Executive summary
Cumberland Council, as a newly established unitary authority, has undertaken a Strategic Needs Assessment of its public library service to ensure it remains fit for the future. This review considers statutory obligations, the needs of residents, and the Council’s strategic priorities within a rapidly changing socio-cultural environment.
The assessment highlights significant demographic and socio-economic challenges, including an ageing population with higher health risks, pockets of severe deprivation affecting around 28,800 residents, below-average educational attainment, high levels of child poverty, and rurality impacting access to services. While the library service is well-regarded (the majority of survey respondents (84.7%) rated its services as either very good or excellent, covered in detail below), issues such as staffing pressures, building suitability, and low awareness of services among residents require attention. The Council’s Strategic priorities (2025 to 2030) positions libraries as key partners in promoting health, wellbeing, and early intervention.
Feedback from residents, staff, and stakeholders identifies a number of priority areas for development:
- Maintain satisfaction with core services (of provision of books and information, IT and PC access, activities and events in and out of library settings), while investing in library buildings.
- Address low awareness of services among both users and non-users by improving marketing and promotion beyond reliance on social media.
- Expand engagement with the digital offer.
- Make libraries more appealing to young people through events and study spaces.
- Enhance staff training to broaden service delivery and digital support.
- Strengthen collaboration to deliver tailored services and improve access for vulnerable and rural residents.
- Review the nature, timing, and location of events to match community expectations.
- Explore how to make better use of library buildings, including hiring out space for business and community use.
- Address concerns about service quality in library links and volunteer knowledge.
- Extend services to those unable to access library buildings through mobile and outreach provision.
In conclusion, Cumberland Libraries must evolve to become dynamic, inclusive hubs that meet diverse community needs. This will require improved marketing, investment in welcoming spaces, expanded health and wellbeing support, targeted outreach to deprived areas, a stronger digital offer, and innovative service delivery models. Building partnerships and securing external funding will be critical to achieving these ambitions and ensuring libraries remain central to community life.