Planning for the future of our libraries

How much do you use your library, and what is your idea of the perfect library?

In preparing the 2020-2025 strategic plan, the Hastings District Libraries team is conducting a survey to gather the community’s vision for the future of our libraries over the next five years.

Hastings District Libraries is a network of three libraries in Hastings, Havelock North and Flaxmere.

The current strategic plan was adopted in 2016 and Hastings District Libraries is undertaking a review to set out the priority areas and next steps for libraries in our changing communities.

The district’s 75,000 residents potentially all use the libraries, representing a diversity of ages, ethnicities and interests, not to mention the wider regional and visitor population.

Hastings District Council group manager community facilities and programmes Alison Banks says: “If you use the libraries we want to hear your thoughts on what would make them even better – if you don’t use them we want to hear from you too. Why don’t you use them? What would encourage you to use them? What are we not offering that the community needs?”

She says libraries have changed a lot over the last decade and while for some the library is a place to read and borrow books and other printed publications, for others libraries provide access to technology and programmes they wouldn’t have available otherwise.

“Libraries can also act as community spaces that bring people together.”

Through the survey, people will be able to indicate how often they go to the library, which library they go to, what they use it for, and what they see the issues and opportunities are to make our libraries more relevant to the entire community.

This information will be used to guide what services and programmes will be made available over the next five years.

The survey is available at all three libraries and also at the Flaxmere and Clive swimming pools.

You can also fill in the online survey, which is open until December 15 at www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz

16 October 2019

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