An overhaul of staffing at Devon’s libraries has led to 19 people being made redundant.

Libraries Unlimited has made 18 library supervisor roles redundant, with 19 people affected by the change because of a job share.

The move comes just months after Devon County Council, which commissions Libraries Unlimited to run the libraries, ploughed £1 million in extra cash into a transformation plan aimed at developing library services and buildings.

It also agreed not to implement a grouping of libraries that could have led to changes in opening hours.

However, Libraries Unlimited is responsible for employing library staff, something the council has no say or involvement in.

Libraries Unlimited said the supervisor role would no longer exist and that it had created a different tier of library and community manager (LCM), a role that would mean responsibility for several libraries alongside a “greater strategic overview”.

“There will be nine new library and community managers, which are ringfenced for affected staff, and we are currently holding multiple other vacant roles which may be alternatives for staff at risk of redundancy,” a spokesperson for Libraries Unlimited said.

“We have been looking across the charity for ways to make ourselves more resilient to increasing costs and have already made savings of £300k from our support teams and over £100k from reviewing contracts.

“This review is being done in order for Devon’s libraries to be sustainable in the long term”

The latest available annual report from Libraries Unlimited, which covers the 2024/25 financial year, shows income of just over £9.4 million, but expenditure of nearly £9.7 million.

“Staffing decisions made by Libraries Unlimited are separate from the council’s recent strategic decisions,” said a Devon County Council spokesperson.

“The council provides funding and sets the strategic direction for the library service, while the recent staff consultation and changes to supervisor posts are decisions made by Libraries Unlimited as the employer.”