Bushnell-Sage Library 48 Main St. P.O. Box 487 Sheffield, MA 01257
Long Range Plan 2019 – 2023 Karen Lindquist, Director
Acknowledgements
Many Thanks to the Long-Range Planning Committee for providing their time and ideas to the plan. We hope all of you will remain engaged with us as we see these goals to fruition. Thank you to the Massachusetts Library System and Kristi Chadwick in particular for the helpful workshop Strategic Planning for Your Library. Thank you to the staff of Bushnell-Sage Library for their thoughtful input and their service to the Sheffield Community.
Long Range Planning Committee
Emily Barnes Pamela Bloodworth Barbara Burns Harold Hastings Pat Levine Martin Mitsoff Frances Roth Kim Waterman-Spitzer Marilyn Wightman
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Table of contents
Community Scan…………………………………………………………………………..4 Library Scan………………………………………………………………………………. 5 Planning Methodology…………………………………………………………………….8 Community Survey………………………………………………………………………...9 Needs Assessment………………………………………………………………………..9 Envisioning the Library…………………………………………………………………..12 Goals and Objectives…………………………………………………………………….14 Action Plan 2019………………………………………………………………………….16 Appendices………………………………………………………………………………..18 Trustee Approval………………………………………………………………………….23
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Bushnell-Sage Library Long Range Plan 2018 – 2022
Community Scan Overview1 Sheffield is a picturesque New England town located in the Housatonic River Valley of Berkshire County in southwestern Massachusetts. Comprised of two villages, Sheffield and Ashley Falls, the town’s development pattern has been greatly influenced by its physical features: the Housatonic River and its wide floodplain; the Schenob Brook wetland complex and the steep slopes of the Berkshire Hills on the east and the Taconic Range on the west. To the north lies the town of Great Barrington; New Marlborough to the east; Canaan (CT) to the south; and the town of Mount Washington, to the west. Farther west, beyond Mount Washington is New York State. Sheffield is the oldest town in Berkshire County. The township was purchased from Chief Konkapot and other Stockbridge Indians in 1724. The first English settler to cross the “hideous howling wilderness” was Matthew Noble of Westfield who arrived in 1725. Proprietor’s records and a survey were taken by Captain John Ashley, Ebenezer Pomeroy, and Thomas Ingersoll. This committee was to advance the settlement of the town by selecting persons who would become permanent residents. Home lots were drawn in three divisions, and the town was incorporated in June 1733. Early in its history, Mum Bett, an African-American slave, angered at her mistreatment by her owner, Mrs. Hannah Ashley, sued for her freedom under the newly created Massachusetts Constitution (1780). She won her case in 1781, the first African-American woman freed under the new Constitution. In 1783, a Supreme Judicial Court decision abolished slavery in Massachusetts. In 1787, the last battle of Shay’s Rebellion took place in Sheffield. Local Government2 The executive powers of the Town of Sheffield are vested in the elected three-member Board of Selectmen, which serves as the chief policy-making board for the town. The Selectmen appoint the Town Administrator. Sheffield has 2,349 registered voters as of the end of 2017. An Open Town Meeting takes place annually in May. Statistics3 Sheffield is 48.54 square miles in area. There are 5,205 acres of open space. Of these, 2,084 are held by a private land conservancy; 284 acres are town owned. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Sheffield is 3,227. The population density is 68.7 persons per square mile.
