At the 1st November 2012 open day at the library, the general public was asked to express its views on a whole range of options for services and activities and for improvements in the building and its facilities.
The first results to come out are from the questionnaire on building and facility improvements. This asked people to select the improvements they supported and then to specify whether they considered these a priority.
Here are the results:.
- Easily top of the poll was new public toilets, with 94 votes, of which 64 rated this a priority (this is no surprise, since the public toilet has only been in service intermittently for 18 months now, with library users repeatedly invited to use a local pub)
- Second came notice boards both inside and outside: 74 votes, with 33 as priority
- A close third was a review of equipment needs to support activities: 73 votes, 35 priority
Other suggested improvements winning support in the range 45-62 were, in order of popularity: plasma information screen; redecoration in key public areas; new staff toilets: flexible items to improve displays; improved cleaning; and ceiling fans.
In the “anything else” box a wide range of changes was proposed, including more reading tables, more computers, coffee and drinks machines, and use of the upper floors of the building (currently rented out as Lambeth Council flats).
While these results will not determine investment in TSL by Lambeth Council (that is essentially down to availability of funds and overall library development policy) they should play a role in decision-making, in line with the “cooperative council” model adopted by Lambeth.
Friends of TSL will continue to participate in the “co-design” process, putting forward our views and proposals, monitoring decisions and actions – and keeping you informed.
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