The Harvard Public Library is entering the seventh year of its occupancy of the renovated and expanded historic Bromfield School that has become its new home. Much of that time has been spent in what Library Director Mary Wilson describes as “settling in,” with staff, trustees, and patrons gradually getting used to the layout of the new facility: its computers, internet, and Wi-Fi; its structural systems such as heating and ventilation; its audio and video accessories; and its possibilities as a center for the community.
As that phase has drawn to a close, the library trustees decided last year that the time had come to create a long-range plan for the next five years. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners expects libraries to submit such plans and update them regularly, and Harvard’s Finance Committee has asked all town departments to develop five-year plans for budgets and capital needs.
Among the factors driving the need for a plan is the year-over-year growth in library use. (See the graphs that accompany this article.) Attendance records show that the number of library visitors in 2012 was 23 percent higher than when the new library opened in 2007. Circulation has increased 33 percent over the same five years. More than 200 library cards are used each day. The number and popularity of children’s programs has also risen. And while most transactions still involve printed books, the circulation of e-books and downloadable audio books is growing steadily.
Source: Harvard Public Library Trustees
Survey: library is highly regarded
For the library, the planning process began with gathering information from Harvard residents, both in an online survey and in face-to-face discussions. About 400 people participated in the survey, the results of which were analyzed by planning consultant Jonathan Costa.
Costa, who also helped the Harvard schools develop their long-range plan several years ago, reported that an overwhelming majority of respondents considered the library in a very positive light. Results of the survey are available online.
Between 90 and 95 percent of the survey-takers rated the library a pleasant, comfortable place with which they were very satisfied. An equal number described the staff as extremely or very helpful, friendly, and effective.
Who uses the library? Demographic information from the survey indicated that library usage drops off after age 18, is at its lowest for people in their 20s and 30s, and then begins to rise slowly, decade by decade, with the largest single group of library users–not surprisingly–in or near their retirement years.
Library patrons are frequent and faithful visitors. The largest single group reports visiting the library several times a month, but many say they go every week or several times a week. A few true-blue fans go almost every day.
What draws people to the library? The three main reasons that people go to the library, according to the survey, are to find a specific resource, browse for something interesting, or attend an event in Volunteers Hall.
While books still top the list of popular library resources, survey respondents say they also want to use the public Wi-Fi, the meeting rooms, and the reference materials. The free museum passes (paid for by the Friends of the Harvard Public Library)remain especially popular. In choosing from a list of purposes that libraries may serve in a community, Harvard residents said they found the most relevant purposes for this library to be encouraging lifelong learning, curiosity, creativity, and imagination.
The survey offered several open-format questions on what people like most or least about the library. Those responses are not available online, but were summarized by Costa to ensure confidentiality.
An atmospheric oasis
What people like most about the library, Costa found, is that it is “an atmospheric oasis–a place of peace and beauty that just makes you feel good when you go there.”
The two major areas of concern, according to survey responses, are the library’s hours of operation and the after-school period. About 48 percent of library users find the hours extremely or very convenient, with another 45 percent finding them “mostly convenient.” While still fairly high overall, the level of satisfaction on this item is lower than most other areas.
Responses to the question of what people liked least about the library, Costa wrote, “mainly focused on the disruption of the air of civility that everyone loves so much about the library. The periodic influx of large numbers of students at specific times, and the intrusions of noise and cell phones were all frequently mentioned as threats to the long-term health of the library.” (See related article.)
Identifying critical issues, priorities
While results from the survey were coming in, a team of library staff members, trustees, and community volunteers held several meetings to identify critical issues, gather data, and discuss priorities. In addition to library trustees, the planning group included staff members Lisa Gagnon, Abby Kingsbury, Judy Veno, and Library Director Mary Wilson. Community representatives were Sharon Briggs, Robin De Augustinis, Ginger Kendall, Anna Lee, Rick Maiore, Joe Newpol, and Cynthia Rowatt.
To identify the guiding principles for the long-term plan, the planning group formulated a new mission statement:
“Through our programs, resources, volunteers, and staff, the Harvard Public Library enhances the quality of life in the community by encouraging personal and intellectual growth for people of all ages in a welcoming, comfortable environment.”
The group also developed a list of values to serve as broad guides for library policies:
- Responsiveness to our patrons
- Free and open access to a wide range of resources
- Protection of intellectual freedom
- Cooperation with and support of the Harvard Public Schools
- Integration of new and traditional services
- Preservation of the history of our community.
Updated goals
After much analysis and discussion, the planning group identified three goals on which the trustees and library personnel should focus for the next five years.
First, the planning team agreed that the library should make an effort to better inform the community about “the variety of assets and activities that make our library unique.” Trustee Chairwoman Gail Coolidge says the library wants to find new and better ways to serve the 80 percent of town residents who have library cards, while also reaching out to those who do not use the library regularly.
As part of the outreach process, the library expects to upgrade its use of electronic communication, such as its web page and Facebook. The library also hopes to establish new partnerships with town organizations and expand existing ones, including its work with the Council on Aging and the Warner Free Lecture series. The plan calls for the creation of a Library Advisory Board to “create a continuous feedback system for ongoing improvements.”
A second major goal is to allow patrons of all ages to enjoy the library in comfort at the same time, particularly during the after-school period identified as problematic in the survey.
In an effort to address this problem, the library trustees recently approved using funds from the Library Trust to hire an after-school student supervisor, who started work several weeks ago. Trustees have also considered reconfiguring the young adult room to allow more sound separation from the main reference area, as well as making other adjustments to the library’s physical space.
The library director, staff, and trustees are continuing to meet with parents and school representatives in search of constructive options for the after-school hours. Trustees also hope to increase the involvement of the existing Teen Advisory Board and, if town finances permit, to consider adding other staff positions for this time of day.
A third goal is to keep the library’s technological resources in line with the increasing needs of Harvard’s tech-savvy population, while at the same time maintaining the library’s tranquil atmosphere.
To help guide directions for this goal, the library will appoint a technical advisory team to help choose from the broad range of mobile apps, data bases, and devices that are available. Busy, working-age adults might find it convenient to check on requests for books or DVDs through a cell-phone app rather than email, for example. The planning team also strongly suggested the creation of a student technical assistance team, since many students have more expertise than their elders in dealing with technology.
The complete text of “A Plan for the Future of the Harvard Public Library” will be available on the library’s website, www.harvardpubliclibrary.org.
Full disclosure: Marty Green is a member of the Library Board of Trustees and contributed to the five-year plan described in this article.