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Town of Sheffield, (MA), https://www.sheffieldma.gov/about-sheffield (August 2018) Town of Sheffield, (MA), 2017 Annual Report. 3 City-Data.com. http://www.city-data.com/city/Sheffield-Massachusetts.html (August 2018) 2
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The age groups between 35 and 84 are all higher than state and national levels. The median age is 47.8, in contrast with 39.2 statewide and 35.6 nationally. In 2016 the estimated median household income in Sheffield was $67,447 (the estimated median household income in Massachusetts was $75,297). The 2016 estimated median house or condo value in Sheffield was $276,168: it was $366,900 in Massachusetts. Sheffield has 1,765 housing units up from 1,634 in 2000. There are currently 199 households that are their owners’ second homes. Employment4 The largest employers in Sheffield are: Berkshire School, Undermountain Elementary School, Massini Bus Company, Mount Everett Regional High School, Plaskolite, Southern Berkshire Special Education, and Sun-Rise Program. According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, the Sheffield labor force in May of 2018 was 1,895. The unemployment rate was 3.0% compared with 3.7% statewide. Schools Sheffield is a member of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District (SBRSD), serving the communities of Alford, Egremont, New Marlborough, Monterey, and Sheffield. Sheffield students attend Undermountain Elementary School for grades pre-K to 6 and Mount Everett Regional High School for grades 7-12. Mount Everett serves 360 students from the five-town area and offers college-preparatory and occupational education programs. Voters from the five communities elect the ten members of the SBRSD board. The Berkshire School, an independent college preparatory school located in Sheffield, serves 400 day and boarding students from 33 countries and 31 states. Activities Cultural resources in the Sheffield area include Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Berkshire International Film Festival, and the Norman Rockwell Museum. A destination for antique shopping, visitors to Sheffield also enjoy birding and hiking at Bartholomew’s Cobble, a 329-acre nature sanctuary owned by the Trustees of Reservation.
Library Scan Library History5 According to A History of the Bushnell-Sage Library by Martha Greene, the public library in Sheffield has moved several times. In 1876, when the town meeting voted to institute the first free town library, the library committee housed it above 107 Main St (Where Silk’s Variety is now). Three years later, the townspeople voted the library out of existence. The Sheffield Friendly Union took responsibility for the books until 1891 when support for a tax supported
4Massachusetts
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-labor-and-workforce-development (August 2018) 5 Greene, Martha (1998). A history of the Bushnell-Sage library. Sheffield, MA. A publication of the Friends of Bushnell-Sage Library
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public library revived the public library: it then shared space with the Friendly Union Library in the Dewey Memorial Hall. In 1901, the trustees of the library moved the collection to two rooms in the town hall. When a library trustee, Miss Alice B. Sage, died in 1921, she bequeathed $10,000 to the town for the building of a free public library. Two years later a library patron, Samuel Hopkins Bushnell, passed away, leaving another bequest, this time of $25,000. With this money in 1929, the town erected a building at the corner of Main Street and what is now Berkshire School Road. This building currently houses the Sheffield Police Department. When the space for 10,000 books became inadequate in 1936, an extra room was built onto the back of the building. The expanding collection soon crowded that building. Then, in 1993, the Americans with Disabilities Act, requiring that all public buildings be made accessible to everyone, made the building obsolete. That same year, the last students left the old Sheffield Center School for the new Undermountain Elementary School. In 1997, with state grant money and generous contributions from local citizens, the school building was renovated and became the library’s new home. The most recent renovations took place in 2007. In the 130 years the Sheffield Town Library has existed there have been very few librarians. Eugene Vosburgh acted as librarian for one dollar a week when the library opened above his store. Mary Leonard became the librarian for both the Dewey Hall Library and the public library when the collection moved to Dewey Hall. There have been four librarians since the library moved into independent quarters in 1929: Willard French (1929-1973), John Campbell (19732000), Nancy Hahn (2001-2012), and Karen Lindquist (2013-present). Library Governance Town voters elect the three-member Board of Library Trustees, whose authority is derived from Chapter 78, Sections 10 and 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The board appoints the library director and delegates the responsibility for library management, collection development, and provision of library services to the director. The library director is a contracted employee of the Town of Sheffield. Library Building and Grounds Set well back from Route 7 (Main St.), the 10,000 square foot Bushnell-Sage Library (BSL) is a cheerful and vibrant place, full of light and bustle. Comfortable seating areas are scattered throughout the building. The circulation desk, public-use computers, new fiction and non-fiction books, videos, periodicals, and the delightful children’s wing are all located on the main floor. The other fiction and non-fiction books and audio book stacks are on the second floor. The basement houses a large meeting room, art room, and kitchen facilities. There is ample parking with room for 40 vehicles and features a garden island with spring flowering trees and picnic tables. The rear of the building features a patio and gardens off the program room. The beauty of the library grounds provides endless possibilities for programming. Staffing The Bushnell-Sage Library is staffed by two full-time personnel and six part-time personnel totaling 3.9 FTE. The director has an MLS from an ALA accredited institution; all other personnel have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree.
