The Public Library Users Survey was carried out across Manchester’s 22 public libraries over a one-week period in October 2016.
Libraries are a key partner for Read Manchester. The campaign strives to increase library membership and promote the City's library offer.
93.3% of 4,750 people surveyed gave their local library an overall rating of either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ – a 4.5 per cent increase on the result of the last survey in 2012. It is the highest overall satisfaction figure recorded since Manchester-wide library surveys were first conducted in 2002.
Visitors were asked to rate their library service across nine different measures - including the range of books on offer, the internal and external condition of the library, opening hours, standard of customer care and computer provision.
The survey found that visitor satisfaction citywide had improved in eight of the nine measures since 2012, with notable increases recorded in categories including:
- Interior condition of the library – up 6.5% to 91%
- Exterior condition of the library – up 12.5% to 88%
- The library’s opening hours - up 8% to 88%
- Choice of books on offer - up 7% to 82%
Satisfaction with the standard of customer care experienced within libraries citywide remained steady, at 93%.
Manchester Central Library reopened to the public in March 2014, following a successful four-year, £50m project to transform the building. It is visited by more than 1.5 million people per year and recognised as one of Britain's most important public libraries.
For Central Library, the 2016 Users Survey found that 96 per cent of visitors rated Central Library as good or very good overall and that:
- 94% of visitors were satisfied with the interior appearance of Central Library - compared to 81% in 2009, before the transformation project (up 13%)
- 88% of visitors were satisfied with the choice of books on offer at Central Library - compared to
- 77% before the transformation (up 11%)
- 86% of visitors were satisfied with the computer facilities at Central Library - compared to just 69% in 2009 (a 17% increase)
Read more about the libraries survey.