The latest Cabinet papers have revealed that 1,504 people contacted the Isle of Wight council to give their views about the libraries during the four-week consultation process.
This figure is in excess of the initial rough estimates provided to VentnorBlog the day after the consultation closed, when we were told the “library team has received over 800 letters and e-mails.”
Nearly half wanted a local library
Nearly half (44.7%) of the 1,500 respondents said they wanted “a library to remain central to their local community”.
Over a quarter (25.4%) were sceptical about the idea of a service run by volunteers.
Less than 0.5% offered to volunteer
Interestingly, the lowest number of responses overall was to proffer their time as a volunteer at a library, with only 0.4% offering.
Over a fifth (20.9%) were concerned about being forced to travel to Newport or Ryde to use the libraries.
The next three highest concerns were children’s educational achievement (16.9%); computer ownership (concern about the digital divide) (15.6%); and the desire to retain paid, skilled staff (13.9%).
| Most Frequent Responses | |
| Local need (wanting a library to remain central to their local community) | 44.70% |
| Scepticism about viability of community libraries (in particular the sustainability of a service run by volunteers) | 25.40% |
| Bus fares and travel times (unwillingness or inability to travel to Newport or Ryde) | 20.90% |
| Children’s educational achievements (especially in light of local school results | 16.90% |
| Computer ownership (concern about the digital divide) | 15.60% |
| Friendly, trained staff (desire to retain paid, skilled staff) | 13.90% |
| Least Frequent Response | |
| Offer to volunteer in a Library Local | 0.40% |
| Complaints at loss of Sunday opening (at Newport and Ryder) | 0.50% |
| Specialist Maritime Collection: Concern for Maritime Collection held in Cowes | 0.80% |
| Support for unemployed: (the role of the library in helping jobseekers) | 0.90% |
| Approval (often qualified) of “New Chapter” consultation proposals | 0.90% |
| Music Collection: Concern for Music Collection in Ventnor | 1.00% |
Image: friarsbalsam under CC BY 2.0