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Mission Statement The Bushnell-Sage Library is dedicated to informing, educating, and culturally enriching the residents of Sheffield. To that end, the library provides a comprehensive collection of materials, programs and activities designed for all ages. First and foremost, the library aims to be responsive to the needs of the community that it serves. Collection The BSL collection strengths are: agriculture, botany and gardening, translated international works, and arts and crafts. Our fiction and DVD collections are quite strong for our size and circulate well. Passes BSL carries free passes to the following cultural institutions: Berkshire Museum, The Clark Art Institute, Hancock Shaker Village, Norman Rockwell Museum, and all Trustees of Reservation Properties. We thank the Friends group for their continued support in this area. Library Programming6 The library had close to 30,000 people come through the door during the course of 2017. We held 307 weekly and special adult programs and 265 children’s programs during that time. Library Holdings Books
Periodicals
38,281 593 * available through Overdrive
CD books
Video
2,181
4,139
Digital holdings* 94,792
Misc.**
Total
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140,037
** Museum passes and Library of Things combined
Circulation Snapshot 2013 35,187
2014 34,392
2015 38,579
2016 35,059
2017 36,063
2015 179,082
2016 164,707
2017 163,042
2018 169,905
Library Budget 2014 160,833
Library Hours – 41 hours per week Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2:00-5:00 pm
Closed
10:00 -5:00 pm
10:00-5:00 pm
10:00-5:00 pm
10:00-8:00 pm
10:00-5:00 pm
Collaborations The library works with other area organizations, including but not limited to: Sheffield Historical Society, Sheffield Association, SBRSD, CHP, Sheffield Farmer’s Market and Berkshire School.
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Bushnell-Sage Library, ARIS Report 2017
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Some examples of recent collaborations:
Children’s game tent at Sheffield Fair STEM for preschoolers through Southern Berkshire Kids A Grand Scavenger Hunt for grandparents and grandchildren with the Senior Center Sheffield Land Trust Art Show Sheffield Halloween Trunk or Treat Living with Wildlife Program with Mass Audubon Baby Animals with the FFA General Barnard uniform presentation with Sheffield Historical Society Many local author talks
Quick Statistics As of June 30, 2017
Number of registered borrowers -1,674 Number of interlibrary loans processed in FY2017 – 11,096 We had 200 children’s programs and 258 adult programs Between 100 –125 digital titles are checked out each month through Overdrive We reach 400 people with our Electronic newsletter and an additional 125 with Facebook. We market our library programs through six different digital calendar resources.
The Friends of Bushnell-Sage Library The Friends are a small but dedicated group; their yearly fundraising letter garners support from the local community. This money funds special projects, programs for all ages, and the purchase of library materials. Recent special projects funded by the Friends include the restoration and display of General Barnard’s Civil War uniforms, construction of an Art Wall for local artwork displays, and new public computers.
Planning Methodology A 10-member Long Range Planning Committee (made up of trustees, Friends and volunteers) met three times over the course of 2018. Library Director Karen Lindquist chaired the Committee. We chose to follow the (AI) Aspen Institute’s Action Guide for Re-Envisioning your Public Library. This guide focuses on three basic areas for consideration: People, Place, and Platform. Our plan is drawn from three sources of data; a community survey done in the fall of 2017, a SOAR assessment in the spring of 2018, and an envisioning exercise done in the summer of 2018. The community had a choice of a written or online survey. All written surveys were then entered into the online survey system for tabulation. (See Community Survey in Appendix A for questions and results.)
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April 11 – Karen Lindquist presented an overview of the planning process to the committee. Lindquist was elected as chair of the committee. The rest of the meeting was spent doing a SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) exercise. June 2 – a library visioning day was held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Attendance was low, but a visioning form was made available for the month of June. Patrons were encouraged to fill out a brief questionnaire – “I envision the Bushnell-Sage Library as being” and “specifically, I would like to see”. August 21 – the Long-Range Planning Committee met to draw up goals and objectives and then designate a timeframe and responsibility for each goal. An detailed 2019 action plan was drawn up by the director and approved by the trustees.
