Cumberland Council is reviewing its library service to make sure it meets current and future needs.
We want to understand how people use libraries, what they need, and how services could improve.
The Libraries Fit for the Future programme has included:
- an engagement exercise with residents and stakeholders
- analysis of data to understand current and future demand
- research into what people want from library services
What we learned
Feedback from the 2025 engagement exercise has been brought together in the Strategic Needs Assessment (SNA). This includes insights from surveys, drop-in sessions and workshops held during spring and summer 2025.
More than 1,500 people took part, including library users, non-users and staff.
Public Library Service Strategic Needs Assessment 2025
What happens next
The council is reviewing options to develop the library service based on this feedback.
Some changes are already underway, including closer working between customer services and libraries.
For more information about the Libraries Fit for the Future programme, contact us:
Email: [email protected]