Item 08 Appendix 1
West Dunbartonshire Council · 12 November 2025
Back to Corporate Services Committee — 12 November 2025 and its agenda
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1 West Dunbartonshire Libraries Public Consultation 2025 (paper version) West Dunbartonshire Libraries are at the heart of our communities supporting reading, literacy, lifelong learning, cultural engagement, and community wellbeing as well as ensuring inclusive digital access and welcoming spaces for all. Demand for Council services, and the associated delivery costs, are increasing year on year with there being insufficient funding to absorb these increases. Consequently the Council needs to consider how best to meet the needs of communities within the reduced resources available To ensure library services continue to meet the evolving needs of local communities, we are seeking your feedback into how libraries are used, any barriers to access, and which services and resources are most valued. This feedback will be used to shape delivery, ensuring that library provision remains inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with community priorities. By submitting your responses, you are giving your consent for us to use the information you have provided. All responses will be treated in confidence in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) / Data Protection Act 2018. Our full privacy statement can be found on our web pages: https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/privacy/privacy-notice. Residents can complete the online survey or complete a paper copy available from their local library The survey will take up to 15 minutes to complete depending on the detail you provide in your response. The survey will remain open from 17th November until midnight 25th January 2026. Appendix 1
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2 About you Before beginning the survey, please tell us about yourself: Are you a resident of West Dunbartonshire? Yes No Are you an employee of West Dunbartonshire Council? Yes No Are you a parent or carer of a young person(s) at school or nursery in West Dunbartonshire? Yes No What is your post code district? G13 G14 G60 G63 G81 G82 G83 Post code is not in West Dunbartonshire Which of the following describes you best? I am a homeowner I am a social rented tenant (i.e. council tenant or housing association) I am a privately rented tenant I live in residential care I live with parents or carers Other, please specify
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3 Visiting the Library Q1. Are you a member of West Dunbartonshire libraries? Please choose one option. Yes No Q2. How do you mainly access the library? Please choose one option. In-person Online Both Q3. How often do you visit a library in West Dunbartonshire? Please choose one option. Never Rarely Bi-monthly (every second month) Monthly Fortnightly Weekly Daily Q4. Please select the venues or facilities you use (tick all that apply) Alexandria Library Balloch Library Dumbarton Library Dalmuir Library Parkhall Library Clydebank Library Duntocher Library Faifley Library Mobile Library None Q5 How far do you usually travel to use library services Less than 1 mile 1-5 miles 5-10 miles 10-15 miles More than 15 miles
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4 Q6. What time of day do you visit the library? Please choose one option. Morning Afternoon After 4pm Q7. Is your local or preferred library open at a time which suits you best to visit? Yes No Q8. What time would suit you best to visit your local library? Please tick all that apply. Morning Afternoon After 4pm Q9. How could we support you to visit your local library more often? Enhance range of books on offer Amend opening hours (if selecting please state how you would like to see this amended) Increase activities for adults Increase activities for young people Increase activities for babies and toddlers Increase training opportunities Other, please specify Q10 In the past 12 months, which library services have you used? (tick all that apply) Borrowed books Borrowed e-books or audiobooks Borrowed DVDs or CDs Used computers or Wi-Fi Printing, photocopying, or scanning Attended events or workshops Used study or meeting spaces Accessed online resources (e.g., databases, learning platforms) Asked for help or advice from library staff Reserved or requested items from other libraries
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5 Participated in children’s activities (e.g., storytime) Other (please specify) Q11. Please indicate below in order of preference what your main reasons are for visiting a library (branch or school) ? Marking with 1 your main reason for attending, 2 on your secondary reason, and so on for any additional reasons. Q12. Libraries offer a range of services. Of these which do you feel should be prioritised. Please mark your top five. Book loan To read Research Study Access wifi Access PC or device Printing Attend activity Access training Social/meet people Group or club Support or signposting Other, please state: Physical library branches School libraries within area’s secondary schools Online library service Mobile library service Home delivery service Access to PCs, wifi and printing Activities focused on literacy and learning for young citizens such as Bookbug and Rhyme Time Activities focused on young people such as book club, reading challenges and Dungeons and Dragons Activities focused on adults such as author events, reading groups and craft activities Training on Digital, device and computers Health and Wellbeing access for adults such as hearing tests, dementia awareness and Near Me Hub Providing free space to community groups to meet Access training Providing safe, warm space in communities