Community Survey Below is a summary of the community survey. The actual questions and results can be found in Appendix A. Data from the community survey bares out the fact that Sheffield has an aging population. The majority of our patrons are over the age of sixty and they use the library frequently, over 50% visiting once a week or more. Respondents who never visit the library cite “not a reader” or “buy my books” as their reason for not visiting. Borrowing materials is the most popular reason for coming to the library; of those materials borrowed, books (90.9%) and DVDs (47.4%) are the most borrowed. Program attendance was cited by 39.7% of respondents, and of those – author talks, nature programs and cooking classes are the most popular. When asked to suggest programs – technology, arts and crafts, and music were requested the most. School age children prefer STEM and arts and craft programs, while the preschool set enjoy story time and playgroup. Nearly 30% of respondents thought a playground and fitness area were a worthwhile investment. A majority of people, 58.5% find out about events through our electronic newsletter while a smaller percentage rely on our website calendar and word of mouth. Use of the online catalog from home is done by 45.1% of respondents with 54.9% not knowing how to or not having computer access at home.
Needs Assessment SOAR Analysis – Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results Each of the components of the SOAR analysis can be placed into one of three categories: people, place and platform, as set forth in the AI guide. Here we have provided each with a written explanation. The collated SOAR analysis in list form can be found in Appendix B.
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Strengths: People It was quickly decided that people are at the center of the library’s mission. Our strength lies not only in their numbers but their frequency of visits. Many people make the library a regular stop on their outings. Our second strength is customer service; we strive to meet the needs of each person who enters our building. Place Our convenient location has been vital to our success thus far. Located directly off Route 7, a vital transportation route, and close to downtown it’s the perfect location for vehicular and foot traffic. Once inside, our general ambiance is one of welcoming comfort, a strength which keeps patrons coming back. Platform A simple way to describe “platform” is the services we provide to our patrons in a media most compatible to their needs or learning style. Currently, our strength is our physical collection of books, audio books, DVDs, and periodicals. We have a collection that rivals some of the larger suburban libraries. We specialize in farming and gardening, arts and crafts, and current fiction and nonfiction. Our fiction collection spans from local authors to international works. Additionally, we offer museum passes, musical instruments and an Art Wall. All are available to meet the eclectic interests and needs of our community. Opportunities: People Most of our opportunities involve a broadening of services to the community. We have increased our outreach to the community through partnerships with other area non-profits and individuals, but there is always further need. We have an opportunity to further access local talent and expertise for innovative programs and displays. We also need to recreate a culture of volunteerism as older volunteers slow down and phase out. Place It has been 20 years since the renovation and move to the current building. The building has not seen any refurbishing within that time. It is now time to begin the process of repainting, carpeting and reconfiguring the space for new needs. Increased ADA compliance, a handicap accessible fitness walk around the perimeter of Pine Knoll, and a small playground for young children on Pine Knoll are several examples of ways to provide a safe environment for our seniors and pre-school children. Platform: Better access defines our platform opportunities. Homebound patrons need access through delivery services. New residents need outreach to know we’re here, and busy families need access to a community calendar that keeps them updated on town-wide events. Aspirations: While opportunities are foreseeable actions, aspirations are our hopes for the more distant future.
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People We aspire to have all people have a stake in the library, particularly the young adult and immigrant community. Place The library as civic and cultural hub of the town is an aspiration we aim for. Urban libraries are already there, but rural libraries lack funding on the state and local level, grants and volunteerism are the only ways to support this need. Platform Improved educational, cultural, and civic programing requires development of a Programming Committee and a Public Relations person. These would multiply the director’s efforts and allow her more time for staff support, and patron and community interaction. Results: Some results are easily measurable; our problem lies in measuring the currently immeasurable (or subjective) results. For example, we know how many people access our databases each month, but we don’t know if they found what they were looking for. People Our measurable results for people are the number of people holding library cards and the number of people coming through the door. We have these numbers. Patron satisfaction or “user experience” is more elusive, it can only be measured through the occasional feedback from staff and patrons or a patron survey. Much of our user experience data comes from systems we have little control over. Place It can only be assumed that an upgrade in the “place” category would improve patron expectations and relations. Outside of safety upgrades, there’s no clear way to put value on design upgrades; except to say when people view a space as comfortable, they are comfortable. Platform As more digital services are added, they too will be added to the list of measurable results; most now come with built-in analytics. Usage numbers will show we made a good choice or we need to improve public awareness regarding availability of these resources.
