A presentation about the engagement programme including links to the online survey, was made to Cumberland Council’s Senior Leadership Team / Executive Members (Joint Leadership Team (JLT)), and Directorate Management Teams from March 2025 onwards.

All 46 elected Councillors were invited to one of 3 online seminars, which engaged with the members of the 8 Community Panels and the Business and Resources Scrutiny Committee. All Councillors were invited to complete the public survey and share it amongst constituents.

Feedback from these meetings highlighted the contribution libraries already make to enabling the Councils’ priorities, given their direct accessibility and contact with residents and their local communities.

There was a strong appetite to build on existing library services and develop them to support the council’s Prevention Approach and a desire to see greater presence of other council services being accessible in libraries, including access to customer services.

Interest was expressed in extending the use of library buildings to contribute to the Council’s Community Hub model.

The council vision for Cumberland Community Hubs is as follows:

“Community Hubs in Cumberland offer welcoming and accessible spaces within the heart of our diverse communities, where residents can access key public and third sector services to meet their needs and positively impact their wellbeing.”

Given the Council’s libraries already provide a wide range of Information, advice and guidance and work closely with their communities, it was expressed that it would be desirable to continue to develop existing library buildings as key spaces for the public to get greater access to more supports that will enable them to live healthier, better and more sustainable lives.

Councillors expressed an interest in a more tailored, coproduced and collaborative approach to developing services within the council’s panel areas linked to locally identified priorities.

They recognised libraries provide a great opportunity for direct and personal engagement with local communities and residents and were keen to support the wider promotion of library service and asked for consideration to be given to improved access to library services for deprived and vulnerable residents, particularly those in rural communities.

Council officers recognised the importance of libraries and the opportunity to use their relationship with their local communities and residents to build stronger relationships and connections and also considered ways in which the library service could contribute to supporting their customers.

Key outcomes included:

• waste
  • opportunity to use libraries as venues to engage with public
  • opportunity to share more information – as per customer service support
• Highways
  • opportunity to share schedules of work and support consultation and engagement events
• Children’s
  • cross promote services, library membership pack for looked after children
  • support more initiative at Family Hubs and Commission Service support
• Health
  • develop greater synergy between outreach teams, more IAG, more events/ activities in libraries
  • public health activity and initiatives delivered in Libraries
• Adults
  • warm homes project links
  • possible visibility of Adult Social care in Libraries
  • remote services being offered in care settings
  • promotion of library services to care providers

Cumberland’s 120 library staff, from public and support/ specialised services, were provided with the opportunity to complete the staff survey. The full set of questions can be found at Appendix 1. In total, 70 responses were received, representing the views of three out of five of Cumberland’s library staff (58.3%), with the majority working within the public library service at Cumberland’s three main libraries (Carlisle, Whitehaven and Workington).

The majority of staff completing the survey are female (80%); this is a much larger proportion than the average gender split for Cumberland (females 51% / males 49% - Source: Office for National Statistics, 2023). The majority describe their ethnicity as White (97.1%); this is a slightly smaller proportion than the average for Cumberland (White 97.7% - Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021). One in five report having a disability or a long-term health condition (21.4%); this is a slightly larger proportion than the average who report being disabled under the Equality Act in Cumberland (19.8% - Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021).

Many staff feel their role is fulfilling and worthwhile and makes a positive contribution to the local community. Three quarters of staff rate library services overall as above average. It is clear from responses to this survey that library staff want to be able to deliver a good service, but there is frustration at being hindered in their effectiveness by a number of issues. Key ones relate to the condition of library buildings, staffing levels, and gaps in knowledge and training, and printing services with some concern regarding online digital resources for customers, an overly complicated public-facing online catalogue.