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6 Q.13 What do you think is the most important aspect of the service offered by libraries? Please choose one option. Q14 If you couldn’t access your preferred library branch, where would you access provision? Please choose one option. Q15.Do you use the online library service? Please choose one option. Q16. If not, can you tell us why? Please choose one option. Didn’t know it existed Unsure what it offers Unsure how to access Don’t have way to access either device or mobile phone Not confident with ICT Q17. How could we support you to use libraries online? Please choose one option. More information on what it offers Support or signposting to other Council services Other, please state: Free access to books Supporting literacy and learning Free activities Access to PCs and wifi Providing community space Opportunity for social interaction Providing information, support and signposting Access to online library and digital books and publications Other, please state: Alternative branch (please specify Library online Alternative community facility Wouldn’t use libraries Other (please specify) Yes No
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7 More information on how to access Support on how to access More information on the catalogue of items available Access to a device Q.18 Do you use your school library? Yes No Q.19 What is the main reason for attending your school library? To borrow books For support and materials for research To study Safe, warm space Access to computer Other Q 20 If answering no to visiting your school library, is there anything which libraries could do would encourage you to visit? Q21. Co-location of libraries with other community facilities has been a way for the Council to reduce costs but retain local library access in communities. Have you visited a co-located branch? Q.22 To what extent do you agree with this approach to reduce costs? Q.23 If answering disagree, please specify which of the following alternatives to reduce cost of libraries you feel should be considered in future? Yes No Agree Partially agree Neither agree or disagree Disagree
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8 Prioritise maintaining the three main branch libraries (Clydebank, Alexandria, Dumbarton) Prioritise maintaining branches based on the communities with the greatest need such as deprivation Prioritise maintain current number of branches but reduce costs through reviewing opening times Prioritise maintaining number of branches and reduce costs through reducing activities, facilities within or other aspects of the service such as mobile library or school libraries Other Q24. If you feel there is another alternative way to reduce costs which should be considered, please detail below Q25. Do you use the mobile library? Please choose one option. Yes No Q26 What is your main reason for using the mobile library as opposed to visiting a branch library? Ease of access as stops close to my home Time of mobile visit suits best Nearest branch is too far to travel Mobility issues prevent me attending branch Other, please state Q27 Do you or someone you support use the library home delivery service provided for those unable to leave their home Yes No Q.28 What do you have delivered via the service Books Talking Books/Audio Books
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9 Large Print Books Q. 29 What benefit does the home delivery service provide for you, eg access to books and reading, social interaction, support, other ? Q.30 Considering all of the above, which area of the library service do you feel could be looked at in future given budgets are reducing? Q31.Do you have any other feedback on how the Council can encourage use of library services? Q32. Do you have any other feedback on how the Council can reduce costs within its library service Q33. Would you like to be involved in focus groups for the next stage of consultation? Yes No
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10 Q34. If yes, please provide your contact details (i.e. email address) Diversity Monitoring West Dunbartonshire Council is committed to ensuring that decisions take into account the needs of all people in West Dunbartonshire as fairly as possible. To help us do this we ask you to volunteer some information. The information you provide will be kept confidential and can't be linked back to you. It will be used to help make sure that everyone is treated fairly and that services are accessible. Please choose one option from each of the sections listed below. What age group are you part of? 10-15 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and over How would you describe your Sex? Male Female Intersex I would describe my sex in another way How would you describe your religion or belief? No religion Buddhist Christian Hindu Jewish Muslim Sikh Other Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the terms given in the Equality Act 2010?
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11 The Equality Act 2010 protects disabled people; it defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Yes No How would you describe your ethnic group? White or white Scottish or white British White Irish White Polish White other African or African Scottish or African British Arab or Arab Scottish or Arab British Black or Black Scottish or Black British Caribbean or Caribbean Scottish or Caribbean British Chinese or Chinese Scottish or Chinese British Indian or Indian Scottish or Indian British Pakistani or Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British Mixed/ Multiple ethnicities Other End of Survey Thank you for taking part.
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