Somerset Library Services Consultation 2018
Summary Proposal
Tell us your views on how we are proposing to deliver future library services in Central Somerset Area 4 – Glastonbury, Langport, Somerton and Street libraries.
The map below shows the four existing library buildings (green pins) in Langport, Glastonbury, Somerton and Street, and the existing mobile library stops (green dots) – 20 stops in this area per month.
- This includes parts of South Somerset District, the south-west part of Mendip District and a small part of Sedgemoor District areas.
- It is generally sparsely populated outside the main towns, which include Street (pop. 12,911), Glastonbury (pop. 8,471), Langport (pop. 3,063) and Somerton (pop. 4,339). Curry Rivel (pop. 1,844) is the only other large settlement, but there are a number of other villages with populations of around one thousand or less.
- Current library catchments overlap significantly. Street and Glastonbury library catchments cover similar areas, and Somerton and Langport catchments overlap to a lesser extent.
- Glastonbury and Street are well connected by relatively frequent public bus services, and Somerton and Langport are also served by regular commercial bus services. Bus routes run from these centres along the main roads, which link many of the main villages to either Langport and Somerton or Street and Glastonbury. All of the area is served by community transport groups.
- The southern part of the area around Langport is some distance away from other towns in Somerset, with drive times to Taunton, Yeovil and Bridgwater approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Street and Glastonbury are nearer to Wells with a drive time of 20 minutes. All areas of these main towns are within walking and cycling distance to their town centres and Street and Glastonbury are within a reasonable cycling distance of one another.
- Levels of deprivation are in line with the averages for Somerset for the area as a whole. The only significant pocket of deprivation is in Glastonbury which has one neighbourhood in the 10% most deprived nationally. There is also one neighbourhood in Street which is in the 30% most deprived nationally, and other parts of Glastonbury and the rural area to the west of Langport are relatively deprived compared to Somerset as a whole.
- Income and employment levels are lowest in parts of Langport, Glastonbury and Street, and the rural area to the west of Langport. The lowest income and employment deprivation in this area is in Glastonbury. Educational attainment and school readiness vary across the area, and tend to be higher in the rural districts. Social isolation and digital exclusion are most pronounced in parts of Somerton, Street and Glastonbury. Most rural parts of the area are less likely to experience social isolation.
Metric | Glastonbury Library | Langport Library | Somerton Library | Street Library |
---|---|---|---|---|
Catchment population | 31,719 | 21,002 | 19,439 | 42,241 |
Opening Hours per week | 46 | 31.5 | 28.5 | 34 |
Active borrowers* | 2,121 | 1,702 | 1,228 | 2,530 |
Annual footfall | 64,759 | 36,390 | 35,674 | 65,711 |
*For definition of an active borrower, please see frequently asked questions
Further Detailed Information
Further evidence of need (including deprivation and usage), access to alternative libraries and value for money, which we have used to develop our proposals can be found here. The detailed impact assessments can also be found here. We are seeking your views on all of this information, and would encourage you to look at this further detail.
Proposals
The following options demonstrate the aim to keep as many library buildings as possible open. The options highlight, however, that for a number of libraries we may require community support to help us achieve this. We stress that library services will continue across Somerset, whatever the outcome of this consultation.
If we are unable to keep library buildings open in communities, we will deliver library services in other ways, such as through outreach (such as in alternative venues within communities), online or mobile library services. Please now consider the following option proposals and complete the questionnaire, basing your answers on the library you visit most often.
Glastonbury Library | Proposals |
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Option A | No change to existing library services. |
Langport Library Library | Proposals |
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Option A | No change to existing library services. |
Somerton Library | Proposals |
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Option A | Provide library services through a partnership with the local community to maintain a library building in Somerton (supported by some funding from the County Council). |
Option B | Provide library services through an additional mobile library stop in Somerton (at least once a month). This would mean the closure of the current library building. |
Street Library | Proposals |
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Option A | Provide library services through a partnership with the local community to maintain a library building in Street (supported by some funding from the County Council). |
Option B | Provide library services by delivering Library Outreach Services (events and activities for young children; health, wellbeing and reading activities for adults; and public computer access) and an additional mobile library stop in Street (at least twice a month). This would mean the closure of the current library. |