The draft library strategy asks residents to rate six ways of running libraries, including self-service and volunteer support. Comments close at 23:59 on 10 November.
Wokingham Borough Council has published a draft strategy for its libraries and wants residents’ views by 23:59 on Tuesday 10 November (Wokingham Borough Council).
The council’s release talks about principles and values. The survey behind it goes further. It asks people to rate different ways of running libraries in future, including self-service access and libraries supported by volunteers (consultation survey).
No library is named for closure or change in anything the council has published so far. But its summer engagement report says the council needs services that meet local needs “while making the best use of available resources”, and that it will consult “before any decisions are made” (early engagement report).
The six ways of running a library
The survey lists six approaches. It says most of the borough’s libraries already combine more than one:
- In-person support and expertise: professional staff on hand
- Shared community hubs: libraries alongside other services
- Self-service access: flexible access using technology
- Community-supported: working with volunteers and local organisations
- Outreach and mobile: taking services out into communities
- Digital services: available at any hour, from anywhere
Respondents are asked what they think of each, where each would work best, and whether there is an approach the council has missed.
What the draft strategy says
The strategy is built on five principles. The council calls them communities first, fair and inclusive, learning for life, stronger together and forward thinking. The last of these promises “responsible decisions that support sustainable library services for future generations”.
It names five areas libraries should support:
- reading and literacy
- learning and skills
- digital access
- health and wellbeing
- stronger communities
The council says library teams have run more than 600 activities and events so far this year, attended by over 12,000 people, with about 180 volunteers.
What people said in the summer
Before writing the draft, the council ran a survey from 27 July to 23 August. It drew 1,367 responses, and 1,215 of those people said they use the borough’s libraries. Those figures are from the council’s own report on the survey.
Asked to pick three priorities, 72.2% of library users chose borrowing books and reading materials. Almost as many, 69.8%, chose keeping libraries close to where people live. Only 8.2% chose longer or more convenient opening hours.
Asked what would happen if their library changed significantly or was no longer available in the same way, 54.9% said it would have a major impact on them or their family. Another 34.3% said a moderate impact.
The survey also put a direct trade-off to users:
- 57.6% would keep current opening hours, even with less help from staff or volunteers
- 22.8% would rather have staff or volunteer support, even if hours were cut
- the rest had no preference or did not answer
Voluntary groups pulled the other way. The 20 partner organisations that replied said trained staff mattered more than extended opening hours. Library volunteers in a small focus group said volunteering “should not be viewed as a direct replacement for employed roles”.
The survey was open to anyone, so it reflects who chose to reply. People in their seventies were the largest age group, at 21% of all respondents; 24% gave no age.
What it means for you
- Take part by 23:59 on Tuesday 10 November, online through the consultation page or on a paper survey at any borough library. You can also reply by post.
- Paper, large print and easy read versions are available on request. Call the council on 0118 974 6000 or ask at your library.
- The council says it particularly wants to hear from young people, residents from minority ethnic communities, disabled residents and people who find it hard to get online.
- About 240 responses had been submitted by 24 October, according to the consultation platform’s own count.
After 10 November the council will analyse the responses. It has not published a date for a final decision on the strategy. We will report what it decides, and any proposal for a named library, when the papers are published.
Have your say