Public feedback on the consultation over the future of Hertfordshire’s library service has been presented to county councillors.

More than 13,000 Hertfordshire residents completed questionnaires in a countywide consultation about what Hertfordshire libraries might look like in ten years' time.

The consultation, which ran for ten weeks to the end of 2013, was the start of a process by Hertfordshire County Council to develop a new ten-year strategy.

At a meeting of the county council’s customer service, performance and libraries panel on Monday, councillors were told that key themes to emerge from the consultation including embracing new technologies, sharing existing libraries buildings with other services and better promotion of services.

Panel chairman, Councillor Frances Button, said: "The response from Hertfordshire residents has been tremendous, demonstrating how important libraries are in the life of local communities.

"We have said all along that the consultation is the starting point for a conversation about the future of the county’s libraries, involving residents right at the start, before any decisions are made."

The new library strategy will be developed during the spring and early summer of 2014. This will be presented to the customer service, performance and libraries panel in July 2014.