Written question WQ82669

The majority of the Welsh Government’s financial support for public libraries is distributed through the local government core settlement (consisting of revenue support grant and non-domestic rates). Amounts are determined annually and in advance of each new financial year as part of the Local Government Financial Settlement.

In response to Covid-19, additional funding of more than £1.5m was provided during 2020-21 to public libraries from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Resilience Fund and the Cultural Recovery Fund.

In addition to the core funding to local authorities, public libraries in Wales will also benefit from the financial support provided by the Welsh Government to the National Digital Library Service, Library Management System for Wales, the inter-library loan schemes across Wales, the Summer Reading Challenge, and the Reading Well Scheme.

Financial support is also available to public libraries through the Capital Transformation Grant Scheme which supports local museums, archives and libraries to revitalise facilities with a particular focus on widening access, partnership working and developing sustainable services. Public libraries received £539,000 from this Scheme during 2020-21.