NEEDS ASSESSMENT

RESULTSSEDLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH

7 APRIL 2014

WHAT IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT?

A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT GATHERS INFORMATION ABOUT A COMMUNITY’S OPINIONS, NEEDS,

CHALLENGES AND ASSETS.

WHY ARE WE DOING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT?

THE LIBRARY WILL USE INFORMATION FROM THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO HELP POSITION ITSELF TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE

COMMUNITY.

HOW DID WE DO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT?

• COMPILE KNOWN INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY (SEE BOOKLET)

• BOARD INPUT:

• COMMUNITY ASSETS

• COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

• LIST OF COMMUNITY LEADERS

• COMMUNITY LEADERS INTERVIEWS

WHAT DID WE FIND OUT?

• INCREASING POPULATION

• 2 DAYCARES

• PLAYSCHOOL

• 4 SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS

• GYM/HALL

• RINK

• QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

• POST OFFICE

• DECREASING MEDIAN AGE (34.1)

• K-8 SCHOOL

• PUBLIC LIBRARY

• 3 RECREATION GROUPS

• 2 PLAYGROUNDS

• 2 CHURCHES

• 4 EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS

INTERVIEW STATS• 10 INTERVIEWS

• RESPONDENTS WITH 5-65 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY (MEAN AVERAGE OF 27 YEARS)

• SECTORS COVERED:

• MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

• EMERGENCY SERVICES

• BUSINESS COMMUNITY

• EDUCATION

• ARTS AND CULTURE

• SPORTS COMMUNITY

• FAITH COMMUNITY

• LOCAL VOLUNTEERS

WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO SEDLEY?

• CLOSE PROXIMITY TO REGINA (5)

• LOW COST OF LIVING, AFFORDABILITY (4)

• GOOD SCHOOL (4)

• SAFE, SMALL TOWN LIVING (4)

• FRIENDLY, NEIGHBOURLY, COMMUNITY MINDED (4)

• AMENITIES, FACILITIES, BUSINESSES (3)

• SEVERAL COMMUNITY GROUPS (1)

WHAT ARE SEDLEY’S CHALLENGES?• COMMUTING TO REGINA: DISTANCE, “BURN OUT” OF

RESIDENTS (6)

• THERE ARE NO CHALLENGES (3)

• LIMITED DAY CARE SERVICES (2)

• LACK OF VOLUNTEERS (2)

• DISLIKE OF CHANGE (1)

• NO SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION (1)

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT SEDLEY WHAT WOULD IT BE?

• INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (4)

• BUILD A MOVIE THEATRE (1)

• HOURS OF OPERATION FOR BUSINESSES (1)

• PAVED STREETS (1)

• MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES AMONG RESIDENTS (1)

• WOULDN’T CHANGE ANYTHING (1)

• INCREASED DAYCARE (1)

• MORE FOR KIDS TO DO (1)

ACTIVITIES OF MOST INTEREST:• ACTIVITIES AT THE RINK, ESPECIALLY HOCKEY, SKATING, CURLING (9)

• SENIOR CENTRE EVENTS EX. COFFEE, CRIBBAGE (3)

• SMALL GROUP COMMUNITY EVENTS EX. WOMEN’S SNOWMOBILING (3)

• SCHOOL EVENTS (2)

• BASEBALL (2)

• DANCE CLASSES IN FRANCIS (1)

• LIBRARY EVENTS (1)

• CHURCH EVENTS (1)

• CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES DESPITE DIFFICULTY FINDING VOLUNTEERS (1)

• PARK USE (1)

• BEING OUTDOORS IN SUMMER (1)

• TENNIS (1)

• UNSURE (1)

“HOT BUTTON” ISSUES:• STREET PAVING, USE AND MAINTENANCE (4)

• RISING COST INFRASTRUCTURE EX. WATER, SEWER (3)

• GARBAGE PICK UP (2)

• DESIRE FOR MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH (2)

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT (2)

• RISING COST IN GYM HALL USE (1)

• PRIDE THAT VILLAGE HAS ALL THAT IT NEEDS (1)

• LOSS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS DUE TO VOLUNTEER BURN OUT (1)

• LACK OF GRANTS (1)

• DOGS – NOW RESOLVED? (1)

PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY:• KEY TO THE COMMUNITY, LOVED, FULLY SUPPORTED,

VALUABLE ASSET (8)

• UNDER UTILIZED, OVERLOOKED, NOT WELL USED (5)

• BUSY WHEN OPEN, WELL USED (3)

• NO COMPLAINTS, NOTHING NEGATIVE (3)

• NEEDS ADDITIONAL AND FLEXIBLE OPEN HOURS (2)

• PROGRAMMING EX. COFFEE, CHRISTMAS SHOPPING (2)

• A GOOD MEETING PLACE (1)

• HAD PROBLEMS EX. LIMITED BUDGET (1)

WHAT SHOULD SEDLEY BE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION?• GROWTH, CONTINUAL GROWTH, THRIVING, MORE BUSINESSES,

VIBRANT (8)

• SAFE, HELPING, SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE, FUN (5)

• PLACE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES (2)

• GET THE HIGH SCHOOL BACK (1)

• COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILY, EDUCATION, FAITH (1)

• FEELING OF HOME (1)

• KEEP IT THE SAME (1)

• GET A DAYCARE (1)

• SEE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY (1)

• DESIRE FOR LIBRARY AND LITERACY (1)

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

• THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TEAM IS “PASSING THE LEAD” TO YOU AT THIS TIME.

• PLEASE USE THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FOR SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND PRACTICAL AT THE LIBRARY.

• DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN (SEE SAMPLE).

ACTION PLAN CONSIDERATIONS• CONSIDER: WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS, WHAT IT IS MISSING,

WHAT IT WANTS TO BE. IS THE LIBRARY WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOALS?

• CONSIDER: COLLECTIONS? SERVICES? PROGRAMS? FACILITIES? FUTURE GOALS?

• WHATEVER YOU DECIDE PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR ACTION PLAN TO HQ .

• THE ACTION PLAN IS THEN SHARED WITH YOUR MUNICIPALITY.

• A REVIEW OF THE ACTION PLAN OCCURS IN 3 YEARS.

FOLLOW UP

• JAMES AND KATE-LEE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW UP IF DESIRED!

• IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLES DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN, PLEASE CONTACT US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FACILITATE A DISCUSSION, MAKE SUGGESTIONS, BOUNCE IDEAS, MEET WITH YOU AGAIN, ETC.