redwood city public library the “why i choose not to use the library” project redwood city...

Redwood City Public Library

The “Why I Choose Not to Use

the Library” Project

Redwood City Public Library

Jenny DavisRedwood City, CA

Specialist Librarian650 780 7046

jdavis@redwoodcity.org

Project Purpose

• What keeps people from using our libraries and why?

• What can we do to enhance our services?

Why this project?

To Ask What We Can Do Better

And Respond to

what our community tells us

How?

Community outreach

Community events

Online Survey

The numbers

6 Community events

25 Community groups

498 people online

100 in person

Projected Achieved

Attend 4 events Survey 200

community members

Craft a new services plan

Attended 6 events Surveyed 600

community members

Craft a new services plan

What we found

The top three reasons our customers don’t use the library– Too busy, don’t have time– Use the internet instead– Other – mainly parking fees

What we found

Three most important improvements customers would like to see– Free Parking– Expanded collection of books– Café in the library

What we loved to hear!

“No changes are needed to get me to

come”

“I tend to forget that the library has more to offer beyond what I've used”

“Libraries a

re

critical to

a

communities

success.”

“I LOVE IT

”

“It’s just great

knowing a library is

there”

What they said• Post the New York Times Best Seller Lists• Computer classes for English speakers• “Lose the hold fee”• “I buy my books”• Too long a wait for new best-sellers• I just don't read books anymore• I strongly believe the Library should be just that

-- a Library. Not a Community Center or a Baby sitting center for High School Students

• Ability to return books to locations other than the library (RCSD schools, Sequoia Station, post offices (outside drop off bin)

How we WILL respondService responsesEnhance online services

Enhance downloadable services

Free parking days?

Barrier

How we HAVE responded

Bestsellers New Online services

What next?

• Pursue and promote online services for people “that don’t have time”– Music downloads– Language learning– Ebooks and audiobooks

• Pursue new collection ideas• Working with the city on free

parking days

The Project Budget

• This grant funded 6 additional days for staff to attend events in the community

• Provided hours to a project assistant• Paid for supplies and materials for

off-site library events.

Outcome