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Envisioning the Library Although the lack of response to the visioning exercise may indicate apathy, it can also be seen as a sense of satisfaction; since most people, when asked to participate, said we were doing a fine job and left it at that. In lieu of the visioning exercise, the staff went through some activities presented in the AI guide. People: We identifired the following seven audiences currently using the library. Audience Retirees
Expectation Good service Daytime programming Friendly ear
Families (especially preschool age)
Comfortable place to gather Interactive play Strong collection Socialization
Computer users and wi-fi users
Safe, virus free internet access Easy printing capabilities Word Suite On the spot help Fast wireless internet Venue to promote books Acknowledgement as a group Library having their books A comfortable place to gather and feel included Library as exhibition space free of charge Recognition of art as an important learning tool Space to provide workshops A quiet place to work Private space for work-related phone calls and webinars Reliable wi-fi
Local authors
Developmentally Disabled Local artists both professional and amateur
Self-employed
Role Adequate staffing to give good service in addition to listening (during the weekdays especially.) Offer daytime programs that appeal to older patrons Provide a comfortable space for children and adults with creative learning play, that is not technology based. Good (RA) Reader’s Advisory for parents and children Provide up-to-date technology and peripherals Adequate staff training to assist with problems Provide the venue for them to showcase their work. Keep at least one copy in collection Provide books of interest and programming they enjoy Continued use of the art wall and art room
Provide quiet areas and rooms for their use.
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Physical Space What does the library do to make it a great public space? Provide a clean, comfortable space. Use our existing space as efficiently as possible. Make the library available to any group who needs it. If there was no barrier, what would you do to make your building even better? Make better use of the grounds by adding a handicap accessible walkway around the perimeter and a small playground. Address remaining handicap accessibility issues. Update the 20 year old dÊcor by re-carpeting and painting. Reconfigure kitchen/ atrium into a more usable space. Have a maintenance person on staff to address building maintenance beyond weekly cleaning. Platform What is the library doing well in regard to services? We offer excellent one-on–one service to our patrons in house. We offer a strong physical collection. We provide unique displays for serendipitous encounters with materials What can the library do better with regard to services? Provide more technology classes. Recruit volunteers and specialists to provide quality programs. Increase collaboration with other organizations. Increase staff training Create a larger online presence with social media beyond our website, email newsletter, and Facebook.
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Goals and Objectives 2019 - 2023 Goal 1. The BushnellSage Library (BSL) maintains an inclusive culture.
2. BSL provides targeted service to each of our community groups.
Objective
Action Steps
1.1 Establish connections within the community to identify needs.
1.1.1 Reach out to community for groups not already identified or engaged.
2019 -2023
Director Trustees Friends Staff
1.1.2 Develop a community calendar across all town departments
2019
Director Staff Other town departments
1.2 Determine the best platform for meeting each group’s needs.
1.2.1 Create an open dialog with groups for needs assessment.
2019 - 2023
Director Trustees Friends Staff
1.3 Work within the existing building and grounds to create appropriate spaces for all.
1.3.1 Look for ways to create flexibility in the existing physical space.
2019
Director
1.3.2 Finish off back patio area and atrium.
2019-2020
Director
2.1.1 Create a Homebound delivery service using existing delivery infrastructure or volunteers.
2019-2020
Director Staff Friends
2019-2023
Director
2019
Trustees Director
2.1 Assessing our existing service for potential improvement.
2.2 Research new services relevant to the needs of our community and related to our mission. 2.3 The town continues to support the library’s efforts in this regard.
2.3.1 The town funds a Children’s Program Coordinator at a full-time level.
Time Frame
Responsibility
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3. BSL provides education, technology, and enrichment opportunities across generations to our community groups.
3.1 Look for overlap among our community groups when providing opportunities. 3.2 Access local talent and expertise when possible to provide quality programs.
