THE NATIONAL Library of Wales in Aberystwyth will be forced to make “devastating staff cuts”, its Chief Executive has warned, if a slew of recommendations in a Welsh Government review are not implemented.

An independent review report following a review of the operations of NLW undertaken at the request of the Welsh Government was released this week, and has called on the institution to improve long-term planning and embrace digital technology to secure its future amid plummeting central funding.

The review, which follows 10 years of financial problems, with income decreasing steadily year on year and a 23 per cent drop in staff numbers from 2008 to 2019, said that NLW “has not been as effective or consistent as it could have been in driving change” and remained “concerned about the lack of a medium to long-term strategic plan.”

The Challenge Panel was concerned about the lack of a medium to long-term strategic plan by NLW. The Review Team did note that NLW’s Executive had been “enthused and invigorated” by the review process, and “had taken on board the need to develop and deliver a more effective strategic vision” through the recommendations of the review.

Pedr ap Llwyd, NLW Chief Executive and Librarian said that it was vital the review recommendations were followed if the library is to thrive and secure jobs.

“The library is in a very precarious financial position, and if the recommendations of this review are ignored the current crisis will lead to the implementation of a number of damaging measures to balance the budget in the long term, including the real possibility of having to reduce our workforce by up to 30 members of staff,” Mr ap Llwyd said.

“The implications of having to take such drastic measure would have a devastating effect on the Library, Aberystwyth and Ceredigion.”

The review found shortcomings in NLW’s management structure, which was “small and lacked sufficient key skills such as commercial expertise and a sufficient understanding of digital technology.”

The review noted that there had been “no strategic board-led decisions on cost reduction” in the past 10 years, “even though this was clearly one of the biggest challenges facing NLW.”

The review found that NLW “should not shrink from looking at radical options going forward” and that “it should increase the pace of the digital agenda” and “review the marketing functions to see if more income could be generated.”

“The leadership at board and senior team level needed to have, between them, the rounded skills needed to deliver change,” the review found and that “urgent attention should be given to the Library’s financial needs and that the National Library should outline its suggestions for adequate budgetary provision over the next five years” to the Welsh Government.

Meri Huws, interim President of the NLW said she “welcomes the recommendations of the review”. “It is a thorough and detailed analysis of the current state of play and of the issues faced by the library and we look forward to working closely with Welsh Government to implement its recommendations and to safeguard the Library’s future.”

Aled Eirug, the Chair of the Review Panel said: “We have identified the most critical challenges facing the National Library, including making its services more available to a wider audience, and we look forward to both the Welsh Government and National Library implementing our recommendations.”