Community Needs Assessment 2009
Community leader and staff consultations, online questionnaire, telephone survey of 800 families, focus groups with local people and best practice interviews – all add up to a significant piece of research into community needs and expectations for library services and the future of St. Albert Public Library. The Community Needs Assessment Study took place in the summer of 2009, and has given a clear picture of library use, how the Library needs to move forward, and the value people place on this community service. The main findings are:
The community has a high regard for St. Albert Public Library
- 74% of people are satisfied with the Library.
- 98% of people believe the Library is important to the community (with almost 7 out of 10 saying the Library is important to their own household).
- 89% believe that the Library provides good value for tax dollars.
The Library is well-used by the whole community.
- 71% of people have used the Library, 42% in the past 12 months. Use of the Library far exceeds those with Library cards, with over a third of Library users in the past year being non-members.
- Young families represent an important user group for the Library, with about 1 in 3 users under 18 years of age.
Library use goes beyond borrowing books
- Between 60% and 65% of people use the Library for more than borrowing books: to study; to attend programs; to use technology.
Library use is evolving.
- Circulation - borrowing books and other materials – has increased over the last decade. In-person visits have fluctuated over the same period while e-visits (online catalogue, databases, online resources, website) have increased. Research suggests users may be visiting in-person less often, but borrowing as much or more, as they are able to make use of technologies such as the Library website and catalogue to make their visits more efficient.
Community growth may attract young families, a key Library user group
- The recently annexed land will provide for growth in population which will see even more demand being placed on the Library, particularly from young families.
Need for more space recognized by the community
- People are positive about a number of aspects of the Library: the staff, choice of programs, opening hours, selection of books. However, when it comes to having enough space for collections, programs, reading and study, fewer people felt positive and about 3 in 10 stated that there was insufficient space.
- 85% of people support expansion of the Library. This decreases when expansion is linked to an increase in property taxes, yet 43% still support Library expansion.
- Research amongst comparable libraries suggests that one main library can support populations up to about 100,000. Beyond that a multi-branch system can better serve the needs of the community. There is an immediate, pressing need for more space and this can best be achieved by a larger central library located downtown. With further city growth over the next 20 years, will come the need to consider a multi-branch system.
Read the Full Report.