3.3 Keep up to date with technology hardware and software 4. The Town supports the library’s effort to provide a safe, comfortable environment for the operation of the library
5. BSL is committed to societal and environmental sustainability.
2019-2023
Director Staff Friends
3.2.1 Create a programming committee.
2019
Director Friends
3.2.2. Program Committee explores suggested programs
2019 – 2020
Committee
2019 - 2023
Director
3.3.1 Provide education to staff and patrons for new technologies.
4.1 Address the building infrastructure, systems and property needs.
4.1.1 Work toward full ADA compliance.
2020
Town Trustees Director
4.2 Seek out grant opportunities to address building improvements.
4.2.1 Find funding specific to a handicap accessible walking path and a playground.
2019 – 2022
Trustees Friends Director
4.3 Research ways to provide continual maintenance to the building.
4.3.1. Make wishlist public to enlist volunteer help.
2019 - 2023
Director Friends
5.1 Provide educational experiences in civics and the environment.
5.1.1 Research specifics with regard to civic and environmental education.
2019 - 2023
Director
5.2 Discover additional ways
Director Friends
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the library can function sustainably.
Staff
Bushnell-Sage Library Action Plan for 2019 actions for 2019 are in red
1. The Bushnell-Sage Library (BSL) maintains an inclusive culture. 1.1 Establish connections within the community to identify needs. 1.1.1 Reach out to community for groups not already identified in audience profile. Reach out to the immigrant and home-school community as potential groups. Reach out to the high school to address young adult needs. 1.1.2 Develop a community calendar across all town departments. Work with town departments to determine viability of creating a town calendar 1.2 Determine the best platform for meeting each group’s needs. 1.2.1 Create an open dialog with groups for needs assessment. Work with the Friends to create a more robust and active group. 1.3 Work within the existing building and grounds to create appropriate spaces for all. 1.3.1 Look for ways to create flexibility in the existing physical space. Address the need for more private and quiet space for telecommuters. 1.3.2 Finish off back patio area and atrium. Purchase umbrella tables. Consider mural painting on cement wall through H.S. art students or local artists. 2. BSL provides targeted service to each of our community groups. 2.1 Assessing our existing service for potential improvement. 2.1.1 Create a Homebound delivery service using existing delivery infrastructure. Connect with Senior Center van for possible delivery service. 2.2 Research new services relevant to the needs of our community and related to our mission. 2.3 Encourage the town’s continued support for the library’s efforts in this regard. 2.3.1 The town funds a Children’s Program Coordinator at a full-time level. Plan justification for the FY19-20 budget season. 3. BSL provides education, technology, and enrichment opportunities across generations to our community groups. 3.1 Look for overlap among our community groups when providing opportunities. 3.2 Access local talent and expertise when possible to provide quality programs.
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3.2.1 Create a programming committee. 3.2.2. Program Committee explores previously requested programs such as a Cookbook Club, Chef Programs and crafts. 3.3 Keep up to date with technology hardware and software. 3.3.1 Provide education to staff and patrons regarding new technologies as they appear. Build in time and funding for the training of staff. 4. The Town supports the library’s effort to provide a safe, comfortable environment for the operation of the library. 4.1 Address the building infrastructure, systems and property needs. 4.1.1 Work toward full ADA compliance 4.2 Seek out grant opportunities to address building improvements. 4.2.1 Find funding specific to a handicap accessible walking path and a playground. 4.3 Research ways to provide continual maintenance to the building. 4.3.1. Make wish list public to enlist volunteer help. 5. BSL is committed to societal and environmental sustainability. 5.1 Provide educational experiences in civics and the environment. 5.1.1 Research specifics with regard to civic and environmental education. 5.2 Discover additional ways the library can function sustainably.
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Appendix A Community Survey 1. What is your age range?
