Staff at Croydon's libraries are facing the threat of redundancy for the second time since a private contractor took control.

Carillion, which runs 13 of the borough's 14 libraries, announced further cuts this month after making 11 redundancies early last year.

The facilities management company took over the libraries in October 2013 when it bought out John Laing Integrated Services, which signed an eight-year contract to run them just three months previously.

Croydon library staff received notices earlier this month informing them the equivalent of 2.5 full-time posts were to go as part of a restructure.

Carillion said there would be "no negative impact" on library users as a result of the changes, which will also affect Carillion's library staff in Hounslow, Ealing and Harrow.  

A spokesman said: "The main focus of these proposals will be to align job descriptions and responsibilities across a number of library services which Carillion operate in London. 

"There will be no negative impact on the delivery of front-line library services in Croydon and Carillion remains committed to working with the local authority and library users to develop the services on offer."

But Elizabeth Ash, who runs the Save Croydon's Libraries campaign, said imposing further cuts was "absolutely crazy" and called for Carillion to invest in the service.

She added: "I do not know how the staff keep delivering what they are delivering with so little support. The stock is being run down, people say they can't get anything, they have cut the DVDs, and there are just no staff anywhere."

Croydon's libraries currently have the equivalent of 74.36 full-time staff. A consultation on the restructure is scheduled to end on August 28, with staff invited to volunteer for redundancy.

Croydon Labour were outspoken critics of the libraries contract prior to winning control of the council in May last year and pledged to seek to tear it up if elected.

The council said it had not agreed to Carillion's planned restructure. It has demanded evidence of the expected impact on the proposals on Croydon's libraries.