The council said it has been forced into recommending the closure of Harold Wood, South Hornchurch, and Gidea Park libraries due to financial challenges.
The decision will be put before the council’s cabinet on February 5, after being reviewed by the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on February 3.
The council said the closures would save £288,000 annually, which is “crucial” for the council to meet its legal responsibilities and increasing social care and homelessness demands.
The three libraries have the lowest footfall of all ten borough libraries, have alternative branches nearby, Havering claims, adding that each requires significant financial investment in their buildings.
The council said Harold Wood library would close, but with the hope of reopening in a new building as part of future regeneration opportunities.
Havering Council leader Cllr Ray Morgon said: “This is an incredibly tough decision for us to make.
“It has been forced on us by year on year cuts in Government funding and increasing pressures and costs from social care and homelessness.
“We also need to ensure that we can continue to provide other essential statutory services to our residents.
“We acknowledge the community impact of any library closures, this has been reflected in recommending three sites to close rather than the previously proposed four, but we are sadly left with no easy choices.
“Due to the temporary staff arrangements in place, the closure of these libraries will thankfully not result in any permanent staff redundancies.”
The council said it is exploring the possibility of an “enhanced community offer” in South Hornchurch to support potential volunteer-led book swaps, study spaces, and other services offered within the current library.
However, it said any community alternatives will not be financially comprehensive enough to cover the savings required at the sites where closures are proposed.
Cllr Morgon added: “Following the library consultation, we wrote to the Government’s Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, despite receiving a response, they could not provide any commitment to providing funding that could prevent library closures.
“I urge residents to help us demand change by signing our online petition.”
The petition can be found at https://consultation.havering.gov.uk/coo/gov-funding-formula-petition-24-25/
