Have your say on Southend’s Library Service

The Council knows how much libraries are valued in the local community and wants to make sure it is providing the right services in the right places.

It also wants to ensure the money allocated for the service benefits as many residents as possible.

The consultation will run until Sunday 6th January, 2013, and residents are being asked to have their say using an online questionnaire which can be found at www.southend.gov.uk/libraryreview

Paper copies of the questionnaire will be available at all local library branches in the Borough and at the Central Library in Victoria Avenue.

Those taking part in the consultation, which went live on Monday (1st October), will also have the chance to win an iPod or an e-book reader in a special prize draw.

Executive Councillor for Culture and Tourism, Derek Jarvis, said: "The way people use libraries is changing.

"More and more people are using our online services and over the past three years there has been a 12 per cent decline in the number of people visiting our libraries.

"The purpose of the review will be to find out what local residents want from their library service and whether we can meet their needs more effectively in financially challenging times.

"We have no preconceived ideas as to the final outcome of the consultation and we need as many people as possible to give us their views. It is these view which will help shape the future library services for the Borough."