Questions from the November 9th Meeting
November 13, 2006
Here were questions posed as part of the needs assessment meeting on November 9th. Some of the previous postings have addressed several of these questions. If you are inspired by any of the questions below, we would love to hear what you have to say. All comments will be passed on to our library consultants.
How is or should the library be integrated within the overall public services of the city?
- What library services (books, seating, etc.) need improving?
- How should the library be serviced with regard to public and private transportation, parking and accessibility?
- How should the library serve and be complimentary to public education including home schooling?
What is your vision for the future of library services in Ferndale?
- What is your personal view of the future for Ferndale?
- How do library services fit in your view of the the city’s future?
- What are your priorities for library services—including books, media, magazines, newspapers, and community meeting and study spaces?
- What would you suggest be the basis for making the decision about the future of the library?
Current Library
- What would you like to see stay the same?
- What physical elements of the library need correcting?
Aspirations for the Future Library
- Green Building / Sustainable Design / LEED—do you support the integration of sustainable elements?
- What are security issues and needs?
- Integration of Public Art—is this important?
- How can the library best serve your personal needs?
- What role should technology play in the new library?
- What would be your top 3 wishes for a new library?
- What will you personally do to ensure the future library needs of the citizens be met?
December 4, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Since this needs assessment summary meeting, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I feel it is critical for a public library to provide. I keep asking myself the seemingly simple question “what is essential about the library to the community?” If a building that will house all of our dreams is not possible, which of those dreams are essential parts of library service?
I thought about what is really critical to me and my family about the library on a day-to-day (or regular use) basis. Here are some of the things that are in our house right now, thanks to the library. (As much as I love my library job, these items would not be here if I had to go out and purchase them!)
-a coffee table photography book on the aftermath of 9/11; brought home after my daughter decided at a dinner discussion that she was ready to understand this tragedy more intimately
-many crafts books; we are making all of our holiday gifts and I reminded myself how to knit among other things
-some National Geographic magazines from the 70s mostly for accounts of mountaineering ascents; yeah for Ferndale that had the magazines on their shelves for checkout!
-fiction to suit the tastes of three readers; including for inspiration, for escape, for humor, for provocation and to understand other points of view better
-several new nonfiction titles; casual interest aroused in topics that I never would’ve bought a book about but have enjoyed learning more
-several current magazines to which I cannot afford to subscribe
-about 10 music CDs; mostly experimenting with different sounds and different cultures
-books-on-CD are a constant companion during my daily commute
This is a sampling of what can be found in our home at any time, thanks to the library. The library has helped me research family illnesses, learn more about diagnoses, buy a new car, investigate continuing education opportunities and plan travel. My first experience on the Internet was at the library; a reference librarian helped make it not such a bewildering experience. Having an access system to this diversity of materials that is efficient, fair and friendly is absolutely the thing I value most in library service. I would sum it up as great materials, diverse collection, knowledgable staff. Add to that a building that includes places to meet, places to learn and early learning support for families.
Naturally, it is important for a community to have good roads. But good roads earn their value by being traveled over to reach great destinations. A community does not feel connected and empowered by good roads. In my mind, the library is an investment in a community where every citizen is insured of having an outlet through which they can make their lives better. Citizens who are empowered to make their lives better and who feel a sense of connection are more likely to make sure that the community is cared for–supporting things like good roads.
The library’s mission is similar to the mission of the public school to leave no child behind. It is the fail-safe device that a community provides to leave no citizen behind, a comprehensive net not provided by any other agency or service. It is a door to the future–for people who may feel disenfranchised, for recent immigrants, for people who may have been unable to take advantage of schooling because of family responsibilities–providing them the opportunity to better themselves. Everyone who steps through the door of the library has really stepped through a door to the future; when they walk back out, they will almost inevitably be taking something with them that has fostered their growth. Connecting with information, connecting with the community, connecting with the world.
I think it is well-worth noting that, compared to national averages, the library staff at Ferndale has been giving 85th percentile service in a 15th percentile space. I can only imagine what kinds of over-the-top service they would be able to provide with a space that was more supportive! Who was it that said “we have done so much with so little for so long that we are now qualified to do just about anything with almost nothing”? As a relative newcomer to the Whatcom County Library System, I am proud to be a part of this tremendous library service system and hope to see Ferndale’s dreams grow to fruition. The library deserves the community’s support and, more importantly, the community deserves a fabulous library!
January 30, 2007 at 3:13 am
more bilingual books especially spanish and russian. more bilingual cookbooks english/spanish,spanish/english. many latinos i know would love to know how to deal with artichokes and other agricultural items alien to them. the organization Community to Community which i belong to does teach american cooking to latinos but having these cookbooks would be adventageous.
possibility to include slide library of artists’ work and perhaps of community artists work?
two dimentional art from community artists on rotating basis hung within library itself space providing. i love the sculptures at Bellingham library it would be great to see some at ferndale library although i know space is tight and future expansion may make this impossible.
congradulations lisa on your ‘new’ position and happy to hear you love your job. i’ll keep adding suggestions as i think of them. oh just wondered if there is a possibility of inter-library loans from wwu and wcc.