SOLE - Future of Essex Libraries - Community Consultation

Welcome to SOLE’s alternative consultation - the questions Essex County Council didn’t bother to ask!

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* 1. Do you support or oppose Essex County Council’s plans to close up to 44 of the 74 public libraries in Essex, and cut back the service in the remaining ones?

Support

Oppose

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* 2. Do you believe that our public libraries should be staffed by paid, trained, professional library staff, or reliant on being able to find volunteers in order to stay open?

Staffed by professional staff

Reliant on volunteers

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* 3. Do you believe that our public libraries should be publicly funded by central government and local councils, or reliant on generating their own income to guarantee that they can cover the costs of staying open?

Publicly funded

Reliant on generating their own income

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* 4. Do you believe that our public libraries should have their own dedicated buildings, or be moved into shared buildings which already provide other services?

Dedicated buildings

Moved into shared buildings

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* 5. Do you believe that we should invest in our libraries to improve and enhance the service they provide and make them more attractive to potential users?

Yes

No

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* 6. Of the following options, what would make you more likely to use your local library? (Select all that apply)

Longer opening hours

A greater selection of books, DVDs, etc.

Better advertising of the events and activities available at the library

More online courses

Better computer or IT facilities

More trained librarians

Better accessibility (transport links, car parking, disabled access/facilities)

More organised activities

Renovation or improvements of the library environment

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Do you use a library card every time you go to the library?

Yes

No

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* 8. Given the choice, would you prefer to retain our current local library services as they are or move to Essex County Council’s plans for a reduced, centralised service?

Retain the existing local services

Reduce and centralise the service

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* 9. Please give any other comments you have on the planned cuts to our public libraries and the future of our library services.

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* 10. Our campaign to save our libraries depends on mobilising as much public opposition as possible. It will help us to do that if we can keep you updated with future events and actions we plan to help save our libraries (such as demonstrations and letter writing campaigns, etc.)

If you are happy for us to do so please enter your email address below. SOLE won’t share your email with any third parties or use it for anything unrelated to the SOLE campaign.