RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2009
UPDATED: April 28, 2009
Contact: Christine Perkins, Assistant Director
(360) 778-7206
cperkins@cob.org
2009 User Survey Results Summary
Summary results of Bellingham Public Library's 2009 User Survey are now available online. A video presentation about the survey is also available, as are slides from the presentation. The survey was conducted at the Central Library, Fairhaven and Barkley Branches, the WCC Connection and the library website from February 9 - 28. Volunteers from the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library handed out paper copies of the survey and encouraged library users to take a few minutes to give input about the materials and services that are most important to them. In all, over 2,900 surveys were completed.
"We're thrilled with the high response rate and by all the valuable comments and suggestions people took the time to share," said Library Director Pamela Kiesner. "We're in the process of analyzing all the write-in comments and tabulating the results. We expect to post our findings on the library website shortly."
Paper copies of the survey results, including the additional comments, are being sent to each library location for the public to view.
"One common theme is people's love for their library," said Assistant Director Christine Perkins. "The phrase 'I love my library' is repeated again and again with several variations."
A strong appreciation for staff is also evident in survey responses, as is frustration with parking. A majority of all respondents (65%) said they use a car to get to the library most often, and while issues regarding bicycle parking and bus routes were mentioned, parking meters and lack of automobile parking generated more comments.
Assistant Director Christine Perkins gave a presentation about the User Survey to the City Council during their Committee of the Whole on April 27. For a video of the presentation, click here. For images of the slides used in the powerpoint, click here.
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