Residents can now share how they use Portsmouth’s libraries, what matters most to them, and how the service has changed over time through a new Portsmouth City Council survey. The council has launched the feedback exercise jointly with the University of Portsmouth, with the results set to inform future improvements and contribute to academic research into the history of the city’s library service.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said the libraries are at the heart of communities across the city. “We want to hear from residents about the role they play in their lives and what they’d like to see from the service in the future,” he said. “Every response will help us build a better picture of what matters most to local people.” The survey closes at midnight on 11 August 2026 and can be completed online, in person at any library, or by calling 023 9261 6708.
The launch follows the council’s publication of a new Library Strategy in June 2026, which sets out how the service will continue to evolve in response to national policy, local need, and changing patterns of use. Portsmouth has nine libraries and a mobile library service, plus a small collection of books in the Somerstown Hub. The service was recently awarded Library of Sanctuary status for its work supporting people seeking sanctuary, while national charity Libraries Connected has valued Portsmouth libraries’ support at over £112,000 annually.
The University of Portsmouth’s involvement will see the data feed into its research project examining the long-term history and contested role of the city’s public libraries.
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