Library Seeking Feedback in Online Survey

An online survey is an attempt by library officials to gather information about what services users of the system value most.

The survey is one of the ways library officials have tried to gather the feedback in light of their financial woes. The Board of Trustees plans to ask voters to support a 0.7 mill tax increase in November. The money would cover the bond payments for the construction of the Woods and Ewald branches and nothing more.

Declining revenue due to dropping home values is the main struggle. According to the summer edition of Library Pointes, the library system's operating budget has fallen 7 percent since last year and the total budget has dropped 9 percent.

Library trustees have traveled around to each of the Grosse Pointe's council meetings giving presentations to garner support for November's ballot. The presentations have varied from a few minutes to nearly an hour and outlined the library's stark financial state.

"We would really love to get as much input as possible, because of the large reduction in income the library is suffering from reduced property assessments..." Trustee Jenny Nolan said. "We need to know what library services our community feels are important to them."

Without the passage of the tax hike, drastic cuts will be necessary to the already reduced services, according to trustees. The already bare-bones staff has decreased the level of individualized help they can offer to users and the scheduling is just covering the operating hours, according to the trustees. 

The survey, which greets website users upon hitting the homepage, asks questions not only about what services are liked but also basic questions about the survey taker. The survey requests information about the kinds of materials checked out, whether users have a computer and Internet access at home and if so, what kind of research/reference services are used. 

Another question focuses on how users like to obtain their information about the library--online newsletter, website, email, Facebook, flyers or news outlets. 

The 13-question survey is mostly multiple choice and should be quick to complete. The last question allows survey takers to provide additional comments if so desired.

If users have additional comments beyond the scope of the survey, the library is accepting emails. 

The survey will be live through May 18 and Nolan said the trustees are hopeful to get as many responses as possible.