The closure of four libraries is just one of the options proposed by Harrow Borough Council to save money in next year’s budget.

The authority has launched a consultation about the future of libraries in Harrow and has outlined proposals of cuts to the service.

Harrow has to make £25million worth of savings in next year’s budget and a total of £75million over the next four years.

One of the options put forward by the council is the closure of four of the borough’s ten libraries.

They are Bob Lawrence Library, in Edgware, Hatch End Library, in the Harrow Arts Centre, North Harrow Library, in Pinner Road, and Rayners Lane Library, in Imperial Drive.

These are the sites least visited in the borough and their closure could save the authority an estimated £480,000 a year.

Library services are currently run by external provider Carillion Integrated Services, which signed a contract with Harrow Council last year.

Another option put forward by the council is to cut opening hours at all libraries, apart from Gayton Library, to 22 and a half hours per week, which would save the council £250,000.

A third option put forward by the council is to give community groups the chance to run library services, with the council only paying for new stock and computer provision.

However the council says this will not achieve the savings in next year’s budget.

According to the council the number of visits to Harrow’s libraries has fallen year by year since 2009/2010 which had a total of 1,470,506 visits compared to the year for 2013/2014 which had a total of 1,104,846 visits.

The council is also calling for people’s views on the enhancement to library services as a whole, if the four libraries are closed, with Open+ technology.

This would libraries would be able to remain open longer while being unstaffed, with the use of as card reader technology, CCTV and security systems.

To implement these improvements would cost approximately £20,000 per library, and the council is due to carry out a trial at Wealdstone Library.

Harrow Council is also asking for people’s views on improving the service in the long term.

Those interested in taking part in the consultation can find out all the options proposed by the council by clicking here.