As recommended by the State Library of NSW, the Bathurst Library ran its biennial customer satisfaction survey from June 25 to July 19, 2021.

The survey was carried out to offer the community an opportunity to provide feedback, which, in turn, gives the library team information on how they can improve services .

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The survey was available online and in hard copy, and there were a total of 73 responses received.

The results of the survey were presented to Bathurst Regional Council in a report at the last ordinary meeting of the year.

Over 95 per of respondents rated the library facilities and services as being very good or good.

This was a substantial increase from the last survey in 2019, where 88 per cent of respondents rated their satisfaction in the top two tiers.

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When it came to customer service, programs, access to technology and internet connectivity, 90 per cent of respondents selected good or very good as their rating.

The survey also showed that the demand for online library services increased significantly since 2019.

Now 54.4 per cent of respondents say that they use the online library, compared to 24.4 per cent two years ago.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the way people use the library, with less people using the library space as a community lounge room to research, study, read and socialise and switching to using the online library instead," council noted in its analysis of the survey.

Several open ended questions were included in the survey, and there was some positive feedback from new residents to Bathurst.

"I am a new resident and very impressed by the fact the library is open seven days; the staff are lovely, the books are regularly updated, the range is vast," one respondent said.

Council's director of Cultural and Community Services, Alan Cattermole, said the results of the survey were "very pleasing".

All comments and responses received will be taken on board by the library team and actions developed where possible to address the needs of its customers.

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