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Bellingham Public Library 2009 User Survey

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The City of Bellingham and the Bellingham Public Library are facing potential budget shortfalls in 2009.  Your input is crucial as we begin making decisions about ways to reduce the budget.  Please take a moment to let us know about the services that are most important to you -- and the ones you would be willing to do without.  Thank you for your time.
  1. Overall, how important is the Bellingham Public Library to you?  (select a number)  
not important
       
5 0%
       
4 0%
       
9 0%
       
12 0%
 
34 1%
 
44 2%
 
127 4%
 
292 10%
 
401 14%
very important
 
1971 68%
Total 2899 100%
  2. Overall, how satisfied are you with the services of the Bellingham Public Library? (select a number)  
not satisfied
       
6 0%
       
4 0%
       
6 0%
       
14 0%
 
37 1%
 
80 3%
 
199 7%
 
465 16%
 
684 24%
very satisfied
 
1394 48%
Total 2889 100%
  3. How often do you use the Bellingham Public Library?  
Rarely (less than once a year)
 
46 2%
Sometimes (3 - 6 times a year)
 
167 6%
Monthly
 
561 19%
Weekly
 
1250 43%
Several times a week
 
869 30%
Total 2893 100%
  4. Do you have a current Bellingham Public Library card?  
Yes
 
2689 94%
No
 
99 3%
No, but I have a current Whatcom County Library System card
 
84 3%
Total 2872 100%
  5. Which library do you use most often? (select one)  
Central Library
 
2152 75%
Barkley Branch
 
88 3%
Fairhaven Branch
 
230 8%
Whatcom Community College Connection
 
26 1%
Library website (www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org)
 
100 3%
Bellingham Public Library Outreach Services
 
170 6%
WCLS Branch: Birch Bay, Blaine, Deming, Everson, Ferndale, Island, Lynden, Maple Falls, Point Roberts, Sumas
 
99 3%
Total 2865 100%
  6. Do you use multiple libraries? (check all that apply)  
Central Library
 
2161 84%
Barkley Branch
 
357 14%
Fairhaven Branch
 
861 33%
Whatcom Community College Connection
 
120 5%
Library website (www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org)
 
1123 44%
Bellingham Public Library Outreach Services
 
232 9%
WCLS Branch: Birch Bay, Blaine, Deming, Everson, Ferndale, Island, Lynden, Maple Falls, Point Roberts, Sumas
 
423 16%
  7. How do you use the Bellingham Public Library? (select all that apply)  
Check out library materials
 
2656 93%
Read newspapers or magazines
 
1065 37%
Do research, study
 
1137 40%
Ask a librarian a question
 
1028 36%
Use the Internet
 
876 31%
Get free giveaway books and magazines
 
737 26%
Homeschool my children
 
108 4%
Use a photocopier
 
457 16%
Attend children's storytimes
 
343 12%
Attend other children's library programs
 
312 11%
Attend other library programs or classes
 
289 10%
Attend events in library meeting rooms (not sponsored by library)
 
592 21%
Buy books from Friends of the Library
 
783 27%
Other:
 
235 8%
  8. Please tell us about our collections.  With shrinking budgets, we want to make sure we're adding the materials you want the most.  
Top number is the count of respondents selecting the option.
Bottom % is percent of the total respondents selecting the option.		 Just right Need more copies to reduce time waiting for holds Need broader selection Don't use
Adult Fiction 1130
46%		 542
22%		 369
15%		 442
18%
Adult Nonfiction 1131
47%		 352
15%		 488
20%		 421
18%
Large Type 484
23%		 154
7%		 162
8%		 1318
62%
DVD Feature Films 485
21%		 343
15%		 738
32%		 721
32%
DVD Educational Films 620
29%		 198
9%		 528
24%		 820
38%
Music CDs 651
30%		 198
9%		 555
25%		 799
36%
Audiobooks on CD 511
24%		 199
9%		 420
20%		 1023
48%
Downloadable Audiobooks 318
16%		 98
5%		 216
11%		 1382
69%
Children's picture books 660
32%		 99
5%		 126
6%		 1187
57%
Children's chapter books 554
27%		 139
7%		 147
7%		 1239
60%
Children's DVDs 402
19%		 158
8%		 224
11%		 1282
62%
Teen materials 314
16%		 124
6%		 183
9%		 1370
69%
  9. Have you ever: (check all that apply)  
Visited the library website
 
