MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 23 June 2010

Survey Confirms Library Relevance in the Community

A recent phone survey of YPRL library users indicates a big increase in library use and high
levels of customer satisfaction among borrowers at the 8 libraries servicing Banyule, Whittlesea
and Nillumbik.
Close to 2,000 people aged 14+ were interviewed for the annual community satisfaction survey
by research company Nexus, which covers six regional library organisations in Victoria; 314
people surveyed were from the Yarra Plenty region.
Sixty three (63%) of people surveyed had visited a Yarra Plenty Regional Library public branch
in the past 12 months, an increase of 17% from 2008. Only 3% of people surveyed in the Yarra
Plenty area had never used a public library.
The survey confirmed that people place a high level of importance on the provision of
comprehensive public library services. On a scale of 1 to 10, the overall mean rating this year
was 9.2, with almost two thirds of residents considering libraries “extremely important”.
Frequent users of YPRL branches were very satisfied with library services overall, rating the
library service an average of 8.6. The result compares favourably with the other library services
included in the survey.
The public library aspects considered the most important were range and quality of books for
adults, the ease of locating a book or information and staff courtesy and helpfulness, with
libraries delivering a 90%+ satisfaction rating in these areas. One source of dissatisfaction was
with the absence or unavailability of sought books.
YPRL Chairperson Cr. Lewis Brock said he was very pleased with the results. “YPRL has done
very well at changing with the times,” he said. “The results show that YPRL remains a relevant
and highly valued service in the community. It is wonderful to receive feedback that we are
meeting community needs.”

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
• A photograph of library patrons at a YPRL branch
-ENDS-

For further information:

Suzanne Male
Marketing & Media Coordinator
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Phone: 9401 0755
Email: smale@yprl.vic.gov.au