, adaptable community activity space, and services for children and families.

Option 2 would retain the library within the existing building but move the main public library to the ground floor. The ground floor provides around 870m² of space and is broadly equivalent in size to the current first-floor library area. As with Option 1, the space would be redesigned to reflect how people use libraries today.

Option 3 would retain the current arrangement of library spaces within the building and maintain the existing amount of public library floorspace.

The consultation seeks views on the right balance between books, study space, digital provision, activities and community use in any future Central Library.

All three options would continue to provide core library services, including book lending, public computers, study space, activities and events. The main difference is how space would be organised and prioritised.

The Libraries Needs Assessment found growing demand for learning and study space, digital access, community activities, and services for children and families. It also found that borrowing is concentrated in particular stock categories, especially children's books, while some other stock categories are used less frequently. Public computer use remains important, particularly for digital inclusion, but computer provision currently occupies a significant amount of space relative to levels of usage. 

Options 1 and 2 would involve a slightly reduced footprint than the current arrangement and would therefore require decisions about the balance between books, study space, digital facilities, activities and community use. Option 3 would retain the existing amount of public library floorspace and the current overall arrangement of library spaces.

No decisions have been made. The consultation seeks views on which services, facilities and types of space residents believe should be prioritised in the future.

Heritage and local studies services are an important part of the library offer and the Council is committed to ensuring continued public access to these resources. 

No final decisions have been made regarding how heritage and local studies services would be provided under any of the options. However, all three options assume that local studies provision would continue to form part of Bedford Central Library. 

The Council recognises there is some overlap between local studies material held at Bedford Central Library and Bedfordshire Archives. Any future arrangements would consider how these resources can be provided in the most effective and efficient way for users. 

The Heritage Library is currently only open for four hours on one day per week. While no decisions have been made about the future arrangements for Heritage Library collections, the Council is committed to maintaining public access to heritage and local studies resources. 

The consultation seeks views on the importance of heritage, local studies and specialist collections, and how these services can best meet the needs of users in the future.

Improving accessibility is one of the main reasons why the Council is considering changes to Bedford Central Library.

Under Option 1, the library would move to a ground-floor location within the Howard Centre. Under Option 2, the main public library would move from the first and second floors onto the ground floor within the existing building. 

Under Option 3, the main public library would remain on the first and second floors. We would look to see what improvements could be made to facilities and the overall customer experience, but accessibility challenges associated with lack of ground floor presence may remain.

The consultation seeks views on a wide range of accessibility issues, including ease of access, transport links, parking, travel distances, safe and welcoming environments, and specific accessibility requirements. Equality Analysis is also being undertaken to help understand the impacts on different groups of residents and library users, including consideration of protected characteristics. 

The consultation does not propose changes to library opening hours, and there are currently no plans to reduce opening hours under any of the options being considered.

The impact on the current library building would depend on which option is ultimately selected.

Under Option 1, Bedford Central Library would relocate to the Howard Centre. Future decisions would then need to be made about the use of the existing library building. This could include leasing the building for alternative uses or making the site available for redevelopment as part of the wider Mayes Yard regeneration scheme.

Under Option 2, the library would remain within the existing building, with the main public library relocated to the ground floor. The focus would be on exploring opportunities for alternative uses of the upper floors as part of the wider Mayes Yard regeneration scheme.

Under Option 3, the library would continue to operate within the existing building in its current arrangement, with improvements where possible focused on facilities and the overall customer experience, however future arrangements for vacant areas of the building, such as the ground floor, would need to be determined.

Bedford Central Library already plays an important role within Bedford town centre and would continue to do so under all three options.

Option 1 would relocate the library to the Howard Centre, placing it alongside other services, facilities and businesses within a highly visible town centre location. This could help create a town centre destination where people combine library visits with shopping, access to other services, meeting friends and family, and taking part in activities.

Option 2 would retain the library within its current building in the Mayes Yard area whilst improving accessibility and visibility. It could also create opportunities for alternative uses within the building while maintaining a library presence in the area.

Option 3 would retain the library in its current location and arrangement, with changes focused on improving where possible facilities and the customer experience.

The different options could also have implications for the future use of buildings and sites within the town centre, including the current library building. Options 1 and 2 may create opportunities to support the wider regeneration of the Mayes Yard area, while Option 3 would retain the current building largely in its existing form.

The consultation seeks views on the future role of Bedford Central Library and how it can best support residents, communities and the town centre in the years ahead.

The Council has identified up to £4.5 million of Local Regeneration Fund (LRF) grant funding that could potentially be used to fund improvements to Bedford Central Library. This funding has become available following changes to other projects within the previously-named Town Deal programme and would be subject to meeting the relevant government funding requirements.

The three options have been developed on the basis that they could be delivered within the available funding and are intended to explore different ways of improving Bedford Central Library while making use of this investment opportunity.

The amount of disruption would depend on which option is ultimately selected and is subject to further feasibility work.

Option 1 would involve creating a new library within the Howard Centre before relocating services from the current building. Because the main construction and fit-out work would take place in a different location, it could be possible to continue operating the existing library with limited disruption until the move takes place.

Option 2 would involve relocating the main public library to the ground floor of the existing building. Although the ground floor area is separate, there could be some disruption to library services while work takes place. This would depend on the final design and programme.

Option 3 would involve improvements within the existing library space on the first and second floors. Therefore, it is highly likely that there could be some disruption to library services while work takes place. This would depend on the final design and programme.

No final decisions have been made and detailed programme dates have not been determined at this stage. If any option is approved, the Council would seek to minimise disruption to library users as far as possible and carefully plan any transition arrangements. Temporary provision would be considered where necessary to help maintain access to library services.

The ambition would be to deliver the preferred option by March 2028 using Local Regeneration Fund investment.

The consultation runs until 12 midday on 2 November 2026.

Anyone who:

• lives in Bedford Borough
• works in Bedford Borough
• studies in Bedford Borough
• uses Bedford Borough library services
• represents a community organisation, business or stakeholder group

Before completing the survey, we encourage you to read the consultation information, draft Library Strategy and supporting Libraries Needs Assessment, and these FAQs. These documents explain the proposals in more detail and provide the information needed to take part in the consultation.

The consultation survey includes sections on:

• current library use
• the draft Library Strategy 2026-2031
• the future development of Bedford Central Library
• equalities and personal impact

We will be holding drop-in sessions across Bedford Borough libraries, providing an opportunity for residents to find out more and share their views.

This consultation has now closed.

The Council has stated that consultation feedback will be a meaningful part of this process. No final decision will be made until all consultation findings and supporting evidence have been fully considered.

Consultation responses will be analysed and reviewed alongside other evidence, including the Libraries Needs Assessment, Equality Analysis and any further feasibility and business case work. 

Future recommendations regarding the adoption of the Bedford Borough Library Strategy 2026-31 and the future development of Bedford Central Library will then be considered through the Council's decision-making process.

Consultation findings will normally be reported in summary form.

Individual responses will generally be anonymised unless submitted on behalf of an organisation or identified group. Consultation findings may be reported in future committee reports and decision-making documents.