Opening Hours Consultation - Summary of Results

Cullompton Library – Opening Hours Consultation Results

Background

Cullompton Library is considering the introduction of new technology to allow extended access to the Library when staff are not present. Introducing the technology would also allow the existing staff rota to be modified so that the library could be open on the same basis as the centre building, i.e. 9-5 each week day instead of 9-6 Monday Wednesday and Friday, and 9-1 Tuesday and Thursday.

A public consultation was held to establish whether there was support for opening on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-5, and to establish what hours outside the core opening times would be useful to our customers. The consultation ran from mid-March to mid-April 2015, with submissions on paper forms available at the library and elsewhere in the town, as well as an online version run through Survey Monkey.

Results

106 submissions were received, 81 on paper and 25 online.

Of these 96 (91%) were in favour of the proposed changes to the library hours and 10 (9%) were opposed.

60 (57%) submissions indicated that additional opening hours would be valuable. The numbers of responses indicating an interest in specific time slots were as follows:

 

Monday	Earlier than 8am	5
	8-9:00	9
	17-18:00	22
	18-19:00	15
	19-20:00	6
	After 20:00	1
Tuesday	Earlier than 8am	5
	8-9:00	6
	17-18:00	18
	18-19:00	14
	19-20:00	5
	After 20:00	1
Wednesday	Earlier than 8am	4
	8-9:00	8
	17-18:00	25
	18-19:00	15
	19-20:00	6
	After 20:00	1
Thursday	Earlier than 8am	4
	8-9:00	10
	17-18:00	23
	18-19:00	16
	19-20:00	5
	After 20:00	1
Friday	Earlier than 8am	4
	8-9:00	11
	17-18:00	22
	18-19:00	16
	19-20:00	6
	After 20:00	1

 

 

Saturday	Earlier than 8am	0
	8-9:00	8
	13-14:00	39
	14-15:00	39
	15--16:00	35
	16-17:00	31
	17-18:00	12
	After 18:00	8
Sunday	Earlier than 8am	0
	8-9:00	3
	9-10:00	15
	10-11:00	23
	11-12:00	24
	12-13:00	22
	13-14:00	21
	14-15:00	18
	15--16:00	15
	16-17:00	9
	17-18:00	6
	After 18:00	5

Individual Comments

Respondents were given the opportunity to amplify their response with individual comments. These are presented below.

Comments from responses agreeing with the proposal to change opening hours:

-         Should not be open unmanned will only cause problems.
-         It's a brilliant facility which, for working families with school age children, would be even better if accessible more at weekends.
-         I probably wouldn't use often out of hours, but I am sure it would be popular.
-         Yes to Tuesday. Opening times o.k. at present.
-         I think Tues +Thurs pm opening would be good but only if the out of hours access is in place.
-         I am very happy with the current opening hours.
-         I live in Exeter.
-         I'm happy as it is.
-         9-5 is fine.
-         The above would be fine.
-         Some days stay open until 7pm for people working.
-         Possibly open later on a Saturday and close later to accommodate people who work-say 11am-3pm.
-         Saturdays are good for 9-5 workers but staying open on a Saturday but maybe 'til 2pm.
-         Probably use later in eve or Sat.
-         Would like to bring my young grandsons but their sleep time is 'am' at present and I have them Thursday mornings.
-         A returns box for when library closed or similar!
-         Don't like having to tell my children they can't go to the library after school when it's shut, especially when they are so enthusiastic to read.
-         Why not open the library all day on a Saturday?  I have lived in Cullompton all of my life and now have my own young family. I often visit the library but not as often as I would like to as I commute and work in Exeter Full-Time. Our children attend sports clubs on a Saturday morning and more often than not by the time we arrive at the library you are closing. In fact only recently I visited with my children and their friends and the cafe had already put all the food away before closing time it was most unwelcoming and I felt as though we were a burden! It is time Cullompton stopped moaning that the town is dying a death due to Tesco or using any other excuse the simple fact is that if the towns shops and facilities were to join the 21st Century with their opening hours then those that are only able to visit at a weekend would support it!
-         It would allow almost total flexibility for users; Weekend opening not required by me
-         All day opening would be more convenient and lead to less confusion
-         No not sundays
-         Some evening opening could be helpful
-         I would be unlikely to visit on a Sunday :-)
-         Only if it can be accessed outside of normal hours, as below. Otherwise it should be open until at least 7pm on 2 days each week.

Comments from people disagreeing:

-         Saturday afternoons would be very helpful.
-         Said 'No' because can often only get to the library between 5 & 6.
-         While I recognise the need to balance the needs of majority who use the library in normal hours with the minority (like me) who cannot use it during the day, I feel that the current arrangement offers the best compromise.
-         We love our library-the staff are a VERY important part of the service.
-         I think it's fine the way it is. I just wish the kids would tone down their language a bit as it is a lovely library and not a café.
-         Depends on demand; I only use the library tues or wed mornings when I attend the local family centre
-         The library needs to serve children better and open on ALL DAY Saturday.  There is ample weekday opening already; why is Saturday not even listed as an option!!; As a working parent the only opportunity I currently have to take children to the library is Sat morning.  This is generally not possible due to their clubs etc - I don't understand why the library cannot open for the full day on Saturday.  not staffing it is not acceptable - almost every time we go there is some issue with inappropriate behaviour and why should we have less of a service than those who have the luxury of visiting the library during the week?!  Cut down on weekday hours and increase weekend to serve a wider cross section of society (ie those who go to work and pay for the service in the first place). Fully staffed Saturdays would be sufficient.
-         Many people who work or at school college would welcome longer opening hours on Saturday; maybe opening in line with shop opening times. On sundays you would have to do a trial to see what the footfall is compared with Saturdays and weekdays. Weekdays not too bothered as by time children finish school we want to get home and get tea ready.

Analysis of Results

There is a clear mandate (91%:9%) for proceeding with the change in opening hours as proposed PROVIDING that technology to allow unattended opening is in place to support opening after 17:00 each week day.

There is very strong interest Saturday afternoon opening.

There is strong interest in Sunday opening.

There is moderate interest in weekday opening between 18:00 and 19:00.

There is some interest in weekday opening 8:00-9:00 and 19:00-20:00.

There is little interest weekday or weekend opening earlier than 8:00.

There is little interest in weekday opening after 20:00.

There is little interest in weekend opening after 18:00.

There is no interest in weekend opening before 8:00.

Conclusions

On the basis of these results, we propose to proceed with implementing the technology to support unattended opening.

We will take the consultation results into account when planning revised opening hours.