The North Western Library has released a survey on 3 March to encourage community input into the service.

Bogan, Coonamble, Gilgandra, and Warren libraries are all part of the North Western Library. 

Manager Erica Kearnes said a library is much more than a place where people can read a book. 

The library group works hard to provide local communities with modern facilities and keep them engaged. 

Warren Shire Library underwent a renovation last year and the Gilgandra Library Hub will reopen this year at their new location on Miller Street. 

Regional Manager Erica Kearnes sits down with elderly community members for a scam awareness talk at the Warren Library. Photo: supplied

"We're no longer a library of books. We're a community hub," Ms Kearnes said. 

"We offer so much, and it’s all free. It's a space for people to catch up and have fun. 

"And the aircon is great too."

What's special about this survey is that it doesn’t only touch upon the selection of books but includes all of the other services the library offers, including events, such as free legal talk, working spaces, and free Wifi, and gathers users' opinions on what's going well and what could use improvement. 

Children as young as ten can participate. 

"We aim many of our activities at 10-year-olds. They have their own opinion, and I would love to hear it," Ms Kearnes said. 

Responses will be filtered separately for each community to cater to their specific needs. 

"We need direction," Ms Kearnes said. 

"What does the community see happening with their library in the next five years? Do they want certain events or collections?

"We're four completely different libraries for different communities, so it's going to be a different want in every building.

Community members will get a say as to whether, for example, they want an additional function space to host events if the working area needs to be adjusted, or if they want certain types of events such as author visits. 

Based on the survey's outcome, Ms Kearnes will look to see what funding the North Western Library needs to build capacity.

The link to the survey can be found here, or head to your local library for a printed copy.

It will remain open until 26 April. 

Library Officers Tash Higgins and Mil Irving at Warren Shire Library