Libraries across Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe received the most support from Government to help recover from the pandemic, figures have revealed.
Inspire, the organisation which manages the services across Nottinghamshire, has confirmed the exact amount each library received in Government grants as part of Covid relief funding.
The money was used to plug holes in the organisation’s budget after lockdowns and restrictions caused a reduction in service and a drop in cash flow.
It comes as the chief executive of the independent charity described the pandemic as a “perfect storm” of extra costs and lost income, with the organisation recording losses of more than £1.6 million.
This was shored up in part thanks to Government intervention, in the form of the retail and leisure grant and restart grant, as well as business rate relief and the furlough scheme.
And figures released by the charity have shown the amount each library received to implement measures such as Covid safety, PPE, screens and deep cleaning.
The cash was secured by applying for grants through district and borough councils, with the authorities responsible for distributing Government relief to various businesses and traders.
Broken down by local authority areas, Newark and Sherwood received the most Government funds which were then distributed to library services.
The district received £192,084 spread across its nine library sites, almost £30,000 greater than Rushcliffe which received the second-highest sum.
Rushcliffe Borough Council distributed a total of £162,165 to libraries in its area, with seven sites sharing the support.
By contrast Mansfield District Council received £106,851 in Government relief to share across the area’s five libraries, the smallest sum of any Nottinghamshire authority.
The six libraries in Ashfield shared £143,966, while Gedling (£143,236), Bassetlaw (£124,761) and Broxtowe (£128,494) made up the remainder of the funding.
In total, libraries and centres across the county shared £1,034,582 in grants, made up of £702,348 from the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant, £168,900 in business rates relief and a further £163,342 from the Restart Grant.
The charity was then supported with a further £506,000 from the job retention scheme, helping to reduce the Covid impact to an estimated £95,000.
Speaking on the funding, Peter Gaw, chief executive of Inspire, said the charity moved to review its budget and mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
He added the organisation had only drawn “on funding that would meet our financial pressures”, utilising grants to make up lost income, buying hand gel, PPE, screens and extra cleaning.
Below is a breakdown of the funds received by each library, split into local authority areas:
Ashfield
Edgewood Library: £12,920
Hucknall Library: £33,173
Huthwaite Library: £31,249
Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library: £32,828
Skegby and Stanton Hill Library: £13,708
Sutton-in-Ashfield Library: £20,088
Total: £143,966
Bassetlaw
Balmoral Library: £13,051
Bircotes Library: £14,945
Carlton-in-Lindrick Library: £14,078
Langold Library: £13,373
Misterton Library: £13,060
Retford Library: £7,127
Worksop Library (The HUB): £20,133
Worksop Temporary Library: £28,994
Total: £124,761
Broxtowe
Beeston Library: £33,896
Eastwood Library: £33,576
Kimberley Library: £13,979
Stapleford Library: £33,531
Toton Library: £13,512
Total: £128,494
Gedling
Arnold Library: £16,122
Burton Joyce Library: £13,422
Calverton Library: £14,075
Carlton Hill Library: £28,409
Carlton Library: £16,464
Gedling Library: £13,774
Mapperley Library: £13,767
Ravenshead Library: £13,768
Woodthorpe Library: £13,435
Total: £143,236
Mansfield
Forest Town Library: £12,864
Ladybrook Library: £13,627
Mansfield Central Library: £32,240
Mansfield Woodhouse Library: £33,144
Warsop Library: £14,976
Total: £106,851
Newark and Sherwood
Balderton Library: £14,973
Bilsthorpe Library: £14,821
Blidworth Library: £32,628
Clipstone Library: £14,494
Collingham Library: £14,596
Edwinstowe Library: £14,820
Newark Library: £35,576
Ollerton Library: £33,752
Southwell Library: £16,424
Total: £192,084
Rushcliffe
Bingham Public Library: £33,432
Cotgrave Library: £35,352
East Leake Branch Library: £15,793
Keyworth Library: £32,665
Radcliffe on Trent Library: £15,012
Ruddington Public Library: £14,935
West Bridgford Library: £14,976
Total: £162,165
