More than 5,400 adults and 550 children have responded to a 13-week public consultation to help shape library services in Suffolk.

The consultation asked residents to tell the council what they want from their library services in the future. 

The results confirmed support for the current range of services commissioned by the county council. Adults supported a move to smaller mobile library vehicles to replace the current ageing fleet and expressed praise and support for mobile libraries and the volunteer home library service that takes books to people with mobility issues. 

A further 550 children responded to the children's questionnaire. 80% rated the most important activities in libraries as free access to books, opportunities to learn, read and write and activities to keep you mind and body healthy. Children thought the most important aspect to develop was to offer more services to preschool nurseries, schools and colleges.

The results will help shape the future of library services. The contract with the current provider of library services, Suffolk Libraries Industrial and Provident Society ends on 31 May 2025 and the County Council is legally required to put the service out to competitive tender. This process with run over the summer of 2024 with the successful bidder being announced at the end of the year. 

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Cabinet member for Equality and Communities said; "I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation. We have had a fantastic response providing us with a clear message on what resident's value about the service whilst giving us ideas for the future of the service. 

"We will take this all into careful consideration as we move forward to the next stage of the procurement, mindful that we need to focus resources on what is most important to local communities. The move to smaller mobile vehicles is a huge opportunity to look at greener more sustainable vehicles."

A competitive tender process will now take place before the new contract is awarded in November 2024. The term of the contract will be six years, with the option to extend for a further six years.

The value of the new contract will be £6.8m per year, increased from the previous contract value of £5.9m. The increase takes into account increased service costs, management of the Library Outreach service, and to allow for innovation in future years.