MAHONING COUNTY Public survey to help committee gain input for library planning

New or renovated libraries are attracting heavy use, the survey shows.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Officials of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County have gotten a little help in planning from patrons and other concerned residents.
The strategic planning committee mailed 3,000 surveys to county residents. A similar survey of about 685 was also conducted via the Internet with individuals who supplied an e-mail address to the library system.
Bill Wilson, a consultant working with the library in the planning process, said about 19 percent of the mail surveys were returned to the library, but officials are looking to get back at least 20 percent of the surveys.
Library director Carlton Sears said the surveys will be a reference point for library officials in the strategic planning process and in the future. He said officials will also use what patrons do at the library as a reference.
The results
According to the survey, most library patrons use the newly built or newly renovated library branches -- Boardman, Poland, Austintown and the main branch -- more than any other. Boardman, Poland and Austintown have all received new buildings in the last 10 years, and the main branch has been renovated.
Most of those surveyed also indicated that they would prefer a few larger library facilities in the area rather than many smaller branches that could be in more neighborhoods -- most, however, want the larger facility close to them.
When asked what services they wanted in the library, most said an outside drop box for DVDs and videos. There are currently 13 drop boxes for books in the library system.
The second-most-desired service listed by those surveyed is a color copy machine. Janet Loew, library communication and public-relations director, said color copy service has been discussed, but the machines are expensive and charges for copies would be as much as $1. The library currently charges 10 cents for black-and-white copies.
Many of those surveyed also indicated a need for computer scanners, express checkout lines and coffee shops or carts in library branches.
Smoky Hollow Project
The committee also discussed what effect the Smoky Hollow Project -- a plan to build a new neighborhood beside Youngstown State University -- would have on the main library branch.
The plan calls for a mixture of homes, apartments, commercial buildings and parks in Smoky Hollow -- bordered by the Madison Avenue Expressway and Andrews, Rayen and Wick avenues, across from YSU. The main library branch is at Wick and Rayen avenues.
Assistant library director Mary Pullin said the main branch, in conjunction with the Smoky Hollow project, would need more reading space, Sunday hours, more books and materials, a cafe or coffee shop, a children's library and larger meeting rooms. There are no library meeting rooms in the city that can accommodate more than 54 people.