Our aims are to evaluate our current library services and identify ways we can:
- continue to deliver good library services that are welcoming and accessible to all
- offer our residents convenient, local access to library and council services that empower them to achieve positive health and wellbeing and economic outcomes
- deliver services in an effective and efficient way that guarantees its long-term financial sustainability
Council budgets are unlikely to increase in the coming years. Libraries are a key priority for us, so we want to ensure they:
- are efficient
- are well-located
- meet the needs of both our residents and the council
Approach and timescales
In 2025, we will start our data and design phase for 12 months. This will include:
- data gathering - engagement with internal and external stakeholders
- reviewing outputs - collate, analyse and summarise feedback, research and data
- drafting the Library Service Strategy and identifying potential options
- consultation and decisions on proposals
In 2025 to 2026 we will start our communication phase.
We aim deliver in 2026.
What we are trying to find out
How effective are our current library services delivering against nationally set outcomes?
How cost effective are library services in Cumberland compared to other regions with similar demographics?
What will the future population of the region look like and what are the primary needs of that demography likely to need from libraries?
What do the Public want from public library services and library buildings? (Users and non-users)
What does the Council want from public library services and library buildings?
What is the Public view on different models of providing library services? (For example buildings/ digital/ remote)
What is the Council view on different models of providing library services? (For example buildings/ digital/ remote)
What is the condition of library building stock?
Ideas on how library services could be run better?
What are the council’s prevention priorities for the region?
Who we are engaging with
We are engaging with library stakeholders including:
- Cumberland Council internal stakeholders
- Community Panels and networks
- Politicians
- National professional organisations
- the public - library users and non-users
- Cumberland Council library stakeholders
We will be briefing professional stakeholders along the way, such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
What we want to know from this engagement work
The engagement phase will aim to answer the following questions.
If you use our Library Service
- what do you know about it?
- how do you use it?
- what do you think of it?
If you don’t use our Library Service
- why not?
- what can we do to enable you to use it?
Accessing Library buildings
- what do you think of our library buildings?
Library books - physical and digital
- do these meet your needs?
- what would you like to see more of/ less of?
Library services, information, advice and activities
- do you know about everything we offer?
- what do you think about the services we offer?
- what do you think about making changes to the services we offer?
What we’ll do with the data and feedback
We will produce and share the following information.
Engagement outputs: summary of feedback from stakeholder engagement surveys.
Library strategy: libraries approach going forward, service offer capturing what we will offer and how.
Strategic needs assessment: qualitative and quantitative data assessment of what need there is for library services across the region.
Improvement proposals: recommendations for any changes to services for further consultation.