Library strategy - Appendices
Appendix A
This table shows ‘active library users’ rather than ‘active library borrowers’ as per the CIPFA standard (defined as those borrowing physical books only). In modern times and during the coronavirus pandemic especially, it has become vital to include people using eServices when looking at people benefitting from library services. Unfortunately, CIPFA have not yet changed their data collection to include this.
|
Age group |
Female library users |
Male library users |
Other |
Active library users from each age group |
Borough residents (projection from 2022 Datarich) |
% of active library users in population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 438 | 409 | 1 | 848 (2.4%) | 10,585 (5.36%) | 8% |
| 5-9 | 1930 | 1669 | 5 | 3604 (10.3%) |
12,345 (6.26%) | 29% |
| 10-14 | 1595 | 1354 | 3 | 2952 (8.4%) |
13,583 (6.88%) |
22% |
| 15-19 | 629 | 379 | 7 | 1015 (2.9%) |
11,545 (5.85%) |
9% |
| 20-24 | 454 | 256 | 3 | 713 (2.0%) |
7,144 (3.62%) |
10% |
| 25-29 | 670 | 318 | 6 | 994 (2.8%) |
9,553 (4.84%) |
10% |
| 30-34 | 1053 | 487 | 2 | 1542 (4.4%) |
11,256 (5.70%) |
14% |
| 35-39 | 2021 | 774 | 4 | 2799 (8.0%) |
13,840 (7.04%) |
22% |
| 40-44 | 2528 | 1156 | 3 | 3687 (10.5%) |
16,599 (8.41%) |
22% |
| 45-49 | 2003 | >1045 | 2 | 3050 (8.7%) |
16,869 (8.55%) |
18% |
| 50-54 | 1331 | >809 | 5 | 2145 (6.1%) |
15,387 (7.80%) |
14% |
| 55-59 | 1196 | >803 | 1 | 2000 (5.7%) |
14,013 (7.10%) |
14% |
| 60-64 | 1149 | 720 | 1 | 1870 (5.3%) |
11,225 (5.69%) |
17% |
| 65-69 | 1195 | 760 | 1 | 1956 (5.6%) |
9,021 (4.57%) |
2% |
| 70-74 | 1184 | 769 | 0 | 1953 (5.6%) |
8,495 (4.30%) |
23% |
| 75-79 | 926 | 601 | 1 | 1528 (4.4%) |
7,008 (3.95%) |
22% |
| 80-84 | 540 | 377 | 0 | 917 (2.6%) |
4,306 (2.18%) |
21% |
| 85+ | 411 | 263 | 0 | 674 (1.9%) |
4,537 (2.30%) |
15% |
| No age | 483 | 305 | 53 | 841 (2.4%) |
Unknown | |
| Grand total | 21736 | 13254 | 98 | 35088 (100%) | 197,363 | 18% |
Appendix B – CIPFA PLUS 2018
In December 2018 the library service carried out a CIPFA public library users survey (PLUS) of adult library visitors across all 12 libraries and engaged with over 3500 users. The survey objectives were to evaluate customer satisfaction to ensure the service was well-managed and as efficient as possible.
These surveys are usually repeated every three years but the 2021 survey was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic so the 2018 survey remains the most recent.
Overall
54% of respondents thought that the library service was 'very good', while a further 40% thought it was 'good'. The 'very good' rating was highest at Ham Library at 70%
Opening hours
91% of respondents thought they were ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
Library buildings
86% of respondents thought the interior of libraries to be ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
Travel
58% of all visitors travelled on foot to the library, while a further 21% used public transport. Just over three-quarters of visitors to Kew Library came on foot (78%). Respondents at Hampton Library were almost as likely to come by private transport (46%) as they were on foot (48%)
Book stock
91% of all respondents thought that the physical condition of books was 'very good' or ‘good’, whilst 82% thought the choice was 'very good' or ‘good’. 56% came to the library specifically to borrow one or more books.
Computers
20% of all respondents intended to use a library computer during their library visit and 11% used their own. This was highest at Richmond Reference Library at 43%, where 79% of respondents rated the computers as 'very good' or 'good'
Enquiries
44% of visitors at the Information & Reference Library came intending to find something out, and 60% were successful. Overall, across the service, when asked to rate the quality of the information provision in the library, a combined total of 84% rated information provision as either 'very good' or 'good'.
Membership
66% of all visitors have been using the library for more than 3 years. At Hampton Library this was at 74%.
Why the library?
The library was most likely to help visitors with study/learning (63%) this was at its highest at Richmond Reference Library where 75% of visitors reported this. 43% of respondent thought the library helped their health and well-being, 29% received help getting online, 27% found it helped their family/relationships and 19% found libraries helped them meet people.
Age
Most respondents were either aged 25 to 44 (31%) or 45 to 64 (32%) or 65 to 74 (21%). 12% were 75 or over and only 5% under 25 years. Figures from the most recent annual active user statistics are slightly different with 23% being 25 to 44yrs, 23% being 45 to 64yrs, 11% being 65 to 74yrs, 75yrs plus at 8% and 4% being under 25yrs.
Employment status
Most respondents were employed (50%) with 34% retired, 7% looking after a family or home, 4% unemployed and 3% students. 17% of respondents indicated that they considered they had a disability.
Gender
Respondents were 64% female and 36% male, which is in line with the active user percentages.
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