Sheffield council considers restaurant openings for closure-threatened libraries

A council in Sheffield has put forward plans to open restaurants or bars in some of Sheffield's libraries in a bid to keep them open.

The Labour-run council said that 27 organisations were interested in taking over 14 libraries that could close as a result of budget cuts. Most of those expressions of interest were from volunteer organisations or individuals, but two were from the business community.

"We've had approaches to have libraries used as digital media centres, internet cafes, job clubs, for art and design classes. We've even had a registration of interest looking at a restaurant or bar, but ensuring that the library opens a lot longer than it's currently open," councillor Mazher Iqbal.

So far it is not clear which of the city's 28 libraries will close but a decision is expected in the autumn, according to the BBC.