Event:

Libraries cannot plan for their future without a firm understanding of the needs – both existing and forecasted – of the public they exist to serve. While a simple enough concept in principle, a public library’s mandate is in practice complicated by the disparate wants and expectations of a diverse patron base. Only with periodic, intentional stakeholder engagement activities can a library – its leadership and trustees – feel fully confident in the prioritization of certain resources and services over others. In recent partnerships with libraries, the presenters have facilitated community needs assessments to provide data and analysis regarding community perceptions of the library, barriers to usage, and aspirations for their library. The presenters will provide an overview of recent projects, tools utilized for community needs assessments, and the value of the process and outcomes to support the library’s decision-making and prioritization of resources within the context of defined community needs.

Presented by David Katz