Under 9 9-16 17-25 26-35 36-60 Over 60 No Responses Total
Number of Response(s) 4 1 2 12 51 85 0 155
Response Ratio 2.5% <1% 1.2% 7.7% 32.9% 54.8% 0.0% 100%
2. Do you have a Sheffield Library card (or other Berkshire County card)?
Yes No No Responses Total
Number of Response(s) 144 11 0 155
Response Ratio
Number of Response(s) 33 58 34 18 1 3 8 0 155
Response Ratio
92.9% 7.0% 0.0% 100%
3. How often do you visit the library?
More than once a week Once a week Once a month 2 to 3 times a year Only during summer Only on weekends Never No Responses Total
21.2% 37.4% 21.9% 11.6% <1% 1.9% 5.1% 0.0% 100%
4. If you answered Never above, briefly state why you don't visit us or any other library. 11 Response(s)
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5. What library services do you use? (Please check all that apply)
Borrow items Read/ work/ study/ research Programs/ exhibits Use a library computer for internet access and/or Microsoft Office Programs Use WiFi for own device Other Total
Number of Response(s) 140 44 60 20
Response Ratio
21 21 151
13.9% 13.9% 100%
92.7% 29.1% 39.7% 13.2%
6. If you borrow items, what do you borrow? (Please check all that apply)
Books Large Print books Magazines Audio books on CD Research databases DVDs Music CDs Museum passes eBooks e audio books ukeleles Total
Number of Response(s) 140 14 34 42 3 73 17 52 15 4 17 154
Response Ratio 90.9% 9.0% 22.0% 27.2% 1.9% 47.4% 11.0% 33.7% 9.7% 2.5% 11.0% 100%
7. Which of these current adult programs are you likely to attend? (Please check all that apply)
Knitting Group Mah jongg group Cooking programs/ classes Arts & Crafts programs/ classes Health and wellness programs/ classes Nature and environmental presentations Local Author presentations Folk music circle Writing group Total 38 Comment(s)
Number of Response(s) 25 4 57 36 42 58 57 11 35 149
Response Ratio 16.7% 2.6% 38.2% 24.1% 28.1% 38.9% 38.2% 7.3% 23.4% 100%
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8. Which of these current children's programs are you likely to attend? (please check all that apply)
Story time/ playgroup Chess Club Lego Club Summer Reading Program Half-day school program Arts & Crafts programs Science and environmental programs Total 12 Comment(s)
Number of Response(s) 17 6 10 10 9 18 18 52
Response Ratio 32.6% 11.5% 19.2% 19.2% 17.3% 34.6% 34.6% 100%
9. What programs or services would you like the library to offer? (please check all that apply) If you would like to suggest topics for book groups, speakers or technology classes, please use the comment space provided.
Writing workshops Author visits Movie showings Book group Music programs ESL programs Speaker series Technology classes Maker space Scanning center Playground/ outdoor fitness area Assistive technologies for the physically challenged Other Total 12 Comment(s)
Number of Response(s) 20 54 41 19 24 6 54 27 17 5 36 8 16 123
Response Ratio 16.2% 43.9% 33.3% 15.4% 19.5% 4.8% 43.9% 21.9% 13.8% 4.0% 29.2% 6.5% 13.0% 100%
10. How do you learn about library services and events? (Please check all that apply) If you follow a certain online calendar, please specify which one in the comment section provided. Number of Response Ratio Response(s) Electronic newsletter 75 58.5% Facebook 11 8.5% Flyers/ posters 58 45.3% Bushnell-Sage Library website 45 35.1% Word of mouth 59 46.0% Online calendars 13 10.1% Total 128 100% 18 Comment(s)
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11. Do you use the library's online catalog to reserve, and/or renew books, or check your library account?
Yes No Didn't know I could No Responses Total
Number of Response(s) 70 56 29 0 155
Response Ratio 45.1% 36.1% 18.7% 0.0% 100%
Appendix B SOAR Analysis Strengths The collection especially books, DVDs and periodicals. Staff – good customer service General ambiance – very comfortable welcoming feel Dedicated patrons Children’s department and programming Large program room with kitchen Museum passes Art Wall Location – easily accessible and in town Opportunities Partner with other town non-profits on programs and displays Access local talent and expertise for programs Handicap fitness walk and playground Develop a culture of volunteerism Develop a workable community calendar More technology education Full ADA access Homebound delivery service – Meals on Wheels or Senior van Our wishlist made public Outreach to non-cardholders and new cardholders Aspirations Programming Committee PR person Playground Full- time Children’s position Increased attendance at Adult programs Increase program quality Quality literary events Chef programs Closer working relationship and support from the town’s administration
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Reaching the young adult community Quarterly staff meetings An ecologically inspired facility Family Book Club Cookbook Club with meals Outside back wall mural Results increased attendance and circulation Comments from patrons - asking for more develop evaluation tools beyond numbers Improved public image
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Bushnell-Sage Library Long Range Plan 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2023
Approved by the Trustees Pat Levine (chair) Frances Roth Martin Mitsoff
_____________________________________ Chair signature
___________________ Date
____________________________________ Karen Lindquist, Director
__________________ Date
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