2185 85%
Placed a hold for library material from home or work
 
2129 82%
Renewed a library item online
 
1765 68%
Used one of the library's online research tools (eg. Ancestry.com, Auto Repair Reference Center, Learning Express Test Practice)
 
711 28%
Returned library materials to a Community Drop Box at a Bellingham Haggen store
 
1381 53%
Used a Book Club Kit for your book club
 
140 5%
  10. If Bellingham Public Library is required to make further budget cuts in 2009 and beyond, which things would you be most willing to do without? (check top three cuts you'd make)  
Duplicate copies of popular titles (this would increase the waiting list for popular items)
 
1010 37%
Online research tools (eg. Ancestry.com, Auto Repair Reference Center, LearningExpress Test Prep)
 
1031 38%
Broad selection of new titles
 
203 7%
Adult programs
 
808 30%
Children's programs (other than storytimes)
 
355 13%
Sunday hours
 
1415 52%
Saturday hours
 
192 7%
Weekday evening hours from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
 
508 19%
Weekday morning hours from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
 
654 24%
One day each week: Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, or Fri
 
564 21%
Other:
 
445 16%
  11. What could the library do to encourage you to use the library more often? (check all that apply)  
Nothing, I use it as much as I need to already
 
1670 61%
Open earlier in the morning
 
181 7%
Stay open later in the evening
 
220 8%
Open longer on Sundays
 
180 7%
Offer Sunday hours throughout the summer
 
297 11%
Reduce holds queues for popular materials so I don't have to wait so long
 
235 9%
Improve selection of new materials
 
311 11%
Add materials in new formats
 
85 3%
Increase loan periods
 
185 7%
Improve appearance of the Central Library
 
164 6%
Increase security at the Central Library
 
173 6%
Add vending machines at the Central Library
 
249 9%
Add comfortable seating and/or more outlets for WiFi
 
282 10%
Offer more library-sponsored programming
 
95 3%
Other:
 
356 13%
  12. How do you hear about new library services and upcoming library events? (check all that apply)  
Signs at the library
 
1923 73%
Handouts at the library
 
918 35%
Library staff
 
566 21%
Library website
 
985 37%
Signs around the community
 
557 21%
From friends, neighbors, or relatives
 
617 23%
Bellingham Herald articles and event listings (paper version)
 
723 27%
Bellingham Herald online events calendar
 
191 7%
Cascadia Weekly newspaper
 
415 16%
Entertainment News Northwest magazine
 
167 6%
BTV10 television
 
82 3%
City of Bellingham website
 
83 3%
Other:
 
99 4%
  13. Where do you live?  
Central: Central Business District, Columbia, Cornwall, Lettered Streets, Sunnyland, York
 
717 25%
North side: Birchwood, Guide Meridian/Cordata, Meridian, Mount Baker
 
367 13%
East side: Alabama Hill, Puget, Roosevelt, Silver Beach, Whatcom Falls
 
515 18%
South side: Fairhaven, Edgemoor, Happy Valley, Samish, Sehome, South, South Hill, WWU
 
635 22%
In Whatcom County, outside Bellingham city limits
 
560 20%
Outside Whatcom County
 
46 2%
Total 2840 100%
  14. How do you get to Bellingham Public Library most often?  
By car
 
1845 65%
By bus
 
326 12%
By bicycle, skateboard, etc.
 
210 7%
By foot
 
451 16%
Total 2832 100%
  15. Are you:  
Male
 
1001 36%
Female
 
1815 64%
Total 2816 100%
  16. How old are you?  
Age 11 and under
 
24 1%
12 - 18
 
129 5%
19 - 24
 
206 7%
25 - 34
 
410 14%
35 - 64
 
1544 54%
65+
 
528 19%
Total 2841 100%
  17. What are the ages of children living in your household? (select all that apply)  
Under age 6
 
348 13%
6 - 11
 
391 15%
12 - 18
 
395 15%
No children in household
 
1730 65%
  18. Are you (select the best fit):  
a student
 
323 12%
in the workforce (not an educator)
 
1013 39%
an educator
 
252 10%
a homemaker
 
294 11%
retired
 
680 26%
Other:
 
40 2%
Total 2602 100%
  19. How long have you been using the services of the Bellingham Public Library?  
less than one year
 
242 9%
1 to 5 years
 
748 26%
6 to 10 years
 
475 17%
more than 10 years
 
1375 48%
Total 2840 100%
  20. What suggestions do you have for improving library service?  
1451 Responses
Thank you very much for your responses.  A summary of the results will be posted on the library's website at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org as soon as they're available.
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