Lack of staff force Bristol libraries to close but new jobs are internally recruited only

Bristol libraries are being forced to close their doors due to a lack of staff.

A recruitment drive has now started to fill the vacancies, with up to 17 new staff needed to cover the shortages.

Over the next three months, four local branches Avonmouth, Filwood, St Pauls and Knowle libraries will be closed during the following times:

Avonmouth closed Saturdays
Filwood closed Saturdays
St Pauls closed Saturdays
Knowle closed Monday evenings

Head of Bristol Libraries, Kate Murray is confident the library service will be back to normal by the start of the new year. She said: “Whilst we are in the process of recruiting new staff we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to the library service, including flexible working over lunch hours, changes to staff rotas to cover front desk duties and temporary, short-term closures.”

Despite needing 17 new staff members, the vacancies are not open to members of the public.

Due to cost cutting measures, Bristol City Council are currently recruiting staff internally for these jobs.