A SURVEY is currently being carried out across the county in the local library service.
Cash-strapped Worcestershire County Council is looking to make savings of around £500,000 and then £300,000 next year and people are being asked for their opinion on what they expect from their local library.
The county has 23 libraries plus the mobile library and the library links service.
It asks what services people use and how often they visit and, crucially, what reduction in service they would be prepared to have to keep their local library open.
Options include reducing opening hours, the introduction of unstaffed, self-service libraries, community run libraries, co-locations with other local services, community run libraries, ther local services delivered by library staff and sharing the premises with other organisations.
Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Cabinet Member Responsible for Communities, said: “We are currently conducting a short survey to capture the views of people who use libraries but also those who don’t. We want to hear residents’ views about libraries in the county – what they value most about them and how they could be improved.
“The results of the survey will feed into a wider review of the Libraries Service which is looking at ways of sustaining and improving services and ensuring Worcestershire libraries meet the needs of the communities they serve.
“Proposals on the transformation of library services will then be discussed at Cabinet in autumn 2018 and if approved, a public consultation will be launched.”
Labour Group Leader Councillor Robin Lunn (Redditch North) said: “They need to save quite a bit of money and the county’s Cabinet member is quite proud of the fact she has never closed a library, but people need to get their ideas in.”
To complete the survey which is open until August 5, visit www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=153071619678 or pop into your local library.
