New chapter for Arun’s library service?

A new survey, launched on Monday (September 3) by West Sussex County Council, is asking residents to say exactly what they want to see change in their local library, in the next few years.

The questionnaire takes a realistic look at the service, both present and the future, and asks how often people read books, whether they use traditional paper volumes, electronic readers or audiobooks.

It also asks where and how people access the internet, what kind of electronic reader they have and how people get their information from the county council, as well as questioning users how they would revamp and modernise their local library, too.

Deputy leader of the county council, Lionel Barnard – who oversees library services in the area – said: “Planning the library service of the future is a constant process of asking questions and listening to the answers. We need to know how people rate their libraries, which ones they use, and what they use them for.”

People can fill in the survey online at home or free of charge in libraries, at www.westsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay under “live consultations”. Paper copies will shortly be available in libraries. The results will be available on the website from November.