A survey which gives residents and local organisations the chance to inform the future design of library services in Cumberland has been launched today [April 22, 2025].
The results of Cumberland Council’s survey will be fed into their Libraries Fit for the Future (FFF) Project – a scheme which seeks to futureproof area’s library services.
The survey aims to help the council understand what people think of the current library offer and what people want from the service going forward. People can take part via consult.cumberland.gov.uk/making-our-libraries-fit-for-the-future and have until July 4, 2025 to submit their responses.
This survey is part of the first phase of FFF, which is to engage with a range of stakeholders and also includes a series of workshops and drop-in sessions, and to gather and analyse data on things like library usage and current and future demographics.
One of the council’s main aims through FFF is to continue to deliver library services that are welcoming and accessible to all and make the most of digital-based offering which are becoming increasingly popular.
Once all the information is gathered the council will then be able to make proposals on what Cumberland’s library service could offer and how it can best be delivered. Residents and other stakeholders will then be consulted on these proposals in due course.
Cllr Anne Quilter, the council’s Executive member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: “I’d encourage as many people in Cumberland as possible to complete our survey and have your say on what library services should look like in the future. We want to hear from you whether you’re a regular user, an occasional browser or someone who doesn’t visit our libraries.
“I’m really proud of the library service and I want to stress that we won’t be reducing our current offer, but it is right that we carry out this engagement to make sure that the service we will have in the future is fit for purpose and meets the ever-changing needs of our community.
“This project is at a very early stage and no decisions about what the service might look like in the future have been made so this is your chance to influence those decisions.”
