A public consultation is set to be launched into cost-cutting library plans next week, with drop-in events being held over the next three weeks.

Libraries across Allerdale could face lunchtime closures, with some not opening on Saturday, under the plans revealed by the county council.

Libraries in Aspatria, Cockermouth, Keswick, Maryport, Seaton, and Workington’s Moorclose estate are set to see their opening hours cut under the proposals.

A council spokesman said: “Like all council services, government cuts have put financial pressure on libraries.

"The council has made every effort to manage this without affecting the service the public receives.

“This has been successful and Cumbria has avoided the wholesale closures of libraries that have occurred elsewhere.

“However, the library service is continuing to change and adapt to the current climate.”

The council added that staffing shortages had led to unplanned closures of libraries at times in the last year and it was keen to avoid this in future.

At Aspatria, the council is planning to shut the library from noon to 1pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and permanently close on Saturday.

Its official Saturday opening hours are 10am to noon but it has not been open then since May last year.

At Cockermouth and Keswick, weekday noon to 1pm closures are planned, except on Thursdays where there is no afternoon opening, and Wednesday closing times would move forward to 5pm. Cockermouth’s has not opened beyond 5pm on a Wednesday since August.

Maryport would see weekday noon to 1pm closures and its Thursday closing time of 6pm moved to 5pm under the plans.

At Moorclose, there would be noon to 1pm closures on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, with an earlier 5pm Thursday closing time.

Saturday closures, in place since January, would be made permanent.

In Seaton, Monday opening hours would change from 2pm to 5.30pm to 1pm to 5pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays it would reopen at 1pm after lunch instead of 2pm.

Friday hours would be 2pm to 5pm, rather than the current 2pm to 4.30pm on alternative Fridays. It would close on Saturdays.

No changes are planned at Workington Library or in Silloth.

The council will also consult on plans to transfer Cockermouth Library to the town council.

Drop-ins will be held at:

  • Aspatria Library on December 13, 11am to 1pm and December 14, 4pm to 6pm
  • Cockermouth on Monday, 1pm to 6pm, and December 14, 9.30am to 1pm
  • Keswick on Tuesday, noon to 2pm, and December 12, 4pm to 6pm
  • Maryport on Monday, noon to 2pm, and December 15, 4pm to 6pm
  • Moorclose on Thursday, 4pm to 6pm, and December 19, 11am to 1pm
  • Seaton on December 15, 10am to noon, and December 19, 4pm to 5.30pm

Views can also be submitted at www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries , emailed to workington.library@cumbria.gov.uk or send to Workington Library by December 23.