1. Ealing Libraries Consultation An analysis of findings 8 th June 2011

2. Presentation Overview Method and representativeness of consultation responses Views on saving and closing libraries Current library usage Thoughts on proposed alternative management Thoughts on the decision-making criteria for reducing library services Thoughts on reducing stock and opening hours Thoughts on key library user groups and why libraries matter Thoughts on methods for generating income and increasing efficiency savings

3. Data Collection 23 rd March to 3 rd May Survey of Adults Online survey available on Council website and emailed to 81,500 library users. 3,139 adult online responses Paper survey delivered to 1,200 mobile & home library service users Paper survey available in libraries and other public buildings. 576 paper responses. Survey of Children & Young People Online survey 309 CYP online responses Public MeetingsEmails – 41 emails Hanwell – 110 attendees (approx)Letters – 8 letters Northolt – 28 attendees (approx) Northfields - 140 attendees (approx) Perivale - 35 attendees (approx)

4. Geographical Spread of Response

5. Representativeness of response GenderPercentage Male36.7% Female60.9% Not stated2.4% AgePercentage 34 years and under21.9% 35 to 64 years63.9% 65 years and over12.6% Not stated1.5% DisabilityPercentage With disability8.0% Without disability86.4% Don’t know/ Can’t say1.2% Not stated4.4% EthnicityPercentage White British59.7% Black and minority ethnic groups36.0% Not stated4.4%

6. Responses requesting that the Council maintains Library Services Approximately 300 responses to the Adults survey were simple expressions to save library services. This excludes the responses of many more who made more complex suggestions on how to save library services. Common responses were: Save our libraries. Do not close our local libraries. I feel that the council should not be looking at saving money through closing such a valuable resource as OUR libraries. Are you planning to sell off the library sites that you shut down? What a short term strategy that would be. You would be selling the family silver. Please do not close our library - we could fundraise to contribute to the annual costs of keeping it open and look at how to better use the building, but only with support from the Council

7. Approximately 70 respondents to the Adults survey said that some libraries could be closed or relocated. Common responses were: Close the small libraries - there is a marvellous public transport system in Ealing which can easily be used to access the central libraries. I like to have a library close to me but it's not much bother to go into central Ealing and to be honest it's more likely the book will be in stock, than in Northfields, so I don't have to wait. I haven't found Northfields library that helpful apart from to order online and pick up books - it is too small to stock what I need. Therefore close those small libraries that are the closest to Ealing central. Hanwell and Northfields overlap - Central library must remain. If one library were to close, it would make most sense to close Hanwell. There is obviously a need for library closures, particularly buildings that need a lot of renovation. As there has to be cuts made to keep the service going, I strongly agree that it would be a good idea to close the libraries that are used less often and the ones that cost a fortune to keep open. Closing some smaller libraries and keeping the main libraries open - providing mobile libraries for those that cannot travel. Responses supporting a reduction in Library Services

8. Main reasons for using library services in last 12 months (%)

9. Main reasons for using library services by libraries used in the last 12 months (%)

10. Main reasons for using library services in last 12 months (other reasons)

11. Main reasons for not using library services by libraries used in the last 12 months (counts)

12. Key words most frequently used when describing ‘Other’ most important services provided by Ealing’s library service

13. Frequency of online service usage (%)

14. Most important services that Ealing libraries provide by frequency of online service usage (%)

15. Reasons for using online services

16. Suggested improvements to Ealing’s library service (%)

17. Open comments analysis Question 10: Are there any other ways of providing library services in Ealing that you think the council should consider? Question 25: What improvements would you like to see to Ealing’s library service? Question 26: Do you have any other comments or suggestions you wish to make about the library service?

18. Key words most frequently used when responding to open questions

19. Responses relating to the council’s role in providing library services Comments included: The provision of a library service is one of the fundamental public service commitments of local government alongside education. You do not break this vicious cycle among the less well educated and more disadvantaged members of our community by closing the local library and putting barriers up such as introducing a bus trip to get to the nearest library, or by putting it under the control/guidance/implementation of an independent charity or inadequately-trained volunteers. Library funding and services are absolutely vital, and impartiality should not be compromised by outsourcing to external charities or voluntary organisations.

20. Extent of agreement to proposals for changes in library management (%)

21. Extent of agreement to community and voluntary organisations providing library services in smaller libraries such as Pitshanger Library and Northfields Library (%)

22. Extent of agreement to the proposal to use an organisation that is already delivering services to people in their homes to provide the Home Library Service by those who have and have not used the Home Library Service in the last 12 months (%)

23. Number of respondents volunteering for specific library services

24. Decision making criteria “Given the need to make significant savings to Ealing’s library service, do you agree or disagree that it would be most appropriate to consider closing libraries that : have another library near by still require significant investment are used least have high running costs per user?”

25. Extent of agreement with proposed criteria for deciding which library service(s) it would be most appropriate to close (%)

26. Extent of agreement to the appropriateness of closing Hanwell Library (%)

27. Extent of agreement to the appropriateness of closing Northolt Leisure Centre Library (%)

28. Extent of agreement to the appropriateness of closing Northfields Library (%)

29. Extent of agreement to the appropriateness of closing Perivale Library (%)

30. Extent of agreement to the appropriateness of closing the Mobile Library Service (%)

31. Extent of agreement to the appropriateness of closing Hanwell library, Northfields library, Northolt Leisure Centre library, Perivale library and the Mobile library services (%)

32. Extent of agreement to reducing stock or opening hours (%)

33. Responses regarding Stock Common responses were: I'm very happy with Ealing Library but it could do with more books! If you bought more books and kept the stock up to date libraries would be used more. I'd like to see more money spent on books and educational materials, and less money spent on mainstream commercial music and films. Books to support school, academic and adult learning – this could perhaps be achieved by improved liaison between librarians and local educational establishments.

34. Responses regarding opening hours Common responses were: Generally speaking the opening hours are not attractive to working people. It would be better to open for longer on less days but including all day Saturday, to reduce staffing costs, [rather] than turn over the service to volunteers. If opening hours are cut, can you ensure some evenings and weekends are accessible for working people - we are often neglected, despite the fact that we pay most of the Council Tax. Instead of cutting down services, look at staggering the hours. It's possible that you have more visitors during certain days/times. For example, I visit only on late evenings (7:00 PM +) or Saturdays. A usage study of what times visitors come to the library needs to be done if hours are to be reduced. Generally if library opening hours increase, then it means they are more accessible to others who cannot otherwise access it during office hours. Also, instead of reducing hours, you could cut the time paid staff work as long as there are volunteers that are available during the other hours.

35. Extent of agreement to a reduction in the amount spent on opening hours across the borough (%)

36. Responses regarding types of library users All the Community Children & Young People Students of all ages People with disabilities and mental illness Older people People on low incomes

37. Responses explaining why libraries matter BooksCommunityCivilised society Pleasure/ InterestComputers and Internet Study/ work space ChildrenGeneral information and reference Events and activities

38. Responses suggesting methods for generating income Increase charge online services/ reservations etc Rent out building space Charge for events/ activities Increase fines Get sponsorship Café Charge for home delivery Charge for computer use/ Wi-Fi Sell stock This pyramid does not show any order/ preference of respondents’ ideas

39. Responses suggesting methods for making efficiency savings Book in/out machines Stock acquisition Staff time Online facilities Mobile/ Home/ Small libraries Heating and lighting Co-location of services Email/ Text reminders/ notifications Volunteers This pyramid does not show any order/ preference of respondents’ ideas